Program Reviews

This program offers the unique opportunity to study in two very different parts of the world as part of the same program. I liked how the program intertwined the lessons of the Northern Ireland Conflict with the current Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The professors for both parts of the program were well versed in their topic areas and had personal experiences that complemented the curriculum.

I had a fantastic time while abroad in Dublin. The FIE staff did a wonderful job of helping everyone get adjusted to the City by keeping us busy with fun activities. During your time there FIE brings you on a couple of field trips across Ireland, it is a beautiful country and the field trips let you see most of it. You are required to take an Irish life and Cultures class which is taught by a couple of fantastic professors. Overall the city is a good size and is filled with friendly people. Even though it got chilly at times hopping down to the local pub and getting a pint tended to solve the problem. During a typical day I would study at the Dublin Business School which introduced me to students from all around the world, the staff also set up activities during the week, like going to Rugby games or exploring a new part of the city with a guide. Some of the highlights of the trip were the people that I met and the new cultures that I ran into.

Studying abroad in London absolutely changed my life. I had not considered moving to and working in another country until I had studied abroad. Now I plan on moving back to London after graduation. I honestly never thought I would feel so independent and confident after having studied abroad. I truly miss London everyday.

I came to this program looking to gain knowledge and experience in the Irish life and culture. By the time I left, I was more than satisfied with what I had learned, who I had met, and what we had experienced together.
The FIE Dublin staff was incredibly helpful in getting us all adjusted to Irish life and were a great resource to go to throughout the semester. The planned trips with the program were not only fun, but also were great bonding and learning experiences. The program also did a great job of giving us the freedom to plan our schedules and semester as we wanted it.
In a typical week, I would attend classes at Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Business School, attend an extra-curricular activity such as going to the National Museum, go to a program sponsored activity such as "Trivia Night," and plan trips/excursions for the weekends.
Overall, I had an amazing experience living in the city of Dublin, traveling throughout the country of Ireland, and working with the FIE program.

My expectations were exceeded upon immediately arriving in London. FIE staff were extremely helpful and welcoming into our new home for the next couple months. Our housing was located in a flat across the street from Hyde park in the Kensington neighborhood of London. We were able to travel and get around London easily on the underground train or"tube". The people were friendly and there was always something exciting to do in London. I definitely recommend London and FIE if you're planning to study abroad in England.

I came from a military family and never got to see anything besides the East Coast of the U.S. I always had a urge to see the world and the people that also call it home. London was the city that crammed with more of the world than any other. FIE London made my accommodation and experience in this city incredible.

Many study abroad organizations are new and are thrown together to catch a growing wave of international student travel. You often hear of disaster experiences with study abroad programs that ruined the entire trip for students. FIE has been doing this for awhile and it was apparent for me in how well the operation was run.

Quick tips for London study:

- don't buy anything the semester before, become a hermit
- understand the program can offer you opportunities but it's on you to grab them and turn them into memories and experience
- budget, budget
- if you aren't sure, reach out to alumni. nearly all will be very willingly tell you about the experience, long as you're prepared for an ear full

The Experience:

The classes were held in the elegant and very safe neighborhood of South Kensington, right down the road from the (free!) Natural History Museum. This was a wild contrast from the North Philadelphia ghetto my school was located in.

We spent Monday - Wednesday studying British Media with professionals who have worked for organizations like the BBC and Al Jazeera. I took a travel writing class that involved field trips to London's hidden gems and writing about our travel experiences. Thursdays and Fridays were dedicated to internships if you choose that option.

What I liked most was seeing the complexity of the international world. A evening travel across the city can expose you two dozens of different languages and pass you by businesses, franchises and brands owned by nationalities from all corners of the global.

In all it's a special experience full of thrills and adventure. FIE acts as the perfect home base for your British/European expedition.

Living in a different country can be very difficult, a new neighborhood, a new dialect, but most importantly you're all by yourselve !

I moved from Germany to the US a few years ago and I decided to go London for a semester, thinking it would be nice to closer to home again. However, what I experienced was more than just the traveling, the partying and other typical things that happen studying abroad. I actually grew up !

London is a city that has very limited space and we students got put into housing in Chelsea, right at Kings Road. For those who don't know, this is quite the expensive area and is one of the safest area's in London. Life never stops on King's road, the grocery store is in walking distance, all the buses go downtown and I just miss living there every day since I left.
So how did all this change me ?

- Life is expensive in London, therefore cooking your own meals is the cheapest way to go
- Making my own decisions, like where do I travel next ?
- Interning in a different country/city, getting sent on some random tasks downtown, not having an idea where to find certain items is definitely a challenge. I remember taking a cab once asking my driver where I could find these items. (don't ever take a cab unless you're that desperate)

This list goes on and on, but I seriously forgot about all the problems I have back home. I had enough money saved up to do what I wanted, without asking my parents. I traveled so much, that I even fell in love with Scotland and I would do almost everything so that I could go back for Fall Break.

I had such great experience with this program and made so many friends that I traveled back there this summer and went to the new show from my internship and just wish I could relive this experience.

PS Don't forget that on a study abroad program you also have to study! All I can say is that the FIE professors are amazing people and I learned so much from them and I wish I could take more classes with them :)

I arrived in Kings Cross where I was scheduled to check in at Nido, our living accommodations while in London. Nido is a very modern building that is less than five years old. Not only were the thirty-three Temple University study abroad participants staying here, but students from all over the world. Despite finding my room to be the size of a shoe box, I was able to overlook the cramped living situation because it forced you to spend more time in the common rooms meeting diverse people from all different cultures.

As for the school part - I was thrilled to find out my that I would have Mondays off because this meant more time to take trips! On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I had classes like Travel Writing, English Broadcast Communications, and the London Olympics. On Thursday and Friday, those who had chosen to participate in an internship (me) would attend their place of work from 9am to 5pm. I was fortunate to be assigned to a beauty, health, and nutrition public relations agency called CCD PR. It was an intimidating experience, my first internship being in a whole new country that had different expectations of office culture, but I adjusted and learned a lot in the process.

Even though the class and work experience were wonderful, it was the traveling I did on the weekends that taught me the most. I took advantage of cheap flights, buses, and trains, traveling to Dublin, Paris, Bath, Rome, Florence, Venice, and a solo trip to Wales. I also stayed once the program was over and went to Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels, and Berlin. I spent some time solo while in Amsterdam and Bruges where I met an English girl who was traveling the same route as me. It was surprising how much I connected with her. It was extremely refreshing and when we parted ways, I knew she would be a very special part of my experience.