Program Reviews

Nearly 10,000 miles away from the familiarity of NYC, I could not wait to spend a whole semester abroad at NYU Sydney to immerse myself in a completely new culture. Upon arriving to Sydney, I was amazed at the liveliness of the city as I sat in a cab from the airport. I was incredibly excited to gain global awareness and expand my cultural horizons through this new experience of spending my fall semester at NYU Sydney. Additionally, I truly enjoyed all my classes because professors were engaging and very understanding of the fact that we all wanted to experience as much of the city as we could in the short amount time that we had. Thus, they took us on several field trips that allowed us to learn through exploring several areas of Sydney. Outside of academic field trips, the faculty also planned excursions around Sydney, such as an overnight trip to the Blue Mountains. These trips truly allowed me to make the best of my time abroad by venturing to several different sites that I might not have been able to plan for on my own. Overall, the academic life abroad was both enlightening and manageable which provided the perfect balance of learning and exploring Australia. My semester abroad in Sydney was filled illuminating experiences that truly deepened my education as an NYU student and my growth as person.

I love going to school at NYU Paris. My French has greatly improved and the school does a great job at creating a fun educational atmosphere. We go on trips around France as well as excursions in Paris that help us really take advantage of the perks that come along with being in a new country and culture. The classes are nicely interactive with lots of great conversations and we often take the learning outside of the classroom by going to art shows or exploring a part of Paris related to what we are learning.

The NYU Paris semester abroad program is amazing! The amount of immersion you have with the language and the culture is up to you, but the staff and faculty are amazing and always willing to help students find the best experience for them. Paris is centrally located to be able to do a lot of great travelling, but there's also so much to do in the city that it will be hard to decide whether to stay or go on the weekends! NYU gets students tickets for a variety of cultural events like operas and concerts throughout the semester that are great; there are a few overnight trips each semester too that always include a multi-course French meal. Academically, the classes are demanding but manageable, and many of them will utilize the museums around the city in the curriculum. The program is pretty small, especially in the fall, which is a nice change from NYU in New York. I would recommend this program to anyone - this program is definitely once in a lifetime and I will never forget the experiences I had and the people I met here.

To those of you who may be on the fence about studying abroad, do it! My time spent in Paris can only be described as incredible! It is a great city to live in (museums, parks, teather, concerts, nightlife...), as well as to travel around. With airports, trains and buses the whole of Europe is easily accessible. During daily life I got to indulge in fresh, buttery breads, rich cheeses and fine wines. I not only observed the hustle and bustle of daily life but actually lived it; experiencing the city as any French student would. I was welcomed by a warm and friendly community wherever I would go and I met many people whom I would consider friends for life. The NYU Paris staff did a great job of making this easy by organizing all the logistics behind the scenes so that I could truly focus on the experience. They were always there to help whether it be for a major emergency or just to provide a smiling face and a place to chat over a cup of coffee. Meeting students who came from all corners of the world really helped give me a better global perspective and the teachers are all invested in the success of their students.This has been by far one of the most influential experiences of my life.

This program has an exceptional staff who do a great job at making students feel at home overseas. They offer trips to other countries, cultural events, and a top notch teaching department. The dorms are within 25 minutes by the RER and the school location is in the beart of Paris. We're five minutes from Notre Dame and right by the RER which gives access to most of the city. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to spend a semester in Paris

I was very nervous about going to Accra. Since it is such a different culture than in NYC, I was apprehensive about how I was going to fit in. I didn't really know anyone when I went there and was in a foreign country. Yikes! It turns out, though, that everyone was feeling the same way. Almost no one knew each other from before so it was ok. I met my roommate during orientation but that's it. Our house ended up having dinners together every single night and we would sit there for about 2 hours just talking about our lives and opinions. Sometimes, it got very heated because we had some girls who had such differing opinions. This was great, though, to see the differences that we had in the house of 7 girls. We all got super close and ended up sharing so much about ourselves to each other. This house was a great bonding experience for us because we were all forced into this house with people we never met and we had to all hang out together. We were always in the living room because it had the best wifi so it was hard to get work done but it all got done somehow. I still talk to and hang out with the friends that I met there and I'm so happy of the placement of our house.
Besides the housing situation, I loved the people that I met in Ghana. They are always so friendly and open and willing to talk to you. I was taking Twi at UG-Legon. Ghana is so different than other countries because the locals really love when you try to speak to them in Twi. They get so excited and happy, where it has been my experience in other countries-especially Europe-where they don't like people who can't speak their language fluently. The Ghanaians that I met were so willing to show us around and lead us to great local eateries and establishments that we would have never found otherwise. One thing to note is that the girls won't really speak to us but mainly the men; they are more open and friendly. The girls are less friendly because they are more intimidated by us.
I also traveled outside of Ghana and went to a small island called Sao Tome for spring break. This was a great experience for me and my 2 friends. Since they mainly speak Portuguese and French, we were getting along okay. My friend and I speak French a little and my other friend speaks Spanish and was able to translate mostly in Portuguese. This island was so beautiful and we were able to explore it with the guidance of a local man who worked at the hotel. He was very friendly and open to showing us all around.
Overall, the experience was amazing and I encountered so many new people and situations that I never would have before. I am so glad that I was able to go on this experience and would definitely recommend it for anyone who is hesitant about it.

My experience at NYU Accra was one that I will never forget. While, at times, living in Accra was not easy, the staff at NYU Global Programs worked tirelessly to ensure that the study abroad experience was enjoyable. NYU Accra is one of the most unique study abroad sites, as our living situation is very unique. The program is very small so we live in houses, rather than dorms, which fostered a larger sense of community among students and staff. The girls who were in my house became, and are still, some of my best friends. We also have a meal plan or sorts, in which we our fridges are stocked bi-weekly with breakfast/lunch items and dinner is provided for us every night. Generally, we were constantly supported by the staff; they taught us everything we needed to know, from how to navigate a completely different social dynamic to how to get around in a geographical terrain that was foreign to us. They supported us in all of our academic pursuits, both in the classroom and in experiential learning settings, like our internships. We went on various field trips throughout the semester that were all extremely well planned and executed. The trips were all so worthwhile, as I was able to learn so much about Ghanaian culture through them. I think overall, though, my general experience of the lively and amazing city of Accra was due to the people I met and engaged with outside of NYU. Taking courses at the University of Ghana, including The Rights and Protection of Women and Children and Traditional Drumming, was a huge part of finding community beyond NYU. For anyone interested in studying abroad at NYU Accra, I would say, above all, try to make the most out of your experience by really getting to know the city and the country. You will not regret it. NYU Accra changed my life. I am stronger than I have ever been. I am now much more open to new things. I learned more about myself in the four months I spent in Ghana than in the accumulation of all my years at NYU.

I had a great experience spending my summer abroad in Madrid, Spain. I was able to really engage in my classes because of how much I was also learning outside of the classroom from being located in Madrid. I traveled to many other countries while also spending time exploring all Madrid has to offer. I loved my teachers and learned so much from them, I still see one of my teachers from the summer often, as he is located in New York now as well. The staff was very welcoming and made up of a tight knit community always willing to help. My summer in Madrid was a formative experience both in and out of the classroom and I would highly recommend the program to others!

I spent the spring 2017 semester as a sophomore at NYU Washington DC, and I would say this semester was the highlight of my college experience so far. The entire study away program at NYU DC is really well done; for one, the student life staff, professors, and administration work very hard to create a sense of community within the program, and by the time I was over, I truly felt like we were all part of one huge family. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes I took there, which were challenging and fascinating, as everything was set against the backdrop of politics and democracy because we were living and learning in the nation's capital. I am a public policy major, so it was really great to have so many politics and policy oriented classes, shaped by amazing class discussions from peers who also cared deeply about politics, regardless of their technical views. My favorite part of my experience, though, was my internship. I worked as a legislative intern in the United States Senate for a Senator from my home state and I loved every moment of that experience. All of my friends in the program also loved their internships and felt like they learned a lot from them. I actually made some of my very best friends ever through the program. I recommend the program to any and all of my friends, whether they are politics or policy majors or not, because the energy, community, and learning experiences at NYU Washington DC are really amazing.

Having never traveled to any African country before, I immediately jumped at the chance to spend a semester in Ghana through NYU. Every expectation I had for the program was blown out of the water. NYU's Office of Global Programs did a fantastic job of ensuring we were ready for our departure by hosting orientations, events, and connecting us with students who previously studied abroad in Ghana. Additionally, my travel nurse at the NYU Health Center answered all of my questions regarding vaccines and malaria medication.
The NYU Accra staff was equally incredible; everyone was approachable, knowledgeable, and helpful. Their investment in our experiences and well-being was obvious, as they often solicited feedback, checked in with us, and went above & beyond in ensuring that we had all the resources we needed for a successful semester. Provisions included nightly dinner Monday–Friday, a fully-stocked fridge and pantry, cleaning services for our houses (which were beautiful), and van service to the University of Ghana, among others.
We lived in 4 identical houses on a compound, which was monitored by a very kind security staff. The girls I lived with became my best friends in the program and some of my best friends at college in general. The houses are spacious, air-conditioned, and equipped with Wi-Fi.
Because NYU Accra is a smaller program (10-25 students a semester), NYU organizes several trips throughout the semester, including visits to Cape Coast, a rural village, and Kumasi. These trips are meticulously planned and executed beautifully. They included several excursions, many of which were to notable locations like Kakum National Park or Elmina Castle. Other visits, such as the homestay in a rural village, were experiences unique to NYU Accra because of the local staff's connections and outreach.
Academically, I really enjoyed my semester abroad. The NYU Accra academic center is a short walk from our housing facility, so getting to class was never an issue. I took 3 courses through NYU, but my favorite class was my Traditional African Drumming class at the University of Ghana. I also really enjoyed Globalization and the Developing World. My internship at a junior high school was a beneficial experience as well.
I was also able to visit São Tomé over spring break – as I was based in Accra, the flight was only about 2 hours. Many of my other friends went to Europe because of Ghana's proximity to several European countries. Other trips I took included Mole National Park and Wli Falls. Accra is also a particularly fun city on weekends – the nightlife is great! Another unique aspect of NYU Accra is the connection to local seamstresses, who can make any custom article of clothing you may want. Fabric can be purchased from them or at any of the numerous markets throughout Ghana.
I would advise bringing some American gift items for any hosts or other people you may meet. Do not bother bringing much insect repellent – the repellent sold in Ghana works much better than what I brought from the States. Make sure to pack and wear sunscreen. Most importantly, take advantage of every opportunity you're given, and seek out more on your own! There is so much to do and see – don't miss any of it.