SRAS

My experience in Warsaw was the most formative, inspirational, perspective-changing, and enjoyable experience of my life. The city is alive with a juxtaposition of the rich past, beautifully historic Polish culture and a present focus on progress and innovation. Around every corner is a new experience, a beautiful view, and a żabka store (trust me, you'll know what I mean). The course itself at Collegium Civitas was beyond incredible, featuring knowledgeable professors and engaging material. Even as I write this, over a year after returning, I consistently think back to lectures and have used the knowledge gained to shape my ongoing research and future plans. Speaking of which, the publication through the internship at the end of the course gave me valuable research experience and has propelled me forward in my academic pursuits. Of course, none of this could have been possible without everyone at SRAS - you will never meet a more highly organized, experienced, and caring team who place education and experiences as their number one priority. This program gives students the chance to explore their interests in the very interdisciplinary realm of international relations, and I firmly believe that anyone with a love for learning about global studies will find a home here. If you don't know what you're looking for - this is your sign to study in Warsaw! You'll find it, have a great time, and you may just find yourself along the way.

Over the years, I have participated in 3 study abroad programs and have lived in 7 countries with various programs. My 4 months in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan during the Spring of 2022 with SRAS were among my favorite months ever spent abroad! SRAS did a great job incorporating cultural activities around the Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and Central Asia throughout the semester. The trips spent in the Eastern region of Kyrgyzstan and across Uzbekistan are still some of my favorite trips of all time. The academics were also fantastic. I began with quite a low level of Russian, and after the months of 4-hour-a-day Russian intensive classes - which were essentially private classes - and living with a host family, I felt confident carrying out basic conversations in Russian. I adored my host family and enjoyed the independence both they and SRAS gave me to explore the city, socialize at night, and travel internationally. I couldn't recommend SRAS Bishkek enough!

I had an amazing time during my 6 week study abroad in Riga! I wish I had stayed longer because I had just started to settle in when I realized I was halfway done with the program. I was placed in a really good living situation where I was able to meet other students from the school. The classes were very flexible with different students' levels of Russian. I ended up switching classes after my first week and I feel that I found a good fit. The school was definitely a place where you have to be outgoing if you want to meet people. The school didn't organize a ton of activities but everyone who was there at the same time as me was pretty social and also looking to meet new people. Overall, I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who is looking to improve their language skills. Being immersed in a homestay as well as in a country where the language is actually spoken was super beneficial. My Russian language skills were the best they had ever been while I was in Riga!

This was my first time ever studying abroad and being so far overseas, and it was fantastic!! The entire process leading up to traveling was very clear and I felt supported through the whole program. The level of immersion was exactly what I was looking for, because I was afraid of my first experience abroad being too overwhelming, but my time in Riga was perfect! The living situation and host family was great and I clicked really well with the other SRAS students I was there with! I plan to continue with SRAS in the future for more study abroad experiences!

I was so excited to live in Tbilisi for a semester, and somehow my time with SRAS exceeded my expectations! Not only did I improve my Russian language skills and gain an in-depth understanding of conflict and politics within the Caucasus and beyond, I also made a wonderful relationship with my host family. After knowing them for merely weeks, they told me that they saw me as their son and that I was a part of their family. I ended up remaining in Georgia following my college graduation and lived and worked there for a year, all thanks to the wonderful SRAS experience. I strongly recommend the program to anyone interested in gaining an advanced understanding of the region and anyone with even the mildest appreciation for an unforgettable adventure!

I studies with SRAS in Warsaw, Poland in the summer of 2019 and had an amazing experience. I studied World War Two history and got fully immersed in it by visiting several museums and historic sites all included in the program. My professor was amazing and I learned so much! This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in history or security in East Europe. It is also a great gateway into the region as you don't need to know Polish to live and learn there. I highly recommend this program!!!

I had an excellent experience in this course and learned a great deal about European history, politics and culture, both past and present. I look back on my experience in Warsaw as the moment that truly sparked my interest in public policy and international affairs, and can draw a line from my time in that program to my current occupation as an analyst in the federal government. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in history (particularly the history of WWII and the Cold War), foreign policy, and European affairs.

This Spring 2020 I decided to choose SRAS to do my study abroad program, and I absolutely loved my time as a student in Moscow! At my home university I am a business major but thanks to SRAS I was able to attend a fantastic university called MGIMO. The classes were very interesting and related to Diplomacy and International relations. We often had very interesting guests specialist in the international and national fields. The classwork for me was a little bit tough but due to unfamiliarity to the major but overall very interesting classes. After class and during the weekend before the pandemic, we were able to visit the city and have tours thanks to SRAS to museums, national holidays events, we visited the Kremlin apart from other places. Moscow is a city worth visiting as there is a lot of things to see and do as it is considered one of the biggest cities in Europe, you will never get bored. Apart from the amazing opportunity to study abroad in another university and learn Russian in Moscow, you have the chance to go by train to near cities like Kazan or Saint Petersburg. This is a fantastic study abroad program, in my opinion. I earned six classes worth more than eighteen credits and spend my time learning a new language like Russian and visiting different places and cities over the weekend! I recommend the experience of studying abroad with SRAS.

I absolutely loved my time as a student and intern in Warsaw! The classes were interesting and we often had guest lecturers that were specialists in the national/international security field. The classwork was light and at the end we had a big group project. The light amount of homework left us with time to go explore the city. After class we would go explore a new part of the city or go visit a museum or a palace. Poland has the best museums I've seen outside of America and I would definitely recommend seeing as many as possible! I found living in Warsaw to be very calming. It the biggest city in Poland but it wasn't overbearing. Transportation in the city is convenient. You can walk everywhere or you can get a bus pass, like I did, which was pretty cheap. The cost of living in Warsaw was extremely low, you don't have to worry about saving a ton of money to be able to visit. I know of a few students that did a weekend trip to Prague and they said it was a very cheap trip as well. Poland is also very welcoming to foreigners. Also, everyone I spoke to in Warsaw and Krakow spoke English - so don't be afraid to visit if you don't speak Polish! This is the best study abroad program, in my opinion. I earned three classes worth of credit and spent my summer studying what I was interested in, seeing new places everyday, and traveling to new cities and countries on the weekend!