IES Abroad Vienna Summer - Psychology

I had an amazing time abroad in Vienna! The IES staff are so resourceful, and the people I met have been incredible. The professors are great, and there were so many opportunities for different activities outside the classroom in our free time.

Our daughter applied for admittance to IES's Vienna Psychology program, was accepted and chose her classes all as prescribed. That is where the organized part of the program ended and IES' ineptitude took over. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE A STUDENT WILL STUDY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE CLASSES IN THEIR MAJOR!!! IES is content that a student simply arrives and lives in-country with no focus on whether or not credits will count toward the major. Classes are not figured out until AFTER a student arrives in-country. This means IES can basically do whatever they wish and will have fulfilled their contract. In the Fall of 2019 IES accepted admitted 2014 students, of which 24 were psychology majors. Even though students signed up within the prescribed time frame, all the psychology courses were oversubscribed. Students with psychology majors were not given priority over other non-psychology students - this is insane. It's a psychology program, with psychology prerequisites! IES staff were uncaring, nonchalant and kept emphasizing it was 'all about the experience'. In other words, 'we over-subscribed the program and we'll do what we can to get students into a class - any class'. Six days before the program was due to start, IES "offered" to return fees and allow our student to withdraw - a completely bogus offer as they knew at that point everyone was locked in. I have found the administrative staff arrogant and totally disorganized. They seem to pull the programs together all at the last minute. As a parent spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a college education, this level of disorganization is totally unacceptable, on multiple levels. The student is reluctant to push for what they want because they don't want it to be held against them while they are in-country, or be labeled complainer. Bottom line - ask lots of questions before committing and get EVERYTHING in writing. Given our experience, I would avoid IES like the plague.

I had such an amazing time. The teachers were great and when I got sick one day I couldn’t come she was very understanding. It’s made so that you can travel on weekends, which was the best part! There were many field trips (I think every week I had a field trip!)

Studying abroad in Vienna was more than the classes and more than travel. It was rich with culture, language, and personal experiences. This program was a really great experience in a variety of ways. Built into IES's program is a unique independence. You are given the ability to live in the city, to roam freely, and experience firsthand the beauty around you. The independence also allows you to travel outside of Vienna, and even out of Austria through long weekends. I personally was able to visit Bratislava, Slovakia, and Procida and Naples, Italy. Others in my program where able to visit cities in Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, and more. Europe is a great location for quick and cheap travel between nations. Beyond independence, this trip provided a chance to meet students from all over the United States and to develop friendships that have lasted beyond returning to our home universities. Last, Vienna was so unique in its "cafe culture". Dozens of cafes existed in every district, each with their own unique style. My friends and I would sit at them for hours to do our school work or just relax and enjoy the city. I loved my study abroad experience this past summer.

Studying abroad in Vienna was amazing! Everything about the city - from the food to the entertainment to the history - was incredible! IES had multiple housing locations for all the students. This was nice because we lived all throughout the city and got to explore areas that we wouldn't have known about if one of hadn't lived there. One of my favorite memories was going to the Concordia Ball (a summer ball that the whole city gets dressed up for and dances the night away). IES offered a dance lesson the week before the ball and it was so helpful - and fun!

When I went to study abroad through IES, I got the opportunity to travel around Vienna and get immersed into the culture with other students in the program. In addition, the area around the program was filled with opportunities and cultural gems, such as diverse foods and monumental buildings. The courses themselves were innovative and made me think about how the field of child development could be seen in children in Viennese schools. Overall, great experience!

Looking back on my time in Vienna never fails to bring a smile to my face. Before this program, I had never thought about visiting Austria, I didn’t speak German, and had no idea what to expect. Once I arrived, I was shocked by how much I loved the culture, people, food, and atmosphere. You can spend hours uninterrupted in a coffee shop, or stroll through the stunning streets of the first district. The public transportation is one of the best designed in the world and makes it easy to explore the entire sprawling city, and also has access train stations and airports which makes traveling on weekends seem effortless. Over only 6 weeks, my friends and I were able to also visit Salzburg, Hallstatt, Munich, Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest. The city of Vienna is incredibly rich with history and I truly felt like I’d discovered something magical when I lived there. Taking courses in Psychology in the field’s own birthplace was absolutely surreal. I learned so much about Austrian culture, about the history of Vienna, and most significantly about myself as an independent student and traveler. I will forever be grateful for this incredible experience, and I am being truly honest when I say my friends from the program and I frequently message one another desperately wishing we could go back.

I knew I wanted to study abroad and when searching for programs, going to Vienna with IES Abroad seemed like the best fit. I had met someone in high school from Vienna and so I reached out to her to learn a little more about the city. That, along with the orientation and classes once I got to Vienna gave me a pretty good sense of what I had gotten myself into. What I had gotten myself into was a city of culture. A city of experience. A city that truly felt like home after only a few short weeks. The classes I took while there helped me learn the language and experience some local culture with field trips. I lived in an apartment with two roommates who were willing to explore with me. Overall, this experience changed my life. I wish I could go back tomorrow, but until then, I'll relive my journey through sharing my experiences with others. If studying abroad is something you are considering, I highly suggest IES Abroad Vienna.

When I first decided to get involved in a study abroad program, I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing. I chose Vienna, Austria solely on the fact that they had a psychology program. I didn’t know anything about the city, country or program. Before I left, I was extremely terrified because I have never been somewhere outside of the country without family or friends before. Once I got there, IES Abroad made it so easy to figure out my living situation, make friends and discover my new home away from home. The professors and staff were always so helpful and insightful. I left America not knowing anything about where I was going and now (because of IES abroad) Vienna, Austria is my favorite place on Earth and I have life-long friends across the country and overseas!

I always knew that I wanted to study abroad. As I was sitting in the study abroad center I saw Vienna was an option. I had not heard much about Austria or Vienna but I did not want to go to a place that everyone went to like London or Sydney, Australia. During the summer I learned about a completely different country, I learned a new language, and I made friends from all over the United States! I didn't even want to leave when my departure day came. Living in Vienna for 6 weeks was the best thing I have done in my college career and I would do it all over again!

Imagine leaving your 1800's refurbished apartment and walking to a delicious local bakery. There, you can speak in broken German to order a pastry unlike anything you can find in America. You start your walk to class in the city where Freud, Adler, and Jung (some of the most famous psychologists) lived and worked. You casually pass the Opera house that was just featured in the 2015 Mission Impossible movie. Once you pass Hotel Sacher where tourists and locals alike wait in lines to taste the world renowned Sachertorte, you are almost to school. But your school is not just any old school. It is in an old palace with chandeliers and hand-painted ceilings... in the middle of Vienna. If you can focus on classes while being in such an amazing location, you will find that the classes focus on counseling and health psychology. You can also take a German class, which is useful for getting around the city and ordering food, although nearly everyone speaks at least some English. To be honest, the classes were well-organized and valuable but were not my main focus while abroad. Traveling and exploring was my main focus and Vienna is the perfect location to start traveling. It is just a train ride away from Prague, Budapest, Krakow, and Bratislava. People in my program also traveled to Switzerland, France, Italy, and Germany. It was an unforgettable experience to be able to travel to a different country every weekend. The IES program even organized an overnight trip to Budapest for all students. If you're worried about being alone or not making friends, don't worry any longer! Almost everyone goes on this program not knowing anyone. Trying to adjust to a different culture and getting lost is what forms friendships so easily. I made some genuine friends with whom I will always share amazing memories. From my trip abroad, I learned that I can navigate new places on my own and adjust to a different culture which continues to make me a more confident and outgoing person.

Attending the IES Abroad Summer Psychology program in Vienna was the best decision I have ever made. If the cost or unease about the quality of the program or any sort of nerves is causing you to hesitate when making your decision to study abroad with IES than worry no more. Completely discard any doubts that it will be anything but the most amazing experience of your life. Apply, Accept, Fly. The city is the most beautiful city I have ever been to, the food is amazing and all the Viennese wine is even better. The Austrian culture is richer than the chocolate cake you can find at everyone of the million cafes concentrated in the city. All of the famous European cities are awesome. I don't think anyone could go wrong with any city. What I found the most important thing to consider about studying abroad (post semester) is the quality of the Institution, i.e. What can they offer you and what can't they. My favourite part about my Summer in Vienna were the field trips. I absolutely loved the formal field trips we would take and other small outings in the city. Dr. Stipslits was a great person to be around and I always loved what he had to say. IES always did a fantastic job entertaining us and taking us to great restaurants. IES was very accommodating to me. Friendly staff at the reception, and helpful advice and administration when it came to the more technical stuff. I lived in a beauty of a flat with five other guys, one being a local student at the University of Vienna (Alex). Alex was awesome and he made my time in Vienna incredibly better, definitely would not have been the same without him. He showed me and the other guys the ropes to the city and by the end of the six weeks it felt like I lived there for years. I felt so at home in Vienna especially with the support from IES. One thing IES could have improved on was informing us about the U-Bahn subway system. Unfortunately a group of students including myself were fined because we did not have the proper passes. Perhaps including the pass into our tuition costs would ensure it would not happen to future students.

Vienna, Austria is a gorgeous city located in the central region of Europe, which made it extremely convenient to travel to other cities within Europe and gain the most out of our travel experiences. IES staff also provided us with information on websites and agencies that were helpful regarding student travel. While I was in Vienna I was able to travel to Salzburg, Austria via train and go on the Sound of Music bike tour, we went to Prague for a weekend via bus, as well as Slovakia for a day trip via bus. Also, one of our weekend field trips with IES staff included taking a bus to Budapest! Monday through Thursday we had class in a palace that was located in the first district of Vienna (the city is split up into over 20 districts). It was a great location and was within walking distance from our apartments, which were in district 6. It was about a 20 minute walk, or you could take the U-bahn, which is Vienna's subway system--the U took about 6 minutes. I really enjoyed my Psychology & Society class, which met Mon.-Wed. The field trips we were able to take were very interesting and I was able to learn so much. A couple of our field trips included: the Sigmund Freud Museum and the first psychiatric hospital in Vienna. I had never taken German before, so I took a beginning German class while in Austria. We had class Mon.-Thurs. and learned quite a bit in a short amount of time. We had German homework almost every day, but it wasn't bad and allowed us not only to learn, but also to practice the native language. As I said before, our apartments were in the 6th district and had an incredible location! We were located between Vienna's large farmer's market/flea market and Vienna's largest outdoor shopping center. The location was great, but so was the apartment itself. My apartment had 6 girls in it and consisted of three double bedrooms, a kitchen, one full bathroom, and one half bathroom. We also had a living area and a washer in the apartment (Vienna doesn't have dryers). I thought IES abroad was helpful and loved my time in Vienna! There was so much to do, including concerts, the opera, festivals, museums, and the list could go on and on!

Vienna, Austria has so much to offer particularly for students interested in studying abroad, learning about a new culture, country and people from all around the world. Museums, opera, farmers markets, restaurants, churches, live orchestras, night scenes, palaces, parks... there is an infinite list of places and events one could attend every day. The IES program and housing locations made my time spent in Vienna even better, right in the center of the city, we were able to walk back and forth from the housing to the program in just 20 minutes while enjoying the beautiful scenery around us.