Program Reviews

I absolutely loved my time in the IES Study London program. We had a large group of students from so many different universities in the United States so we were able to make friends from all over the country with all different majors, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, passions, etc. If that scares you, the class sizes were nice and small where you could establish real relationships with fellow students and your professors. I absolutely loved the classes I took and the professors were truly so good at using your time in London to your advantage!

On top of that amazing aspect, we were in the hub of London and I personally stayed right up the street from Kings Cross Station at Chapter Kings Cross which I would recommend 10 out of 10 times to anyone doing this program. You could choose to take a quick tube ride to the IES Center (where classes were) or it was also an easy walk through some cute areas of London. I personally chose the walking route because that was more reliable in terms of time, plus I got to see the most adorable little streets. Chapter was such a great choice because so many other students in the program lived there (there are two other living options) and I loved seeing familiar faces in the lobby, elevators, halls and kitchens.

I have made some amazing friends through this program and I only got two months and had to leave somewhat abruptly due to COVID-19 shutting down the world. I wouldn't trade this experience or program for the world and mean it in the most sincere way that you should do IES Study London. From the super helpful staff to the amazing classes and professors and everything thing in between, DO IT and DO IT NOW!

My trip to Granada through IES Abroad was the time of my life. Although it was cut short, I am so blessed to have had the experiences I did. The staff did wonderful working students through the cultural immersion and showing us the true story of Granada. Almost all of my classes took days on the town, visiting different locations and discussing their significance. The trip also tied the material into the visits we took, going to Sevilla to study the Cathedral and Christianity in Spain, Morocco to study the Arabic culture and its influence on Granada, and Córdoba to study the mosque. Everyone wants you to have an incredible time - and will work to make sure you do!

I always knew I wanted to study abroad and IES made my experience more exciting and fulfilling than I ever thought it could be. The opportunities for excursions each week allowed for an easy way to meet new people, get out of your comfort zone and have new experiences. By having no Friday classes we were able to plan our own weekend excursions that allowed us to explore Europe with new friends or take part in the numerous trips offered by the program. The class options were great and varied, with options like architecture, psychology, the culinary arts and so much more. Each course included excursions that allowed us to explore the city and experience new incredible opportunities like strolling through the market and exploring iconic museums and landmarks. While study abroad can be very daunting, Barcelona is an exciting city to learn about and you will quickly get a hang of the metro system allowing you to explore every free moment you have.

From the moment I stepped off the airplane to the moment I boarded, I felt the support of the IES staff. It was a peculiar time when I was abroad; Spain had just begun to experience a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases before we were asked to repatriate. Nevertheless, the short time that I was in Madrid was a special and memorable one. I was placed with a warm and caring host-family that taught me a lot about the Spanish culture and with whom I built a relationship. Classes were from Monday to Thursday, so I always felt as if I had enough time to explore the city and its surroundings. To mention: my art history class took place in The Prado Museum; instead of spending the class hours inside a classroom we learned about art in the museum. I saw paintings from El Greco to Goya to Picasso. Additionally, IES often organized activities and excursions to expose students to more aspects of the Spanish culture. For example, IES organized a weekend trip to Extremadura; a place where we were able to learn about history, food, and the regional culture. All in all, it was a culture enriching experience—even if it was for a short amount of time.

It definitely sounds cliche, but my time abroad changed me as a person. Ever since I was younger I knew I wanted to go abroad but my desire to go to Spain came about in my senior year of high school. I wanted to immerse myself in the culture and live in a large city, so I chose Barcelona. Having the opportunity to live in Barcelona was incredible. I adjusted quickly to taking the metro everywhere, finding new places to explore everyday. There is always something happening in the city so there is no time to be bored. I loved how I could escape the bustling city by going to a park or even the beach. I love being outdoors so having the beach right there was a big plus for me! Barcelona is also very central which made it extremely easy to travel to other places via train or plane. I learned so much abroad about people, life, culture, and relationships. I also was inspired by a new career path while I was abroad and am now pursuing that which I am very excited about!! If the chance to go abroad comes my way again I don’t think I will think twice about it. I cannot say enough about my experience abroad, it was truly life changing.

South Africa and Cape Town as a whole is a unique experience just by nature of the location itself. In a country with a culture so unlike any other, this program provides the opportunity to learn and experience so much more than you might on a more conventional or popular program. The rich political, cultural, and economic history alone creates an abundance of opportunity to learn, not to mention the rich political, cultural, and economic current that you can interact with and enjoy throughout courses, activities, involvement in clubs/societies, program excursions, and more. I cannot recommend this program enough!

Milan is a beautiful city and I am so glad I chose to study abroad there! I can't say enough positive things about my experience in Milan and my experience with IES. The program was so proactive about making sure students were ready to embark on this journey and followed through with their support once we arrived. Another one of the huge reasons I chose to study abroad with IES in Milan was because of the opportunity to complete an internship. I knew this was something I wanted to do and would give me a unique experience to put on my resume. The IES internship coordinator was extremely helpful in finding a placement for me that matched up with my career goals and desires. I ended up completing a marketing internship for the British School of Milan. Everyone was so welcoming and always made sure I was comfortable with the work I was assigned, not to mention answered any of my questions. Lastly, I had a great housing experience with IES. I chose the apartment option and had 6 roommates. Our apartment was spacious and in a great location, about a 15 -20 min walk from Duomo! I lived in Brera and that neighborhood and they are known for having superb restaurants! I never had a bad meal while I was over there!

My experience in Madrid was amazing. I got to meet a lot of people, learn all about a foreign culture, and travel to new places. One of my favorite parts of being abroad was being able to travel easily. Madrid was incredible, but smaller places outside of the city were breathtaking. The longest excursion we took as a program was to Córdoba. It was such a beautiful trip I'll never forget! It was also easy to travel outside of Spain; Berlin was my favorite.

Another thing about Madrid in particular is that their public transportation systems are very clean and easy to use. I live in a fairly rural area, and do not have much experience with using a Metro or taking a city bus. However, it was very simple once I figured it out!

Unfortunately, my experience was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. It was heartbreaking, which speaks to the unforgettable adventure I was having. I am very grateful for my abroad experience and for the IES staff that helped along the way. Everything was well organized and, even when disaster struck, I felt safe with my program. I hope to revisit the beautiful country of Spain in the future.

My time in Paris can be described as nothing short than life changing. I am a studio art major and a french minor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and I knew that I wanted a program that encapsulated all of my interests in one, so when I came across IES's Paris studio art program, I knew I had found the perfect match. To say I was nervous to begin is an understatement. I was worried about the language immersion, making friends, if I would get along with my host mom, etc... however, after a week in my new home, my worries began to settle. I took painting and drawing classes in the most quaint Parisian studio with mainly native Parisians, my host mom was one of the coolest people I've ever met (the picture is the view from my bedroom window), and I made so many friends with whom I still keep in touch. On top of all of that, my French improved by leaps and bounds. I was no where near fluency, and I was barely proficient at the very beginning of the program, and even though my program was in half because of the global pandemic, I can now say that I feel beyond comfortable carrying out an intense conversation in French (of course I still mess up, but I have vastly improved.) The cultural trips were structured and a lot of fun, and we saw some truly amazing places that I never would have been able to go it had it not been because of IES, including a few wine and champagne tastings. I definitely recommend this program to anyone and everyone. Something that I would recommend you to do is to do some research beforehand to learn about non-touristy things that are going on while you're in Paris. Also, start saving your money NOW. Seriously. There are so many things to do, and a lot of them do cost money (but some of my favorite things to do didn't, like wandering the streets and going to 59 Rivoli.) Another tid-bit is that Paris (maybe all of France, but I don't know) has seriously low price concerts, even for mega-famous musicians, there's some law prohibiting overpricing the tickets. And! On your IES student id if it says "histoire de l'art" aka "art history" you can get into most museums (including the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay) for free!

Salamanca, Spain is a town like no other. Known as the City of Gold, it is truly a treasure. The academic opportunities, rich culture, and history are unparalleled. It is the perfect place for anyone hoping to further their Spanish skills, with its endless opportunities for total immersion. The classes are challenging in just the right way, with professors that are there to help you achieve your goals. The town has so much beauty and history to offer, making it a well-rounded educational experience, as well as the perfect place for personal growth.