IES Abroad Vienna – European Society, Politics & Culture

My time in Vienna through IES Abroad was the most influential experience I had in my college career. I had the opportunity to meet life-long friends, explore new cities, immerse myself in new cultures, and take courses that challenged my worldview and helped me grow into a more compassionate and well-rounded individual. The people I met in Vienna are some of my closest friends. Our time traveling together cemented a bond that I will cherish forever. IES: Vienna also sponsors trips and provides information to aid students in traveling both in Austria and across Europe. IES: Vienna provides a space for its students to take academically rigorous courses that are designed to interact with the city of Vienna itself. My classes took trips to museums, parks, churches, and monuments to explore Vienese history and culture. IES guided us every step of the way through pre-departure, our time abroad, and as we transitioned back home. I would recommend the program to anyone looking to study abroad!

Photos

I spent my spring 2019 semester abroad in Vienna, Austria with the IES program and overall found the involvement in the cultural space and the academic environment to stimulate my desire for further learning and personal growth. Lots of food, music, art, and language to learn about and many opportunities for me to develop myself as a person. Overall good experience.

I know it's cliche to say that going abroad changed my life, but it truly did. IES gave me the opportunity to connect with students from all over the world. Even though most of the participants were American, I had classes with people from all over the world, with different experiences and backgrounds. I loved getting to know both students from my home university and other universities, as well as being given the opportunity to connect with Austrian students through the IES-sponsored language buddy program. My favorite part of studying abroad through IES was going on IES-sponsored trips such as a weekend-long ski trip, and an excursion to the Wachau Valley. I got to see other places in Austria besides the city I was living in and had the chance to bond with other students and the IES staff. I really learned how to step out of my comfort zone and be myself!

Going abroad to Vienna was one of the most influential and important decisions that i've made during my college career. IES really provided an exceptional education that tied all aspects of my studies to the history and society of Austria. I experienced for the first time, a classroom setting outside of the US and the differences were remarkable. Additionally, the program incorporated excursions and trips which were well organized and thought-out and broadened my cultural experience and breadth of understanding of Austria outside of just Vienna. The program is administered by Austrians, classes are taught by Austrian professors, and students have the opportunity to live with an meet other Austrians as well. This interpersonal aspect was one of my favorites things about IES.

My study abroad experience in Vienna was one of the best times of my life! I was able to engage is so many cultural experiences and also really enhance my German language skills. There are a variety of courses you can take in either English or German, one German language learning course is required though so you will learn at least some German! The program is structured pretty well. There is a 2 week German intensive course that really helps you engage with the culture. My favorite part about the classes is that most of them involve field trips around the city which makes them quite enjoyable. IES is pretty strict about class attendance, and there is an attendance policy as well as a required German class on Friday. Vienna is a great location with so much to do and it is really easy to travel and reach other locations. The program does a lot to ensure that you are safe so that is not something I would necessarily worry about. The housing options are pretty favorable however I did experience a problem with our RA that we had to discuss with program coordinators. Overall Vienna is a great place to live and study and if you are looking for a structured program with an emphasis on German language learning then this is the right program for you!

I really loved the program in Vienna and the staff was amazing. The city is beautiful, even in the dead of winter, and transportation is very convenient and easy to figure out. A few things I wish that had been different were living situations. It varied from person to person and some of us had laundry we had to pay for whereas others had laundry in their apartments, so it added an extra cost on to some of the students. I also wish we had more of an opportunity to get to know some of the local students since it can be a challenge to meet the younger people in Vienna. However, the program academics were excellent and I loved having teachers from all over Europe!

I loved living in Vienna! It is a cultural epicenter, as well as being very livable and having a lot of opportunities for students. My professors were very nice and understanding. I would move back to Vienna in a heartbeat.

IES offered so many ways to weave Viennese culture into the already-excellent academic experience. Field trips to the most amazing cities in Central Europe (Prague, Budapest), world-renowned professors from all over Europe, and a wide range of language courses were the most obvious examples. But IES did more than teach us about European culture and history. They taught us how to bite into Krapfen, delicious Viennese filled doughnuts. They taught us how be independent and curious, and encouraged us to fill our weekends with adventures around the continent. I saw 15 countries during my time at IES, and many of my favorite moments from the semester were spent with the incredible friends I made through my IES classes. I still correspond with three of my professors, as well as my internship supervisor. The adventures, friends, and memories I made through IES will be with me for my entire life!

I had a very positive experience abroad with IES Vienna. I learned so much about myself and my host culture. I tried new things that I would have never thought I would be capable of doing and was pushed out of my comfort zone in a positive way. The staff with IES were always very friendly, welcoming, and open to any questions. The food in Vienna is great and there are lots of fun things to do in the evening as well.

When deciding where to study abroad, I intentionally chose a non English speaking country and a program that very few people from my home school attended. At IES Abroad, my classrooms were museums and theaters (and small baroque palaces), my peers were people I had never met before, and my German lessons were always put to immediate use. This program would be perfect for anyone who wants to learn a new language and step out of her comfort zone.

One of the best decisions I have ever made was to study abroad in Vienna, Austria during my fall semester. Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, in my opinion, and I constantly found myself discovering new things to do and places to see every day. IES was so helpful and knowledgeable about the city, and I felt like I was in good hands with them there. Can't wait for other students to experience this amazing city!

Vienna was the perfect location for study abroad. It immerses you in Europe's current political situation, being so centrally located, and it's easy to frame that experience in a historical context. The city itself is ranked the best place to live every year for good reasons—clean, safe, and cheap public transit, beautiful architecture, the excitement of a city surrounded by the escape of the countryside... But one of the greatest parts about my experience in Vienna was the IES staff. The people in charge of IES Vienna feel more like a family than anything else, and that made it so much easier to grow accustomed to a new city and see it as a home. The teaching faculty was also enthusiastic, and the European professors seemed to love the chance to work closely with American college students in small, discussion-based environments. My teaching internship at a Viennese high school also connected me with a tutoring job for a young Austrian family, which was a great way to earn extra money while feeling immersed in domestic Austrian life. My time in Vienna inspired me to apply to a Fulbright and some other teaching assistantships in Germany and Austria for after graduation, an opportunity I would not have pursued otherwise.

Academic: The classes are not demanding allowing students to travel often or go out and explore the city. Classes did not take up all of my time with homework or frequent exams/papers, so there was always still more than enough time to explore the city and beyond. I appreciated that many of my classes made an effort to take us on field trips around the city to make real world connections relevant to the course. Each class works to intertwine the history and culture of Vienna and Austria into the subject matter and we often compared our own cultures to Austrian culture. There is a library, computer lab, and printers on site that students are able to use. Staff: The staff was always available for us and willing to offer cafe suggestions, travel tips, local advice, etc. Living: The location of my apartment was incredible! I was placed in the 6th district central to the U4 line (main subway line), the Naschmarkt (outdoor market), Mariahilferstrasse (main shopping area), and so much more. The location is extremely important when you study abroad because I was always able to drop my stuff off after class and continue my day walking around the city. My apartment houses six of us- a single room for our Viennese RA, a double room, and a triple room. There were options of living in large houses with spacious accommodations in the suburbs. However, the commute was extremely long and many of those students weren't able to participate in many social events after classes because their commute could be over an hour and a half. Food: Austrian cuisine is extremely heavy and meaty. However, there are many options for other types of food. There was a wonderful sushi restaurant next to my apartment I would go to often with friends. The cafe culture is integral to Austrian history, so that is where you'll find great coffee and Apfelstrudels. Many people cooked for themselves and brought lunch to the IES Center because Vienna is pretty expensive. Social Integration: I lived with an Viennese RA, I had a language buddy, and I attended many local events. However, I still did not feel integrated with the locals. IES classes are strictly with American students in the IES center away from the University. There is an opportunity to take sports classes through the University and also classes in the University, but they are taught in German. Culturally, I felt that I sought spots in the city and events only locals would go to and I was able to find some pretty unique spots/events by googling and asking the staff and my RA. Health: I was sick twice during the program and I was able to easily access medicine in the pharmacy. Safety: Vienna is absolutely one of the safest cities I have ever been to. There was honestly never a moment I felt unsafe or scared to be alone. School Preparedness: My home university prepared me with meetings with my study abroad advisor and a larger meeting with everyone going abroad in the spring that included any and all topics that would be relevant to being abroad. Budgeting: Vienna is a very expensive city and it's hard to live on a student's budget. Money was mainly a concern towards the beginning of the program because I constantly wanted to explore new cafes and museums with friends. After about a month of constant spending, I began cooking my own meals and taking lunch to the IES center and budgeting my expenses. I made a list of priorities that I was comfortable spending money on and lessening how often I ate out at cafes. At the beginning of your program, begin listing what you spend your money on and noticing what you should expect to spend more on and what you should expect to spend less on. Language: We were required to take German class three times a week for about an hour and a half each class. We had activities where we were required to go out into the Naschmarkt and use German to order our groceries. The class had an oral, reading, and writing focus. We had a test every two weeks and a quiz almost every class. My German teacher was very kind and willing to help us truly learn the language. Everyday really does go by so quickly so make the best of everyday. Go out and explore a new street or cafe every single day. In the long run you'll be glad you made the most of your time abroad.

I chose my study abroad program based on the classes I needed to take to graduate on time. Though my original reasons for coming to Vienna were academic in nature, the program and the city itself made the experience truly fantastic. The IES Vienna program provides many opportunities to experience the local culture and meet the local people, and the staff is filed with friendly people who are always happy to recommend new places to go. As residents of Vienna, the IES students are able to register in the Sports University, which offers almost any sport you can imagine with local students. Students are also encouraged to sign up for language buddies. This allows us to break out of the"American Bubble" American students at a program like this might find themselves in. Of course, you are still required to attend classes, but these are not overwhelmingly difficult. The professors tend to be passionate about their respective subjects, and many classes offer regular field trips to explore the city. Each class works to intertwine the history and culture of Vienna and Austria into the subject matter. It did not take me long to fall in love with Vienna. Though a decently large city, constant community events make her feel like a much smaller town. At any given moment there could be a festival in front of the Rathaus, a market in front of Schönbrunn, or even a ball in the Hofberg. The city is a center for culture and history, but also has plenty of choice regarding bars and nightlife, combining the old with the new. The city is full of interesting museums, but you don't need to enter one to fully experience the history of the city: all the buildings speak of the influence of the Habsburg empire. Friends meet up to lounge in one of the many parks, or drink coffee in one of the many coffee houses. Since the city is located in the middle of the Vienna Woods, it's easy to leave the city to hike or enjoy the view from on top of Kahlenberg. Vienna is ideally located in the center of Europe, making it a perfect home base for visiting the surrounding countries. I never expected to love Vienna as much as I did, but it's hard not to fall in love with this beautiful city. Spending a semester there was a great choice, and one I'd happily make again!

Study abroad was incredible for me. It was really a time for me to get to know myself. It was my first time in an apartment, and I learned that I can handle that. The Center Staff was just amazing. They provided a lot of fun events over the course of the semester and were always there with travel advice. Vienna itself is an amazing city with so many museums and so much culture that it took me all five months to finish my bucket list. Then there was travel. I was able to travel to so many different places with many countries being reachable by train from Vienna. I learned a lot from experiencing so many different cultures. More than that, I learned about myself. Being in so many different foreign environments helped me learn who I really am and what's truly important to me, and I honestly believe I am a better person for having studied abroad in Vienna.

I spent this past fall in Vienna, Austria and had an amazing experience. Vienna is an amazingly beautiful city that offers a large variety of cultural experiences. While studying abroad in Vienna, I was able to go to ballets, operas, museums and experience many of the delicious cafes. Vienna is a city that is very easy to navigate as it has a great public transportation system. IES is incredibly helpful in getting you set up in the city and the staff is a great support system to help you adjust to your new surroundings. IES gives each student housing and I lived in a great apartment with five other American students. The staff was incredibly helpful and willing to assist me whenever I had a question. Academically, IES offers a large amount of classes covering many different academic areas. Specifically, I enjoyed taking classes that had weekly outings to different museums and historical locations throughout the city. I felt that these classes really helped me to learn a lot about the city. Overall, I had an amazing semester abroad experience through IES in Vienna.

Now that I’m back in America, reaquainted with my friends, family, and life I’d left behind, I’ve come to realize that the question, “OMG, how was your time abroad?!” is both the best and worst question; what makes it so difficult is the thought of summing it all up in one answer. The question is usually met with a sigh and a distant look as I recollect on my 4 months creating a life for myself, where every new turn led me on a life-shaping adventure. Studying abroad is hands down the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and I recommend it to anyone who wants to push their boundaries and forever see the world differently. Now that I’m back, I can’t help but compare most everything I encounter; the buildings, the people, the customs that I was once so conditioned to follow. You can never really prepare yourself for the lasting impressions such an experience will leave. It’s hard to explain how I feel so different because it is simply a part of me now, but I can share that once you return from exploring parts of the world that never existed in your mind, there will be a constant buzz of excitement within you to get back out there and explore even more. I went into this experience knowing that it wouldn’t last forever, so I worked hard to get the most out of living in a foreign city. My 3 main goals were: 1. Meet locals 2. Adapt to the culture 3. See places less traveled It wasn’t easy, and it took some effort, but the friendships and memories I have because of that hard work will live with me forever and hopefully see me back in Vienna soon. The IES team was a huge help for me to achieve these goals. The 2 receptionists were seen as living guides to Vienna. Any question was met with a slew of optional answers, which I see now as a push to get us out exploring. Beyond the receptionists was the team with whom every student made a special relationship. I never felt unwelcome when I would come to them with questions or just wanting to talk. These were local Austrians and they knew everything there is to know about living in Vienna and functioning in European society. They frequently went out of their way to make our experience the best it could be. I took 15 credits between my classes: German Novice I, Austrian Art and Architecture, Comparative Youth Cultures, Experimental Screen Printing and a teaching internship where I taught English to school kids between the ages 11 and 16. This was the perfect course load for me as it enabled exploration and education of the city and history around me. The teachers were understanding of our goals as students here, so they catered their class schedule around our intentions of travelling and exploring. Now that I’m back at my home University especially, I feel so much of a difference in myself and in comparison to others. After seeing so much of the world, I view any issue as a miniscule bump in the road. I can see how my friends at school have changed in the past 4 months, and when I compare it to myself, I feel all the more grateful that I’ve had this experience to make me a more worldly and thoughtful person. I can’t stress enough how much this experience will change your life in all the best ways. You will see everything differently once you’ve seen it in Europe. I’ve changed many personal views and opinions, especially on America itself. I’ve learned that I can’t believe everything I’ve been told, so I rely on myself and my own perception to make sense of my world, which I believe to be one of the most important things for a person to do for themselves. I wish everyone could have this knowledge under their belt, but unfortunately not everyone has the means of doing so. If you can, then take this opportunity and run with it and come out a new person on the other side. It’s amazing over here.

The IES program in Vienna was incredible. The staff is a wonderful community, all of whom are willing to help with anything and everything. The classes are interesting with professors from varied backgrounds. One of my professors was a curator at the Art History Museum which allowed us to have class in the museum once a week. Vienna is a beautiful city full of culture.

I studied abroad with IES Vienna in Fall 2014 and concentrated in the areas of politics and the arts. After months of planning, I could never truly prepare myself for the experience ahead. The orientation was held in a town called Mariazell, which is located in the Austrian Alps, and blew me away with its natural beauty and authentic Austrian culture. Amidst all the awkwardness and exhaustion, the administration did their best to make the whole cultural shift as painless as possible and help us to learn key German phrases. After orientation, we traveled to Vienna. I can without a doubt say that Vienna stole my heart with its splendor and beauty. My favorite part of the city remains St. Stephens Cathedral, which stood proudly in the center of the first district and always captivated me. In terms of my life in Vienna, I lived in an apartment conveniently located near the IES center, which is located in the historical first district. The apartment was large enough to accommodate four people and allow us to live together with minimal problems. My classes abroad were similar in workload to my home university. Among all the work, I was still able to travel to my desired destinations in Europe on the weekends, which shows the flexibility of the institution and the understanding that young college students want to travel. Also, the administration consists of amazing individuals that really wanted students to experience the best of Vienna and made themselves readily available to students if any problems arose. I could not have asked for a better way to spend four months in Europe and would recommend anyone to apply to this program.

My time spent with IES Abroad in Vienna was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Living and learning in the heart of central Europe allowed me to travel, make new connections, and grow as a person. Vienna's location in Europe made it easy to travel to much of Europe, including places I had previously not thought about going to such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovenia. With IES Abroad, I was able to study in the heart of the city in a beautiful palace, a perfect environment for learning with the great teachers IES brings in. The courses offered were diverse and I was able to be placed into most any class of my choosing. I appreciated that my teachers took the classes seriously, unlike so many abroad programs where students are not engaged. The teachers take a personal interest and truly wish for their students to get the most out their time abroad. IES Abroad offers trips and events throughout the semester that make socializing easy. I cherish my semester abroad and hope that students enjoy their time in Austria as much as I did.