Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Barcelona was a phenomenal experience. Not just because of the beautiful city, but the SAI program genuinely made my entire semester so much more enjoyable. The staff in Barcelona was always so extremely helpful with any questions we had or if we wanted to do an activity. I joined the club soccer team through SAI and met some of my best friends. SAI often hosted dancing classes, cooking classes, and took us through the city. I cannot recommend this program enough!! If youre going to study abroad, study with SAI!

When signing up to study abroad, I was unaware of how much it would make an impact on my life. When choosing a program, I went with what my advisor said and didn't do much research on my own; it was kind of a toss-up. Now, I always thank my university advisor because I don't think my experience studying abroad could be better. I was the student intern for SAI, and I LOVED all of the employees within SAI. They made activities so much more fun and were there to help with anything. The community at SAI was genuinely like no other. They spoke English, and they provided a home away from home feel. My roommates and I attended weekly activities through the program such as pizza making, wine tasting, or food tours! I can't get over how much I would suggest this program to someone looking to study abroad.

I am so glad I chose to study abroad with SAI, they made every step of the experience so seamless and easy! There are a lot of logistics when it comes to studying abroad, but they were so helpful throughout the entire process. Not to mention the staff is so supportive, they were available for help 24/7 during our stay in Barcelona and they were so kind. It truly felt like having a local friend for support. Not only that, but SAI offers a variety of VIVA experiences that are included in your program fee. Through these experiences, I was able to travel with my program to 4 other cities in Spain and experience more of the local culture in Barcelona. I loved the paella cooking class and flamenco class!

There aren't enough words in the dictionary to describe how good of an experience I had during my year abroad with SAI. I totally stepped out of my comfort zone, met so many new people, and had a lot of time for self reflection. It sounds like a cliche, but I very much felt like the amount of growth and evolution I saw during my time abroad was unlike any other time in my life. SAI provided a lot of opportunities to me through group outings and activities, and they were by my side when I was navigating the Italian healthcare system. I loved my apartment and location—right on the Arno—and I felt super safe in Florence.

To put it simply: studying abroad changed my life. The thought of going abroad for the first time can be really scary and intimidating but I promise you it will be worth it. I learned how to appreciate the small moments, connect with the local community, and most importantly I gained a better understanding of who I was as an individual. Studying abroad truly changed my perspective and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to call Florence my home. Through it all SAI remained a helping hand and the moments and memories made in Florence will be cherished forever.

This was my first international experience. Once my plane landed at CDG, SAI was there every step of the way to help me adjust into my new home! I was initially really worried about learning RATP (public transport) but it was a piece of cake. The metro and buses helped to develop my independence and encourage me to discover different parts of the city. SAI also offered some great VIVA experiences like Fontainebleau (beautiful!!). There is no language requirement but I was able to use some of the French I had learned over the years with neighbors, employees, and a friend at the local boulangerie! Can't wait to go back to Paris someday.

Studying abroad with SAI was the best experience of my life. I learned about SAI through a friend, and I will definitely be recommending it to everyone. The on site program coordinators Sandrine and Elena were very welcoming and helpful from my arrival in Barcelona until my departure. Every activity they had planned for us was very well planned and executed. They work hard to get to know all of their students and they deeply care for each student. The housing they provide was in a great location and was very nice. I am so glad I chose to study abroad with SAI!

I highly recommend choosing a program like SAI for your study abroad experience because it offers you much more flexibility and opportunity for free time unlike university sponsored trips. I was able to travel to different cities around Italy whenever I wanted by simply taking the train after class. We also had very free weekends to do anything we wanted, like travel to other countries (I went to 4 others in only 5 weeks!). My experience was even greater than I expected because SAI helped make everything go so smoothly and I was never stressed out about anything. They also had plenty of activities for us to get to know each other before classes started which helped with making friends and getting familiar with the city in general a ton. They take care of your transcript forms at the end and everything too! I can’t recommend them enough!

Elisava was such a unique experience and I am glad l I took this chance to grow and learn. Doing it through SAI really helped to ease me into it. SAI staff were always there for support and constantly checked in which created a sense of community and comfort. Elisava as a school is a really wonderful place where people from all over come to learn and share their design background. Compared to some other study abroad programs in Barcelona, Elisava is a heavy workload but highly rewarding. There is such a strong sense of community and teamwork with so many differing perspectives which really broadened my horizons.

I made lifelong connections not just with my roommates, but with classmates and locals that you just can't get anywhere else. I was also able to see so many iconic museums and art pieces that I will never forget! I really enjoyed learning Italian culture at FUA and getting the opportunity to be taught by an actual Florentine local! Fabio was my professor, and he was amazing! Took us on multiple trips around the city to learn about the culture and history of Florence and was so lucky to learn from him! The apartment living was fantastic! Very spacious and clean when we arrived, and had amenities not even in my apartment back home. Beautiful view of the Palazzo Vecchio! I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to grow their cultural competence and find a program within SAI that is affiliated with their home university!