CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic

I studied in Prague for a semester and loved it! The city is beautiful and perfect for someone who has never been out of the country. It is my favorite city I have ever traveled to, and I recommend it to anyone considering studying there. I studied there with CEA CAPA and they were fantastic in making my experience one to remember. The city is filled with so many things to do for everyone. It is incredibly cheap compared to other cities in Europe and I felt safe everywhere that I went. Everyone there is extremely friendly and the culture is amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about my time there and I would recommend everyone travel there!

This was an amazing experience. Prague is a very special place. Its beauty, safety, and livability is unmatched. I couldn't have asked for an easier city to get around or a better life to live. This was truly such a blessing. CEA CAPA was extremely kind and helpful. The living arrangements made were perfect. I was located in Prague 7 in a wonderful part of the city. I always felt safe. I loved the Czechs as well. People were very kind and forthright. I enjoyed their culture. I also played hockey growing up so for me this was a wonderful time, especially since the World Cup was then and the Czechs won! Thank you!

Prague truly has something for everyone! It's an amazing destination for students, offering both affordability and excellent transportation. The food scene is great, with Czechs' love for food and drinking culture playing a big role in social life. There are diverse dining options and cozy cafes with scenic street seating. The city is filled with beautiful, colorful architecture and plenty of parks. Walking through Prague, you come across incredible views, unique sculptures, greenery and parks, and pretty gardens and nature. It’s great for history buffs, museum lovers, nature lovers, and offers many markets and cultural landmarks.

The public transportation system is great and quick to learn, making it easy to explore the city and beyond. Its central location in Europe also makes traveling to other countries super accessible letting you maximize your experience which I always loved. CEA has really great staff in Prague, and they provide unique local housing, so you really feel like you’re moving there and living amongst locals. Studying abroad in Prague will expand your world perspective, enhance your cultural intelligence, and help you learn a lot about yourself, as well as giving your resume a serious boost! During my program, I met amazing people, from fellow students to locals, which made the experience even more enriching.

There are many people that do not get the chance to leave the country. Even before this program though, I was not one of those people. I was lucky enough that my parents granted me multiple opportunities to leave the country while growing up. Because of this, I thought I was prepared; I thought I knew what I was doing. Truth is, it's an entirely different ballgame.

Being in Prague, studying in international libraries, looking and walking across and through structures that are more than 3/4 of a millennia old, and many, many more, are all amazing. However, it's not about what you do, it's about who you do it with. I think the reason I thought I knew what I was doing was because when I did travel with my family, it was mostly sightseeing and dinners and such. I thought that's what studying abroad would be - seeing cool things, maybe interact with a few locals and call it a day. Maybe this is why I thought I knew anything about anything overseas: "I saw cool things outside of America, how different could this be." Well, when you're spending days with your family, let alone your friends and not going outside of your comfort zone, it's easy to say so. However, once you leave that comfort zone, once you take out/off those headphones and start interacting with locals, or even other people visiting, that's when the real perspective gaining begins.

There's such a culture shift it's not even funny. You go from "USA! USA! USA!" to "dang, I see where we get our reputation". If you don't know what I mean by that, ask someone who's studied even one week outside of America and they'll elaborate.

Prague especially was so amazing. My academics were never hindered due to my experience as well. My partner program (UNYP) to CEA CAPA was great, for many of their own reasons and I could talk about that for a while, but we're focusing on CEA CAPA. In the study center, there are those from America or Prague/Czech Republic. All of whom were professional, engaging, interesting, and used subjects and materials that further immersed you into the city and its culture! For example, I took a class called arts and science in the golden city, and you can imagine what we studied. Not only did we do field studies in real locations with guided tours from the professors themselves, we also had assignments which forced us to go out and do some research on a given subject in itself. I use the term forced lightly, because it wasn't actually forced, it was just assigned. There was absolutely no resistance on my end from completing those tasks, because they were absolutely amazing, but that class is just one example. I could go on and on about the others, but the point is exactly what the review title states - please don't miss out on this opportunity!

Academics: I took two math courses in Prague, and it was an amazing experience. The classes were fast-paced since we were only there for two months, but they were still very manageable. The professors were friendly and open to answering questions. The small class sizes allowed everyone to participate and get to know each other and the teachers, which was great.

Support: The CEA CAPA staff in Prague were always extremely friendly and supportive. They answered any questions we had, whether they were about housing arrangements, academics, or life in the city. They also gave great restaurant recommendations and suggested fun weekend plans or excursions. Additionally, they made sure we were managing our classes well and would check in if anyone missed a class or needed support.

Fun: I can’t overstate this—those two months in Prague were undoubtedly the most fun of my life. The excursions organized by CEA CAPA were incredible. We went hiking, visited a science museum, toured a liquor factory, and tried water from hot springs, among many other exciting activities. Through these experiences, I bonded with the people in my program, many of whom I now consider friends for life. Outside of the program, we also organized our own adventures, like weekend trips to other cities (and even countries), visiting museums and parks, walking all around the city and seeing all the amazing views there are in Prague, and trying the local cuisine. Prague’s nightlife added to the experience, offering a great way to relax and socialize after class. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Housing: I think the housing was great. I was in a triple room, and it was very spacious. I never felt like I didn’t have enough personal space, and I got along well with my roommates. Other students had doubles and singles, and all the rooms I saw were very comfortable. Our apartment had everything we needed, and the maintenance staff was quick to respond to any concerns. CEA CAPA's apartment buildings are located in various neighborhoods around the city, and every one I visited was in a nice area, close to public transport options and not far from the study center.

Safety: As a girl, safety was a major concern, especially for my parents, but I never felt unsafe in Prague. I had heard it’s one of the safest cities in the world, and I can absolutely believe that. Everyone was respectful, and I never witnessed anything unusual or encountered any safety issues during my time there.

Overall: BEST EXPERIENCE EVER.

I really enjoyed my experience in Prague in the 2024 Summer. I loved working with other students with similar interests/majors in the mathematic courses that the program offered. All the teachers there are eager to help you and very understanding. The staff onsite are very helpful as well. They made sure my living conditions were comfortable and responded to every question or request I had very fast. Additionally, living in the city of Prague was much better than I expected. The city was very walkable and there were tons of niche things to do. I went to an arcade bar, an illusion museum, and a place where they serve you drinks based on a picture you select. Prague was a great city and its proximity to other countries made it the perfect place to stay and study.

The Czech Republic is beautiful, and I'm glad I decided to visit this summer. The city is decorated with amazing architecture, and walking through Old Town Square felt like a medieval town. Venture outside of the city center and there are a lot of great places to explore and sometimes relax in, including Petrin Hill, Vrtba Gardens, the Grotto, Prague Zoo, Loreta, and more. However it was sometimes difficult for me to sleep at night. This will depend on which district you stay in, but I was in Prague 1, where the apartment was above two bars, and it was often noisy at night with many drunk people. It sometimes left me in a bad mood, but aside from sleeping troubles, my overall experience was very good! There is a lot to do in the city and the country in eight weeks.

CEA CAPA was such a good program to go abroad with. I have study abroad twice and the second time I went with CEA CAPA. As a program they make sure you have everything you need before you go and when you get there. They are constantly checking in and helping you along the process before departure. While you are abroad they are there to support you. The housing was amazing in Prague, everything is so close together and with public transportation it is so easy to get around. The culture is beautiful the company is great!