Program Reviews

Studying abroad with CET Siena has been one of the most meaningful academic and personal experiences of my college career. Siena offered a rare balance of rigorous coursework and deep cultural immersion that pushed me to grow far beyond the classroom. Living in a historic city where daily life unfolds among medieval streets, local markets, and centuries old traditions made my studies feel tangible and alive rather than abstract. CET’s academic structure encouraged critical thinking, discussion, and direct engagement with Italian history, politics, and culture, while the small class sizes allowed for close relationships with professors who were deeply invested in our learning.

Equally impactful was the way CET emphasized integration into local life. From language practice and housing to excursions and community engagement, the program consistently encouraged us to step outside our comfort zones and build independence. I gained confidence navigating a new culture, communicating in another language, and forming connections with people from different backgrounds. CET Siena did not just offer a study abroad experience, it provided a transformative environment that reshaped how I learn, travel, and understand the world.

Studying abroad in Siena has been one of the most rewarding experiences I could’ve hoped for. As someone who prefers a small city where you can truly soak in the history and culture, Siena felt like the perfect fit from day one. Every walk through the medieval streets feels intentional, and the rhythm of life here makes it easy to slow down and appreciate where you are.

The food alone could justify coming. Good meals are abundant, whether it’s fresh pasta from a neighborhood restaurant or a simple sandwich or pizza enjoyed on a quiet piazza. Living with local Italian roommates has made the experience even richer; they’ve quickly become good friends and are always eager to share their favorite spots and traditions.

As a university town, Siena has a great energy: lively but never overwhelming. The class offerings are both engaging and relevant—Sienese Art and Architecture, in particular, makes you feel so much more immersed in the city itself. And no matter the day, there’s always something to do or not do. You can be out and active, grab a glass of wine with friends, or stay in and enjoy relaxing with friends.

This past semester was such a time of growth for me, and was full of many rewarding experiences. Taipei is such a cool city to explore and Taiwan itself is such a unique place to live/travel in. For me, the academics of this program were fairly difficult and I won’t sugarcoat that. I did the intensive language program and took one of their harder elective classes (Cross-Strait Relations Between Taiwan and China), so most of my weeks were spent studying in coffee shops or the library. In comparison to my American University it was not as difficult, but I think it is still harder than most study abroad programs. However, my Chinese professor was kind and was willing to help in any way so we could succeed in her class. My Mandarin improved a lot from speaking 3 hours a day in class to speaking with friends and local roommates. Also, I definitely had plenty of time to explore the island and be involved in student clubs/activities I was interested in! For example, I practiced with the NTU tennis team and practiced with them once a week, was involved in RUF, and volunteered at the NTU Hospital once a week- all things that enriched my experience in Taiwan! CET also offers program led activities as well which I highly recommend taking advantage of, these allow you to learn more about Taiwanese culture, food, and history! My last piece of advice, travel as much as possible!! Taiwan is such a diverse place in what each of its cities/regions have to offer, so take advantage of where you are!

CET Barcelona truly offered it all from rigorous, but flexible academics to countless cultural activities. If you are looking for a study abroad experience that balances academics and fun, this is the perfect program for you!

My days in Barcelona were spent going to classes with beach breaks in between and nights exploring the city. I loved living in a city where the activities felt endless. Here, you can go paddle surfing, take a pottery class, do yoga, and learn how to dance the bachata. However, you should definitely explore the places close to Barcelona like Stiges, Montserrant, and Girona!

I studied abroad with CET Florence in Spring 2025 and now in my senior year, I can confidently say it was one of the best and most impactful experiences of my entire time in college. Prior to coming to Florence, I had never left the U.S., so in every way my expectations were exceeded. Florence is a beautiful city with a rich history, and the professors do a great job of revealing the deeper history and culture with the many classes on area topics. It's a great home base; don't take it for granted. Examples of classes I took included Renaissance Art + Architecture, the Medici, and History of Modern Italy, many of which involving field trips to museums and churches. I stayed in an apartment but doing a homestay is also an option, and by the end I became great friends with my roommates and have kept in touch with them and other friends I made abroad since.

Three-day weekends were very conducive for personal travel, if you so choose. There is much to see within Italy and much of Europe is easily accessible. Italian is helpful to learn in advance but the program was all in English so fluency is not a requirement (I'm only a high A2/low B1 speaker after three months in Italy + a year of prior study). My only caution is that Florence is very touristy, especially in the warmer months, and there are many other study abroad programs, so it is easy to spend a few months there and not interact very deeply with the local culture, but if you are intentional you can certainly achieve this and the program can help you with events like getting dinner with a local family. Italy is known for its food for a reason, and cooking at home as well as going out to restaurants were an absolute joy - everything is so fresh.

Overall, I recommend CET Florence if you are considering going abroad. The on-site staff is incredible, and when else might you get the opportunity to spend multiple months living in, not just visiting, another country?

CET Japan provides the opportunity to immerse yourself and the Japanese language and culture in the great city of Osaka, Japan. The program provides intensive and Immersive curriculum only in Japanese that truly accelerates language acquisition. I had the opportunity to do the program and 2 separate summer semesters and take both the 2nd year class and the 4th year class, in both instances I felt that In the short two months I was in Japan I improved my Japanese more than entire academic years at my university. I personally think that it was due to the fact that because you are in Japan, you're required to utilize language everyday and really put it into practice. So for anyone that's serious about learning Japanese and really trying to learn the language I can't recommend the program enough.

The program is situated in Osaka, Japan which is an hour train ride away from Kyoto and maybe a 45 minute train ride away from Kobe. And thus the location provides good access to a variety of locations, attractions and things to do. I really liked living in Osaka. To me it was better than Tokyo in almost every way and to most students I spoke to said it was the best city in Japan as well, although we may be slightly biased. Japan as well as the experience of studying abroad in a foreign country, To me is something that's very hard to explain in words how wonderful it is, but i do recommend to absolutely any and all students to do it at least once.

For me it wasn't even just about the location, the food, the people, It was everything. It's obviously a completely different experience from studying at your home institution, But for many students it's also the first time that they're just away from their families, completely on their own which can be exciting and frightening but also to me it's kind of so different form traveling to another country, because when you study abroad you are a student in that foreign country and your life kind of continues but changes location which I think is something that can't really be replicated by traveling, because when you do, you're more of a tourist as opposed to someone living in a foreign country. Which is an experience that I think study abroad programs provide and honestly its so exciting and such an incredible experience that I think every student should have.

CET provides housing, curriculum, materials and even opportunities for extracurricular activities for students during the length of their stay, And so all you really have to do is show up and you're almost guaranteed to have an amazing time. Should you participate; please travel, explore, and see all that Japan has to offer. It's an amazing experience that I know you won't regret. I sincerely believe CET Japan is worth your consideration for a study abroad program.

My stay in China helped me build confidence and the ability to make decisions independently. Shanghai has an extensive and efficient public transportation system as well as various service apps that initially seemed difficult to navigate, but were actually quite simple as I quickly got accustomed to them. I was able to explore some of my passions such as arts and crafts with the addition of Chinese elements since opportunities to pursue all sorts of activities were highly accessible in the city. One of the best aspects of the program is having local roommates. I practiced Mandarin with the roommates and learned a lot about their lifestyles and partook in pastime activities with them.

Studying abroad in Siena was one of the most transformative experiences I’ve had during my time at UVA. Academically, it broadened my perspective beyond the lab and classroom, helping me connect scientific thinking with history, culture, and everyday life. Learning about Renaissance art and the structure of Italian society gave me a deeper appreciation for how interdisciplinary learning can be.

Socially, it pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, navigating language barriers, living in a new environment, and building relationships with locals and fellow students. These experiences made me more confident, open-minded, and adaptable. It also reminded me that growth often happens in unfamiliar, even uncomfortable moments. I've built relationships and connections in Siena that I will remember for a long time.

I think what I'll miss most about my experience is the staff and my teachers. They were some of the most kind and supportive people I've met in general. And, I really did enjoy getting to know them beyond supporters and educators. Talking about where they grew up, hobbies, and even their children. I felt like they were truly some of the most friendly people I've ever met. Anyways, I mostly ran off and did my own thing in Shanghai, as a career-orientated person, so I can't speak to their activities as much. But, I did go on their planned trip to Yunnan and it was a great experience as well.

CET Beijing is an extremely unique and awesome opportunity to learn Mandarin because of its language pledge. Despite the language pledge being intimidating at first, you will quickly realize how fast your Mandarin level is progressing and how important knowing the language is to fully enjoy all that China has to offer. This was honestly one of the most amazing experiences I've had in my entire life. Everything from classes, food, and traveling was so so much fun and such a novel experience. CET Beijing will push you to learn how to navigate new experiences both academically and socially. You're only going to be young with friends in China once!