Program Reviews

Studying abroad in London through FIE was one of the best college experience for me. I lived in the Manson place which was located in South Kensington. It was within walking distance from class and close by to the tube station. This made things more convenient. I felt safe walking back late at night .

Through FIE, they offered many fun trips. The Wales weekend trip was one of my favorite because it was well planned out and I got to jump off cliffs. How cool is that? I loved the adrenaline rush! The view of the coastline was breathtaking. I highly recommend this trip.

The staffs at FIE are very nice and understanding. They were all very welcoming and are willing to help resolve any problems. If I could do this again, I would!

I attended this program in 2012 when it was structured a bit differently -- first two weeks in London, not Dublin, and I added the extra 4 weeks of Arabic instruction in Amman. The entire experience was eye-opening. Our professor on the Troubles was deeply knowledgeable but approachable and friendly, helped me learn a lot about a conflict I was unfamiliar with. And I got to see so many perspectives on different issues in the Middle East. I enjoyed class discussions with my classmates, all of whom were from different backgrounds and came with different expectations -- I'm still friends with several of them to this day. I loved my host family. Living in Jordan was an adjustment, and I'm not sure it's somewhere I'd ever want to live again, but this was a unique experience and one that I think really affected my chosen career path in ways I didn't expect it would.

I truly cannot say enough positive things about this program. As cliche as it sounds, my semester in Dublin was easily the most life changing four months of my life. Nothing quite prepares you for how challenging it is to abandon everything familiar and immerse yourself in a new social and academic culture. But with this great challenge comes and immense payoff. I think I grew more as a person from this single semester than all of my semesters of college combined.

While the entire program was excellent, there were two things that, for me, really made it stand out. The first was the study tours and extracurricular activities. While classroom learning is great, the opportunity to immerse oneself in the culture and the country itself is invaluable and unforgettable. The study tours were a fantastic opportunity to see more of the country we called home for a short time and also brought to life many of the things we'd learned in the classroom. Ireland is also such a beautiful country that, aside from being academically valuable, the study tours were awe inspiring for their beauty as well.

The second thing that brought this program to the next level was the personal contact with the FIE staff. Dublin stole my heart from the very beginning, but it was this individual and hands on contact that really made it feel like home. FIE staff were always available via a variety of platforms if we had any questions, concerns, or just wanted someone to chat with. They were genuinely invested in our experience and that made all the difference.

This semester abroad was eye opening and life changing in more ways than one. I walked away with a better understanding of myself, a new career path (international education), useful and marketable skills, and a greater understanding of the world around me, and for this I am extremely grateful.

I have studied abroad before, which was the best experience of my life. I was very exited for the opportunity to study abroad again, especially with an internship. The school is located in a great area, but the housing itself desperately needs updating. The school crams as many students as possible into each flat. There are cleaning staff that clean the flats each week but they barely touch anything and the house got so dirty to the point that several girls were grossed out walking into the common areas. The classes themselves were okay (lots of field trips) except that the school does not have many accreditations and so a lot of the classes offered were not accepted by my school. The internship office is not as good as they make it out to be. Only 10% of the people from the program were satisfied with their internships. Several of us got such poor internship placements that we cannot put them on our resume. This is the sole reason that I chose this program, but had I know the truth I definitely would have not done it. The social scene is good. If you find the right group of people, then you will have a great time- there is always plenty of things to do in London. They give you a free oyster card which saves a lot of money! If you are looking to go somewhere just for fun, this is the right program. However, if you are looking for a program that will help you to grow personally and professionally, this is definitely not the right program. Although I did enjoy myself, I was thoroughly misled and dissapointed by my experience in this program.

My experience with FIE in Dublin was more than anything I could have asked for and I am having a hard time with how to begin. Dublin is filled with some of the greatest and friendliest people I have ever encountered and the staff at FIE is definitely included in this group. From the moment I stepped off the plane their smiling faces were there ready to support me in my study abroad experience and I cannot thank them enough for everything they did. Thanks to them I was able to explore all corners of Ireland, experience international classes, take my learning outside of the classroom with my internship, and do it all with newfound friends. I am so thankful for my experience in Dublin and have memories and lessons that will last me a lifetime.

Going abroad was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I knew I always wanted to study abroad but never knew I could actually do it. Being immersed in the culture with other students from the states made the transition much easier and I made friendships that will last a lifetime. The experiences I made were ones I will never forget, not to mention the many lessons I was taught. I couldn't have asked for a better group or a better abroad experience, thanks to all the people who were apart of it.

Studying abroad in Dublin was the biggest challenge of my life. I learned more about myself than I ever thought I could, met other students from all over the USA and from Ireland, and saw parts of the world that took my breath away. Through every challenge and triumph, I had the support of a truly amazing FIE staff. The friends I made studying in Dublin are friends I will have for life, no matter the distance. It was really cool to be able to take classes with Irish students my age, and the classes I took at Dublin Business School were directly relevant to my major and career goals, fun and interactive. Being able to see the entire country of Ireland, coast to coast with FIE and my new friends was an experience unlike any other. It is a beautiful country with the friendliest and most fun people. Dublin is definitely a modernizing city, and coupled with the history of the area was such a cool place to live abroad. I was able to see eight countries in my time abroad, as well as get to know the city of Dublin really well since we lived in apartments instead of on a campus, which I found to be a unique and exciting part of the experience.

Spending the semester with FIE Dublin was easily the best decision I have ever made in my life. FIE was so helpful and made sure we felt right at home in our new city. The program directors created such an inviting atmosphere that I immediately made connections with every person in the Program. I can honestly say the other FIE students are now my best friends and we still keep in touch every day.
The most memorable experiences I had abroad were the trips FIE planned for us. It was amazing to experience parts of Ireland with everyone on our trip, whether it was a weekend trip, or an afternoon tour in Dublin, it was exciting and interesting.
I would recommend studying abroad with FIE Dublin to anyone. I definitely found my happy place in Ireland.

The experience FIE provided was unlike any other. The staff were extremely supportive, ensuring we had everything we needed to make our experience fantastic. I have never felt such a sense of home away from home, with the activities they organize, the way residence life is set up to maximize social interaction, and the sheer kindness of the people who lead the program. The staff at FIE make sure that your time in Dublin exceeds your expectations and if you want an outstanding study abroad experience I highly recommend choosing FIE Dublin.

My decision to become an international student was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I give a lot of credit to Dublin and the entire FIE staff for making that happen. Many students say they will have a major culture shock and feel uncomfortable abroad, but I never felt that way with this program. Every staff member made me feel right at home in Dublin. Even on the first day, the staff members act as if they have known you your entire life and are so welcoming. They would go out of their way to make me feel comfortable during my time abroad. For example, I got sick for a few days during the semester and was a little unsure and nervous about how to go about seeing a doctor and about missing class. One of the program directors, Pauline, walked me to the doctors, helped me through the whole process, and made me feel so relaxed about the whole situation. She went beyond her job description to make sure that I was okay and that I would feel better. Acts like that make you feel like you are a part of a family in this program. Not a day goes by that I do not miss Dublin, and the wonderful people in FIE.