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Location
  • Austria
    • Salzburg
Term
Academic Year, Fall, J-Term, Short Term, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Anthropology Art History Arts Business Economics History Literature Music Philosophy Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Sociology +3
General grants/scholarships, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Classes Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Optional AIFS Abroad flight package at an additional cost.

Nov 21, 2024
Oct 17, 2020
Wish List
3 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Looking to study abroad in Austria? You've come to the right place. Discover the charm of Austria with AIFS Abroad’s immersive study program! AIFS Abroad offers programs throughout January, fall, spring, and summer terms. In addition, students may also opt to study in Austria for an academic year. Experience the rich cultural heritage of Austria firsthand when you choose to study abroad with AIFS Abroad. With comprehensive support for accommodation and orientation, AIFS Abroad helps you make the most of your academic adventure in this stunning European destination! Please see below for more information.

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Video and Photos

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Students in Salzburg, Austria
Students wearing traditional Austrian clothing
Three students in front of beautiful mountainscape in Austria
Students with their back towards the camera facing beautiful mountains
Students posing in front of beautiful mountains
Two students posing in front of chilly mountains

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

At AIFS Abroad, we want to support all participants in their study/internship abroad journey, inclusive of gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation. Everyone has a complex identity, and faith, spirituality, and religion are important factors when deciding on a program location.
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At AIFS Abroad, we want to support all participants in their study/internship abroad journey, inclusive of gender, race, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation. Everyone has a complex identity, and faith, spirituality, and religion are important factors when deciding on a program location.
Learn More
Everyone’s experience is unique. We recognize the location you choose can have an impact on your sense of belonging. We encourage you to use the information below as you review your options to select the program and location that will be the best choice for you. If you do not hold the identities that are amplified here, this information is still a great resource for you as well. It will give you a better understanding of those who have this identity.
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Impact 🌎

In response to the overwhelming global climate crisis, AIFS Abroad is pleased to make Sustainability a key priority when considering organizational, operational, and programming decisions. We understand that the only way to effectively combat this crisis and mitigate the effects of climate change is to drastically reduce our environmental impact. Therefore, AIFS Abroad has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2025. AIFS Abroad is proud to announce we have signed the CANIE Accord, becoming the first US provider to make this commitment.
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Program Highlights

  • Cultural and Social Activities
  • On-Site Support to help with any questions or advice you may need throughout the program
  • Health & Safety 24/7 emergency support and comprehensive insurance
  • Green Initiative: Carbon offsetting for all participants’ flights to and from their program location

Popular Programs

Two students abroad in Austria!

AIFS Abroad: AIFS Global Education Center

Spend a semester or academic year in the elegant, charming city of Salzburg, Austria, with AIFS Abroad! Choose from a variety of course options with credit awarded by Fairfield University. Salzburg is the ideal location for students who love the outdoors. From Salzburg you can easily reach the mountains, meadows and lakes of the Austrian Alps.

Program Reviews

4.87 Rating
based on 38 reviews
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  • 5 rating 86.84%
  • 4 rating 13.16%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.95
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.6
  • Housing 4.75
  • Safety 5
Showing 9 - 16 of 38 reviews
Default avatar
Heather
35
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Salzburg

Dec 17, 2015

I have so many memories from my time abroad that it is too hard to pick just one. If I have to share one though it would be that I learned more about myself and grew out of my shell while abroad. I met new friends from both the United States and from throughout Europe who I still keep in touch with! I love sharing my experience with people and relive my time abroad like it was yesterday. Going abroad is nerve racking and you have so many emotions running through, but once you're there all that goes away and you live in the moment and take advantage of every opportunity.

84 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Joe
30
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

AIFS Salzburg Review

Dec 15, 2015

Salzburg is an amazingly beautiful city with a great central location in Europe. While it's not the biggest bustling city out there, it still is full of amazing views, fun nightlife, good shopping, and delicious food.

What would you improve about this program?
The only thing I would change about this program is the level of which we are interacting with Austrian students on a daily basis. Only one or two students on my program had Austrian roommates, and I don't believe there where any Austrian students living in my building. I know this can't really be controlled but it would have been nice. You will still interact with my Austrians at university or at bars for example, but you will not be seeing too many where you live.
86 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Chelsey
34
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Salzburg: Living in a Charming Museum

Dec 14, 2015

The city of Salzburg is like no other place on Earth. The figures you read about in history books come to life all throughout the city. I never grew bored each day I was there, as I ventured out in a different direction every day after class. I studied hard, played hard, and squeezed every ounce out of this study abroad as my advisors told me I should. I mer great people from the States and from Europe, and improved my German more than I could have ever expected.

What would you improve about this program?
I expected more rigorous enforcement of the quiet hours in the dorms as described. My neighbors (also in my program) were oftentimes very noisy and I had to ask them to be quiet multiple times.
112 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
William
31
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Place to Settle Down

Dec 8, 2015

The city of Salzburg is not the city to go to if you want a crazy bar scene. It is not a loud city. It is not a busy city. I wouldn't even say it is a city. Salzburg is a town that you return to after all the craziness of a traveling a weekend. It is a town where you take evening walks and explore the mountains throughout the city. It is a town where the shopkeepers remember you and help you. It is a town that I would call a second home.

What would you improve about this program?
I think they need better options for eating for students. They require that all students cook entirely for themselves which I believe may be hard for some students.
75 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Alba
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester Abroad: Salzburg

Aug 31, 2015

Salzburg was the perfect combination between a city and a small town. It is a small town that captivates its visitors with its beauty and charm. Spending my fall semester in Salzburg was hands down the best experience because the weather was incredible and the tourism was low. My favorite part was the Christmas Markets in November. It was an unforgettable experience to be able to fully immerse myself in the Austrian Christmas spirit, the culture, climb mountains filled with snow in the winter, and see the leaves fall in autumn. Going abroad with 40 people you have never met before can feel like an intimidating thing to do but I could not have imagined a better group of people to have traveled and laughed with.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish that my dorm could have been closer to town (15 minute bus ride into the city, 10 to school). It would have been a more convenient to walk into town and back to the dorms since the bus stopped working early in the night.
68 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Shaye
32
Female
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Program but Expensive

Jun 23, 2015

This AIFS summer program kept us busy, which was a good thing for me. I really enjoyed the flight package to London, as we got to spend 2 days there and meet some of our classmates. We had excursions most weekends and classes were decent. One of the classes got out at 7pm which was a huge inconvenience because stores close early here.

What would you improve about this program?
The cost. It is rather expensive for the short amount of time that we were there. They also did not sit us all down to meet one another.
65 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Devin
32
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Couldn't have been happier with Salzburg.

Oct 23, 2013

It might sound cliche but studying abroad in Salzburg was the best decision of my life. I lived in university housing, International Kolleg, which was great because many of the other students from the program lived there, as well as other students from many different countries. The housing is a little far from the university so we typically needed to take the bus, but I got used to it and it was a great way to get to know more of the city.

Salzburg is incredibly beautiful! It's clean and very safe, I never felt unsafe once, even at night. The night life is pretty great too. And it's a great destination because it's located so close to so many countries which makes traveling on the long weekend perfect!

Overal I could not have been happier with my choice to study abroad in Salzburg. And make sure you go on all of the excursions, they're awesome!

67 people found this review helpful.
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Read my full story
Default avatar
Maggie
32
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision I've Made

Oct 22, 2013

Studying abroad with AIFS was the best decision I've made in my college career. I lived in one of the University's dorms with an American roommate - they did a great job matching us up and we got along really well! There were also some other AIFS students in our dorm which worked out really well for studying, hanging out, and planning trips together. The atmosphere of the dorm was awesome overall.

AIFS was really good bang for the buck - lots of things were included in the cost like insurance, housing, meal stipends, and a few weekend trips that were awesome. It was definitely an awesome deal for the price!

The AIFS staff was one of the greatest parts of the whole experience. They truly cared about each and every one of us. When my family went through some tough stuff while I was in Salzburg, Ingrid checked in on me and made sure everything was ok which spoke volumes. Plus they were always happy to see us if we stopped by the office on a whim.

Salzburg as a whole was a great city to study in - most classes were in the same building so it was easy to find, nightlife was good if you wanted to go out, but it was also fun to just explore the city and wander. So much culture and experience crammed into one place! Definitely check out this gem!

64 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jane Greis

Program
AIFS Abroad: Study in Austria

Why did you choose this program?

I chose AIFS because it was one of the only programs that offered Salzburg as a location. I have an affinity for and connection with the area surrounding Salzburg, so going there for my three months abroad and choosing AIFS was a no-brainer. AIFS was a great choice in that I felt like my Study Abroad experience was exponentially bettered by their attention to detail, efficiency, and willingness to lend a hand when I was having trouble with anything.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

AIFS assisted me with my visa, accommodation, class schedule, meal planning, budgeting, and pretty much anything and everything else a student could need help with when going abroad. Since it is an all-inclusive program, entering into the intimidating world of studying abroad was eased. On my own, I chose to organize my own flights to and from Salzburg.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

A piece of advice I would give someone going on my program (or any program) is to cherish the time you have. Hold onto the memories. The time passes by so quickly, and by the time it is over, you'll feel like a more confident and better version of yourself. Document everything about the experience through photos, videos, or even just an old-fashioned diary. Give yourself something to look back on and proudly say, "Wow, I really did all of that!"

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average week looked like a typical week in any college student's life, except so much better. In Salzburg, taking the city bus was the highlight of my weekday. Commuting amongst the locals and watching the beautiful Baroque buildings and mountains pass by was something I'll never forget. Classes were always interesting, which is a plus compared to some of the courses I imagine I would have taken at home if I hadn't gone.

In the evening, cooking in the kitchen with fellow international students was always a great time to be social and to learn about different areas of the world. On the weekend, time would be spent either traveling to a new city or further exploring the city I was living in. Every single day was an adventure!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into studying abroad was that I wouldn't make any friends. I tend to be very shy around new faces, so going into the program having known no one was incredibly intimidating. At first during my time abroad, I struggled finding connections with other students. However, as time went by and I opened myself up more, I found a group of friends who really transformed my time abroad. My time abroad transformed from what I expected to be a lonely experience to one filled with laughter, friendship, and love.

Is there anything you would have done differently?

Although I try to live without regrets, the simple answer to that question is yes. Something I would have done differently was to go into the city of Salzburg and do things more independently. For example, I wish I would have volunteered in the community, joined a club, or simply gone hiking on my own more often. I wish I hadn't let others' schedules impede what I wanted to do. I wish I had given myself the boost of confidence I needed to go solo every once in a while, like treat myself to a meal, or go on a hike on a day off.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Marketa Lepicovsky

Program
AIFS Abroad: Study in Austria

marketa Lepicovsky prague aifs

How do you think study abroad and international education will change over the next 10 years?

Marketa: Cultures around the world are more interconnected than ever before and this includes students who are studying abroad. Over the next ten years the study abroad industry will continue to expand; students will come from an even greater range of countries and will chose to study in an expanding range of destinations. Students choose to go abroad for many reasons; some want to improve language skills, while others want to completely immerse themselves in another culture. In the future the numbers of students looking for a more specialized experience, which directly relates to their field of study or future career, will increase.

Which study abroad destination is most underrated?

Marketa: “You get out of it what you put into it,” the saying goes. This is holds true in study abroad, and so whether a study abroad experience is overrated or underrated lies completely with the student! The most important thing is for students to identify their expectations and choose a destination as well as a program that promises to best meet them. For those who wish to experience complete cultural immersion and are willing to forgo domestic familiarities, Asia, the Middle East and Africa have a lot to offer. The traditional European destinations still have plenty cultural diversity, but one may have to get away from the beaten path a bit to experience complete immersion. Prague is unique because one can access the best of both; there is plenty of western comfort as well as the opportunity for complete immersion, provided one can speak the language.

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

Marketa: If the eyes are the windows into one’s soul, then language is the window into a culture. There are two reasons for learning the local language. First, it’s crucial if one wants to obtain more than a superficial understanding of the culture; often it is the phrases and concepts that cannot be translated well into one’s native language that provide the most insight into the foreign culture! The second reason is much more practical and self serving; people need to be able to understand and interact with the world around them in order to maintain their independence. Spending an extended period of time in a country where one has to rely on others for simple, daily tasks can knock one’s confidence and in even lead to depression. The sense of accomplishment one gets by mastering the day to day task in a foreign culture is very valuable.

What changes would you make to the study abroad industry?

Marketa: As more students from more countries than ever before are choosing to study abroad, a wealth of exciting opportunities exist for universities as well as for study abroad providers to expand, diversify, and specialize their programs. Students may require more from their program beyond a cultural immersion, which is already a valuable experience on its own. However more options in location, field of study, possibilities to study with a greater variety of other nationalities, as well as experiences students can use in their later professional careers allows students to be more selective.

About AIFS Abroad

AIFS Abroad is a leading provider of study abroad programs. Since 1964, more than 1.5 million students have traveled abroad with AIFS Abroad. Comprehensive program fees make it convenient for students to study abroad and intern abroad to experience all that the world has to offer. Celebrating 60 years of service in 2024, AIFS Abroad has the...

  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

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