IFSA, Institute for Study Abroad

During my time with IFSA in the Tech Career Accelerator program I learned a lot about the tech industry in Prague and in the EU as well as Czech culture. The team organizing the IFSA in Prague was very welcoming and the excursions were very fun. Overall I loved my time in Prague and would do it again!

Highly recommend. The program is smaller (~100 students), class sizes are great, and you take classes in the attic of a mansion in a public park. The TCA challenge project is a surprisingly decent opportunity to learn and build a meaningful software product for a partner company. The attendance policy is reasonable, and classes are not hard. The program staff are amazing, super helpful, and do a great job planning 2-3 free activities a week. Prague is an amazing city as a home base; it's cheaper, very walkable, beautiful, and lively.

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Prague is a really cool city: great public transport, cheap, lots to do. If you like to travel, you can see so much during your time here both through flights and buses. IFSA TCA is also a great way to boost your resume if you major in CS!

IFSA provided me the grounds in order to learn how to live independently in Wollongong, Australia. With caring and committed advisors, I felt as though I had a home away from home while being abroad on the other side of the world. This was such a rewarding experience and one I wouldn't trade for the world- I learned so many things about the world, myself, met new friends, took different courses, travelled on my own to different parts of Australia and none of that would be possible without the guidance of IFSA.

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Hi, I studied abroad with IFSA in their Barcelona program. I had an amazing time. I was able to take classes through my program as well as through the prestigious ESCI business school. Through this program I was able to make many friends from around the world through my program. The living conditions were great, I had my own room in the Gothic Quarter that allowed me to really immerse myself in the culture. The program director Sandra was phenomenal, she always made sure we had everything we needed and provided a great immersive experience. We had several nice excursions with a weekend trip to Sevilla. Overall I had an amazing time. The only bad part was that my cohort was quite small, only 11 students. This could be a bad thing for some people, but I was able to make friends in my classes so it was not a downside for me. Thanks for reading :)

My time in Barcelona, Spain with IFSA was a life changing experience for me. I truly felt cared for, safe, and immersed in the culture while I was there. The apartment I was assigned with my roommates was stunning (we literally had a view of Sagrada Familia from our balcony!) Sandra, our program advisor, was there with advice for any situation and was first to help with every simple emergency. She even scheduled a doctor's appointment for me when I came down with strep throat! She is so attentive and kind and you can tell that she feels passionate about making sure the students in her program enjoy their experience. She scheduled multiple activities with us while we were there including a trip to Seville, a paella cooking class, and a crash course in flamenco dancing. I could go on forever about how much I cherish the time I spent in Barcelona with IFSA. I recommend them to everyone I know. Take the leap and do it!

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My time at IFSA Barcelona may have been cut short by COVID, but it was certainly worth every second I got. IFSA had a small group of students from universities all around the US making it a very comfortable transition into this new experience. Half of the courses were taken with that small group, and the other half were at UAB - a very credited university in Barcelona with kids from several study abroad programs! It was a great way to meet new people also studying abroad in the city not through IFSA while still forming the close relationship with IFSA Barcelona staff and peers. Sanda, the program coordinator, was the absolute best. She was our go-to for all things study abroad whether it was academics, where to find the best seafood, which clubs to go to, and places to travel! She became our role model, mentor, and friend, and this is something that no other program will give you. We were also provided with an apartment with a balcony looking out to Sagrada Familia. It was a view that I never got sick of!! It took my breath away each morning that I had coffee out there. The city is FILLED with culture and is so easy to explore- you learn the metro lines very quickly!! I loved trying all the different food, exploring small cafes, hiking por las montañas nearby, and also spending Sunday afternoons on the beach!! It was seriously everything you could ask for all within one city. Not to mention the airport is so close so weekend trips were extremely doable! If you are considering going to Barcelona for study abroad, definitely take a look into IFSA for an unforgettable experience.

IFSA-Butler did an incredible job of helping students to both adjust to life abroad and find their place within a new city. I felt very supported from before I even got on the plane to Edinburgh, Scotland up to the end of my semester abroad. IFSA-Butler helped me choose the right classes for me and work through those classes when I needed it. One of my favorite parts about the opportunities IFSA opened up for me were the sponsored trips I attended to a homestay and the Highlands of Scotland. My homestay in Cumbria, England at Learning Field CIC allowed me to learn about another culture and understand how life on a farm is. The trip we took for a weekend into the Highlands was incredible! From learning about sheepdog training to tasting whiskey at the Glenlivet distillery to searching for Nessie to learning about the Battle of Culloden and visiting Glencoe, my weekend was filled with adventure and knowledge. I would even say my entire semester was filled with a growth in knowledge and a plethora of adventure! I couldn't be more grateful for my fulfilling semester in Edinburgh, Scotland.

My two older sisters went abroad through IFSA, one to Australia and one to Scotland. It was so intriguing to observe how much each of them grew and changed, and how prominent of a role IFSA played in their experience. When I was choosing where I wanted to study abroad, I knew that it was a priority for me to utilize IFSA as the provider because of how much they truly care about their students. Reflecting back on studying abroad with IFSA, I was very satisfied with how well they communicated with me and my family from the day I got into the program to the day I returned home. Safety was also a big factor for me, but IFSA was so timely in their messaging of when they were potentially protests or conflicting events occurring in the city that we should be cautious around. Also, whenever we wanted to take a weekend trip or leave the city, students had to fill out a brief form to tell their program director where they would be. I really liked this aspect because I felt really cared for and looked after as I was venturing to new and foreign cities. In Prague, there were multiple day trips planned by our director that helped us fully immerse ourselves into the culture and landscape of the city. We went on group walking tours, went to restaurants together and were taught how to order things off the menu, toured castles and churches, learned the general history, and were introduced to many local students. The activities planned enhanced my experience so much because I feel I truly got to understand and know Prague. I highly recommend studying abroad through IFSA because they help you make the most out of your few months abroad, and they will be there helping you learn and grow every step of the way. I feel I am a more empathetic, adventurous and open-minded individual because of how much IFSA challenged me and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.

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I studied abroad in Christchurch, NZ through IFSA. It was an incredible experience! I learned how to whitewater kayak, temper chocolate, and about the Maori culture. IFSA was great because we had a local who could keep an eye on all of the study abroad students and act as our emergency contact. That person also took us on fun adventures like a chocolate shop, a cove with penguins and dolphins, and volunteering to help the environment. The people of New Zealand are extremely welcoming and hikes are easy to find.

Going to Brisbane, Australia and studying at the University of Queensland was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life! I went abroad my junior year of college in the fall. I had to go earlier than most abroad programs (left in early July), so I was already so nervous. IFSA's staff was incredible. As soon as I got off the plane, my IFSA advisor helped me get a SIM card to contact my parents and tell them we landed. IFSA staff does a great job of being attentive and responding immediately to anything which may concern you. Whether it was directions to a bus stop or picking a place to go for the weekend, IFSA acted as a family would. They were my rock. They gave me advice. I was able to contact them about big and small issues. Also, IFSA planned several group trips, such as one to Morton Island, which was incredible! All you had to do was show up and be ready for an amazing weekend! Also, the University of Queensland's campus was breathtaking. It was the perfect place to get out after class and stroll on campus to a coffee spot or visit the library. I felt very comfortable navigating through campus. I love the sun shine and being outdoors, so studying on this campus involved days of reading outside on my favorite park bench. Brisbane stole my heart. The people, the memories, the friends. Everything I made there is irreplaceable. Going halfway around the world was worth every second. I visited beaches, met new people, and traveled around Australia while being a student as well. I got to surf and see kangaroos. I got to experience independence while never feeling alone. I highly suggest looking into IFSA's University of Queensland Study Abroad Program! I was worried about my studies while abroad, but travel and school was manageable. Also, the sunshine made me excited for each and every day!

I absolutely loved my time at Oxford with IFSA. I not only received and unparalleled education through Oxford's tutorial system but II also met amazing people who have now become my lifelong friends. I received endless, heartwarming support from IFSA from the moment I hopped on the plane to go to the U.K. to the moment it was time for me to return home. I am so grateful to IFSA for the opportunity to go abroad!

I absolutely adored my time in Edinburgh. I wanted a program where I could study abroad for the entire year and IFSA provided just that opportunity. They made it very clear from the beginning that the program advisors would be there for me as little or as much as I needed them. I knew I could reach out at anytime if I had any problem and they always gave me wonderful and insightful advice. They encouraged me to get involved in a variety of student activities and it was this that really made my year. I joined a competition a cappella group and made some of the best friends I have ever had. We ended up winner the Scottish A Cappella Championships, which was amazing. I also received expert advice on how best to save money in the city and how to take advantage of the different modes of transportation to save time and expenses. The orientation we went to had a lot of good advice that really helped to prepare me for living on my own in a foreign city. I now have many of my closest friendships based in Edinburgh and I am hoping for the opportunity to move back there sometime soon however that may be possible! I can't recommend IFSA University of Edinburgh highly enough.

My experience with IFSA at University College Cork was really special and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I was able to make new friends, adjust to a new country and gain independence, travel all around Ireland and to other countries, and learn so much. Something that was unique about IFSA that some of my friends in other abroad programs didn't get to experience was the IFSA trips around the country. I was able to go on two trips around Ireland - out West and up North to Belfast. I bonded with our IFSA advisors, as well as other people in my abroad program who went to other schools such as University College Dublin or Trinity. Not only were there these large trips, but my abroad group had multiple events throughout the semester such as group dinners or Irish dancing. There was between 10 and 15 other people in my abroad program at UCC with me, and because of the bonding that IFSA had planned for us, as well as living with them, we all truly became a family. I went abroad without any of my friends, so I didn't really know what to expect. What I got out of it was friends from all across the United States that I became so close with and love so much. We traveled Ireland together, and I became so close especially with my roommates that we traveled to all different countries together as well. IFSA did an incredible job of facilitating their program, and I made connections with people that I don't think I would have if I hadn't chosen IFSA.

I studied abroad with IFSA at UCL during the Fall 2019 semester. Not only did I make friends that I'll have for the rest of my life through IFSA's program, I also experienced academic growth sand development that was so formative that I decided I want to return to London for a masters degree. IFSA organized a trip to the Lake District, where I got to learn more about the vikig history in the UK and went on hikes and climbs. IFSA took care of everything. IFSA staff was also super receptive when I needed help registering for classes and when I had questions about access to medical care. The staff was so fun and kind and I felt supported the whole semester. I'm so grateful for my time at UCL and with IFSA, and my greatest piece of advice for perspective students is to apply!!

I studied abroad with IFSA-Butler in Fall 2019. It was an amazing program because it was pretty small, so we all became very close. I still talk to my roommate from Cuba almost every day. They also do incredible homestays. Everyone in my group loved their homestays and were so sad upon leaving. I also still talk to my Cuban host mom all the time. I remember talking to other US students who were put in apartments and honestly it’s just not the same as staying with a family. Also, the program coordinator for IFSA was awesome. Her office was really close-by and she was always there to help out. Actually, one night when we were out, my roommate’s phone got stolen and the coordinator was great and let her borrow a phone in the interim and went with her to the police station. I know this sounds ironic now that I just said that, but Cuba is sooo safe. There is catcalling, but really not a lot of street violence like in other big cities. I felt very safe walking around at night there. Some random tips I have are go sit on the Malecon at least once at sunset -- it's beautiful. Go on weekend trips and see as much of Cuba as you can! One of my biggest regrets is not traveling outside of Havana more. Really think about putting the Cuban SIM card you get into your own phone and not the phone IFSA provides, so you can buy data (paquetes). Also, I would highly recommend going to university parties! About once or twice a month, the FEU (federacion estudiantil universitaria) which is like the student government throws a party and it’s a great way to meet other college students. You have to buy a ticket, but it only costs 10 pesos cubanos which is like forty cents. Also, about academics, a lot of times classes are canceled or moved to a different classroom at the last second. You have to get used to being really flexible and patient. That’s why it’s especially important to be added to the WhatsApp group so you can keep up with any last-minute changes.

My time at the University of Auckland was the perfect blend of adventure and university life for me. The university itself had an such an array of classes that it wasn't difficult to find ones that both covered requirements for my school back home, but also offered something I couldn't get anywhere else. I was able to continue my English literature degree while also learning the native language of New Zealand, Te Reo Maōri. The classes themselves were not as strenuous as the ones I was use to at home, which allowed me to explore the city and country in my free time. On weekends, I went on trips with friends to nearby beaches (it was spring when I arrived, so the summer crowd hadn't taken over yet) or hiked up a volcanoe after a ferry ride across the bay. If I wanted to adventure in the city, there was always an exciting event to take part of. The most memorable activities in the heart of the city were the Asian Market and the Turama Festival of Lights, both unique to the city of Auckland. IFSA makes it their priority to introduce students to the native culture as well as the modern one. During orientation, my program stayed a night in a Maōri marae and became immediately immersed in the native culture, taking part in ancient traditions and learning of the legends that impacted generations of Maōri. My favorite memories were of exploring the country of New Zealand. IFSA encourages exploration and independence, but also makes certain that students know how to stay safe. There was always somebody on call in case trouble popped up. Although the city is spectacular, I don't recommend spending all of your time there. Right outside your door there are mountains and volcanos and thick forests and black beaches and huge rock formations waiting to be explored. It doesn't surprise me one bit that New Zealand became the inspiration for Middle Earth. Everywhere I went the country took my breath away. So if you go to New Zealand, find a group of friends and get outside. Take advantage of the adventures that await you.

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My experience in Gold Coast was something irreplaceable, I would go back and do it a hundred times over. While deciding where I wanted to study, I always desired to see Australia. Unlike many people, I took an unusual root and signed up for the IFSA program without knowing one other person. I recommend IFSA to anyone who asks me about my experience. Even before taking off they give such detailed instructions for everything you need before you go abroad and assign you an advisor that can help with any questions you might have. I set up calls with mine so many times and I was always able to benefit from her advice. IFSA also makes sure to include excursions, our orientation took place in Sydney where I got to meet the rest of the 20 kids on my program. I still stay in touch with a majority of them we were a very tight-knit group. Our advisors there were always so eager to find us new night-life, restaurants, and sightseeing tips throughout the experience. My peers and I looked to those two women as our home away from home moms! There are monthly activities like boating, Morton Island weekend trip, Barefoot Bowls, Three Sisters, and more. Who wouldn't want to live in the heart of Gold Coast? The surfer century apartments are located a block from the beach and at the center of the hustle and bustle. I grew so much as a person starting fresh in a brand new place. No matter where you decide to study, just do it! There is no better time to put your life on pause for 6 months. It's a rare opportunity and a total blessing. In the Spring of my junior year, I did another program not through IFSA to Dublin, Ireland. I can say whole-heartedly IFSA is an amazingly organized program to trust to get you there in one piece and also be there when you need guidance. While living in the apartments, IFSA also partnered with a program at the school. Everyone who lived in my apartment all shared the same student mentor, who happened to be the student body president at Griffith! He gave us all the tips and tricks to navigate in a new place. He hosted events where we could meet other international students as well. Surfer's Paradise seemed gigantic at first but by the end seemed smaller and more like home, where I would see familiar faces on the tram, on Cavill Ave, at the grocery stores, and bars. I would take anything to go back and travel along the east coast of Australia and IFSA made it all possible. It was my hardest goodbye and my greatest love and to IFSA and Griffith University I am forever grateful.

I had an amazing time during my semester abroad in Christchurch which wouldn't have been possible without the awesome IFSA staff. Before leaving they handled all correspondence with the University of Canterbury, took care of my housing, and let me know what to pack and what to expect as I arrived. They met me at the airport and during my first few days in the country they gave a wonderful orientation to Kiwi culture. I got a little taste of adventure with outdoor activities, tried some classic Kiwi foods (like Marmite!), and learned about New Zealand's indigenous peoples when we stayed on a Marae. By the end of these few days I felt less like a tourist and was ready to just live in my new home. Throughout the semester the IFSA team held events that took us around parts of Christchurch I might not have seen without them. We also had weekly meeting which was a wonderful way to be reminded that I was not alone in the country and to get recommendations on what to see and do both around Christchurch and the whole South Island. Because of the confidence instilled in me by having friendly faces who helped support me abroad, I was able to really get outside of my comfort zone and try many new things and meet many new individuals! I cannot wait until I return to New Zealand. If it weren't for IFSA I wouldn't have planted such strong roots there!

I applied to this program at the last minute after making an impulsive decision to study abroad in Australia with my friend. I'm so thankful I went with my gut and chose to study abroad in Sydney through IFSA. Everyone I was in contact with there through the whole application process and arriving in Sydney was extremely helpful and cared about giving the students an amazing experience. While in Sydney, I always felt like there was support from IFSA staff available at any time, yet they allowed you to experience your study abroad in your own unique way. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved Sydney and how happy I was there- I'd move back in a heartbeat. I'm so grateful IFSA was able to facilitate such an incredible study abroad experience for me!