My study abroad experience in Edinburgh through CIS was the best semester of my life! Through doing this, I was able to meet so many great new people and see places I've always dreamed of seeing. Even though I never considered myself a big city person, Edinburgh was the perfect fit for me. It was small enough that I got comfortable exploring on my own, but still big enough to always find new things to do or see. Edinburgh also had the perfect balance of historic charm (from the castle to the palace) to being modern enough to have easy public transportation and offer a fun, social life. CIS made the transition to studying abroad so much smoother than it would have been had I not gone with them. They had great communication and information sharing prior to arriving and had the most amazing onsite program leader, Jeanna, as well. By having us all stay together in a hotel the first night, giving us walking tours of the city, and taking us as a group to the school's orientation, CIS definitely helped make life easier. CIS also organized such a beautiful trip to the Highlands, that I recommended what we did to the friends I met that were not a part of this program! My biggest piece of advice for anyone else about to study abroad is to say yes to everything! Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone! As someone who usually finds themselves a bit more on the shyer side, this is how I tried to live my life while in Scotland. By pushing myself and doing things I normally wouldn't, I was able to make so many great new friends and have tons of amazing new experiences that have left me with fantastic memories. I know I surprised myself with what I ended up loving, and even if I didn't, I was glad to have tried something new. This growth in confidence and independence has definitely impacted my life post-program as I carry what I've learned with me back home. The independence of life in the city and everything I've learned has affected how comfortable I am doing things now at home and has made me more excited for traveling and life in the future.

I had the absolute best semester in Edinburgh thanks to CIS. Edinburgh was beautiful, you could walk anywhere in the city in 20 minutes. The public transportation was cheap and simple. The airport was incredible, and you could fly anywhere! I took biology classes, so I had it a little harder than my friends who were business majors. The night life is incredible, and Edinburgh has the most pubs per square mile in the entire world. Through CIS, we even got a weekend tour of the Scottish Highlands, which is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. There's something for everyone in Edinburgh - shopping, hiking, history, pubs, cafes, and more! I would definitely recommend Edinburgh as a place to live, and to use CIS! If you go, take me with you!!!

While it was a well run program, because we were in an English speaking country, I rarely saw the program coordinator. We were located in a fantastic area of the city. School was very easy and met very little so I had a lot of free time. There was not many opportunities to meet local people. It was hard to meet new people and if I hadn’t befriended my flatmates I wouldn’t have had any friends. Edinburgh was a great spot to travel to other countries from. It was very easy to find cheap flights from Edinburgh.

The program made spending a semester abroad in the most wonderful city an absolute breeze. Edinburgh came to be my true home, with endless thanks due to the CIS staff who coordinated and welcomed us so seamlessly. Everything put on by the program itself was incredibly useful and fun, and yet there was ample opportunity for independent adventures. I was able to travel to nearly twenty different cities throughout Europe on weekends, breaks, and after classes ended. The CIS staff was not only willing to let us take these trips, but encouraged us to do so and gave us as much information to make it as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Since completing the program, I have realized that the semester abroad wasn't the quenching of my travel thirst. Instead, it was only the first taste. I believe that CIS was a crucial experience for me, one that will impact the way I live the rest of my life.

Everyone was so friendly and extremely helpful. The first week there, the on site coordinator showed us around and made sure we were all comfortable for our first week of classes. The class work was not too difficult, which made it easier to travel on the weekends. You actually felt like you were at home and not in another country. My favorite place in Edinburgh would have to be Cramond Island, which you can only get to at low tide. At low tide a land bridge opens up and you can walk to the island. There are abandoned buildings from World War II that you can explore. I also highly recommend taking a trip up to the Highlands and visiting the Isle of Skye.

Honestly a numerical value can’t sum up my time in Edinburgh. It reignited my passion for travel. I got to live and study in one of the most amazing cities in the world and I met the most amazing person. CIS did amazing setting it up and I couldn’t of asked for a better trip.

I studied at Edinburgh Napier which ended having courses that matched up to what I was studying. The professors I had were amazing a really knew their stuff. Housing was ok, but it was a nice adjustment to be living in an apartment on my own instead of a dorm. I lived with Americans that also were going to Napier so it was nice to have others around to help get adjusted to a new city.

Studying abroad with CIS was the best decision I have ever made. From the moment I applied, their program was thorough, clear, and simple, and their team is responsive, passionate, and caring. Over a year ago, I showed interest in studying with CISAbroad. I was almost immediately contacted by the representative that specialized in the area I was interested in to introduce herself, see if I had any questions, and invite me to phone call conversation to discuss my options. She was so personable, caring, and patient, and had a clear answer to every question I asked. I immediately knew that this was the company I wanted to study with, and now only had to choose my location. This representative was happy to engage in another phone call and help me decide on the program best for me, after weighing my options, we decided Edinburgh was the place for me. From then on, the process only got less stressful. Their team members were welcoming and enthusiastic and made me feel as if I was a part of a community before even setting foot on the airplane. Their information packets were thorough, comprehensive, and detailed. I knew exactly what needed to be done, by when, and how. Any questions that popped up were answered in a timely, professional, and enthusiastic manner. Then, the pre-departure orientation explained nearly every detail of what to pack, what to do, and what to expect. It also introduced us to our wonderful program coordinator Jeanna. If I could write an entire review on how incredible Jeanna was, I absolutely would. She was so caring, kind, and motherly. Every person in our program cherished her and agreed that she helped us to feel at home in such a new country. Maggie, our program coordinator in the states was in frequent and personal contact with us to make sure that we were adjusting well and enjoying our experience. When we arrived in Edinburgh, we were instantly taken care of, with rides from the airport provided, on-site orientations, and recommendations about where to buy necessities, I never once felt lost or overwhelmed during my first week in Scotland. Jeanna brought us out for dinner that night to help us get to know one another and discuss what we should expect coming up, and then took us for a walking tour of the city. I can still remember the things I learned on that tour because of how personable, knowledgeable, and kind Jeanna is. I felt as if I was moving into my new home. Jeanna made sure to meet with us often and check in frequently, from coffees to Facebook messages, she went far above and beyond to help us have the best semester possible. I genuinely believe that she is the reason I did not feel homesick, and I could never have enough words to thank her.
The best part of my study abroad experience by far was the infamous CIS Scotland Highland Tour! This excursion, covered in our tuition and fees, took us on a tour of the highland to see the most beautiful, memorable, and incredible views I have ever seen. I will never, ever forget the experiences I saw on this trip from famous landscapes (including the Harry Potter Bridge), bonding with my fellow students, and, of course, eating Haggis!
CIS was not only affordable, but so beyond worth the money spent on the program. For less than I pay a semester at my home institution, we were provided extremely comfortable student accommodation, a fantastic education at a Scottish Institution, and experiences that I will never in my life forget. I absolutely loved my classes at the institution. I learned so many interesting things from extremely knowledgeable professors and was both intrigued and challenged by the subject matter. Likewise, there were so many course options to choose from that it was nearly impossible for someone to not find something they were interested in. I loved collaborating with Scottish students, and creating bonds with people from the institution on group projects and outside of class time.
To CIS, I can only say “thank you” for giving me the semester of a lifetime.

Living in Edinburgh was the best time of my life, and CISAbroad made it all possible. Everything I needed to have a smooth semester, from getting to Scotland, actually living there and attending classes, was all taken care of by the CIS team. One of my favorite things about CISAbroad was the on-site director. My director was the sweetest human ever who shared lots of knowledge of her city. I also made life long friends through my program, who I will cherish forever. I’m so grateful to CISAbroad, and would recommend it to anyone.