- Austria
- Vienna
About Program
A stunningly beautiful city, Vienna occupies a unique position at the crossroads between east and west, north and south, long making the city a central meeting place for trade and international politics, as well as arts and culture. Can you imagine learning about Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis and then touring his home and the office where he practiced? Or studying politics and international organizations and visiting the UN, the OSCE, or OPEC? How about exploring art history in Vienna’s world-famous galleries and museums? Wherever possible our courses take advantage of the city’s historical, artistic, and cultural sites and include a hands-on, practical component.
When you’re not in the classroom, you will have the opportunity to explore everything Vienna has to offer—whether you’re touring Hofburg Palace, searching for the city’s best apfelstrudel, or taking all stroll down one of the city’s many cobblestoned streets, there is an adventure around every corner in Vienna!
Video and Photos
Diversity & Inclusion
LGBTQIA+ Support
Studying abroad as part of the LGBTQIA+ community can present unique opportunities and challenges in exploring a new culture, so we have compiled resources on sexual orientation, gender identity, and allyship to help prepare you and support you along the way.
Neurodivergent Support
We have not only compiled resources on mental health, physical health, and self-care to help prepare you and support you along the way, but we also have a dedicated Student Affairs staff that are available for you to contact from the United States and once in your host country.
Accessibility Support
We have not only compiled resources on mental health, physical health, and self-care to help prepare you and support you along the way, but we also have a dedicated Student Affairs staff that are available for you to contact from the United States and once in your host country.
Impact
Sustainability
-Moving toward more sustainable Headquarters and Centers abroad
-Producing printed materials mindfully
-Hosting events and conferences in LEED-certified buildings
-Purchasing carbon offsets for staff air travel
-The formation of the IES Abroad Sustainability Team - a dedicated group of volunteers responsible for implementing sustainable practices across our organization. The team comprises of members across our Centers, departments, teams. It is truly a global effort, and we are better for it.
Program Highlights
- Choose from a diverse selection of courses in German or English
- Explore great cities in Austria and beyond with IES Abroad field trips. Past destinations include Berlin, Budapest, Prague, the Austrian Alps, and Syria
- You'll have an individual IES Abroad Program Advisor to guide you before your study abroad adventure. From visa requirements to travel details, they are your #1 resource for preparing to study abroad.
- To help you feel at home and safe in Vienna, we offer well-located, comfortable housing for all students because we know securing housing independently can be challenging.
- Some programs have the option to add a no-cost, part-time internship placement for academic credit. Multiple placement types are available!
Popular Programs
Open to students at all language levels, our program brings more than 60 years of experience to a variety of unique courses taught by faculty from top European institutions. Courses are clustered into the following topics: German Language, European Business, Economics, and Politics, Society and Self, The Arts. With sufficient background in German, you can also enroll in courses at Universität Wien, where you can experience the Austrian education system and participate in student activities.
Imagine visiting one of the city’s world-famous concert halls to attend the rehearsal of a major ensemble, or visiting the homes of important figures in musical history such as Mozart and Beethoven. Organized in conjunction with the Vienna European Society & Culture Program, the IES Abroad Vienna Music Program is ideal for students majoring or minoring in Music, and offers you the opportunity to participate in a wide selection of courses focusing on Music and European Culture and Society.
Choose from a wide selection of courses in disciplines such as Economics, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Political Science. You can also enhance your experience by taking courses in Art History, History, Humanities, Psychology, and so much more. Your studies will also take you throughout Vienna and outside the city, with a program-related trip where you’ll visit companies like Red Bull in Salzburg, and BMW in Munich, as well as organizations in and around Vienna.
Many prominent thinkers of psychology made Vienna their home—Alfred Adler, Max Wertheimer, Helene Deutsch, Erwin Ringel, Viktor Frankl (who taught at IES Abroad), and, of course, Sigmund Freud. Walk their footsteps and experience life in Vienna as a student of Psychology and Social Sciences. Our courses give you the opportunity to explore youth cultures, childhood development, virtual identity on the web, the immigrant experience, and the social and psychological dimensions of discrimination.
This program is organized into three topics: Psychology & Society in Vienna, Health Psychology & Communication Skills, and Psychology of Prejudice & Discrimination. Depending on your chosen area of study, you'll consider how different methodologies today reflect and challenge Freud's legacy, explore the field of counseling and develop skills in listening and empathy, or examine how people influence and are influenced by their social setting.
IES Abroad had about 180 students during the program time period that I was abroad although it felt as though there were a lot less. There was never a feeling of crowding while attending IES things felt balanced.