IES Abroad London Summer – UK Today

The IES Abroad - UK Today program was amazing. Choosing to go to London was one of the best decisions of my life. IES made everything very easy from the start so I didn't have to go into the program with any confusion or worry. In the weeks before I left for London, the IES advisor for my program was excellent with answering my questions or concerns. I have always been a planner and they definitely made it easy. When I got to London it seemed so big and crazy, but IES helped me acclimate to it very quickly and soon the neighborhood felt more like home. The locations of my residence hall and classes were very centralized and easy to navigate. I took two courses with the IES program and had amazing professors for both of them. Both Professors were amazing and had such passion for the courses that they were teaching. My British Youth Culture class is easily on of the best classes I have taken in my college career. Throughout my time in London I always felt safe and like I was able to still be an adult and explore the city on my own. IES gave me the space I needed but also was always there if I needed advice on places to eat, cool sites to see, and how the world cup worked (among other things). I was able to travel through England and Europe with ease over the weekends with the other students in my program, it made it very hard to leave and come back to the U.S..

If someone were to ask me, "Anna, what is the coolest thing you have ever done?" the answer would be easy: "Study abroad!" This summer, I had the awesome experience of studying abroad in London with the IES UK Today program. I took two classes with amazing professors who took us on field trips for basically every class, and were quick to give suggestions as to the best things to do and see in the city. The IES staff was attentive and detail-oriented, from the dispersal and explanation of the pre-departure information, throughout the study abroad experience, and to the day we all left to go home. IES also facilitated amazing field trips to Brighton, Kenilworth Castle and Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Stonehenge and Bath. In addition to giving us opportunities to explore the UK, the IES staff really encouraged us to explore London, UK, and Europe independently. I took this advice to heart, and when I wasn't in class, I could be found in a museum, walking through a royal palace, strolling along the South Bank, or taking in a musical or play in the West End. I also took several trips outside of London, including Paris, Brussels, Dover, Wimbledon, Windsor, and Oxford. Without the support of IES staff encouraging me to make the most of my study abroad experience, and providing me with all the support I needed, I do not think my experience would have been nearly as unforgettable!

IES makes everything easier for your study abroad experience. They provide you with all the necessary information to succeed without being overbearing. They are there when you need them but give you space to do your own thing! I was able to travel to three different countries in my six weeks and see so much of England! I would highly recommend this program if you are independent and are looking for a life changing experience!

I had an amazing time through the IES-UK Today program. I met some of my best friends as well as had an amazing time exploring new countries and getting to know different cultures from around the world. If you are thinking about going abroad I would highly recommend just going for it! Overall, my experience was truly amazing and I think that it is an amazing opportunity to go abroad and try new things. The administration was amazing and helped with anything you needed. They made you feel at home and helped you with the culture shock of a new country. However, you had so much autonomy to do what you wanted when you wanted.

I had a phenomenal time during my study abroad experience in London the Summer of 2016, but I will not deny that the finances of the city made it tough at times. I spent most of my time in the city as it was only a six week course, while some of the other people on my program would spend every weekend traveling. At the end of the program, I was so in love with the city that I had come to understand, and I cannot wait to go back. This program in particular had great professors and fun trips outside of London, but it was easy to spend a lot of time with the other people on the program instead of meeting Londoners, which was mainly due to the fact that the classes were not with London students. Regardless, this is an awesome program and I had a really great time. Research all the different events happening in London before you go, get to know your professors and they will tell you about stuff you have to do while there, and befriend your roommate so you have a buddy who you can go on adventures with!

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to travel to England. I grew up on Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, and I always loved British culture. In high school, I was determined that in college I would study abroad in London. Last summer my dreams came true when IES Abroad gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. Honestly, I had a lot of doubts about going overseas by myself for an entire summer. Would I get homesick? Would I make any friends? Would my classes be too hard or too boring? But IES made me feel at home in London and created the best experience possible for me.

The staff at IES London were absolutely incredible. They were always there to help us, give us tips and ideas, or even just to chat. There were so many trips and events for us to attend in our free time and I feel like the program really helped me make the most out of my time abroad. My classes were great, as well. The professors were knowledgeable and made the classes exciting. I learned so much and experienced the city in different ways through my classes. Although, there wasn't much of an opportunity to make local friends, I made a group of friends in my program that I wouldn't trade for anything. They absolutely made the experience the best it could possibly be. We spent so much time exploring and even just hanging out together, and we still keep in touch.

I know it sounds cliche, but I really do believe I grew as a person because of this experience. I gained a new sense of independence and a new viewpoint of the world. Without a doubt it was the best summer of my life and the best choice I have ever made to study abroad. No matter what you are studying or what doubts you have, study abroad sometime during your college career. You will not regret it. I loved my experience with IES Abroad and I miss that summer every day!

IES helped make summer 2016 unforgettable. After being accepted into the program they did everything they could to make us feel ready for our time in the UK. When I decided to study abroad one of the first things I was worried about was traveling internationally for the first time. The staff at IES provided multiple resources that made me feel very prepared. I felt comfortable flying to a new country, getting my passport stamped with immigration, and making my way to the residence hall. This great customer service continued after we arrived in London and throughout our program. Once we arrived in London, they provided a comprehensive training that included topics like health and safety in London, transportation, traveling on the weekends, and their academic policies.

Choosing to study abroad with IES was a great decision because they went above and beyond to teach you how to immerse yourself into London’s culture, and that was one of my main goals of studying abroad. Within hours of arriving in London they showed us the best places to eat, grocery shop, and how to use the transportation system in our neighborhood. They encouraged us to ride the tube, read the Evening Standard, and visit pubs and neighborhoods outside of tourist attractions. Oftentimes I visited the staff members after class and asked for restaurant suggestions or interesting activities to try on the weekend.

The academic program itself provided some of the most interesting classes I’ve taken in my college career. I had to opportunity to take a class on London Architecture and another on British censorship. Both of my instructors were very knowledgeable in their fields and the workload was perfect because it left time to explore London. I had one class per day Monday-Thursday and I would often plan activities before or after class. This schedule also allowed everyone on my program ample time to travel elsewhere.

I traveled to Paris and throughout the UK with students from my program. I also went on trips that IES planned and subsidized. These trips went to Stonehenge, Bath, Salisbury, and Brighton; I thought they were well done and enjoyed the guides that IES hired. My favorite trip was the one that toured Bath/Salisbury/Stonehenge over a weekend. This is mostly because my group was assigned a guide named Jeany. Jeany took us on a walking tour in each of these places, and she was hysterical and very well spoken. She had me so interested in the history and stories of these places I ended up doing research on my own time.

IES is a wonderful organization that aims to teach students about new cultures and living abroad, and you can see their passion in the excellent programs they provide. Highly recommend!

I spent 7 weeks in the heart of London this past summer (2016). The overall experience was absolutely fantastic. This past summer, many things were happening in London, and Europe overall, including the Brexit vote, and multiple terrorist attacks. While these things can be confusing or scary to anyone, I never questioned my safety. IES helped their students stay informed on everything happening in the city, and tips and tricks in order to avoid trouble. Studying in Europe allowed for quick weekend trips to wherever I could get my hands on a ticket. I traveled to Paris and Scotland, but many in my program went other places such as Spain, Ireland, Amsterdam, Germany, etc. I was enrolled in only 6 credit hours, two classes, and went to only one class a day Mon-Thurs. While the classes required work outside of the scheduled class time, I was left with more than enough time to explore London and see everything I had hoped to see. Overall, I would recommend 100% studying abroad, and also studying with IES. If I had more time on my clock as an undergrad I would study abroad again in a heartbeat.