IES Abroad Reviews

Overall, IES was an amazing experience. The cliche saying 'study abroad changed my life,' is true.

While I found the classes to be rather dull at times, the other aspects of the program compensated greatly. The planned program excursions and dinners were educational, fun, and a great way to meet the other students. I found the freedom to control our own schedules forced me to become more independent and rely on myself. I loved my outside university classes. Furthermore, my homestay was perfect. I loved living in a residential area with a real french family.

I would strongly recommend this program to future students!

A lot of people know about the French Riviera because they hear lavish stories about celebrities vacationing to St. Tropez or Monaco but imagine actually living like a princess in one of the most beautiful places in the world. My experience in the French Riviera has no comparison. I lived in Nice for two weeks and spent the duration of my program in Antibes. Both places are must-see places in the Riviera along with Monaco, Eze, Cannes, and St. Tropez. I was also able to travel all over and go to events like Oktoberfest with friends. IES made this an amazing experience because of the help and support they provided throughout the experience. My program was small (only 7 students and two staff) so we became like a family. I also made so many friends at SKEMA. The exchange program at SKEMA allows you to make friends from around the world. Some of my best friends were from Australia, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and France. It was the best time of my life. I came to France knowing very little of the language or culture and feeling very insecure about my ability to communicate and navigate. I left France feeling confident speaking French and navigating the city as well as new cities. Seeing this growth within myself was probably one of the most rewarding things. Also, I came to France by myself. For anyone who isn't afraid to step out of their comfort zone, I would highly recommend going abroad alone. I guarantee you will open yourself up to so many opportunities to meet incredible people and create life long memories.

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I chose to go to Nice for a semester. After living for four months with an incredible host mom, meeting friends from all over the world, and traveling all across Europe, I have definitely left a piece of my heart behind. The night life, beach, old town and incredible weather in Nice will make you never want to leave. Truly an amazing program with incredible staff and opportunities!

Choosing to spend the semester with IES Abroad in Cape Town is truly the best choice I've ever made. Being so far from home, it was absolutely essential to have a program which fully supported me and could provide me with the most information and resources possible. IES Abroad truly excelled in doing this. They provided housing options for us and I chose to live in Obz Square residence with many students from all over Africa. This provided so many opportunities for cultural immersion which is something I may not have gotten had I chosen another program. The trips and experiences IES planned were ones I’d only dreamt about. They organized trips to Kruger National Park as well as travelling along the Garden Route. They also provided many opportunities for service learning. Perhaps the most important thing IES Abroad did was help us adjust to the South African lifestyle regarding safety, budgeting and helping us get around in general. I’m so thankful IES was there helping me from the time I submitted my paperwork up until today.

I had an amazing time in Freiburg and the region. My German language skills improved, thanks to formal instruction and casual conversation. My travel skills improved, thanks to excursions in the Black Forest, Munich, Berlin, France, and Switzerland. The program office was very supportive and helpful as I adjusted to life here. I built connections to the people, organizations, and places in Freiburg.

The most important experience so far was learning about and participating in a green lifestyle. Freiburg is renowned for its sustainability and environmental awareness. My locally and internationally based course content was supplemented by real-life actions: using the extensive bicycle and public transportation networks, purchasing fresh local food, participating in climate-conscious events and rallies, meeting community leaders, experiencing sustainable urban development. I was able to prioritize how I spent my time and energy.

I fell head over heels IN LOVE with Madrid, Spain! The culture, the people, the city, the food, the language, everything! I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. It was more than I could have ever asked for!

The program specifically was phenomenal. The classes were intriguing and challenging while also making the information very real and relatable to us. We were able to take a class at the local university called La Universidad Complutense Madrid (UCM). There we were in a class completely with local Spanish students, so it was a lot of fun to talk and meet new people while also learning about a subject.

As far as my living situation, I stayed in a homestay with a family and I absolutely loved it! The family was so loving, and the kids were just adorable! Not to mention, my host mom could make some mean fish! She is such a cook!

The program took us on many side trips within Spain such as Bilbao, Asturias, and Toledo which gave us the opportunity to experience the various cultures of the different regions within Spain. Even within Madrid, there was so much to experience there. The city was always moving and going! You would wake up in the morning and go to class, and then have a comida and a siesta around 2:30pm. From there you could visit parks like Retiro, walk down some beautiful streets or visit a museum. The night would roll in and you could eat dinner in a restaurant with friends and continue the night as you enjoyed the fun atmosphere of Madrid's nightlife. Eventually, you would go home and wake up the next morning so that you could do it all over again.

If someone offered e another chance to go back, I would take that opportunity in a heart beat, for I believe that I left a large part of my heart back in Spain.

Studying abroad through IES at the University of Sydney was an incredible experience. From the moment I stepped off the plane I was in love with Australia. Switching up the environment in which you live and learn completely changes your worldview and provides you with opportunities that you never knew were out there. In addition, the relationships you create become strong enough to last a lifetime. I truly appreciate all the programs and events that IES planned/took us to because it was during these experiences that I was given the opportunity to explore the country in more depth and detail, while getting to know my peers in the program. IES makes it easy to adjust to a different culture, and is a useful resource when it comes to any questions you may have while away from home. I would recommend studying through IES to any prospective student!

This program gives you a chance to get immersed in Dutch culture in a way that you may not be able to experience later in life. I was enrolled directly in a Dutch university, and I made lifelong friends with Dutch students. We spent hours talking about differences between our countries and they helped me with my Dutch language homework. I can't speak highly enough of the IES Abroad Amsterdam team for all their support and how smoothly they organized my housing and studying.

IES Abroad Study in Amsterdam provided an opportunity to engage with the city of Amsterdam while also meeting Dutch and fellow international students through the enrollment option at the University of Amsterdam. The program encouraged cultural engagement via trips outside of Amsterdam and worked hard to give students the know-how to really enjoy their time abroad. That being said, this program provided a lot of independence which allowed for individual exploration but sometimes allowed participants (myself included) to not explore and learn as much as we could have. The living situation of studio apartments allowed for interactions with program members while also meeting new people from a variety of different backgrounds. Amsterdam is a very international city and IES Abroad definitely encouraged participants to engage with the city and the Netherlands as much as possible. Biking in the city was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to meet people from a variety of backgrounds while also having the opportunity to travel both within the Netherlands and to other countries as well. As far as abroad experiences go, I think this one was fantastic.

My study abroad experience in London was better than I could have imagined going in. The IES Study London program offered a good balance of structure as well as freedom to let the experience be shaped by each student. Through this program I was placed in an awesome internship, took classes from professors who were experts in their fields as well as genuinely great people, and went on some incredible trips organized by IES such as an excursion to Scotland where we got to feed reindeer. The staff in the IES London program are all incredibly nice and welcoming and provided so much support throughout my four months abroad.