IES Abroad Vienna

Recently, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Vienna with IES Abroad this past spring semester of college.

At first, I was a bit skeptical as everything was happening so quickly. I was adjusting to a new environment, meeting new people (and repeating the same introduction over and over), and on top of that, beginning to learn a new language - German.

As the semester progressed, I became increasingly grateful to be in Vienna. I met so many wonderful people, many of whom I still stay in touch with, and gained a fresh perspective on many aspects of life. The IES staff were incredibly supportive and fun, and I genuinely enjoyed most of my courses.

One of the highlights of my experience was how much I was able to travel - far more than I could have back at my home university. I would absolutely recommend Vienna as a study abroad destination.

I had an incredible time in Vienna! The city scene and cafe culture is so nice, and there are so many different exhibitions and attractions to go to. There are many student discounts, so that also made the city very student-friendly! Both the people in my program and locals in Vienna were all so kind and understanding (language wasn't an issue). I found my professors to be really helpful, and all of the IES staff were really resourceful. We didn't have class on Fridays, so I got to travel elsewhere with my friends during our free time.

My time in Vienna through IES Abroad was the most influential experience I've had in my college career. I had the opportunity to meet life-long friends, explore new cities, immerse myself in new cultures, and take courses that challenged my worldview and helped me grow into a more compassionate and well-rounded individual. The people I met in Vienna are some of my closest friends. Our time traveling together cemented a bond that I will cherish forever. IES: Vienna also sponsors trips and provides information to aid students in traveling both in Austria and across Europe. IES: Vienna provides a space for its students to take academically rigorous courses that are designed to interact with the city of Vienna itself. My classes took trips to museums, parks, churches, and monuments to explore Vienese history and culture. IES guided us every step of the way through pre-departure, our time abroad, and as we transitioned back home. I would recommend the program to anyone looking to study abroad!

I am a classical vocalist, so I already knew that Vienna was THE place for me to study abroad. What I didn't know was how absolutely wonderful the program I would study overseas with would be! The cultural and musical education I received with IES Abroad Vienna was top notch as I expected, but this experience was truly life-changing in a personal context. I absolutely fell in love with life in Vienna, so much so that I hope to at least look into getting a masters degree in Austria, with the intent of pursuing a career in opera there one day. The faculty involved in the IES Abroad Vienna program are all wonderful and reliable individuals. They were devoted to every students’ personal health and mental well-being, but they also fostered an environment where we could venture out on our own in a safe and informed way. In addition to networking and professional connections made through IES Abroad Vienna, I formed many wonderful life-long friendships through program social events. If you are considering this program for study away, you should definitely do it!

Studying abroad will always remain one of the best decisions I have ever taken during my college career. It was an opportunity for me to learn about myself more. I am already an international student in the USA, and at first, I did not know I needed to expand my horizons by participating in the Study Abroad Program as well. The IES Abroad Vienna Team is very organized and super interactive. It has been nothing short of a blessing for me. The classes were awesome, and the professors are excellent, they remain part of my connections today! My experience in Vienna has been rewarding, educational, transformative, and most of all, FUN! They really make sure that every participant is well cared for and has all the resources needed to thrive!

As a voice student, I always knew that I wanted to study abroad in Vienna. If I could spend another semester (or year, or years!) in Vienna, I would do so in a heartbeat. I could attend the opera and classical concerts - for just a few Euros! With a few exceptions, the pre-departure staff were generally helpful with choosing internships, housing, and courses. The on-site staff were phenomenal, organizing frequent community-building activities. In a weekly newsletter, the staff gave us suggestions for additional events, customs, and restaurants to try out in Vienna. There was a wide variety of music courses. All my professors made an effort to teach me about the culture of Vienna. The music professors were fabulous, introducing me to new aspects of music history.

I spent my fall semester of 2022 in Vienna, and I can safely say it changed my life. I attended the Psychology and Social Sciences program as a psychology major, and I had the chance to take courses that were not offered at my home school, such as Psychology and Society in Vienna and the Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. These classes met usually once a week. I also had an intensive German class that met 3 times a week; I had taken German before so I was placed in a higher German class, but I heard from friends that they benefitted greatly from intro German classes. Classes were held at the IES Abroad Center, in the 1st district, near Stephansdom.
I lived in the 2nd district, in a studio apartment with a shared kitchen. The shared kitchen let me connect with new friends from IES while still having a space to go back to that was my own. The commute from the 2nd district to the 1st for class was about 15 minutes, and the IES Vienna staff walked us through it the first time. I appreciated this as someone who had never lived in a city before.
IES staff were incredibly welcoming and easy to talk to; they helped with everything from housing issues to personal issues, and were a great resource to better understand the culture of Austria.
IES Vienna gave the opportunity to explore not only Vienna, but Austria as a whole. The program offered trips around Austria, such as to places like Wachau and Graz, as well as the legendary ski trip in the Austrian Alps. I also had the opportunity during the week-long break to tour Salzburg, Vorarlberg, and Innsbruck. Overall, I saw as much of Austria as I could, and I grew as a person in ways I could not have imagined. I had the time of my life and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I enjoyed my time in Austria for the most part. I tried a lot of different foods, looked at a large variety of art and learned a lot about language. I had some difficulties with class structure and choices and the rigidity of the IES system. The people in the program staff were quite nice and helpful and usually available. There were a lot of difficutkirss getting adjusted to the culture abroad but it's all part of the process I suppose. Given this it still had its fun moments. Vienna has a lot of things to offer and the housing situation I was placed in provided me a lot of opportunities to go out and explore and see places close by. I found myself really enjoying getting immersed in the culture abroad. Food was fantastic. Public transport was easy to figure out and overall it was enjoyable.