AIFS Abroad in Budapest, Hungary: Semester

While living in Budapest, I met some of the most genuine people. This experience has taught me more about life and the value of personal connections than anything I have experienced before. Everyone should go visit Budapest if you do not have the opportunity to live there, because it's one of the most down to earth big cities you can imagine. The culture and history is too important to pass up. It's a great city for young adults because the cost of living is very affordable and the young adult demographic in the city makes for a homey feeling.

I always knew that I wanted to study abroad and after much research and comparisons I came to the conclusion that the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) is who I wanted to study abroad with in Budapest, Hungary. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Everything went very smoothly when applying and getting accepted into the program. Pre-departure instructions were clear and someone was always readily available to answer questions that I had about the Visa process. Once I arrived to Hungary, the onsite AIFS staff member (Deniz) was so incredibly helpful to acclimating us to our new apartment and culture and provided us with her email and phone number so that we knew she was always readily available should we need her. The apartment provided through the AIFS program was so nice, comfortable and centrally located. When speaking with students from other programs, there were many complaints about how they had to stay in dorms or far from campus. I'm very grateful that with AIFS we had a spacious and perfectly located apartment. The classes offered by AIFS through Corvinus University were very educational and all in English. AIFS also requires that you take a Hungarian Language class which helps tremendously when getting accustomed to Hungary and communicating with locals. AIFS coordinated multiple excursions (to places like the countryside of Hungary and Vienna, Austria) that were included in the cost of the program and were so fun and interesting! Across all areas of my experience studying abroad, AIFS made sure that I always had the information I needed and that my experiences would be memorable.

I went abroad with AIFS for over 4 months in the spring semester. It was such an incredible opportunity. I was able to learn from teachers from all around the world with students who were just as diverse. I was also able to learn the Hungarian language and immerse myself in Hungarian culture living in a local apartment building and going to school with many local students. AIFS also provided travel opportunities to different countries with amazing tour guides and guides in Hungary so you are able to learn so much. Being fully immersed in a foreign culture was unlike any other experience I have ever had and I would go back in a heartbeat.