CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Prague, Czech Republic

Majoring in engineering, I was worried I wouldn't be able to study abroad due to all of my course requirements, but CEA's summer engineering program was perfect and had the exact classes I needed. One of my favorite classes was The Golden City of Prague: Past & Present, my art history class. Each period we would go to a different historical site and learn about it in the context of art— it was super interesting and I got to see a ton of different places I wouldn’t have otherwise!

Originally I was nervous about being the only person from my home university in the program, but I met a lot of cool people and made lasting friendships. Prague's centralized location allowed me and my friends to travel to another country almost every week; we traveled from Prague to The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and France over the course of our 8-week program.

The sense of independence and confidence I gained while overseas will stay with me for the rest of my life. Studying abroad in Prague was a life-changing experience. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to study abroad!

I have really loved studying abroad and recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it. I was able to make new friends from all over, and was able to immerse myself into a completely different culture from what I am used to, and adapt to it. I have enjoyed this experience very much and I really wish that anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad in Prague to do it! The Czech culture was something that I really enjoyed being around, and the vibrant city of Prague is unmatched to any other city I have visited. I really recommend Prague as a study abroad destination since it is such a walkable, vibrant, and nice city!

I studied abroad in Prague last spring (2023) and had an amazing experience. Prague is very centrally located, making it very easy to travel on the weekends. I was one of three students from my school on the program, which was a little nerve-wracking. However, I was looking for an experience that was my own and allowed me to really get the full experience of meeting new people and living with students from all over the country. Prague was the perfect fit for me, it was extremely safe and easily walkable. I am so glad with my decision and will value the experience I had forever.

On this program I lived in an apartment with four other roommates. This was such a great experience because I was able to really immerse myself in the culture of the city by being in an area away from my school & study center. The CEA CAPA team was so helpful with questions about class, cultural norms, fixing things in our apartment, and everything in between. My classes weren't too difficult, I would say just the right amount of challenging for me to feel intellectually stimulated but also not so overwhelmed that I didn't have time to do anything else. Overall this was such an amazing experience and I would recommend the Prague program to anyone looking to study abroad and experience an amazing new city!

My experience in Prague was amazing! I traveled a total of 8 other countries and learned so much about the world around me. I gained so much knowledge of how to travel and live on my own in a different country. As a STEM student, taking Calculus 3 and my humanities, I was able to handle both school and traveling on the weekends which was most important to me. CEA CAPA had amazing employees, that were very kind and helpful. At any point I needed aid or any type of recommendations, the staff was available. I created great relationships with my teachers and other students! Overall, I had an amazing experience thanks to CEA CAPA!

I had so much fun going to Prague for the summer. The city was beautiful and had a lot of things to do. The staff were very knowledgeable and helpful, suggesting places to go and explaining some cultural differences. The apartments were fairly nice, but it was a huge adjustment to have no clothes dryer or air conditioning. The location of the apartment was very good, with lots of nearby places to eat and shop as well as not too far from where classes are held. One thing I really enjoyed was how easy it is to travel around Europe. It was easy to plan a weekend trip to another country. Plus, the program organized some trips to different cities in Czechia which were a lot of fun.

I would definitely recommend studying in Prague to anyone. I chose Prague because it's not as common of a destination for Americans to travel to. I wanted to branch out and go to a new city in a different part of Europe and it was so amazing! I was able to travel to countries that I wouldn't normally think of going to, like Austria, and I'm so glad I did this. Prague is also a beautiful city and has so much to do. Some of my favorite activities were going on paddle boats on the river, watching the sunset at a park/beer garden, trying out new cafes/restaurants, and exploring the history of the city! I also met so many amazing people from all over the world, and it was genuinely the best 8 weeks of my life!

I'm so glad I chose to study in Prague – it truly became a second home. Despite its reputation for cloudy weather, Prague's natural beauty always shined through. The city's less touristy vibe allowed me to experience life like a local.

As for the housing, I opted for a single bedroom and did not regret it; however, if you are sharing a room there is plenty of space. The flat I shared, situated in Prague 7, was filled with charming details like grand wooden doors, lofty ceilings, and the large windows that let in plenty of natural light. Having the tram station just outside the apartment was incredibly convenient, and the neighborhood felt exceptionally safe. Various shops and cafes (like my local favorite, Letka) were all within a 10 minute walk. The nearby parks quickly became my favorite places to visit with Letna's beer garden providing great views of Prague and Stromovka's peaceful ponds and large fields. A quick 10-minute tram ride, led to even more restaurants, bars, clubs, stores, and charming streets to explore. There is always something to do!

The onsite staff was welcoming and offered an array of engaging activities like an overnight excursion to Český Krumlov, day trips, and smaller activities like attending the opera–we saw a modern performance where actors dressed as monkeys sang in Czech while performing acrobatics on trampolines, so don't underestimate the experience–indoor cycling, ice skating, jogging around the local park, and more! The staff's efforts truly enriched the overall experience.

All of the classes I took were very interesting, had amazing professors, and a manageable work load. I recommend taking the Prague Art and Architecture class with Dr. Josef Záruba-Pfeffermann if you want to learn about the rich history of Prague by walking the city's streets and visiting various museums and monuments for free. Dr. Záruba's engaging teaching style involves telling historically significant stories that you wouldn't find in conventional textbooks, which always made the class interesting. Also, consider taking the elementary Czech language class with professor Šaršonová. She is helpful resource, a kind and encouraging person, and an amazing teacher. Learning the language from professor Šaršonová elevated my experience in Prague, enhancing my interactions and connections with the local culture. Finally, if you're looking to learn more about Central and Eastern Europe, take a class with Dr. Monika MacDonagh-Pajerová. Her firsthand experience as a student activist during the 1989 Velvet Revolution brings a unique perspective to her teaching.

Once you visit Prague you will never want to leave! Being here was the most fun, important, and overall memorable period of my life.