Program Reviews

I didn’t know anyone in Scotland or in the IFSA program and ended up meeting one of my best friends through the program. I also found Edinburgh to be the perfect study abroad experience as the culture was easy to integrate into, the school was a quick walk from my housing, and the city was a lot of fun. IFSA did a great job of providing resources for getting to know the country and city as well as a comfortable transition into the study Abroad’s experience.

I would recommend the program to anyone who is very independent, motivated to learn spanish, and wants to travel outside of Merida on weekends. I didn’t find Merida to be that exciting of a city and it’s very hot so i would go for the Yucatan and en travel to other areas, but i found Merida to be a little too “tranquilo” for my liking. Also, the location for the program isn’t great—it takes about 40 mins or more to get downtown on a bus and at least 20 to get to school on a bus and there isn’t really anything in the neighborhood.

IFSA was a great study abroad program. Our advisors were always there for us and answered any and all questions. Our program events were fun and kept us entertained. It was also a great way to see more of Australia. The location of my apartment was perfect (Surfers Paradise). I always felt safe and found public transportation very easy. Spring Break was also easy to plan because of the many resources available. Overall, it was a great experience!

The IFSA staff is incredible; they really care about your experience and put in a lot of effort to make sure you get the most out of your time abroad. IFSA offers local cultural experiences and trips, an abundance of knowledge about the country you are living in, and so much support for any challenges you may face during your time abroad. I would recommend the program to everyone interested in going abroad.

Made great friends, learned a terrific language and developed a close relationship with a terrific host family that I still have today. My only complaint is that it got too hot too quickly (May is 110+ degrees every day) but you figure it out. Merida is very close to tons of things to do (best beaches ever, ecotourism, visit the pyramids, and more) and is a very safe place to be. I would live there if I could.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. Being across the ocean in a new city and culture was amazing. I learned so much about myself and I've gained so many friends. Perth is a great city and has a lot to do. The only thing I wish was changed was increased housing options. I was put into a housing system that was similar to a U.S.-style dorm. Luckily, I met some great friends through this system so it worked out for me. It may be better to allow people to rent local apartments or a room in houses for people trying to save money or who want to become more independent.

The school system is very different than in the US, which was the biggest challenge. The IFSA teachers were not very understanding of that and I actually had a better experience as an international student with the University professors. Travel is easy and there is a lot of support from the IFSA office in Mendoza. Ifsa encouraged me and the other students to try the pickup ultimate frisbee team, and that was the best advice I got. Through that I met so many amazing locals who took us on day trips that we otherwise never would have known about or been able to get to.

Having an internship with the Scottish Parliament was my ideal way to study abroad. The opportunity to take a break from classes (as we only had them the first 5 weeks of the semester) and work in a professional setting with Scottish people provided a very authentic and valuable experience. I don't think I would have had the opportunity to delve so much into Scottish culture and having meaningful conversations and relationships with Scots otherwise.

I loved it! IFSA programs are amazing and the events they held brought me to places I otherwise would have never been able to get to otherwise. I wish I had a little more help with a local advisor for school work. Having someone to talk to and get direct advice from a person near my school/university I would have been helped through one of my difficult classes easier. Overall, I loved IFSA and made lifelong friendships and memories.

Livin in Lima was definitely a huge change for me. I come from a small town and living in a large city like Lima was a challenge at first, but this program really helped me adapt quickly to life in the city. The two week orientation they held before classes started at the university was very helpful to adjusting to life in Lima. My host family was amazing and helped me feel at home immediately. The friendships I made through this program, and all of the great experiences I had made me fall in love with this beautiful country.