Program Reviews

Last summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad with SFS in Costa Rica, focusing on environmental justice and sustainable food systems. The program was hands on. We explored coffee and chocolate farms, learned about agroforestry, water managaement, and connected deeply with local communities. What made it unique was the combination of fieldwork, lectures, and cultural immersion. It wasn’t just observing, it was participating and adding moments of creativity as an art student. Future students should know they will gain practical skills and global perspectives that are well worth the travels.

Unforgettable summer in Tanzania. As a Wildlife Management student, I gained hands-on experience and invaluable insights into conservation practices, learning about Wildlife Management and Techniques, and delving into the fascinating animal behavior of Carnivores, Herbivores and Primstes found in Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park without forgetting Lake Manyara National Park Immersed in the breathtaking landscapes and rich culture Visited the Maasai Community and Hadzabe the only community that hunts and live bushlife found in Tanzania, I returned home inspired and equipped with practical skills from experienced Lectures in Conservation. Don't miss this life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Tanzania

This was hands down the best experience of my life! It was so incredible studying wildlife management with a group of like minded people from a variety of backgrounds. We saw so many different animals during our safaris. I was not expecting to see as many animals as we did, which was so amazing. We were also able to interact with the locals during our stay. By playing soccer, volleyball, and cards with the locals, we were able to bond with them and become immersed in the culture. The slow paced, sustainable lifestyle in Tanzania has changed the way I live and consume back home.

SFS Bhutan was the most incredible experience from start to finish. The classes were engaging, fun, and just so cool. The professors and center staff were amazing, and I loved the experiential learning aspects. We got to travel all around Bhutan, learning about/from different communities, practices, and traditions, and conduct research that let me hike the Himalayas and learn more about Bhutanese flora and fauna! Doing this program is the best decision I've ever made, I miss it so much and hope to go back to Bhutan some day! A once in a lifetime opportunity, I'm so glad I went.

I began the SFS Australia program with positive expectations, as it is costly and well promoted. Unfortunately, my experience was marked by disorganization, poor communication, and student well-being being disregarded.

Logistics were subpar from the start. The program repeatedly failed to provide students with important information in advance and sometimes left us poorly prepared for field work that required protective equipment or advance warning. At one point, due to botched travel plans, students were left without food for nearly 24 hours. This was an appalling failure of basic duty of care.

Academically, the program was uneven. Although some of the field activities were engaging, a lot of the content was presented in a hurried, disorganized fashion. Feedback was sporadic and, at times, capricious with marks not accurately reflecting engagement or quality of work. For instance, multiple academic staff members seemed not to have formal knowledge of film but were grading cinematography. No constructive feedback was given throughout the course itself.

Staff communication was usually brief and uninformative, and when students had issues, they were greeted with defensiveness instead of resolutions. For a program that costs as much as it does, the unprofessionalism was shocking.

In brief: SFS Australia did not live up to its promises either academically or in student care. I would highly recommend that potential students look to other field study programs that are serious about both learning and participant well-being.

Bocas del Toro, this program, and my cohort will always have a special place in my heart. This program is everything I could've wanted for my first study abroad program. Learned cool things but also just got to enjoy the country. I think the academic part of this program was well-balanced - it made you think but it wasn't super challenging to the point you felt like you were actually in school (lol). I liked that my cohort wasn't huge. No cliques or distinct "groups", everyone mingled with each other!!

The School for Field Studies gave me the opportunity to spend 4 months living and learning in the Peruvian Amazon, an experience I would never have gotten to have otherwise, and left me feeling connected both to local community members and to the 15 students I shared my semester with. What sets SFS apart is their immersive environmental/earth sciences approach, so you aren't just sitting in a classroom in a city but are spending your days hiking through the Amazon, identifying trees and analyzing soil samples, and spending weeks at a time at wildlife refuges or on boats identifying river dolphins on the Amazon river. Not only was this a unique and completely immersive way to study abroad, but it gave me more confidence to travel on my own afterwards! Most importantly, SFS really cares about fostering a positive environment with the surrounding communities and the impact that their program has on locals and students alike. They make sure that students are taking language and culture classes and interacting with life outside the classroom as much as possible. Can't recommend this experience enough!

My time in Peru was an absolutely transformative experience. I met so many amazing people, both fellow students, professors, and locals from nearby communities. Living in the amazon was truly special, being surrounded by the natural beauty and peacefulness every day was a huge boon. Though potential applicants should be aware that the remoteness plays a significant factor. The people you will interact with on a daily basis will be the ones you live with on-site. Electricity and internet connection can be pretty sporadic. The meals you eat on a daily basis all come from the on-site chef, they accommodate diets and allergies but you don't get to decide what to eat. Don't worry! Jorge was an amazing cook and I devoured every single one of his meals. You will get the opportunity to visit many different sites around Peru both in the amazon and up in the mountains. The cultural and environmental exposure was second to none, and I have been craving to go back ever since I left. Classes took up a good portion of the week, but the workload isn't anything crazy, I actually had my best semester of grades here. Study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I chose this program because I may never get another opportunity to do something like this again, and I am absolutely thrilled with my decision.

Saw some of the most amazing landscapes and animals I will probably ever see, and learned a great deal about them. Tsavo West/Chyulu Hills National Parks in Kenya and Kilimanjaro (we just did a day hike) in Tanzania were my favorites.

Although the classes were exceptional and I learned quite a lot within the advertised topics, I think the part that will stick with me the longest is experiencing, observing, and reflecting on humanity and society at many different points. Overall, I learned a lot, learned that there is so much more out there, but also that there is so much to live and see wherever you are.

I loved this program! I did the summer one in 2019, it was so so fun. It was a great way to experience Panama on both the Pacific Coast and in the Bocas del Toro region. Because it is focusing on sustainable tourism we got to visit a cloud forest, coffee plantation, cacao plantation, and green resorts, go surfing and spend many days snorkeling in the archipelago.
The program wasn't that academically challenging in terms of rigorous course work, but the life skills and the adventures had make it well worth while!