Reviews

Studying Business Management and Finance at Masaryk University in Brno was a very valuable experience for me. The program provided a solid balance between theoretical knowledge and practical applications, helping me better understand business operations, financial decision-making, and analytical thinking. One of the biggest advantages was studying in Brno itself. As a student city, Brno offers a great atmosphere, with a large international community, many student events, and a good balance between academic life and personal life. Compared to larger European capitals, it is affordable, easy to navigate, and provides plenty of opportunities to meet people from different backgrounds. Looking back, my time at Masaryk University was both academically challenging and personally rewarding. I gained not only knowledge and practical skills but also valuable friendships and experiences that I will carry with me after graduation.

After high school in Switzerland, I didn't want to rush into university. GAC's gap year program in Beijing was exactly what I needed. I interned at a consulting firm in the mornings and studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons. The team arranged everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and clarity on what I want to study. If you're thinking about a gap year, skip the backpacking and do something that builds your future.

I was very pleased to see that Middlebury in Beijing was incredibly helpful in making sure that I had the opportunity to study the things I was interested in. My topics were not particularly beginner friendly, most of them had a lot to do with Classical Chinese, however the professors at MiB went above and beyond to create a learning environment that supported my interests at my pace and language level. I will always be grateful for the knowledge and experiences I had during this program!

Thank you for this experience and for welcoming me in Atandahua. I will never forget this time. During my stay, I had the opportunity to work closely with local families on the chocho production project, learning about the agricultural processes, challenges, and traditions that are such an important part of the community. It was inspiring to see the dedication and resilience of the farmers and to contribute, even in a small way, to a project that supports local livelihoods. Beyond the work itself, what made this experience truly special was the kindness and generosity of the people I met. Living and working alongside the community allowed me to better understand their culture, values, and daily life. I am grateful for every conversation, every shared meal, and every lesson learned. The friendships, memories, and experiences I gained in Atandahua will stay with me forever, and I will always look back on this time with gratitude and appreciation.

This program has been one of the best experiences of my life. The people were intelligent, polite, thoughtful and all around amazing. The classes were challenging and so interesting. I felt I was getting a great preview of college life, and dreaded it ending!

Seamester was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. Living on a boat, sailing every day, and diving in some of the most incredible places in the world pushed me far outside my comfort zone and helped me grow so much as a person. The dives were unforgettable, the sailing taught me resilience and teamwork, and the people made it all worth it. I met some of my closest friends and made memories I’ll carry with me forever. It challenged me, changed me, and gave me experiences I never could have had anywhere else. I’m so grateful I did it.

This program exceeded my expectations. The teaching method was practical and focused on real-life communication, which helped me gain confidence in speaking Chinese. I also enjoyed learning with classmates from different countries and participating in the cultural activities.

The Summer Full Camp was an amazing experience. I improved my Chinese every day and made friends from many countries. Living in China helped me become more confident using Chinese in real-life situations.

The Intensive Chinese Group Class was one of the best language courses I have taken. The teachers were engaging, the NihaoCafe platform was very useful for reviewing lessons, and the intensive schedule helped me make rapid progress in a short time. I would highly recommend it to anyone serious about learning Chinese.

I joined the Intensive Chinese Group Class in Shanghai and was impressed by how quickly my Chinese improved. The small class size gave everyone plenty of opportunities to speak, and the teachers were patient and professional. The daily lessons and digital notes made learning very efficient.