IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad) Reviews

I would say IFSA was a unique program because it gave students the freedom to explore and be apart of the city and country however we wanted while also provided a backbone to fall back on if needed. There events in and around London and the weekend trip to Lake District national park showed a commitment to teaching while also recognizing that were all college students who just want to hang out.

I was also really happy with their support system. When professors went on strike that semester, IFSA providing tutoring and other support systems for anyone who needed it. Though I did not take advantage, I appreciated how much they cared for the students in a rough situation.

Overall I really enjoyed my experience. I really enjoyed the classes I took at UCL, and being on the IFSA program led me to meeting new people not just from London but from around the US as well, many of whom I now consider to be good friends. Also, this goes without saying, but London is an incredible city, and I wouldn't have wanted my abroad experience in any other place.

This program has truly been an amazing experience for me. IFSA did a great job of serving as a resource to help navigate all aspects of my London experience. While the school itself kept me engaged academically, IFSA did a great job of introducing me to social activites and travel destinations to explore outside of the classroom. This was beneficial because sometimes it is hard to sift through the abundance of online research sources available to find things to do, so hearing recommendations from an organization that is familiar with what is appealing to study abroad students made my life so much easier! I would certainly consider going on another study abroad experience with IFSA!

Studying in Buenos Aires marked the first time I had lived in a big city. It took me quite a while to get used to the city, on top of Porteño Spanish. Familiarizing myself with the relevant buses and subway lines made navigating and seeing Buenos Aires much easier. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my time there was a bit tumultuous. I chose IFSA's Cinema Concentration, meaning I took classes at La Fundación Universidad de Cine. All of my professors were engaging and easy to work with. For better or worse, the Cinema Concentration is small, meaning that the other international students I got to interact and take classes with was correspondingly small. It also gave us the chance to do some film and entertainment-centered cultural excursions: live performances, going to the movies, as well as traveling to a film festival on the coast. On-site staff were always amiable and able to help me with whatever I brought to them, whether it be housing, travel tips, or places to inquire for playing tennis. Hitting at the Club Ciudad de BsAs gave me great chances to talk with a variety of people from the area. As an aside, Mario, the program director, is particularly wonderful.

I spent Spring 2018 abroad at the University of Otago in Dunedin. I am an environmental studies major and I grew up in Hawaii. I loved my classes because two of them were environmentally focused and the other two were focused on Polynesian/Maori culture. I spent almost every weekend outdoors, either hiking or sailing. New Zealand is such an incredible county to explore! IFSA was a great program because it gave me the freedom to choose my own classes and do my own thing, but also always had activities and meet ups that I could attend if I wanted to. It was nice to have the support of IFSA, which many students who directly enrolled at the University of Otago didn't really have. I especially loved the trip to Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which is a bird sanctuary where we volunteered one day.

Melbourne was an incredible city, packed with things to do and people to meet. I lived in the center of the city, with the campus being about a 20 minute walk away. The tram system was great--super fast and easy, making transportation quite affordable and useful. I reccommend taking a day trip to Phillip Island, a short hour and a half public bus ride or rental car away. Here you can get the true Aussie experience--pet a kangaroo and see koala, as well as watch the famous penguin parade. I joined some clubs, including the University of Melbourne Wake-boarding Club and Mountaineering Club, where I go to go camping, hiking, skiing, kayaking, you name it. Through these clubs and through my classes I met so many new people from all over the world! Melbourne was an incredible city to live in (voted most livable city for numerous years in a row!) and I loved my experience there!

Studying abroad in Shanghai offered me an amazingly well-rounded experience. I had well-known and knowledgeable professors that offered me the opportunity to delve into the Chinese public healthcare system, the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Environmental Health in China, and begin learning Chinese which I ended up loving. On top of my classes, I made meaningful connections with my Chinese roommate and her friends and had a personal tour guide around Shanghai. In the short time I was there, I learned so much about the history, food, and culture while simultaneously having an incredibly fun time. Shanghai is a very fun city! Additionally, the IFSA staff were very supportive and worked hard to make sure our experience there was both smooth and meaningful. I would recommend this program to anyone.

I had an amazing experience studying abroad at the University College Dublin in Ireland. Everyone I had the pleasure of meeting was so friendly and helpful, especially my advisers both at UCD and through my IFSA program. I always felt like I had somewhere to go for help if I ever needed anything, which was extremely comforting while adjusting to life on my own in a place so far away from home. The activities and events that were planned by the IFSA program were also a lot of fun, and they made it so easy to explore new parts of the country that I may not have considered going to otherwise. The campus community at UCD was also excellent, and I was even able to join the swim team and a number of different clubs while I was there. The academics were great, as well, and there were many different options for classes in just about any subject area. I even had the opportunity to work directly with a professor of ecology and one of her graduate students to design my own independent research project that included both scientific field and lab work. Overall, I truly felt like I was immersed in the Irish culture while I was there, which was one of my main goals for my study abroad experience. Between travelling across the country, exploring other places in Europe, or just simply hanging out with the friends I made through the swim team, clubs, and classes, my time abroad allowed me to grow and learn in so many valuable ways. I am extremely grateful for the incredible opportunity I had to study abroad in Dublin, and I would recommend both the IFSA program and the University College Dublin to anyone considering studying abroad in Ireland!

I had an amazing time abroad in Sydney and was set up perfectly by IFSA-Butler. They gave me all of the materials to be successful and were very helpful anytime I needed anything. The staff was extremely fun and took us on several adventures to show us around. My accommodations were better than anything I could've hoped for and we were extremely safe. The academics were enjoyable at the University of Sydney and overall I felt very supported throughout my time there. Thanks to IFSA-Butler for truly my most memorable semester!

I got better at research paper writing. I was taught how to use quantitative and qualitative research methods. This is a great experience to have. Also, I got to interact with people from many cultures, which was amazing. Academically I learned a lot; however, I had plenty of spare time to travel around Europe, explore London, and go out with friends. UCL is one of the best universities in the world, and the people that you meet there are absolutely amazing. London is one of the most fun cities I have ever been to. IFSA makes the whole experience absolutely amazing by complementing your trip with a lot of fun activities that allow you to meet people. Moreover, you always feel that someone is taking care of you. IFSA + UCL = perfection

When people say they had the time of their lives, it's never possibly for anyone to really understand what that means. Mine was encapsulated with hiking, camping, surfing, and meeting some of the best friends I have ever made. I found my true passion in life, and I felt like I had everything I could dream of within my grasp. When I describe my experience, it say it as a utopia - and that would even be an understatement. The only problem I have, looking back, is that I didn't do enough, even though I did everything and beyond.