Program Reviews

Studying abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made. My time in Australia was truly life changing due to the seemingly endless opportunities that prevailed allowing me to continue to push myself out of my comfort zone while gaining new perspectives from individuals of all walks of life. I chose The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) as my program provider due to their focus on Oceania where they helped me narrow down the options until I found Murdoch University in Perth, WA which ended up being an exceptional fit. I received help every step of the way and felt in good hands due to the responsiveness of the program coordinators. The extensive Welcome Week in Cairns, QLD allowed me to check several things off my bucket list such as sky diving and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. The traditional Welcome to Country from the local Indigenous people was a very unique experience and even included boomerang throwing and a smudging ceremony followed by song and traditional foods. Sharing these experiences with peers in the program allowed me to connect with them instantly and many ended up becoming close friends throughout the entire semester. I gained more knowledge on Australia’s history, political system, and cultural differences during our meetings and felt better prepared before departing for my host city and uni.

Once in my host city of Perth, WA I immediately realized the way of life was much more relaxed than what I was used to, especially due to the laid back atmosphere of Fremantle Harbor and the relatively less crowded city of Perth. All the people I met and spoke to from WA were extremely laid back and welcoming and friends were easy to make. I was extremely fortunate to see so much of beautiful Western Australia due to two road trips when combined covered nearly all of the Western coastline. Giant Tingle Trees, cave lakes, rolling vineyards, and endless rock formations define the Southwest region of WA for myself and my friends. Later in the semester, a second road trip offered by Murdoch University for study abroad students would be referred to as “the Northwest Trip” by everyone who attended which encompassed a massive proportion of northwest Western Australia with highlights of snorkeling in Turquoise Bay, a traditional Aussie BBQ in the outback of Karijini National Park while dingos howled at the full moon, and serene coastal views that occasionally included a whale’s caudal fin.

If you are thinking about studying abroad, I recommend taking whatever steps necessary and just do it. You will not regret the experience and wherever you end up will be an enjoyable experience as long as you keep an open mind, step outside of your comfort zone, push yourself when the coursework is stressful, and be a good friend to others. The experience will unfold itself and before you know it you will be established with a new life just as it is time to pack your bags and return home. You will get homesick and you will experience tough situations when adjusting to the new country, school, and friendships but the connections you gain and the memories you will make outweigh the negatives. Nothing will have changed when you return home so you might as well take the chance.

I participated in a 6-month study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain where I took courses with the locals about topics related to my linguistics major. At first, I was terrified of leaving behind my seemingly perfect life in the US. But as soon as I arrived, I knew I had made the right choice.
Salamanca was a beautiful city that was very different from every other place I have lived. I stayed with a host family in a lovely apartment and although the language barrier was tricky in the beginning, the host mom quickly became my best friend. She helped me pick my outfits for school, she taught me how to cook some delicious meals, and she made my transition into a new culture fun and simple.
Over the course of my stay there, my Spanish language skills improved tremendously. I never thought I would become fluent, but after being surrounded by the language every day I started to think and even dream in Spanish. The coursework was definitely challenging but it was also incredibly interesting and the program staff was always available to help me. I felt like I learned more in my 6 months there than I had in my 5 years of studying Spanish in the US.
Not only did I grow academically from this trip but I also grew as a person. Living in a different country and having to adapt to a new culture expanded my mind in ways I wasn't expecting. I met amazing people from all over the world and I gained confidence that allowed me to take on challenges that I would have previously seen as too intimidating.
I had so much fun during my study abroad experience and I made so many best friends that I decided to spend the summer in Europe after my program ended. I traveled to almost all of the nearby countries and I began to see the world with a new perspective.
If I had the chance, I would do this all over again!

I decided to go abroad for a whole semester and didn’t really know a ton of people from my school going. Definitely was nervous and excited at first but ended up meeting so many friends and we still get together and go on trips! Barcelona is definitely the place to be, its beauty, nightlife, and culture is something everyone should experience. We also got to travel just about every weekend but loved our time in Barcelona so much! I wouldn’t be the person I am today with out experiencing a whole semester of learning, laughing and truly living. Best time of my life.

It was simply the best time of my life. Finally got the opportunity to visit so many places in Europe. I got to learn & expand my knowledge of spanish as well. Being able to travel relatively cheaply is awesome as well. The BCN airport is super easy to get to & always has flights to anywhere. The schooling was great as well. Most of the professors speak great english & are super useful for anything! The Barcelona metro system is great as well. It really can get you anywhere. The tourist attractions in Barcelona are second to none.

This was by far one of the greatest experiences of my life. Everything from traveling within Thailand to other countries in South East Asia was incredibly Immersive. One of the best things by far during my time in Thailand was being able to connect with the locals and other students. Everyone was so kind and open minded it really made meeting people very easy. The support system that TEAN provided truly made the transition from America to Asia seamless. Having someone with us in Thailand to be there to answer any questions or concerns was extremely valuable to have especially when needing to communicate to the locals. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about TEAN abroad and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see Thailand.

My semester in Gold Coast was one of the best things I have ever done. I learned so much about different cultures that have come from all over the world to this one area and I was able to live a different lifestyle from what I was used to in the best way possible. I got to explore new places, food, wildlife, and traditions, all while meeting new friends that I will have forever. I would recommend this program to anyone who asks and could tell stories about all of the things I got to experience that I had only dreamed of.

I had the most incredible semester studying at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. The TEAN crew were so helpful, with an orientation trip and lots of local excursions to explore the area and meet other students also studying abroad. It was through them that I got to meet one of my closest friends and now roommate! The leaders were always available to answer questions and provide support, even staff in other cities would help provide travel tips for me when visiting another city. In addition, Sydney was such a stunning place. I was not only able to explore some gorgeous locations, I got to connect with locals and pick up some lessons of the culture (and some slang) along the way. Overall, I would say this experience made me more confident in my own independence, a lesson that has been valuable even after I returned. I cannot recommend this experience enough, ever since I got home I've been counting down the days until I can go back.

I did a semester abroad with ISA after dreaming about living in Paris my entire life. Before arrival in Paris, I was assigned to an apartment with 5 other girls, which initially scared me because I didn’t know any of them and hadn’t chosen the apartment. Not only did they turn out to become best friends who I still talk to regularly, but the apartment was also beautiful & in a safe location!
I also loved the university, classes were interesting and challenging - but not too intense that I couldn’t go out & enjoy Paris + take time to travel.
When my time got cut short because of Covid, I was heartbroken, but there was nothing to be done - and I’m still incredibly grateful for the time I did get!

International Studies Abroad went over the top with my program. They felt like my far away-from-home family. The staff and the students were very supportive and friendly. Everyone was happy to be there and wanted to share whatever knowledge they had. Everything was planned out great and they were on top of everything. There isn't much at all I would recommend changing out the program. They were there for me and made sure I was having the best time I could be having. They were able to show us around the city and help get us settled in for our new life for the next 4 months.

This program met all of my expectations for a study abroad and more! As somebody who does not speak french and has barely traveled Europe, I was extremely nervous about studying in Paris. However, ISA did a great job connecting everyone in the program which made it easy to make friends. They also held info sessions that contained all the information you will need for the semester, such as metro information, upcoming events, trendy restaurants and bars, and places to visit. The trips that ISA planned were the perfect balance of structured events and free time. I chose to live in an apartment that ISA arranged for me, and it had everything that I needed and was in a great location in the 11th arrondissement about 10 minutes from ABS. Also do not be too nervous about the language, as long as you put in some effort and show respect, you will be treated very nicely in Paris.