Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Lyon with USAC was easily one of the most rewarding experiences I had in college. The program felt organized and supportive without ever being overbearing, which made it easy to settle in and start exploring. The staff were approachable and genuinely cared about our experience, whether it was helping with classes or just giving local recommendations. Lyon itself is such a vibrant, livable city with incredible food, beautiful river views, and so much history around every corner. My classes were interesting and manageable, leaving plenty of time to travel, practice French, and build real friendships. I left feeling more confident, independent, and grateful for the experience.

I studied abroad in Prague for the second summer session during 2025, and it was an unforgettable experience. Prague is an absolutely gorgeous city and USAC gave me the chance to live in it for a period of time. The class I took (Architecture) took us to so many museums, churches, castles, and art galleries, most of which I probably wouldn’t have known about if not for the class. The professor, Milan, was so kind and knowledgeable, and so was every staff there (like Dasa and Jan.) If you decide to study in gorgeous Prague, you MUST do the Budapest/Vienna tour. It was a truly amazing trip and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

I was the only Japanese student participating in USAC's San Sebastian program. Living in Spain with English-speaking friends and facing a language barrier was a difficult experience at the time, but I also learned a lot, and I can say that those were the days I worked hardest and felt the most confident of my life.

Everything was new during my time in Spain, and I studied hard every day and communicated with many different people. My time in Spain influenced my career path and way of thinking, and I began to dream of becoming someone who can be active internationally. Even after returning home from Spain, I continue to keep in touch with my friends and teachers. I used to be shy, but now I can speak three or more languages ​​and I feel like I've discovered a new side of myself. I'm grateful to have been able to spend such wonderful days in the beautiful city of San Sebastian. I'm glad I chose USAC's program!

When deciding where to study abroad I knew I wanted to go as far away as I could from home! Melbourne is the most beautiful city I have ever visited. The process of getting there and accustomed to my classes and lifestyle was easy for me. There wasn't any time where I felt like I didn't have someone there for me. My advisors In Australia and at home continued to be there for me when I reached out.

Studying at Deakin gave me the chance to take incredible hands-on media courses and even experience the process of live television production. The combination of academic support, creative opportunities, and the welcoming culture in Melbourne made this program truly unforgettable. I left feeling more confident, independent, and inspired than when I arrived, and I’d recommend this experience to anyone looking for a meaningful, immersive study abroad journey.

Also, there were many times where I did things alone and thought I was doing something wrong, but that is further from the truth. I didn't limit my daily activities because a friend was busy, I did it anyways and always met someone new and overall felt more confident.

What made my experience at Yonsei University unique was how unexpectedly cared for I felt. Studying abroad with Type 1 diabetes had me a little nervous going in, but it turns out I worried for nothing. My professors were incredibly kind and understanding and treated me more like family.

My friends were just as amazing — always checking in, making sure I ate, and casually looking out for me like it was their part-time job. Somewhere along the way, Seoul stopped feeling “foreign” and started feeling like home.

Yonsei and the city felt very safe, which meant I could focus on enjoying the experience instead of stressing. Future participants should know that if you show up with an open mind (if you know the meme), you’ll find a community that truly has your back — snacks, support, and all.

I started my program in September 2024, and it lasted three and a half months. It has truly been one of the best experiences of my life. The city is perfect for this kind of experience, with the right balance between an international atmosphere and a local context. In addition, the staff and the program were very well organized, and the staff was extremely kind and supportive. Dasa, Jan, and all the professors were always available and helpful. The program also regularly organized great day trips and visits to cities and locations in Prague, across the Czech Republic, and even abroad.

USAC Lyon was an amazing experience! Months before I even arrived there was so much support from the USAC staff. They provided us with guidance on virtually every logistical thing you could imagine, which made the transition to living in a new country as easy as possible. The program was small but the students were friendly and it was easy to make friends. The class load was more than most people probably expect while abroad (french class 4 hours every day and other required classes) but there are options to customize, and my french improved enormously after the intensive program. Lyon is a beautiful city, it is not overwhelmingly big but there is still a lot to do and I was never bored. Traveling by train from Lyon is super easy, but flying is sometimes inconvenient because the airport is small and there aren't many direct flights. I highly recommend this program!

I am so grateful that I was able to go on this study abroad because not only did it enable me to grow personally into a more confident and disciplined student but it also provided me an opportunity to conduct research and volunteer abroad. Thanks to the amazing on-site staff that set me up with the group choir, a volunteer English teaching program and research opportunities I was able to put all of those on my resume and now as a graduating senior I am a Fulbright semifinalist. Also with the research I began with Chile I was able to receive a research grant from my Univeristy to go back to Chile. I attribute all of these opportunities to the USAC program and structure. Studying abroad especially through USAC can set you up for your profession career while having an amazing time meeting new people while you're at it!

Studying abroad in Japan through USAC was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve made in college. Before going, I was excited but also nervous about the language barrier and whether I’d feel out of place, but USAC made the transition way smoother than I expected. From orientation to day-to-day support, it felt like there was always someone I could reach out to if I needed help. One of the best things was all the help in preparation, and getting everything I would need like paperwork or luggage and amenities etc, it all helped me be les nervous before and provide help once I got there.

I traveled to Alicante through USAC in the summer of 2022. Often times I reflect back on my time in Spain wishing I had spent more time. The flopping year I brought my mom and sister to Alicante. My Spanish grew incredibly and so did my confidence. I would highly recommend traveling with USAC. They are the best!! The friends I made were wonderful. It was scary going to a new country and not knowing anyone but everyone was so welcoming. Last year my sister studied abroad as well and had a wonderful time. Could not recommend enough!!