Program Reviews

I studied abroad with IES Nice in the fall of 2021 after the spring program was canceled because of COVID, and I am so glad that I went during the fall. The sunny weather and laidback Nicoise attitude make the experience feel like a 4-month vacation, especially in early fall.

The classes were moderately difficult, especially if you take a few at SKEMA Business School, but none were too hard. The IES classes are located in the city center, and SKEMA is about a 45 min bus ride away in Sophia Antipolis—a bit of a trek but it's hard to complain when you get to ride along the Mediterranean Sea during your commute.

Nice is a train away from Italy (you can go for dinner and be back by 11 pm), so the cuisine and architecture are beautifully Italian-influenced. Traveling to other European countries is easy since the tram leads directly to Nice's own airport, so no need for an expensive Uber ride. As for housing, IES found me a top-floor apartment with a terrace, a 25 min walk from the beach.

The staff is very helpful as well! When I got sick and let the program director know, she quickly dropped off a COVID test at my apartment and the student affairs coordinator helped me schedule a doctor's visit with an English-speaking doctor. The student affairs coordinator also plans the excursions such as visiting local historical villages with a tour guide, meeting with French students our age, and attending a cooking class to learn how to make Nicoise dishes.

My advice: go on as many excursions as possible and practice your French with locals! :) It's easy to stick with the Americans in your group, but Nice is a very international city so don't be afraid to meet new people.

My semester in Dublin was definitely the most memorable of my time in college. IES kept in regular contact with us to make sure that everything was going well, gave us lots of information at orientation, and sent out activity & travel suggestions throughout the semester. They also led a few group outings for us. I was at Trinity, and the campus is beautiful (I was drawn to the program from seeing photos of the Old Library!) and right in city centre so you're exposed to local culture; I loved stopping at shops on the way home to get a hot chocolate or some fries with garlic sauce (they're the best). The apartment was nice and modern with plenty of space, privacy, and common areas to socialize, and was pretty close to campus. Most everyone in all of the IES Dublin programs lived in the same building, so we made a group chat and had a big extended group of friends to go out with.

Classes are a lot different than in the United States. Instead of multiple shorter classes a day on alternating days like at my home school, I had two one-hour sessions or one two-hour session of each class a week. Depending on the class (I took English modules), grades are based significantly or even 100% on the final exam. This was an adjustment in the sense that I felt a bit less engaged with school overall, since it was less in-class time and fewer assignments throughout the semester, until finals came and then it was a lot of work all at once. You just have to make sure to genuinely care about your studies and keep up with your work, though, and it’ll be fine. This is also a good thing to learn since plenty of other things in life require self-motivation and accountability. This more open schedule was a great way to have things structured during study abroad, however, because it left a LOT of time to explore locally and travel on long weekends! I definitely recommend joining a couple of clubs to truly feel connected to campus; they have a lot of fun events both on campus and at local venues.

Studying in Dublin was not only fun for a short time, but allowed me to realize how much I really want to live abroad long-term. You also learn so many things living in a new culture and how to adapt to them. Public transport is really convenient within the city, and trains are great for traveling across the country. You have to ask for the check at a restaurant, but tax is all included so the total is nice and even and easy to add up in your head. Even going to the grocery store at first is a whole experience on its own—a lot more people bring their own bags (which is great!), some "staple" foods are a bit different, and Irish dairy has a totally different taste. And when you finally leave, you feel a bit homesick in reverse, because what you consider "home" has been split into more pieces, both of them always in the back of your mind. Overall, my semester abroad in Dublin with IES really bridged that gap of apprehension between the expected and the unknown, and it helped prepare me to travel and live abroad once I graduate.

This abroad experience was unique for me because this was my first time traveling abroad. England could not have been a more welcoming experience and IES Abroad exceeded my expectations both connecting education with cultural exploration. For further students, I want it to be known how helpful and committed IES Abroad was at making sure you personally felt comfortable in every situation. They are there to help! IES Abroad staff is like a new little family away from your home. I would also give the advice to go on the organized trips with IES. It is a great way to see more of England with the trip already planned for you, so that it is not as stressful as it may seem to plan a trip solo while abroad. Overall, take advantage of all of the new and exciting aspects of this country.

One fear I had was not making friends with classes being online, but I had many group projects with friendly students that were eager to help me with anything and everything. Balancing schoolwork and fun was difficult at times, but I was surrounded by amazing resources. My experience was entirely shaped by my own ability to create opportunities for myself and make time to travel independently. What helped me the most was setting goals before I went abroad to orient myself and provide direction.

Berlin is an incredible city, so filled with history and culture! I felt at home very quickly at the start of my program, and I have to attribute much of that to the lovely staff at IES's Berlin Center. They welcomed us in with much care and support, and the faculty were really knowledgeable. My courses were striking and very relevant to my degree in International Affairs. I feel I've returned with a better understanding of the relationship between America and Europe, and how my identity fit as an American in Germany. The staff took us on day trips to Hamburg, Potsdam and Dresden, which were very enjoyable! They also provided opportunities to attend cultural events and visit local museums. Our pre-departure information meetings with the Center staff were very informative; learning about grocery stores and prepaid cellular providers beforehand saved me time during our first week of adjustment. The neighborhood our student apartments were in is a very cool area, and public transport across the city is great. I became really close with the other students in the program, and we bonded more because we lived in the same building. I'd highly recommend Berlin to anyone looking to visit Europe for the first time, and I'd advocate for any of IES's other programs in Germany as well!

I had the best time studying at the IES Abroad Writers Program in Dublin, Ireland. Given the status of Covid-19, my program size was not very big, but I met so many people in and outside of my program. From the relationships I built with my professors, to the amazing people I met, these were just two of the best reasons why my abroad experience was amazing! I was able to travel in and outside of Ireland with friends which was so much fun. I loved being a part of the culture of Ireland which really made my experience so much better! Even though I was homesick a few times, Ireland became my second home very fast which really helped me in that sense. I always felt safe wherever I went and was given multiple contacts in case of an emergency. My living situation was more than what I could have asked for, and the staff was so supportive and friendly to all the residents in the building. Overall, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made as a college student. I will always remember this experience and cannot wait to share it with more students in the future!

Studying abroad on the IES Metropolitan Studies in Berlin was one of the best times in my life. My cohort was the first ones back since the pandemic so many things were different, so please take my review with a grain of salt. However, I had the most fun ever. The group that came was much smaller than a typically year so as a result we all got to know each other quite well. We all lived in the same apartment buildings so we frequently collaborated on meals and gatherings. This worked well for my program as it was nice to live in a community of others from the States and allowed for an easier transition into Germany. We had many planned trips through IES which were a lot of fun and the classes were incredibly interesting as they used the city of Berlin as a case study. Overall can't recommend enough, the staff were incredible as well and so friendly. You will truly be supported on this program if you decide to go.

IES was a great program in which I learned a lot about not only my future ideal profession, but I also learned about the country's culture and how to engage in cultural competency in all fields. I was given the tools to independently succeed and did not need to check in with the program, but I always wanted to because I felt as if I had a strong community there at IES in which I could ask for advice or just go to them to share my stories. All of the people, from everyone who interviewed me to see my ideal placement to my teacher to the program I was placed in, all had very kind and understanding individuals who wanted me to succeed.

Studying abroad with IES programs was truly the best decision I've made in my college career. From pre-departure information, to housing, to help with travel plans and more, IES was there every step of the way! I decided pretty last-minute to do the program, so I felt rushed and overwhelmed, but IES made things clear and simple for students. Once at the program, the staff and instructors were great. There were several course options, and all included many trips to museums and walking tours around London to bring our learning to life! I was able to take so many trips outside of London to explore England with friends that I made; I learned so much about myself in those short two months. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer! I cannot recommend IES programs enough!

One of the most rewarding and exciting things I am proud to have done while in college is Study Abroad. In summer of 2021, I studied in London through IES Abroad for 6 weeks! This program was filled with so many great memories and opportunities for me! During this time I took two amazing classes that gave me more insight into London, England and more largely the United Kingdom.
I was also able to meet other college students just like myself and create beautiful memories with people and now close friends I will forever remember! From tea dates, to the portobello market, to the London eye, to watching the sunset at primrose hill and biking through the city of London, there were so many exciting venues to see! When you study abroad the possibilities are endless, you get to call a different city in another country your home for 6 weeks! 
While living in London, I also appreciated how diverse the city was and how open it was to cultures from all over the world! This was the most exciting part for me! In London, every neighborhood or borough was a touristy and niche with plenty of cultural boutiques and restaurants. I was also about 15 minutes away from Camden Market, a local market with clothing, art, food, and other vendors! 
At first I was very nervous and worried about adjusting to another city, and country. But, throughout my experience The IES staff was very helpful! They helped us students understand transportation, gave us safety tips, recommendations and also created events and opportunities for us to go outside of the city of London and visit other cultural locations within England!