IES Abroad European Union: Politics, Law & Economics

IES Abroad has been able to offer its students the grand experience of studying abroad while also developing who you are as a person. The trips we were able to take as a group, the Wellness Walks offered by the IES Staff, as well as the immersive experiences gained throughout the program has made this time extremely memorable and lasting. One of the things I was especially happy about was the opportunity to find help. When studying abroad in an entirely different country in which you do not know the people or the language, it can feel very isolating at times. IES Abroad has made sure that this feeling, though normal, would not go without remedy. Through the insurance plan that is offered to each student, I was able to seek out mental help and attend regular sessions with a therapist in the local area. From this, I understand that IES Abroad looks out for its students in ways more than one. In a time where you are immersing yourself in completely new environments, you need this stable anchor.

As I boarded the plane for Munich, I was anxious to find out what awaited me. I had quite a few concerns about logistics, but upon arrival I realized all of my concerns were anticipated by the program administration. I lived in an apartment complex with five German students, who became some of my closest friends in Freiburg. The program gave us many opportunities to befriend fellow IES students and German students, alike. We spent the semester eating $1 gelato, traveling between EU countries, and exploring all Freiburg has to offer. I had a wonderful experience, one filled with both personal and academic accomplishments. I highly recommend studying in Freiburg!

I was searching for a study abroad experience that would allow me to study what I am interested in, travel to multiple places, and have experiences that I could not plan/afford as a college student. The IES European Union program offered me all of these opportunities. We traveled to seven countries during 22 days of the program, where we attended talks specialized to our academic interests. The program also organized city tours for us, and we stayed in hotels close to the middle of the cities. In Freiburg, I lived in a seven person suite, and the rest of my suite mates were German. This offered me opportunities to immerse myself in German culture, and also allowed me more exposure to the language. The additional IES EU field trips allowed me to visit countries and environments I would not have had access to otherwise. The two most popular field trips they offered my semester were a tour of castles in Germany, and a beautiful hike in Switzerland. They always arranged a tour and transportation, and so it was a stress-free and highly enjoyable experience each time. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and matched all the aspects I was looking for in a study abroad program!

I had a great time during the European Union program. I was first attracted to the program because of the trips and unique visits to EU institutions but grew to love all aspects of my time abroad beyond the field trips. While I think it's super cool that I met MEPs and visited the European Council, Court of Justice and Commission, I was also taught by a team of amazing worldly faculty and befriended students from near and far. I felt supported by both staff and students while in Germany and my needs were always taken care of. I had never been to Europe or studied European politics before and now I feel like I have a good handle on both culture and politics.

My time with IES European Union was a life changing experience. Not only did we learn a tremendous amount inside the classroom, through intelligent and engaging professors, but learning occurred outside the classroom in the most spectacular ways. My program incorporated travel to several European Union countries, which exposed the students to a wide array of languages and cultures. I was able to live with German roommates, which provided me with such an immersive experience to the German lifestyle. The program taught me, and other students alike, to be independent, adaptable, knowledgable and culturally aware both through travel, and living independently in a new city. I am truly grateful for my experience with IES!

The EU program is an amazing experience for those interested in politics, international relations, econ, and business. Traveling to so many EU member states really enhances the classroom learning experience because we are able to have meetings with government officials and other key players that have built their careers on European politics. It is also such a great cost for the amount of travel included in the program. However, it is important to note that while those trips are really great, they are academic in nature, so there is not a whole lot of free time to do touristy things. Additionally, Freiburg is a beautiful small city that is great to come back home to after the week-long trips. All the classes I took were engaging and the professors truly cared about the students.

The EU program was more then I ever expected it to be ! I learned so much about International and specifically European Politics and Government structures, that I had no idea about before. We also got an in depth understanding of the European Union and how it relates to the United States as well. I loved living in Freiburg. I am so happy with my decision to study abroad there. The people, the nature and landscapes, the opportunities to have fun, and places to eat were more then I could have ever asked for. I also loved all the traveling that we did in our program. I got to see so many different countries and learn about each country from actual locals and politicians and professors. You can't beat getting that knowledge, it is something I would never be able had I visited these countries without the IES EU program. love traveling , but learning in depth about what actually is happening in that particular country makes it much more memorable. IES EU was a great balance of engaging academics, and still gave us enough freedom to travel and have fun. I made videos/vlogs throughout my entire study abroad experience. Check them out at the IES EU youtube channel or on the student blog pages on their website. I talk about my first week, traveling to germany, orientation, and a lot of info on our excursions.

I would highly recommend the IES Abroad European Union program, especially for students interested in politics and travel. Although this program is based in Freiburg, Germany, it is unique from other programs because it includes three separate excursions incorporated into the class throughout the term. These excursions consist of trips to many important European Union institutions, and include a rigorous schedule of academic meetings, balanced with time to explore. Locations for my semester included Berlin, Prague, Brussels, Luxembourg, Sofia, Budapest and Athens. One of the things I enjoyed most about this program is that it was truly academically rigorous. I felt challenged in my courses and felt like I gained a lot of knowledge from the classes that I took. Freiburg is also a perfect town in which to study. It has a vibrant student life, due to a local university, in addition to proximity to Switzerland and France, which provide great weekend trips. It has a bit of a city feel, but is quite small and has a lot of charm. It also has lots of local hiking and winter sport opportunities! However, I would say that this program is geared more toward politics (and economics) majors, rather than toward people trying to gain an advanced handle on German. Although German classes are offered at several different levels, most people from my semester came to the program with little to no German experience and were less focused on the language learning aspect. I came into the program with 3 semesters of German and was very serious about building my proficiency while there, although did not feel ready to sign up for the IES Freiburg language program, which offers classes in German and involves enrolling in the local university. While I found many opportunities to practice German with locals, it was easy for other people in my program to insulate themselves from the German locals and students, and just interact with other people in the program.

This program is truly amazing. I had always wanted to study abroad in Germany because of ancestral roots and to improve my German language skills. I knew that once I would get there I would want to travel to every possible location I could, but I did not know that I could find a program that would do that for me. I was given the opportunity to fulfill my major requirements and interests by having the ability to study the European Union. However, IES offers the ability to have Europe be your classroom. By traveling to all these different locations you really gain a understanding of how the European Union and different political, economical, and social ties affect these countries on an individual basis. You also get to hear stories from people who have lived in the local area through difficult times. It is also awesome that the faculty and staff are there for you every step of the way. They really care about all of the students and take the time to really talk to everyone. You really feel like a community, which can also be a set back while living in Freiburg. That would be the only real negative thing I would say about the program is it does not integrate enough with Freiburg University so that we can build local relationships. Other than that this was truly an eye opener where I got to take a step out of my comfort zone and expereience new things. I would 100% participate in this program again.

For me, the IES Abroad means opportunities and possibilities. Studying abroad through the IES Abroad European Union Program- Freiburg, that opened doors for me that I didn't think were possible. I am thankful and fortunate that I was able to learn about the European Union, to have visited: Czech Republic, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Nederland's, Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany and during my stay in these countries see firsthand the issues that these countries face. I would like to let someone who is thinking about studying abroad to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Studying abroad has broadened my mind and my knowledge of the politics of the EU as well as the different cultures in Europe. I have experienced and learned so much about the EU and Europe this past semester. Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience and it should be encouraged for all students to do. I am forever grateful for studying abroad and I have grown immensely because of it. It is due to studying abroad in Germany that I have a greater appreciation for the world, for politics, issues that affect the U.S. don't just affect us but they have global effects as well. Moreover, the most important aspect that I took with me from studying abroad is that we are just one speck on this earth; for there is so much more out in the world than we think there is. There is so much to learn and to share with others. I am thankful that I was able to study abroad this past spring in Freiburg, Germany. Studying abroad has blessed me with many memories, friendships, and connections that will stay with me for the rest of my life. IES Abroad has amazing programs that assist students in learning, broadening their knowledge on issues abroad, experiencing different cultures, traveling to new places, learning a new language, and creating bonds through interactions with people from your program as well as people around you. In particular, Freiburg is a beautiful place; in the winter there is snow, then comes rain, and in spring time the hills are green and the sun breaks through with warmth. Freiburg is a student town, the German culture is different; it's welcoming, a breath of fresh air, and eye opening. My time abroad, I always felt safe. I also had the opportunity to learn German, which is a goal that I have always wanted to fulfill. I got to participate in the Freiburg Marathon during April with a few of my friends as well as a few faculty members from the program. It was a lot of fun being able to run a 14km through Freiburg. This experience was great; having the people cheer me on as I ran through the city was welcoming, being a part of a team with my friends and professors, and challenging myself by running 14km without stopping and finally crossing that finish line was exhilarating. Furthermore, I got to participate in another run; Run For Europe. This was my favorite run because I got to run a 5K while running between the borders of Briesach Am Rhein, Baden- Wurttemberg, Germany and Ile de Rhin, France with my friends was amazing! I got to run with others who support a united Europe. In addition, I got the chance to swim in the Mediterranean sea, visit Anne Frank 's house a dream that I have had since I was little, and the most special experience I had was visiting Vatican City. Freiburg will always be a place I call home and if I didn't study abroad I would not have learned more, grown more, visited countries, cities, and met wonderful people. If you would like to learn more about the politics of the European Union, visit the institutions of the European Union, then I highly recommend studying abroad with IES through their European Union Program in Freiburg, Germany.

I had an amazing experience with the IES Abroad EU program, and there honestly isn't much I can say that was bad about my semester. Not only did I love living in the beautiful, sunny, and student-filled city of Freiburg, but I also learned so much about the EU that I never would have back home at my own university. The course excursions and extensive program travel were a highlight of my semester, and the trips were well-planned, offering us the invaluable opportunity to travel across Europe and visit many cities, while getting a unique political, historical, and cultural perspective on them that I likely wouldn't have gotten by visiting on my own. Both IES Abroad in general and the IES staff at our center in Freiburg were so helpful and organized and really made an effort to make all students feel comfortable and engaged while abroad. Freiburg is an absolutely wonderful place to study abroad; it is a charming university city bustling with bikers (Freiburg is very eco-friendly!) and there are tons of things to do in one’s free time. Not only are there tons of restaurants, pubs, cafes, and bakeries to enjoy if you want to enjoy the wonders of German food, but there are also opportunities for shopping, enjoying local parks and the river Dreisdam, or venturing off on a short train ride into the neighboring Black Forest, where you can bike, hike, or ski! The EU program has so much travel incorporated into the semester, often to large European capitals, so having a home base in Freiburg, where it’s not overrun with tourists, was really great. I lived in a student apartment complex with five German students and one international student. We each had our own rooms and shared two bathrooms, a kitchen, and living area. This living situation was nice because I had a lot of independence and my own space, but I still was able to engage with German students, practice my speaking, and learn about their lifestyles, studies, and interests. On the topic of costs, which is often an important factor to studying abroad for many people, I would say that doing this program was really affordable, largely because the cost of living in Freiburg is fairly low. There are many options of where to buy food (stores and the local Münstermarkt), and groceries, toiletries and other living necessities were very inexpensive and much less than what you would pay for the same thing in the US (for instance, I could find a jar of jam for 1 Euro or a loaf of good German bread for 2 Euros). Although I’m vegetarian, I found that there were still many options for food, both eating out and buying food at the store. Freiburg also has tons of restaurants, pubs, cafes, and even a pretty good (and very inexpensive) student cafeteria, so there are lots of options for students at very reasonable prices. I won’t lie, the abundance of bakeries and cafes in Freiburg made me quickly addicted to the large array of delicious fresh German bread, pretzels, and pastries. Although the course workload was definitely vigorous (probably more than other average abroad programs), I learned so much and gained a greater perspective on the EU, world events, and various European cultures. I might also briefly note is that this program is definitely focused on politics, international relations, and economics, and less so on intensive German-language development, understandably. However, being someone who really wanted to practice my German a lot, as I’ve been studying it for many years, I will say that I was a bit disappointed that most students on the program had little to no German language background, so I could not have those types of language engagements with them. Nonetheless, I still had many opportunities to practice German out in public and at home with my flatmates. I would recommend, however, for anyone thinking about studying abroad - to take a semester of German beforehand or have learned a little bit. It makes getting around and having simple interactions with locals much easier! Overall, my experience in Freiburg and with the EU program was one that I truly will not forget. From visiting many beautiful and historic cities across the EU, to enjoying the Biergartens in Freiburg, to spontaneously deciding with two other students to venture on a 60km bike trip from Freiburg to France and back, the experiences I had were really irreplaceable. Without any hesitation, I would recommend this program to any student interested in the subject matter or who wants to experience life in an active, but charming German university city!

This program was amazing. The classes were engaging but not so challenging that you had to spend all your time on them. You also spend so much time on program excursions doing experiential learning that you really understand the concepts that they're trying to teach you in class. So many of the professors are incredible (and SO funny) and that was such a big part of it. The living situations are really variable, you don't really know how many flat mates you're going to have or what they will be like, but that's the same with any living situation. The social aspect of the program was great, for me, because everyone in the program spent so much time together traveling, hanging out at the center and living in the same neighborhoods and so everyone got really close and socialized a lot with each other and that was enough for me. However, some people were not happy because we had almost no connection with University of Freiburg and thus getting to know local German students was really hard. One of the best parts of the program was the field trips that were paid for by the program. They were seriously amazing and we learned so much! I love IES and I loved this program!

I participated in this program in Spring 2017. From the very beginning with our group hike through the Black Forest to the final dinner of my internship program at the Feierling Biergarten, I loved every minute. This program allows you the opportunity to take interesting classes from qualified German professors, as well as integrating a lot of travel into it. The program itself covers the cost of trips to Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels, Prague, Berlin, Strasbourg, and three further cities (I went to Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome). Its a great opportunity to get to travel to many places in Europe at a low cost, as well as to speak to many interesting politicians, diplomats, academics, and leaders of NGOs. For example, we got to speak with the Czech Foreign Minister as well as a MEP from Poland. Additionally, Freiburg is a beautiful city, with an amazing location in the Black Forest and only 30-45 minutes to France and Basel, Switzerland. Overall, I would highly recommend this program, especially if you enjoy travelling and learning about the EU. Also UniKebap has the best döner in Freiburg hands down, just a tip.

During the Spring 2017 semester, I participated in the IES Abroad European Union program based in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany! I really loved my experience, it was invaluable to say the least. I will look back fondly on my time in Europe and the lessons I learned for the rest of my life. I would recommend the program to any student, especially those with an interest in Political Science, International Relations, or Economics. My living situation was very pleasant. I lived in a modern, student apartment building called Berliner Allee in a flat with 5 flatmates. There was one other IES student living there; otherwise, all of the other flatmates are German students between ages 24-27. Some IES students use this as an opportunity to practice their German, even though I didn't personally! My flat was remarkably clean because of our "putzplan," or cleaning schedule, which is quite common for German living situations. I wasn't too far away from the IES center where we took our classes; it was about a 15 minute commute if that. Though depending on which neighborhood in Freiburg you end up in, the cleanliness of your flat, the number of flatmates, and the distance from the IES center can vary quite a bit. As far as academics are concerned, if you are looking for an easy-breezy semester abroad, I would not recommend this program. We took all of our classes at the IES EU center. Obviously like any institution, there are easier and harder teachers and professors, but the required 5-class course load means you will definitely be working throughout the week. I wouldn't say it's as hard as a lot of American colleges and universities, but it is certainly no walk in the park. Finally, since the program includes quite a bit of travel, I definitely did my fair share of work on planes and trains. As we are currently in a period where the European Union is in flux, the topic courses I took, EU and the Muslim World, EU-US Relations, and Migration, were very current and interesting. For me, travel was far-and-away (pun intended) the best aspect of the program. I can guarantee by the end of the program, you will feel like you did not spend enough time in Freiburg. First, there are 21 days of built in travel included in the program. If you plan no additional trips, you will still get to visit 7-9 countries with your classmates. Second, the program schedule includes two "Wanderlust Weekends." These are weeks with no Friday classes to allow you to get an early start on a fun travel weekend. With mine, I went to London, England and Nice, France; both were lovely. Finally, there is a healthy-sized Spring Break to allow for further travel. In total, I visited 14 countries in Europe and North Africa throughout the semester. One of the most important things I learned on the program is that the more you travel, the more you realize how much more there is to see. Even though I was lucky enough to see some amazing cities, there were many that I wish I had WAY more time in, and even more that I wanted to see but didn't have the time. You really get an idea of how enormous the world is on this program, which is a lesson worth learning.

Last semester I got the opportunity to live in Freiburg, Germany from August to December with the IES European Union program. The reason I was drawn to the program was the emphasis on political science and our extreme focus on uncovering the EU. I really knew nothing about the EU so having this crash course while living in Germany, an extremely important player within the EU, was a great addition to my college studies. I also loved that the program included 3 weeks of travel to different EU institutions. On those trips we got to visit institutions and meet with important EU players as well as a lot of free time to explore the city on our own (as well as activities provided by the program). Due to that I got to travel to 9 countries that I didn't have to plan at all which is nice - it also brought me to places that I probably wouldn't have visited on my own (like Bucharest and Luxembourg). Another thing I loved about the program was living in Freiburg. It is not too large of a city that you would feel overwhelmed getting around, but still large enough that there is always something to do. It is also a big university city so there are so many shops, restaurants, and bars/clubs that are geared toward college kids. I also loved the living arrangement. I lived in a flat with one other student on my program plus five German students. It was kind of like a homestead but with college kids. My flatmates were super welcoming and included me in their activities, outings, and parties. Becoming good friends with my flatmates allowed me to meet other German students and really immerse myself in Freiburg, something that I don't think can happen as easily in other programs.

I struggled a lot when trying to decide on a program to study abroad. IES European Union was one of the first programs that I found, but I was hung up on the fact that it was in Germany (I had no desire to go to Germany at the time) and that it didn't include an internship (all my friends were doing internships). I was practically all signed up to intern in London for the semester, when I spontaneously switched to the EU program. I have never looked back. While I never thought I would end up in Germany, I quickly fell in love with Freiburg and every other city we visited. My favorite part of the program was by far all the travel. I got to visit 13 European countries and 8 of them were through the included excursions. Some highlights were, seeing the Eiffel Tower light up during boat ride down the Seine, sitting in on a European Parliament session in Strasbourg, and visiting a Roma school in Romania. That being said, even after traveling all over Europe, Freiburg was still my favorite. While Freiburg was not as large or bustling as other cities in Europe, there was a lot to do and explore. I could go on for hours about how much I loved my experience with the IES European Union program, but I will end by saying that study abroad was one of the best thing that I have ever done, and I firmly believe that it would not have been as great if I had chosen a different program.

I enrolled in the European Union program in Freiburg to gain a better understanding of European culture through the Political Science and International Relations lens and have the ability to visit famous European cities that were also relevant with our studies. As a Business major, it would seem that my studies were not exactly compatible with my major. However, I was able to fulfill some of my major requirements while still being able to take some Political Science and International Relations classes that I thought were very interesting and could diversify my academic background. The semester when I studied, the Fall of 2016, could not have been a better time to study abroad. With Brexit and very similar elections occurring in nearly every major European state coupled with the US elections, the subject matter was relevant to everybody and we had plenty of material to discuss in class and when we visited the different bureaucratic cities. The relevance of the material we study in class were extremely relevant with the current events and that was vital for me as there was the study aspect in my study abroad and also in practice, as I was able to combine the two together and gain a better understanding for European political culture. As this program is geared towards Political Science and International Relations majors, there were times where I felt I was out of my element, as I did not possess the foundational knowledge of the subject matter we would study. However, it was still very beneficial for me to study different subjects as a Liberal Arts student. The program did a fantastic job of balancing class work with our travels, as the professors had a great understanding of our time constraints as our schedule had us outside Freiburg almost every two weeks. With my college tuition and the study program expense being equal, it was fantastic to be able to visit these cities without paying more out of pocket. Freiburg is also a vibrant, university-driven town to be in, and in close proximity to France, Switzerland, and other European states.

My experience with IES Abroad European Union was an invaluable opportunity. As a student of International Relations and History, I was able to explore my passions within a practical context in Europe. Our field trips, by far one of the highlights of the program, took us across Europe; I visited 12 countries, and engaged in meetings with EU officials and academics from a wide variety of fields. Some of my favorite memories include visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg, hiking in the Alps, and talking about Brexit in Think Tanks in London. Moreover, the base city of the program, Freiburg, is a gorgeous and quaint town. It is easily accessible, due in part to the excellent tram system, and will quickly make you feel at home (and it also has a great selection of restaurants). Additionally, the IES Abroad Staff are some of the most attentive and caring people I've ever met, and they would always make sure that everyone on the program was doing well. My semester abroad was a big leap for me - a push to try something new - and I'm immensely glad I did it!

Studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany was the greatest decision I ever made. I was hesitant to choose this program at first, thinking the model EU requirement would be difficult and extra work. This was actually one of my favorite parts of the program, however, and made the program that much more educational and exciting! This program is also ideal because travel is included in the program, and the IES center staff do an incredible job planning the trips, providing suggestions and tips for each city and exposing us to unique speakers and experiences. Overall, I cannot stress enough how great this program was and how much I came to love Freiburg. This city is beautiful and the perfect size. It is not an overwhelmingly large and tourist-filled city, but it is large enough that you can often communicate in English when necessary and stop by Starbucks when you want a little reminder of home.

During the semester I went to 11 European Countries! I've met people from all over the USA. Since the program is focused on political science, I got an amazing and unique view on not only European, but American politics as well. However, the program works for pretty much all majors. I am finance major and had absolutely the best time even in political science classes. We've visited some major European Union institutions in Brussels. Living situation is excellent; you can either live with other German students or live by yourself. Regardless, it will be convenient and located in a safe area. Definitely recommend the program. Even though it is very heavy on traveling, the semester is built the way that you don't get tired of it!