Program Reviews

My decision to become an international student was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I give a lot of credit to Dublin and the entire FIE staff for making that happen. Many students say they will have a major culture shock and feel uncomfortable abroad, but I never felt that way with this program. Every staff member made me feel right at home in Dublin. Even on the first day, the staff members act as if they have known you your entire life and are so welcoming. They would go out of their way to make me feel comfortable during my time abroad. For example, I got sick for a few days during the semester and was a little unsure and nervous about how to go about seeing a doctor and about missing class. One of the program directors, Pauline, walked me to the doctors, helped me through the whole process, and made me feel so relaxed about the whole situation. She went beyond her job description to make sure that I was okay and that I would feel better. Acts like that make you feel like you are a part of a family in this program. Not a day goes by that I do not miss Dublin, and the wonderful people in FIE.

I came to Dublin without any experience being out of the United States. Like most other students, I had no idea what to expect as far as adjusting to a new culture or finding outlets to explore both Ireland and Europe as a whole; however, the FIE staff was beyond supportive, cared (and succeeded) at building a community within our program, and truly strived for us to make lasting memories.

Although there were plenty of stories I could tell, I'll never forget the night I celebrated my 20th birthday in Dublin. In early September, my best friend and I met an Irish student at the University College of Dublin, and we started to spend time with his friend group. By the time November rolled around, FIE had done such a good job at helping us build friendships with both the program students (the other American students) and Ireland natives, that it took no time to fill our apartment with 20 rowdy Irish students and probably another 20 students from our program. It created a rare sight of two radically different groups coming together and sharing things they had in common. Afterwards we all went out and created the most meaningful experience of culture and shared positive energy.

All in all, you will make plenty of stories like this while abroad-- and the FIE staff will make sure that happens. This is a priceless experience that you will remember for the rest of your life, so step outside the comfort zone and make it happen.

Where can I even start with this review?? My summer in London was truly an unforgettable one. First of all, South Kensington was an absolutely lovely place to be. I never for one second doubted my safety. There were also so many restaurants around that were affordable, welcoming, and most importantly - delicious. (Bella Italia, SCOOP, and Dozo to name a few). We were super close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens which are both adventures ready to be taken on in themselves, and I loved every second of it. One of my favorite memories was watching my friends roll down the hills outside Kensington Palace (and yes I said watch them- I didn't join for fear of grass stains). We also had so much fun experiencing and discovering the night life in London. However, for those of you that are not too keen on this, I never once felt like I had to go out. There are SOOOO many things to do in London besides indulge in the perks of being of drinking age. We went to pretty much all of the extracurricular events provided by FIE-. This includes plays (my personal favorite), rooftop mini golf, and the London Eye. London is huge and the possibilities for adventures are truly endless.

The classes we took during our time in London were incredible. I took British Life in Business, which was learning about business in England and the England culture overall. This class also included a ton of field trips. I was so so excited to take our field trip to Parliament and it's safe to say the trip went above and beyond my expectations. And of course the field trip to the brewery was super fun!! (Going to Wimbledon was also something I was crazy about!!). The internship class was also an incredible experience because it helped to actually take our internship and put into words how it was helping us grow professionally. I personally love professional development which was mainly the focus of the class. In addition, each professor I had was truly amazing in their own way. They both cared passionately about us and the topics we were covering, and personally made me feel comfortable talking to them if I ever needed to.
The internship was also something I will never forget. It was a phenomenal experience. I had never had an internship before, but it didn't matter because the FIE staff worked tirelessly to make sure every student got the best internship placement possible.

I encourage anyone considering studying with FIE to GO FOR IT!!! It was scary, and intimidating, and pushed me out of my comfort zone. But it was also exciting, fun, and challenged me in ways I'd never thought possible. I grew immensely from this experience and any bump in the road I encountered was put out of my mind because everything else was so amazing. The FIE staff truly cared about our well being and was there if we ever needed anything. I promise you, doing this will not be something you regret.

FIE was an astounding program that combines the aspects of a professional experience with the fun of being abroad. They adequately prepared us for the entire program, I have studied abroad twice prior to this and can whole heartedly say, this program is the most efficient in getting their participants ready to handle everything that will come to them. As well as the weekends spent in different parts of the country learning about the history and traditions of Ireland was really effective and I feel like I had a better understanding of the country and it's people.

I really enjoyed my experience in London through FIE. Location was prime and they ran the program well! By locating us in Kennsington, we were very well connected to everything via the Underground and buses. The internship component of the program was very valuable, and they did a great job setting that up

The London/Amman Conflict Resolution program was both invaluable and unforgettable. This was actually my first time out of the USA and I could not have picked a better program. I have never seen a more organized program with an action-packed and educational itinerary. Being first introduced to London by living in posh Kensington, I got to learn from some of the best professors on the Northern Ireland conflict. By best, I mean Dr. Arthur could name drop and take you back like it was yesterday. I had the honor of being lectured by Lord Alderdice, a life peer in the House of Lords and former speaker of Northern Ireland Assembly. Something I always have to add, thanks to FIE, all of the students were invited to dine with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Tala, and HRH Princess Sarvarth of Jordan, and HRH Duke of Kent. Additionally, in the year I participated, we travelled to Northern Ireland for the weekend. Wow! It doesn't get much more personal than this. Not to mention, the turnover time from travesty to (educational) tourism was remarkable. The most memorable aspect of this mini-trip was standing in the cell where the legendary Bobby Sand died in the protest hunger strike. Other great aspects include visiting Stormont and talking with the Northern Ireland police department. Of course, much fun was had as well with countless pub visits and roaming London via tube thanks to FIE.

Additionally, the Middle-Eastern component in Amman, Jordan was equally impressive. Because the Middle East holds some preconceived notions, it's important to talk about Jordan itself. In a word, very safe and fun. Amman can be quite liberal at times and the area welcomes foreigners. Even being Jewish is no issue in Amman. The after-hours scene has its own Jordanian style as well. It is even safe at dark. Many iftar meals can attest to that. Naturally, it is a bit of a cultural shock. The most trying, but fun example is travelling from your homestay to the AMIDEAST building in a taxi, no English. Let me help you out. Look for Abdoun Circle. However, plenty of English spoken in Amman. AMIDEAST was absolutely phenomenal! Again, the professors and guest speakers were great and they provided me with invaluable information on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict--with the Jordanian perspective never mentioned in western media. These guest speakers, by the way, include past prime minsters and current senators. Also, there were many site visits including refugee camps, travelling to the Dead Sea, and experiencing Biblical Jordan. Also, I would stay on for the extra Arabic portion. I entered Jordan knowing two Arabic words. I left with the ability to construct simple sentences and equally speaking and writing them. I also placed into Arabic III when I got home.

Overall, the best program I have ever been involved in. The education, guest speakers, extracurricular learning opportunities, and after-hours fun were absolutely indispensible and unforgettable. Many lasting memories were made. Additionally, my fellow peers who embarked on the same trip as me made it the best as well. We all cam from different schools and great friendships were made. I would recommend this to any student who wants to have fun while learning and do so for the most cost efficient price. FIVE STARS. Thanks FIE and AMIDEAST!!!

I was pleasantly surprised with how interesting the courses were. The professors were really knowledgeable-- they absolutely knew their stuff. The best part of the classes are the academic trips you take to different parts of the country, and to Northern Ireland. They're really a blast, but also reinforce your learning.

The living accommodations are nice and spacious. Most of the rooms were singles, and one two-three people shared a bathroom. My apartment dorms were at Blackhall Place, which was an easy walk to class and to the social areas of Dublin. Blackhall is also close to the beautiful Phoenix Park, where I would go running, and which has a nice zoo.

I personally loved the way the Irish approach grocery shopping. The produce is really fresh and doesn't have as many preservatives as the food in the States, so you buy in smaller quantities. There's also a cost for plastic grocery bags, so I would use a reusable shopping bag and a backpack, which I found to be really progressive, and of course, eco-friendly. It was definitely more cost efficient to grocery shop-- most days I would cook breakfast and dinner, and pack lunch. I would buy things like a coffee, or a snack if we had a long day. Sometimes I went out to eat, but it was definitely helpful on my wallet to eat in. But we ate out at some really delicious restaurants- the food in Dublin is awesome, for sure.

I took advantage of my time in Ireland by trying to expose myself to the culture and people as much as people. The Irish people are incredibly friendly and are wonderful at making you feel welcome, so we would always make friends and ask around for advice on good places to go, or things to do. We spent a lot of time walking around, exploring, and making friends. Dublin also has a great art and music scene, we went to a lot of open mic nights and band performances, and there's also a lot of great street performers (you can brush up by watching the movie "Once").

Something I found great was that the Irish care a great deal about their politics and their country, which I found refreshing. Instead of the Kardashians, you could get into a lengthy debate about a political decision at the pub over a pint (and then maybe hash out about the Kardashians just a wee bit). I found that aspect to Irish life very enriching.

I've traveled to a few places in the world, and I always try to take a bit of each country home with me. Literally, I always take a few pebbles. But more deeply than that, from Dublin and Ireland in general I gained a great respect for friendliness and openness. As a straight-up New Yorker, I'm used to facing a very fast-paces and standoffish state of living. The Irish way is friendlier, it's kinder, it's welcoming. You could get into a friendly conversation with a stranger at the grocery store, or out at night, just for the sake of a friendly conversation.

The experiences I had are irreplaceable, everything from the friends I made, to Causey Farms, to that one club in Belfast. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Dublin under FIE's close guidance. I was fully supported by their office in all of my endeavors. I felt protected and watched over because they requested to know where myself and the other participants were at all times, especially while partaking in weekend travel. I enjoyed seeing all of Ireland--north, south, east and west. Some of my favorite highlights were sightseeing in the breathtaking Ring of Kerry, hiking County Clare's impossibly beautiful Cliffs of Moher, sifting through a charming farmers market in Cork, earning eloquent speaking by kissing the Blarney Stone and, of course, being flattered time and time again in Dublin by the friendliest, most welcoming locals in existence. I look back upon my (too short!) time in Dublin with absolute fondness and longing to return as soon as possible. I felt that FIE provided the most opportune conditions in which to enjoy this experience. I was sufficiently pleased and impressed by the way they bent over backwards to accommodate myself and the other students. I miss it dearly. I'm so happy that I participated and I whole heartedly believe it was the best experience of my life.

I haven't stopped talking about this experience since I returned to the states in April of 2013. From the phenomenal housing to the always-going social scene, the depth and breadth of free art, the fact that you're a train ride away from nearly anywhere you'd want to come in Europe...this study abroad experience is one I'd recommend to anyone.

While I didn't find FIE itself hugely helpful, the professors I studied with were engaging and entertaining. I cannot emphasize enough, as an English nerd, how much I loved studying Shakespeare in London, touring the Globe, and seeing a modern retelling of Twelfth Night. The British culture course was also just an interesting way to engage with the city.

The most wonderful aspect of FIE is the housing/transportation included in this study. I doubt I will ever live in as upscale a neighborhood as FIE's South Kensington apartments; even though I lived on the top floor of a seven-floor walk-up, being in central London was utterly worth it. The area is safe and hugely accessible. There are plenty of small grocery marts and cafes (there was a new, to-die-for French pastry shop literally around the corner from my building on Manson Place, with meringues as big as your head).

It's a few minutes' walk from Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens, the V&A and several other museums; it's the perfect place to stay and be connected to the city. This program also knows how important transportation is in London and supplied us with Tube & bus passes, which lifted what could have been a big part of financing the experience and allowed us the freedom to travel wherever we liked within the city. They also offered some discounted trips, tickets, and experiences like high tea at the start of the term, which was a great way to plan out some London-sightseeing throughout the year.

It's fairly simple to buy some inexpensive towels and bed linens at stores like Primark (the UK version Marshalls), as you're on your own for the former and the latter were a little sparse, at least in my building. But the experience...looking back, my appreciation for those four months only continues to increase.

And, not to give anyone absurdly false hopes or anything, but Englishmen and Europeans are lovely and direct (being asked out on a date, straightforwardly, is nice!). I very happily met a man I fell utterly in love with while in London, and our first date walking up and down the South Bank of the Thames, followed by cooking dinner at the flat I stayed in, remains one of my fondest memories there.

In Spring 2013, I studied at University College Dublin through the FIE program my university partnered with. Of the Dublin programs my university offered, UCD was the best fit for the academic and cultural experience I hoped to gain from the program. It was great to live in an on-campus apartment on an international campus and get to know other students from Ireland and several other countries. I did not have an internship while in Dublin, but I did go back with 24 course credits because of the minimum requirements at UCD, which was 8 more than I would have been able to take at my university. It seems like a lot, but many courses only met once a week, so it ended up being a smaller workload than I was used to! Because UCD is a traditional college campus, I was able to join student organizations for an easy way to meet new people and get involved with events happening on campus and in the city. I’d definitely recommend the UCD program for that reason, but do make sure you do some research on UCD’s location in Dublin and plan ahead. Because you will need to take the bus between campus and City Centre, make sure you plan to spend at least $200-300 in bus and taxi costs alone. UCD is a beautiful campus with a lot to do, and the FIE staff will support you fantastically while you are there!