Program Reviews

I studied abroad in Madrid during the spring semester of 2022 and it was the experience of a life time. Actually getting abroad was a little rocky, but from talking with other friends who went abroad, this seems to be a universal experience. I ended up accidentally arriving a week early for my program, so I spent some time in Spain by myself. This accident was great for my transition from home to abroad life because it gave me the chance to explore and come out of my comfort zone without the frenzy of the start of school and orientation activities. IES had a lot of resources set aside for students that I used frequently throughout the year. I had weekly tutoring for both of my biology classes, when I became sick during my time abroad, a physician came to my room to treat me, and the organized field trips throughout the semester really helped keep all of the abroad students close and connected. Over some weekends, I would travel with my friends to other countries. From this independence, I learned so much about myself and the way I fit into the world. I came to learn what empowers me and what I value/lean on in the midst of change. Going abroad was a huge period of consistent adjustment and readjustment. As stressful as this sometimes was at first, I am so much more flexible in the way I live my life, and my life is easier. As I was initially adjusting to the new stresses of life abroad, it was really important for me to have a safe space. I needed to create my own home. Having a really safe and homey bedroom was important for my relaxation and decompression from daily life. My apartment provided by IES was perfect. It was called “Mi Casa Inn,” and it was basically a hotel that only students lived in. There were other abroad students, and Spanish locals who lived there. This was amazing for integration and quick connections with other students. This was also really safe when going out at night because I always had friends who were going back with me. I am one hundred percent sure that IES was the best choice for my abroad program.

I decided to go to Milan because fashion has been my greatest passion ever since I was a kid. I had high expectations before going to Milan, and Milan certainly didn't fall short of them. IES offers so many great educators who are extremely knowledgeable in the field of fashion, and one of the professors who teaches management of fashion and luxury businesses actually inspired me so much and answered so many of my questions regarding fashion. She was patient with me and willing to share her resources with students who are interested in fashion.

I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in the semester of Spring 2022. It was quite literally one of the best periods of my life so far, both personally and also academically! I made some incredible friends, got to learn about a new culture, practice and improve my Spanish skills enormously during my time there. Madrid itself is also an incredibly city to live and study in. It's full of culture, life and things to do. It also has amazing transportation systems, healthcare and the people are super friendly and welcoming too.

The IES staff were also so helpful and easy to reach out to during my time abroad. They were there to help with any issues I had, which was greatly appreciated. The classes were also fun and interesting, even though they were pretty different in comparison to how US classes work. Expect more lecture based classes, as well as the classes being entirely in Spanish!
My housing was great too, I had my own dorm with plenty of space and an en-suite bathroom. It was about a 3 min walk away from my classes and a 10-15 min walk from the metro station, shops, etc. I couldn't have lived in a more central location.

Overall, I would recommend this program to ANYONE interested in studying abroad, even if you feel your language skills are not that strong - this is a great chance to improve them whilst having fun doing it! It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you should do it.

Everyone tells you how studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I know I sound like a broken record. But taking an intern position takes that experience one step higher. This was my very first time outside of the US and I was terrified but eager. I took a research position as well as a teaching assistant position, both of which would not have been possible without the Barcelona internship coordinators who answered one million of my questions. Whether it be the IES staff, other US students I met in the program, my intern advisors, the teachers and students at the school I was placed in, or locals I met while exploring the city, the people changed everything for me. I was challenged and learned more about myself than I thought possible, as well as gaining some lifelong friends that have fit into my life even after returning home.

I studied abroad with IES Nice in the fall of 2021 after the spring program was canceled because of COVID, and I am so glad that I went during the fall. The sunny weather and laidback Nicoise attitude make the experience feel like a 4-month vacation, especially in early fall.

The classes were moderately difficult, especially if you take a few at SKEMA Business School, but none were too hard. The IES classes are located in the city center, and SKEMA is about a 45 min bus ride away in Sophia Antipolis—a bit of a trek but it's hard to complain when you get to ride along the Mediterranean Sea during your commute.

Nice is a train away from Italy (you can go for dinner and be back by 11 pm), so the cuisine and architecture are beautifully Italian-influenced. Traveling to other European countries is easy since the tram leads directly to Nice's own airport, so no need for an expensive Uber ride. As for housing, IES found me a top-floor apartment with a terrace, a 25 min walk from the beach.

The staff is very helpful as well! When I got sick and let the program director know, she quickly dropped off a COVID test at my apartment and the student affairs coordinator helped me schedule a doctor's visit with an English-speaking doctor. The student affairs coordinator also plans the excursions such as visiting local historical villages with a tour guide, meeting with French students our age, and attending a cooking class to learn how to make Nicoise dishes.

My advice: go on as many excursions as possible and practice your French with locals! :) It's easy to stick with the Americans in your group, but Nice is a very international city so don't be afraid to meet new people.

My semester in Dublin was definitely the most memorable of my time in college. IES kept in regular contact with us to make sure that everything was going well, gave us lots of information at orientation, and sent out activity & travel suggestions throughout the semester. They also led a few group outings for us. I was at Trinity, and the campus is beautiful (I was drawn to the program from seeing photos of the Old Library!) and right in city centre so you're exposed to local culture; I loved stopping at shops on the way home to get a hot chocolate or some fries with garlic sauce (they're the best). The apartment was nice and modern with plenty of space, privacy, and common areas to socialize, and was pretty close to campus. Most everyone in all of the IES Dublin programs lived in the same building, so we made a group chat and had a big extended group of friends to go out with.

Classes are a lot different than in the United States. Instead of multiple shorter classes a day on alternating days like at my home school, I had two one-hour sessions or one two-hour session of each class a week. Depending on the class (I took English modules), grades are based significantly or even 100% on the final exam. This was an adjustment in the sense that I felt a bit less engaged with school overall, since it was less in-class time and fewer assignments throughout the semester, until finals came and then it was a lot of work all at once. You just have to make sure to genuinely care about your studies and keep up with your work, though, and it’ll be fine. This is also a good thing to learn since plenty of other things in life require self-motivation and accountability. This more open schedule was a great way to have things structured during study abroad, however, because it left a LOT of time to explore locally and travel on long weekends! I definitely recommend joining a couple of clubs to truly feel connected to campus; they have a lot of fun events both on campus and at local venues.

Studying in Dublin was not only fun for a short time, but allowed me to realize how much I really want to live abroad long-term. You also learn so many things living in a new culture and how to adapt to them. Public transport is really convenient within the city, and trains are great for traveling across the country. You have to ask for the check at a restaurant, but tax is all included so the total is nice and even and easy to add up in your head. Even going to the grocery store at first is a whole experience on its own—a lot more people bring their own bags (which is great!), some "staple" foods are a bit different, and Irish dairy has a totally different taste. And when you finally leave, you feel a bit homesick in reverse, because what you consider "home" has been split into more pieces, both of them always in the back of your mind. Overall, my semester abroad in Dublin with IES really bridged that gap of apprehension between the expected and the unknown, and it helped prepare me to travel and live abroad once I graduate.

This abroad experience was unique for me because this was my first time traveling abroad. England could not have been a more welcoming experience and IES Abroad exceeded my expectations both connecting education with cultural exploration. For further students, I want it to be known how helpful and committed IES Abroad was at making sure you personally felt comfortable in every situation. They are there to help! IES Abroad staff is like a new little family away from your home. I would also give the advice to go on the organized trips with IES. It is a great way to see more of England with the trip already planned for you, so that it is not as stressful as it may seem to plan a trip solo while abroad. Overall, take advantage of all of the new and exciting aspects of this country.

One fear I had was not making friends with classes being online, but I had many group projects with friendly students that were eager to help me with anything and everything. Balancing schoolwork and fun was difficult at times, but I was surrounded by amazing resources. My experience was entirely shaped by my own ability to create opportunities for myself and make time to travel independently. What helped me the most was setting goals before I went abroad to orient myself and provide direction.

Berlin is an incredible city, so filled with history and culture! I felt at home very quickly at the start of my program, and I have to attribute much of that to the lovely staff at IES's Berlin Center. They welcomed us in with much care and support, and the faculty were really knowledgeable. My courses were striking and very relevant to my degree in International Affairs. I feel I've returned with a better understanding of the relationship between America and Europe, and how my identity fit as an American in Germany. The staff took us on day trips to Hamburg, Potsdam and Dresden, which were very enjoyable! They also provided opportunities to attend cultural events and visit local museums. Our pre-departure information meetings with the Center staff were very informative; learning about grocery stores and prepaid cellular providers beforehand saved me time during our first week of adjustment. The neighborhood our student apartments were in is a very cool area, and public transport across the city is great. I became really close with the other students in the program, and we bonded more because we lived in the same building. I'd highly recommend Berlin to anyone looking to visit Europe for the first time, and I'd advocate for any of IES's other programs in Germany as well!

I had the best time studying at the IES Abroad Writers Program in Dublin, Ireland. Given the status of Covid-19, my program size was not very big, but I met so many people in and outside of my program. From the relationships I built with my professors, to the amazing people I met, these were just two of the best reasons why my abroad experience was amazing! I was able to travel in and outside of Ireland with friends which was so much fun. I loved being a part of the culture of Ireland which really made my experience so much better! Even though I was homesick a few times, Ireland became my second home very fast which really helped me in that sense. I always felt safe wherever I went and was given multiple contacts in case of an emergency. My living situation was more than what I could have asked for, and the staff was so supportive and friendly to all the residents in the building. Overall, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made as a college student. I will always remember this experience and cannot wait to share it with more students in the future!