AIFS Abroad in Salzburg, Austria: Semester

While I have had the opportunity to study abroad in multiple countries, through multiple different programs, AIFS Salzburg is by far the best program/experience I have ever had the pleasure of being apart of. From on site personnel, to the immersive experiences, AIFS Salzburg has not only provided me with the best abroad experience, but given me the tools and resources to continue to grow and navigate the globe. I am forever grateful for having had the opportunity and privilege to be apart of such an amazing and inspiring experience.

Although I was definitely nervous to live in a foreign country, Studying Abroad untimely turned out to be one of the greatest experience of my life. The life experience I gained there is invaluable, and the memories will stay with me my whole life. I would definitely recommend studying abroad in Salzburg with AIFS. The staff was accommodating and the professors were passionate about teaching. The workload is relatively light, with is good for those who want to travel (which I would say is a necessity if you want the entire study abroad experience). Salzburg is a beautiful city that I loved every minute of my living there. I would say that, even if you are hesitant, at least look into this program, as this is the only time in your life to sign up for something like this. I know I would regret not studying abroad had I not signed up. For your own sake, please study abroad in Salzburg.

My choice to study in Salzburg was considerably the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. The city itself is a charming mix of the old architecture and history you will find in smaller cities and with also an added hustle that is common in cities the size of Salzburg. The people who head up the Salzburg sector of AIFS are lovely and accommodating to any issue that should arise during the duration off your program and all of the professors are professional and helpful. If you are looking for an experience like no other, I highly recommend choosing Salzburg!

Salzburg study abroad: where culture classes met cobblestone confusion, schnitzels challenged my face size, and the Sound of Music tour became a questionable karaoke session. Amidst strudel-induced wisdom and late-night cram sessions, friendships blossomed, creating a chapter filled with laughter and personal growth. Pro tip: embrace the chaos, savor the strudel, and let Salzburg's charm shape your semester.

I cannot express enough how truly thankful and blessed I am to have had the opportunity to study abroad in Central Europe with AIFS. I had many reservations and concerns about studying abroad, as I was doing it by myself. I had not been out of the country for extended periods of time, and I had also never been to Europe. After about a week in my new home, however, I quickly became attached to the people, culture, and opportunities offered to me there. Few countries rival the beauty and history of Austria, and this made my experience all the more enjoyable. During my 3+ months abroad, I made countless friends, traveled to 9 different countries, learned an enormous amount about European history and culture, experienced dozens of new and astounding opportunities, tried many amazing foods and drinks, collected several awesome souvenirs, and made scores of amazing memories that I will cherish forever. I firmly believe that the staff at AIFS Salzburg is second to none. Ingrid, Marie, Gunda, Andreas, and all of the professors and department coordinators were absolutely amazing. Not only were they extremely kind and welcoming, but they were also there for my every need, whether it was financial, medical, academic, etcetera. I truly cannot say enough about how amazing my experience was studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria with AIFS!

A truly spectacular program. Not even sure where to begin. We had about 40 total students in the program and it was unbelievable how close we all became in the span of 3 months. The group turned into a family and turned every experience into one of the greatest core memories of my life. In terms of academics, I had not one complaint about the professors or workload. We rarely received homework yet the teaching style was perfect and translated into real learning, not grades based on assignments. Austria itself is like a playground, with something new to do everyday just around the corner. The staff was extremely nice and supportive and provided snacks everyday which was beloved by all. I can assure you that joining the experience that is provided by this program, you will become a much happier being!

There are no words to describe how incredible my experience with AIFS was in Salzburg, Austria. I never had to question my safety or my education value that was I was receiving with the program. I tell everyone about how amazing and perfect the program was for me. I was able to improve my German in and outside of the classroom. The optional excursions, the field trips with my classes, the interactions with my Austrian professors, and the friends that I made from this program is something I will never forget.

I had so much fun in Salzburg! It was so easy to get used to the city and feel like you know your way around. Groceries were super cheap, and there were lots of Erasmus students to mingle with as well as other AIFS students. The living situation in Institut St. Sebastian was super central and so pretty, especially the roof! The bus system made it so easy to get around, and the train station is also sooo nice, so once I got a eurail pass, travel was quick & easy! All of the professors for my program were also very kind and interesting. Also, the AIFS staff were super attentive and ready to help in any situation, which made me feel safe and supported. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone! Salzburg is wonderful! :)

I studied abroad with AIFS in Salzburg, Austria in the Fall 2019 semester, and it completely changed my life! I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but had never been out of the country and didn’t know if I could really handle a whole semester living in a non-English-speaking country. But AIFS provided the perfect level of support; they include health and travel insurance, a meal plan, cultural excursions and activities, on-site staff, and so much more! Whether it was figuring out how to send/receive mail, navigating the healthcare system, or finding ways to get involved in the local community, the on-site AIFS staff was always there for anything I needed. But they also were incredible about allowing all students to shape their experiences however they wanted. This wonderful dichotomy was the perfect balance between challenging myself to figure things out independently, and always feeling like I could go to them with anything I needed. The classes I took at AIFS were so engaging and interesting, and I really got the chance to see how they played out in real life! I took classes in Contemporary Austrian Culture, Art and Architecture History, International Conflicts and Resolution, and German. These courses allowed me to understand the historical and contemporary context that shapes Austrian culture. Not only that, but we were even able to do tours around the city observing different styles of historical architecture and art too! All of the courses that AIFS offered transferred back to my home institution easily, and even counted toward my double minors in German and Government, or for core credits! Salzburg is the perfect place for anyone who wants a more intimate local experience due to its smaller size than other metropolitan areas, and is nestled right in the northern foothills of the Austrian Alps, so there are plenty of great hiking and outdoor adventure opportunities if you’re a nature person! It’s small enough to really get to know the city, but large enough to have everything you could need or want - restaurants, nightlife, museums, shopping malls, etc. Salzburg holds such a special place in my heart, and I owe my amazing experience all to AIFS for guiding me through the process, and allowing me to just focus on having the best time possible. Something else that is unique to the AIFS experience is the level of alumni engagement. Coming back from abroad, I definitely experienced reverse culture shock, and was eager to connect with any of my peers that I could relate to and share stories of my time abroad with. I didn't really find that community at my home campus, but AIFS had so many opportunities to engage with other alumni from different programs and helped me find that community. It's clear the impact an AIFS experience has on people, because even those who studied abroad with AIFS more than 20 years ago still connect with each other through alumni social media pages! I can't recommend studying in Salzburg and going with AIFS enough!

I studied abroad in Salzburg during the Fall 2017 semester and can proudly say that I highly recommend this program with AIFS. Immersing oneself into the city of Salzburg not only makes you feel like you're stepping into a fairytale city, but causes you to realize how much the world has to offer. With AIFS, this immersion was seamless. The courses I took with AIFS and the University of Salzburg were intensive, but not overwhelming. Many courses integrated the city itself as well, with trips to various museums and historic sites throughout the Altstadt. One course I took especially had a great effect on how I view the world surrounding me and the future of my academic career. It has inspired me to pursue a Master's degree, which I also plan to do overseas. The housing options offered by AIFS were incredibly diverse, allowing for each student to have their preference of accommodation style. All accommodations offered were similar, however, in that they were clean, comfortable, and affordable and allowed for a unique opportunity to live in an international environment. In these ways, the lifestyles that these accommodations offered allowed for easy integration into the Salzburg and university communities. Upon arrival, orientation was very comprehensive and answered any and all questions that may have surfaced. The Resident Team in Salzburg was very welcoming, leading to a sense that they truly were our caretakers and leaders. The excursions that they took us on were very well planned and were some of my favorite memories I left my time abroad with. Overall, my experience with AIFS in Salzburg was truly an unforgettable one. I can proudly say that it gave me a new sense of emotional intelligence regarding myself, my future, and my place in the world. I would highly recommend this program to any interested students.

I studied abroad in the fall of 2017 and was able to experience the full immersion of the Austrian culture thanks to my homestay. AIFS worked hand in hand with me from beginning to the end, by helping with course selections all the way until I had my transcript sent to my home university. Having a program that is so easy to work was seen as even more of a plus of the program as many my friends had gone programs that were not all inclusive so they had to make a lot of their arrangements themselves or work with multiple people. I definitely believe that the program structure itself is a great starting point for students to challenge their German, and get to know something outside of what is considered to be normal on their home university's campus. However, while you learn a lot, a large portion of that also comes from a willingness to push yourselves into harder situations so that you can grow through those challenges. If you do happen to find yourself in a predicament that you are unable to get out of yourself, i.e. medical, visa, etc. the on-site staff from AIFS are always able and willing to assist you in whatever ways it may be or direct you to someone who can. They want you to get the most out of the experience and enjoy your time doing so. All in all, if I were to do it all over again, I would choose Salzburg, Austria in a heartbeat with the help of AIFS.

Salzburg, Austria is a criminally underrated location for a study abroad semester. It has been my experience that few Americans know that much about Salzburg and Austria as a whole, which is disappointing because Austria is rightly nicknamed by some "the hidden gem of Europe." However, I would recommend Salzburg to anyone who is wondering where to go for their study abroad location. Austria is in the smack-dab middle of Europe, which makes traveling to other countries very easy and very cheap (I traveled to nine other countries during the semester, not including the trips I took around Austria itself). Austria is also gorgeous and is a good option for any nature-lover, as the country features the greenest meadows you've ever seen, plus idyllic lakes, mountains, forests, and old Byzantine cathedrals dotting its countryside. Skiing was a very popular and accessible option for several of the students in my program. Salzburg itself is chock-full of activities that are easy to reach via public transportation or by foot; you could eat breakfast at Cafe Tomaselli, which was Mozart's favorite cafe in which to compose his music (I highly recommend their ham and cheese omelets), or bus to Untersberg and hike the mountain, or visit the fortress in the middle of town, or walk around the Mirabell Gardens which were featured in The Sound of Music, or sit on the banks of the Salzach River to sunbathe or read between classes; the list goes on and on. Other students and I often visited the cozy Shamrock Irish Pub for Tuesday night karaoke or the Augustiner Bräustübl when we wanted a little night-life. Since I studied abroad in the spring semester, we had the opportunity to attend the raising of the Maypole at the end of the semester, which is a regional tradition and was arguably one of the best days of the entire trip. Additionally, Salzburg has a more small-town, pastoral atmosphere than other popular locations; you could spend the entire 3 months in Salzburg without ever seeing a skyscraper. The people are nice and no-nonsense, and while you will have ample opportunities to practice German, almost everyone speaks perfect English, so the difference in language was not intimidating or difficult to overcome. The American Institute of Foreign Study (AIFS) not only made this semester possible, but also extremely comfortable; the Salzburg team at home in the States and on-site in Salzburg was incredibly supportive, kind, knowledgable, and involved without being at all smothering or controlling. Take advantage of the excursions included in the AIFS Salzburg package (which include weekend trips to Vienna, Munich, Prague, Innsbruck, and Hallstatt - all absolutely beautiful locations). Also, AIFS offers a flight package that includes a stop-over in London on the way over to Salzburg after departure from the United States, which was a wonderful way to meet the other students in the program, become acquainted to traveling, and explore a fabulous city that I have always wanted to visit. AIFS Salzburg offers both homestay and residence hall options for housing, so students do not have to limit themselves to one or the other in order to study abroad. I chose the residence hall option and was assigned to live in Institut St. Sebastian, which is a still-operating church in the middle of historic Salzburg with beautiful living facilities, a five-minute walk from all cultural sites and a ten-minute bus ride from school. The residence hall options give students the ability to live with both American and Austrian students, and I became very close with the other students in my program as a result. Two meals a day are also included in the program fee and are put on an easy-to-use meal card. The classes offered through the program gave me an opportunity to learn about subjects I never would have delved into on my home campus (I took literature, music history, art history, history of fascism in Europe and beyond, and a sociology course about contemporary Austrian culture). We spent several days outside of the classroom, walking around the historic city center to explore churches, museums, and even Mozart's birthplace during class-time. In the art history course, we took field trips to a dairy factory, a rug-weaving shop, and a family-owned shop in town that made Dirndl and Lederhosen. The classes are taught in English for the most part, but there are a few opportunities to take courses taught in German, and homework was mostly presentation-based with a few exams and papers. All in all, AIFS Salzburg provides students with a wonderful opportunity to travel in a highly supported, structured way. GO TO SALZBURG. You won't regret it.

I am extremely grateful for the experiences the AIFS Salzburg program was able to provide me with. They allowed me to emerge myself into a culture that I knew little about and come out an expert. They pushed us to find ways to engage in the community and find something we love doing while their. I was lucky enough to meet up with an American Football Team in Salzburg and help coach. They helped make me into a more cultural being and I will always hold this experience close to my heart.

Studying abroad was one of the best decisions I have made. I was apprehensive about the whole process but prior to and upon arrival, all my worries and concerns were extinguished. AIFS helped me every step of the way and provided countless excursions, tips, and support during my time abroad. I still talk to the friends I made every single day, even four years later. Austria was the perfect location and the courses I took directly related to my major. I would highly recommend AIFS, particularly the Salzburg program, to anyone looking to create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.