Study Abroad in Greece with CYA (Semester/Academic Year)

Heritage Greece had a profound impact on me, but the most meaningful part of the experience was the people I met along the way. Being surrounded by other young Greeks who shared similar values, ambitions, and a passion for their heritage allowed me to build genuine friendships and connections that I know will last for years to come. As the grandchild of Greek immigrants who came to Canada and often faced discrimination because they were different, I feel incredibly proud to carry on and celebrate the heritage they worked so hard to preserve. Heritage Greece reinforced that pride and showed me that being Greek is something to be celebrated openly and confidently.

Studying abroad in Greece through CYA was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Living in Athens allowed me to experience everyday Greek life while exploring iconic landmarks like the Acropolis and discovering the neighborhoods such as Pagrati. One of my favorite memories was taking a field study to Thessaloniki, where we encountered pelicans on a boat tour and even had the chance to feed them by hand. I also loved traveling throughout Greece, trying authentic Greek food, and making lifelong friendships with students from around the world. This program helped me become more independent, confident, and open to new experiences, and I would encourage anyone considering studying abroad to take the opportunity.

I will never forget my time at CYA! We went on guided trips across the entirety of Greece, were completely immersed in the culture, received a great education, and created a sense of community thousands of miles away from home.

This experience was definitely worth it, but looking back I wish I had known what to expect. First I warn you to AVOID LANGUAGES, or at least avoid taking more than one. Greek learning expectations are lower than American for anything BUT language. You will drain all of your free time. College Year in Athens almost exclusively has students from certain universities that have direct partnerships. If you're at anything other than a New England or Pacific Northwest school, prepare to be the outlier. Students are very cliquey. There are exceptions to this, and you do find your group, but it takes a while. Also, everyone spends their free time traveling all around Europe, which can feel like a letdown if you don't have the budget can do the same. Don't worry. Field Study programs are great and free ways to travel, and there are so many cool things to do in Greece alone, and even in Athens. Get an internship or volunteer. It's worth it. And befriend the staff, they're all cheering for you.

Studying abroad with CYA in Athens, Greece was one of the most transformative experiences of my college career. As a Psychology major, I was excited to explore how culture influences human behavior, but I gained much more than academic knowledge during my semester abroad. Through courses in psychology, Greek history, and Modern Greek language, I developed a deeper understanding of both Greek society and the broader cultural factors that shape people's lives. Living in an apartment with three other students from my program created a strong sense of community and led to friendships that became one of the most meaningful parts of my experience. Together, we explored Athens, traveled throughout Greece, and supported one another as we adapted to life in a new country. One of my favorite memories was sitting at the top of the Panathenaic Stadium with my friends, reflecting on everything we had experienced and accomplished during our time abroad. Having previously moved to Los Angeles without knowing anyone helped prepare me for the challenges of studying abroad. The experience strengthened my independence, adaptability, and confidence while encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone. Thanks to support from USC, CYA, and the Gilman Scholarship, I was able to pursue an opportunity that broadened my academic, personal, and professional horizons in ways I will carry with me for years to come.

I loved living in Greece and doing a Spring Semester with CYA; I will I could be there still! As an Ancient World Studies major, getting to experience the sites in person that I have read about/seen pictures of was so amazing. One of the classes I took was completely on-site, meaning we visited different parts of ancient Athens every class, which was great! I loved exploring Athens and connecting with Greek culture. I even took a marble carving class set up by CYA which was very cool. CYA also took us on many trips across Greece, so I got to see other parts of the country as well. There are so many great things to say about my stay in Greece, but I highly recommend studying there with CYA!

I studied abroad with College Year in Athens for a semester in Fall 2025 and I am so glad to have made that decision. The staff, courses, students, and extracurricular activities I interacted with while abroad enhanced my experience in Greece, allowing me to connect with the county's history, culture, and everyday life on a personal and interactive scale. The campus, although small, is in a perfect location to explore all that Athens has to offer. CYA is more than willing to help students explore the city, offering tutorials on how to use public transportation, catering events towards students' wants and needs, and housing students in locally-owned apartment blocks within walking distance from campus to encourage students to engage in everyday life in Athens. Studying abroad in Athens was such an incredible experience, and partnering with CYA to do so was a great decision.

CYA was the perfect way to experience Greece. The housing was perfect and immersive, the food around Athens was cheap and good, and classes being held at historical sights was a dream come true. I would recommend this program to anybody who has a remote interest in history. I would also like to mention that the work/study trips were amazing, and gave all of us students opportunities to meet friends and learn history hands-on.

I studied at CYA for the Fall 2025 Semester. The professors and staff are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. Every professor I had genuinely cared for each student and about the subject they were teaching and wanted to the students to understand the material, not just memorize and pass the class. Some of my best memories happened in in class while visiting different sites around Athens or workshops put together by our professors for a hands on learning experience. The program itself is located in the perfect neighborhood in Athens. Its only a 10 minute walk to the acropolis and a 15 minute walk to the ancient agoras. Pangrati was very safe, even when walking back to our apartments after dark if we were studying at local cafes. CYA offered so many opportunities for us students and I wish more than anything I could relive my semester abroad!

There is almost nothing negative I can say about my experience abroad with CYA, and an infinite amount of positives. Never having left the United States before and knowing very little about Greece, I was very anxious about what my time there would look like. Now looking back, I can confidently say I know Pangrati and much of Athens like the back of my hand. My fears instantly disappeared as I met some of the kindest people I know and was guided the whole time by CYA. Staff and faculty made the effort of incorporating academics into the space around (i.e. Athens and the greater country) while also giving amazing advice and recommendations about what to try. Between a blend of organized travel through the program and my own exploration, I experienced things I never knew existed and am all the luckier that I know them now. I can not recommend this program enough because it allows you to learn in an academic setting while also gaining certain insight about the world, only possible by simply being present and engaged with what is around you. Truly the best 4 months of my life!

I thoroughly loved my time in Athens, although I did sabotage myself by choosing to apply to graduate schools while taking four language classes. The professors were amazing, but the classes I chose were at the senior level and were very stressful to deal with and left me with not much time to explore Athens.

I have been sitting here trying to figure out how to summarize my time in Greece with College Year in Athens into a cohesive piece of writing, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion: this experience truly changed me. This experience gave me so much more than just classes abroad. It gave me friendships that made a new place feel like home, moments that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and a new way of seeing the world and myself. If I could do it all over again, I would always choose College Year in Athens.

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone considering it. Greece is a wonderful country, with a variety of places to travel whether you like the beach or the mountains. The opportunity to learn Greek added a deeper connection to the community. People are extremely friendly in the neighborhood, and there are so many interesting places to explore. The field study trips are what really make CYA stand out. An organized trip exploring iconic places in Greece as well as abroad is what should sell anyone on this program. On top of that I made lifelong friendships along the way!

I am so glad I did CYA. Initially, I was going to go to Spain through a different program, but I decided soon after that I would much rather go to Greece because of the archaeology course offerings (especially at Demokritos, the science lab they have a partnership with) and because of my Greek heritage. I had a wonderful time and I wish I could have stayed the whole year! I found friends that will last me forever, grew in my independence, and rediscovered my love for living abroad.

I had a great study abroad experience through CYA. The program offers a great mix of academics, cultural immersion, social events, and incorporated travel into the semester. One of the main highlights from my time in Greece is the CYA Field Studies. These field studies are trips across Greece and abroad, in which transportation and housing are covered by CYA, and are centered around different academic topics. A couple of the trips that I got to go on included journeys to Olympia and Delphi, the island of Crete, the Peloponnese, and Naples, Italy. These trips guided by CYA professor provided me a greater understanding of Greek culture and history, while also providing a great opportunity to connect with fellow classmates and form new friendships. Additionally, the location of CYA academic buildings and student apartments are in a great neighborhood. With all housing between 3-10 minutes away from classroom buildings, the area is very safe and easy to walk around. Furthermore, the academic building is directly adjacent to the Olympic Stadium! Overall my experience CYA was beyond what I could have imagined and would recommend this program to anyone interested in immersing oneself in a new culture and explore the beauty and history of Greece.

College Year in Athens was the best experience of my academic career. The Faculty and Staff are all incredibly helpful and hold their academic qualifications from the most prestigious universities in the world. I am currently in a top 100 masters program in the world for my focus all thanks to the work that CYA did to help me excel as a student.

I spent the spring 2025 semester with CYA, and it was by far my favorite semester of college. Even though my other semesters in college have been incredible, my semester in Athens was the quintessential college study abroad experience! I would do it all over again in a second. My major piece of advice is to remember to pack for colder and rainy weather if you are joining for the spring semester. I was so sad to leave Athens, even on the last day of the program, and would highly recommend this program if you are looking for THE study abroad experience.

Spending a semester in Greece as a part of College Year in Athens was an experience that I will never forget. I was able to participate in field studies organized by CYA, work at an internship in Greece focused on global health, and meet so many people from different American colleges and from Greece. The CYA administration was also so supportive and useful throughout the entire semester! I miss it so much!

The CYA program could not have been any better! I had the time of my life in Greece and would recommend this program to EVERYONE. CYA allowed me to fall in love with Greece by immersing me in the culture with its classes, trips, and activities. The entire program helped me settle into the new country as a student who has never traveled internationally before, which I am extremely grateful for. The professors and staff are AMAZING and so incredibly intelligient and helpful. ATHENS WAS BEAUTIFUL! I could not have imagined having my study abroad program anywhere else.

Studying abroad with CYA was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. While I had the chance to travel across many countries in Europe, what made the program stand out was the opportunity to explore Greece in depth through academic field trips. From remote mountain villages to ancient ruins, I visited places I never would have seen on my own—and learned so much in the process. The professors were absolutely incredible: engaging, supportive, and always willing to meet outside of class. They created a learning environment where participation was encouraged and students genuinely felt heard. I appreciated how understanding and flexible they were, especially as we balanced travel and academics. One of the unexpected highlights was the friendships I made. I met students from universities all across the U.S., and we’ve stayed connected even after returning home. CYA gave me a perfect mix of academic growth, cultural immersion, and travel. It was an absolute blast, and if I could do it all over again, I would choose CYA again in a heartbeat.