IES Abroad - Study Abroad in Spain

Being on this program has really changed me as a person. As a result of studying abroad in this dream location, I was able to experience many different types of environments in one location! From the mountains, to the beaches, to the many plazas and cultural festivities, I was happily immersed in my host city. Barcelona is such an amazing location to study abroad and I would highly recommend doing it with IES Abroad. They made sure from pre-departure to the last day in my host city, that all students were informed and prepared for anything. The staff were extremely helpful, welcoming and always open to sharing their favorite recommendable local gems for students to visit! IES helped students get on their feet and understand how and what types of things they could get themselves immersed in. Whether that was introducing us to tapas, encouraging us to take free dance classes, planning brunch at a beach restaurant, planning hikes, and taking us on trips to other cities outside of Catalonia such as Madrid, IES ensured that we were able to take advantage of such offered opportunities all while preparing us to create our own memories with our own desires to visit other destinations. For housing, I lived in a homestay with a very welcoming woman and other study abroad students from my program. Each night we all had dinner and talked about the upcoming weekend and things happening in the city, all in Spanish! She was always there to help us with any concerns we had regarding where to go, what to see, and how to get there in the best way. She encouraged us to hang out with friends and explore the city and its amazing culture! For classes, we had a good variety of options. We also had the option to take courses at a local university, which I took advantage of. I took some of my classes at and extension of UAB. By doing this, I was able to be in another neighborhood for classes, take the metro to class and really understand how to get in and around Barcelona. Unfortunately, my classes did not have local university students but it was still a valuable chance to get outside of the program classes.

I studied abroad this Fall in Granada with IES Abroad and loved every minute of it. The IES staff was very supportive and helped ease the stress of being in a new country and genuinely cared about getting to know each one of us. Granada was an amazing location as well. Super affordable yet also a ton to do. The classes I took were unique and engaging and I learned a ton while also improving my Spanish. Would 100% recommend studying abroad in Spain with IES and hope you have as wonderful of an experience as I did abroad! It will change your life!

My experience of studying abroad was amazing! My most memorable experiences were the following; the relationship I built with several professors, traveling and the experience. I was born in Mexico and moved to the United States at the age of 7. I remember going through massive cultural shock when I first came to the U.S. Not only was I in a new country where I did not speak the same language as the rest but I also missed my friends and teachers. Studying abroad in a Spanish speaking country really hit home. Having the opportunity to attend classes in Spanish and growing a relationship with the professors was such an amazing experience. It felt like I was back in Mexico learning and speaking in Spanish. Traveling around Europe has always been one of my dreams and IES Abroad Salamanca made that possible by providing us with the right information about where to travel and the time. Overall the experience was amazing if I was able to do it again I would.

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I initially chose to study abroad in Barcelona to improve my Spanish, but I got this and so much more out of my experience. I grew so much as a person while I was there and now I feel truly independent and cable traveling, speaking Spanish, and taking advantage of every opportunity. Every time you turn a corner in this beautiful city, there is something spectacular to look at or something exciting to do. IES helped to guide my experience and you can use their resources as much or as little as you prefer! I recommend going on as many of the IES Discover programs as possible because they find the best guides and activities as a discounted price. I would not change a thing about my experience abroad and that is largely thanks to the guidance of the IES Abroad teachers and staff.

I appreciate the independence that I gained for myself while I was abroad and continue to show after my experience. Granada gave me safe streets to walk by myself any day of the week and delicious pastry shops to stroll by on every corner. It was exactly the place I needed to get to know better and feel at home by the end of my four months. I am already excited to return one day and re-walk my route to school every morning and pass the man that feeds the pigeons every Sunday afternoon because the city is just a reflection of the wonderful people that fill the city of Granada.

I loved studying abroad in Madrid, on my program the classes were all in Spanish and it truly gave me a chance to fully immerse myself in the language. At first I was a little nervous to take all my classes in Spanish in Spain but after the first week I felt very comfortable and it really did help my language skills! IES offers so many opportunities so you really feel like you are living in Madrid and not just on a study abroad course. During orientation there were walking tours throughout the city, in order to familiarize us with where we were going to be living for the next semester! And then, throughout the semester we could explore on our own or there were walking tours with Spanish peers. One of my favorite activities to do while abroad was just to walk around the small neighborhoods, and without all the tourist attractions and really get a sense of the environment and culture.

Being abroad by yourself when you are only 19 years old can sometimes seem scary, but trust me it is an experience you won't want to miss. Not only did I learn so much about Spain and Spanish culture, I also learned more about myself and grew as a person. I became more responsible, more independent and most importantly more aware about the world we live in. Salamanca is a beautiful college town, with a university that is over 800 years old! The most pure and traditional Spanish is spoken there and I found myself almost fluent when I left. IES included a trip to Portugal as well which was amazing! All in all, a 10/10 experience and would highly recommend!

One frequently overlooked part of the study abroad program selection process is considering the environment you'll be living in. There are factors like city size, proximity to airports and attractions, rural vs. urban, etc., but you can find them in a guidebook. My favorite part of Granada was the overarching "feel" of the city--the old architecture, Moorish flare, cobblestone streets, and hidden plazas. But beyond the aesthetics, I loved Granada because they truly embrace the low-key and down to earth Spanish lifestyle. I saw going abroad as my opportunity to take a break from extracurriculars and intense academics so that I could focus on my language and personal development. I didn’t want to slack off while abroad, but I definitely wanted a change of pace. As we all know, cultural immersion is a significant part of any study abroad experience; it pleasantly happens that “immersing” yourself in Andalusian culture means taking long siestas, going out for second breakfasts, and stopping for tapas with friends on your way home on the daily. My host mom would constantly encourage us to take advantage of the relaxed and social attitude of the city. Compared to my upbringing and college experience, this was all new. I loved the attitude of the city, the friendliness of the people, and the mellow pace of the streets. As IES can tell you on their website (and I can confirm), the program provides you with everything you need to thrive abroad. With all the support systems in place, you're left to enjoy and experience the wonderful city of Granada!

During my time studying at IES Abroad in Barcelona, I was privileged to have a once in a life time experience. I was able to meet new people, travel to so many new places, and immerse myself in new cultures. I was able to gain so much more independence and become a more self-reliant person. Not only was this time in my life the most fun and exciting, but it was also a time for educational growth. The classes I took at IES were manageable, but very educational. My teachers were also wonderful and set up the classes in a way that was easy to learn. Although I was able to travel to many other wonderful countries in Europe, I am so grateful to have picked Spain, as it was the perfect place. There is so much to do and so many beautiful places to see. Even though my apartment was one of the further ones from the IES building, I ended up living directly across the street from Camp Nou, the football stadium, which was amazing! Some of my other favorite places in Barcelona are the beach and Bunkers del Carmel where you can get a beautiful view of the whole city!

My semester abroad in Madrid with IES Abroad was an incredible experience! I lived with an amazing host family who was so welcoming and cooked delicious food. They taught me a lot about Spanish culture and helped me improve my Spanish. The IES Madrid staff was very friendly and supportive. If you ever needed anything, they were always willing to help. The engineering classes were tough, but it was worthwhile to experience a different educational system. The IES classes I took were some of my favorite classes because the professors I had were so passionate about their teaching that made me enjoyed learning about the material. They also had relevant and engaging class trips and activities. IES also had many fun trips and cultural activities, like cooking classes and flamenco shows. Madrid is such a vibrant city full of life, and I'm so grateful I was able to call it my home for the 4 months I was abroad.

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Most study abroad students choose to do a semester study abroad, but as a double major I knew that I would not be able to graduate on time and complete a study abroad- I opted for the Salamanca summer program, and I am so glad I did. I was able to pack a semester full of memories into one unforgettable summer! Through IES Abroad and the awesome staff in the Salamanca office I felt prepared and informed to make Salamanca my own, and explore the city and all that Spain had to offer. Salamanca is the perfect sized city for students who want an authentic cultural experience in an urban setting, while still having a "college town" feel. Outside of class, there are lots of things to do- such as museums, shows, parks, restaurants- and 2 main train stations stops if you want to leave for the weekend and explore Spain and more of Europe! My favorite part of the summer was the people I met, since I stayed for both summer sessions (8 weeks). IES organized social events for us to do, and between the staff, students in my program, and international students I came out of my summer knowing I would stay in contact with many individuals long after the program was over. IES makes it easy to get the help and support you need, but also easy to branch out and want to take on new challenges with the people you meet and make the experience your own!