IES Abroad Freiburg

I had the privilege of studying abroad in the cozy town of Freiburg, Germany, situated right on the outskirts of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). Living in Freiburg is reason enough for you to take part of this program; this is a very green, active city. They have activities ranging from hiking through the Black Forest, taking a stroll around the beautiful Seepark, getting lost while weaving through the cobblestone streets of downtown Freiburg, or stuffing your face with yummy sausages, and other regional delicacies. Freiburg is also a university town so there is plenty to do throughout the weeks you are there.

As far as academics go while on this program, I think IES provides a decent range of diverse topics you can take classes on. If you are a political science major, this program has your name written all over it. While there, you can your fellow classmates partake in three different field study trips, traveling to places like Prague, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Athens and many others. What is nice about these field study trips is that they try to tailor them to your interests in your major. For example, I am an International Business major so while traveling, we met with officials and went to offices that related to potential fields I would be interested in working in and that related back to the course work I was taking while abroad.

Overall, the perfect combination of German culture, diverse field study travel, engaging professors and classwork, and the city of Freiburg itself, made for the best semester of my college career. You only have the opportunity to study abroad once in your lifetime, and choosing IES Abroad European Union is definitely worthwhile. This trip positively influenced my global perspective and I will forever be grateful for the friends, memories, and experiences I had during my time abroad in Freiburg.

I travelled with class trips, studied things I would have never been able to study at my home University, but still were relevant to what I want to learn, met amazing friends, experienced living in an apartment for the first time, and enjoyed the day to day life, taking in whatever was around me. The people in charge of the program were not only helpful, but also helped me whenever I needed something, or even were around if I just wanted to chat. You definately learn what you need to on your own, but you can always get advice or learn about things whenever you want.

My abroad experience was fantastic. I made friends with my German roommates in our student apartment. They showed me the authentic German bars and restaurants around the city. I bought a bike during the semester, which also made me feel authentically German. The workload in classes was fair while increasing my German skills. Put simply, this program was so great; I wish I could have studied there for an entire year.

I can't even begin to express how I feel about the IES Abroad European Union program. At risk of sounding cliché, I can comfortably say that my semester was the best four months of my life. Seriously. I forged lasting friendships, experienced a wide variety of new cultures, and formed a new perspective on the world. Getting on the plane to leave was one of the hardest things that I think that I've ever had to do.

LOCATION
Freiburg is the ultimate city in which to study abroad. Not too small, not too large, and in the middle of Europe. It truly is an incredible "home base"--Deutsche Bahn trains are within easy reach and EuroAirport Basel is close by. Freiburg is authentic but cosmopolitan, fresh but refined, young but diverse. Which should come as no surprise. It's been called the greenest city in Germany, and it's a major university town. In keeping with that, it's bar/club scene is fantastic. The student bars (StuSie, Mudom, and Vaubar) in particular are quite fun.

ACADEMICS
Much more time-consuming than you may expect. Classes were not necessarily more difficult than my classes at my home institution, but they were certainly more work. I've never had to write two 15-20 page papers in a single academic term. But in Germany I did. Which, given their system and culture, I probably should have expected. Regardless, it was a big struggle. I didn't really mind, but I do think that it's important to keep in mind that this is a more academically rigorous program than most. Also, you will have class on Fridays. There's no way around that.

FIELD TRIPS
So insanely awesome. The program includes 22 days of field travel. I traveled with the program to Berlin, Prague, Luxembourg, Brussels, Paris, Strasbourg, Lucerne, London, Stockholm, and Tallinn. In each city, various course-related and general meetings were required. While some were snoozers, others were incredibly stimulating intellectually. Our meetings with the European Commission or the European Court of Justice come to mind. Even more amazing, I think of our candid meetings with representatives of the Permanent Delegations of Russia and Turkey to the EU. The meeting with Russia's diplomats came right during the Ukraine crisis. What an incredible opportunity! His perspective was interesting and comparing it to the EU/U.S. perspective was even more fascinating.

HOUSING
I lived in a student housing complex in Vauban, where I shared a flat. Everyone gets a single room and shares a kitchen and bathroom with German and other international students. You may have someone in your program in your flat, but you might not. That said, you'll definitely have at least ten members of your program in your housing complex, and that means that group dinners and parties will become a fact of life. Get to know your German roommates! Not only are they likely super cool (especially if they live in Vauban), but they also are a wealth of knowledge about Freiburg and Germany. Some of the best conversations I had were spur of the moment and unexpected conversations with Germans about the United States, Europe, and international relations. One particular conversation about gun control will always stick in my mind.

SOCIAL LIFE
God. I couldn't have wanted anything more. While IES EU is not set up in a way that would invite a high degree of intercultural dialogue and interaction, it certainly is set up such that you will become great friends with the other Americans on your program. That's not a problem. In fact, it's a huge blessing. I made friends who I will be keeping in touch with for some time to come, and I expect many others would do the same. We went on trips, out to clubs/bars, and on short hikes/daytrips together. With only 60 people or so, it's no surprise that you'll become really good friends with your American classmates. Just don't expect a hugely high amount of intercultural interaction, unless you consciously seek it out. (For example, several of my friends played ultimate with the local team while in Freiburg, but they had to look for these opportunities themselves.) You also need not travel outside the program, although you totally can and should at some point. I went to Rome and Munich and couldn't have been more pleased. Other people visited Amsterdam, Dublin, and even Kiev. Bear in mind that almost anything is possible; you just have to find time (and money!) to make it happen.

OVERALL
I could not recommend this program enough. It's one thing to say that study abroad changed your life. Everyone says that. It's another for a program to actually do it. I seriously can't think of one regret I had in going abroad, and I'm glad that that's the case. If you want a high degree of cultural interaction and to become fluent in German, don't apply to this program. But if you want to work hard/play hard, experience Europe while engaging with decision makers and thought-leaders and making incredible friends all at the same time, then stop reading this review and go apply.

My experience in Freiburg was seriously amazing. The town itself is gorgeous and looks to be straight out of a travel brochure with a wonderful mix of traditional mid-evil German and French architecture. Everyone in Freiburg is super friendly, especially the other German students studying there. The dorms are pretty nice, about on par with an average American college dorm, but it is nice that they are set up like an apartment, with a kitchen and single bedrooms. They are also all (with the exception of the Littenweiler dorms) within reasonable distance from Freiburg's center and the IES Center. Academics were not too strenuous, and professors were very helpful and understanding of German being students' second language. The IES Center staff could not be nicer and more willing to help students with any problem they may have. Overall I cannot give enough praise to IES abroad Freiburg, it was truly an incredible experience.

Freiburg is an exciting college town nestled in the Black Forest, which makes for great hiking, lined with cobblestone streets and the beloved Bächle (the little streams scattered around the city where you often see children playing). The feeling of this home city is indescribable, but trust me there is no better place to go home to after each field study trip. Freiburg has something for everyone whether you prefer bars or the theater.

And let's not forget about those trips. The most unique part of this program is not only do you have the opportunity to learn about the European Union while living in Germany, but you get to experience it for yourself through first-hand witness of a variety of places in the EU. The trips that are included in the program include relevant meetings that integrate classwork into 'real-life' encounters while providing the time needed to see each city and its wonders!

Studying abroad in Freiburg with IES was one of the best decisions I have ever made. While the language barrier could be a challenge, all of the staff were helpful, friendly, and always available when/if needed. I specifically chose this program because of its focus on language immersion and I got just that. All classes were taught in German and the professors presented the material effectively and were willing to help if someone was confused.

I lived in a dorm about 10 minutes away from the city center by Straßenbahn or bike with other German students. This was great for cultural immersion and helped improve my German drastically. The city is beautiful and surrounded by hills and forests. While it is a smaller city, there is always something to do, from hiking in the Black Forest to exploring the side streets or neighborhoods of Freiburg. IES is great at encouraging German language and cultural immersion and plan a few excursions for students to partake in. These range from week-long trips to day trips and are all wonderful experiences that help students see different parts of the country and Europe. My semester in Freiburg with IES was one that I will never forget!

This is one of the most unique programs in the study abroad world I have personally encountered. Meet representatives from all different types of governments and learn about Europe in a way no one else will by seeing how various governments all function uniquely under the EU. Meet with think tanks, ministers, and locals as they all explain their experiences and stories to help you have a comprehensive understanding of the difficulties their specific region or city has faced historically or in the present. Three weeks of built in travel is one of the nicest and most convenient aspects of the program as well, especially since the last trip has a few options for students to pick their area of study.