IES Abroad Reviews

From the moment I walked through arrivals at the airport the staff of IES was completely supportive and comforting. Going to a new country that you will be staying in for an extended period of time is likely to cause some nerves, but the staff did everything they could to replace those nerves with excitement. Staff was waiting for arrivals from flights right outside of the gate and escorted us to taxis with our fellow students. We then would have an orientation that would explain everything from the bus system to what "craic" means. From the first day up until the last they helped us with everything we came to them for, from flights for weekend excursions to which spots in the city to visit. The professors I had in this program are among some of the best I have had in my entire college career. When our program was over, saying goodbye to the staff of the center was just as sad as saying goodbye to the city we had grown to love.

I had a phenomenal time during my study abroad experience in London the Summer of 2016, but I will not deny that the finances of the city made it tough at times. I spent most of my time in the city as it was only a six week course, while some of the other people on my program would spend every weekend traveling. At the end of the program, I was so in love with the city that I had come to understand, and I cannot wait to go back. This program in particular had great professors and fun trips outside of London, but it was easy to spend a lot of time with the other people on the program instead of meeting Londoners, which was mainly due to the fact that the classes were not with London students. Regardless, this is an awesome program and I had a really great time. Research all the different events happening in London before you go, get to know your professors and they will tell you about stuff you have to do while there, and befriend your roommate so you have a buddy who you can go on adventures with!

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to travel to England. I grew up on Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, and I always loved British culture. In high school, I was determined that in college I would study abroad in London. Last summer my dreams came true when IES Abroad gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. Honestly, I had a lot of doubts about going overseas by myself for an entire summer. Would I get homesick? Would I make any friends? Would my classes be too hard or too boring? But IES made me feel at home in London and created the best experience possible for me.

The staff at IES London were absolutely incredible. They were always there to help us, give us tips and ideas, or even just to chat. There were so many trips and events for us to attend in our free time and I feel like the program really helped me make the most out of my time abroad. My classes were great, as well. The professors were knowledgeable and made the classes exciting. I learned so much and experienced the city in different ways through my classes. Although, there wasn't much of an opportunity to make local friends, I made a group of friends in my program that I wouldn't trade for anything. They absolutely made the experience the best it could possibly be. We spent so much time exploring and even just hanging out together, and we still keep in touch.

I know it sounds cliche, but I really do believe I grew as a person because of this experience. I gained a new sense of independence and a new viewpoint of the world. Without a doubt it was the best summer of my life and the best choice I have ever made to study abroad. No matter what you are studying or what doubts you have, study abroad sometime during your college career. You will not regret it. I loved my experience with IES Abroad and I miss that summer every day!

The IES Abroad summer program in Cape Town, South Africa was so amazing, it was almost impossible to leave. It helps that Cape Town is a wonderful city, full of things to do and places to explore, and that the program helped you to explore every bit of it. The program had just enough planned activities to keep us constantly moving, while still allowing us enough free time to squeeze in a huge bucket-list of things to do. Planned activities included touring the Garden Route, the Winelands, whale watching, gardens, and much more. This is all outside of the course and service-learning portion of the trip.
I am a public health major, and global health minor, so the course was not only fit to my interests but counted as course credit for my minor at my home university. For those who had other majors, which there were many, the summer is a great way to get extra credit in between the regular school year. The course was an excellent way to study South African history and culture, in the context of health. The service-learning portion allowed you to experience what you were learning in class in the context of the health system. The research project was the best way to interact with the community, and potentially give back with recommendations based on the new research.
The housing was nice and felt safe. There were multiple doors with locks before getting into the room, and a security guard outside 24/7. There were no times where I did not feel safe, and if you took good care of your stuff, you wouldn’t lose anything or get anything stolen.
The housing was within walking distance of the IES center, grocery stores, and restaurants. We could easily take a cab or Uber into other areas of Cape Town. Cape Town as a whole had the most amazing food, all extremely affordable. You could get so many different types of food, all excellent. The people I met, both in the program and locals, were all great. I learned so much just from conversations with people around the city and in our placements.
I hope others will be inspired by this experience as I have been.

From getting strep on my first day, to an ATM stealing my card within the first week, and finally (the icing on the cake) my flights being cancelled on the day I’m suppose to leave. It was quite an experience. Despite this, the IES staff had my back through all of it, and this experience (even with what seemed like disasters) was amazing. Not only did the staff bring me to the hospital, pay for me when I was money-less, and help figure out my flight situation, but they also give me unconditional support in advancing my Mandarin and as a first time foreigner in China.
I was nervous about doing a language intensive because my Chinese was definitely not up to the casual conversation standards, let alone survival standards. The everyday classes, tutoring, and language pledge fixed that up quickly. Especially the language pledge, my all time favorite challenge. Finally, my Chinese was getting the attention it needed to succeed. My teacher even got me an internship and a kid tutoring so I could practice my Chinese and communication skills in a real-time environment.
My time in Beijing was life changing, and I wish I stayed longer. The staff was incredibly helpful, the other students were diverse and amazing, and Beijing, a city bursting with students, was the best atmosphere for bettering one's Chinese. If you’re on the wall (Great Wall :P) debating whether or not to go study abroad. Always go.

My time abroad can easily be described as the most amazing experience of my life. It's scary, of course, to commit to seven weeks in three separate countries, but it was so worth it. Learning about the art and histories of Paris, Rome, and Madrid were simply some of the most amazing educational experiences I could have asked for, and immersing myself into the cultures of these bustling cities was also incredibly important for my own world views and self growth. There's no need for textbooks and glossy printed pictures of masterpieces when you can have class with the artwork itself. Truly amazing and I am forever grateful for this program and the opportunities it gave me.

Being a student in Nice is adventure, excitement, and delight. The memories of Nice are endless, all the way from the iconic coastline to the colorful historic buildings to the panoramic views. The IES directors and coordinators care deeply about the progress of students during their time abroad, and are always available to help in any way. The academics are excellent, with devoted and knowledgeable professors with a lot of experience in their subject fields, ranging from French politics all the way to French cinema. IES has a solid reputation for its academics, so credits should be easily transferred to college transcripts. The program has a couple of housing options. The home-stay options allows the opportunity to really get immersed in the French culture and way of life, and guarantees constant practice of the French language. The program organizes various trips throughout the semester, including many cities along the French Riviera, as well as farther-away places like Corsica and cities in Italy. Traveling to and from Nice is easy, with transportation methods being very efficient and conveniently located at walking distance from the city center. There is always something to do in Nice during the weekends. One can easily find a private beach a train ride away from Nice during the morning, and by the afternoon take a bus to the mountains an hour away for some skiing. Also, visiting renown cities like Monaco and Cannes takes only a very short train ride. The Mediterranean food is delicious, and the weather is always warm and pleasant. With a large amount of students in the city, it is very easy to make new friends, many of whom remain for lifetime.

Salamanca is an incredibly beautiful city. Prior to my trip, I had never travelled to Europe. The beauty of Salamanca set my standards for the rest of Europe very high. Although Madrid, Paris, and Rome were beautiful, no other place during my travels compared to this city. The city is so well preserved that it is like stepping back in time. The first weekend I spent there left me completely in awe. I spent the first week going to class and then purposefully getting lost and exploring all of the hidden treasures of the city. The best way to explore is to just wander. The city is small enough that you won't end up in a "bad" neighborhood, but large enough that you can safely get lost in the beauty.

I was a student for IES Abroad's Tokyo Summer program this summer (2016) and it was the best experience of my life! I'd do it all over again if I could. I honestly could not think of a single flaw about the program!

Everything from the first day until the last made me feel like I made the right decision about which program I should participate in. The placement test were very accurate in putting the students where they belongs academically. My language teacher was great, very understanding, and patient, as were all the EPALS and staff members. I learnt a lot and wouldn't hesitate to 10/10 recommend this program in terms of academics.

As a Muslim Arab, naturally, one thing that I was worried about when I started the program was discrimination of my background. However, there was never a moment where I had to face any of that. I quickly realized that the group of students I was with was very international. There were many people from different backgrounds, which I loved. I learnt a lot not only about Japan but also about other cultures from the students I was with. I think that is one advantage of studying abroad.

I am so thankful that this program is set in Tokyo, there are so many things to do and see! The location of the housing was in the perfect location. Sangubashi station is a 5 minute walk away, which makes it very easy to commute to many of the hotspots. There are many restaurants and shops nearby. The location is a lovely place that I would enjoy even just walking around!

I wouldn't think twice about doing this program again! Thank you IES Abroad!

Studying abroad this past summer in Madrid was one of the best decisions I have made. At first I was hesitant to apply to this program because I had never been out of the country before. But I knew that this was a step that I needed to take, and I am so happy that I made that decision because it was an amazing six weeks. I was able to achieve so many of the study abroad goals that I set for myself before going. I gained greater confidence in my speaking abilities and was able to immerse myself in the culture. I remember leaving for Madrid the first day. I was excited and a little nervous sitting at the airport, and I had no idea what I was about to experience, and didn’t realize how different I would be when I returned just six weeks later.
The IES program requires that you take two classes: a Spanish language class and an area studies course. I chose to take “Madrid the City.” My language class definitely helped me improve my Spanish, and my teacher was great. The “Madrid the City” class taught me all about the history of the city, and we took tours around the city twice a week, which were a great way to explore.
IES offers homestays or apartments to students for housing. I stayed in a homestay. My Spanish improved so much from my homestay, and it was a great experience. I had lunch with my host mom most days, which allowed me to practice speaking in Spanish. I felt very comfortable with my homestay, and my host mom made it feel like a second home. On the last day, she told me if I return to Madrid in the future, I would have a place to stay.
The IES program includes many different activities and trips that allow you to further explore Spain and its culture. I took advantage of all of these activities, including a cooking class, a flamenco dance class and tours of the Palacio Real, the Prado museum, and various other places. In addition, we all went on a three-day trip to Valencia and a day trip to Segovia. Both trips were amazing.
I definitely recommend this program to other students. It is a great way to learn a new language and experience a new culture. I was nervous at first and almost didn’t do this program. So my advice is for any student unsure about studying abroad with IES Madrid to definitely just go because it will be an unforgettable six weeks.