Study Abroad Programs

My summer study abroad experience in Maastricht, the Netherlands, was truly one of the most unforgettable chapters of my academic journey. Traveling abroad to study gave me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, experience a different education system, and connect with students from different cultures and backgrounds. What initially started as an academic opportunity quickly became so much more than that. Throughout the summer, I had the chance to explore Maastricht, discover its beautiful historic streets, experience Dutch culture, and travel to other European destinations. Every new place, friendship, and experience taught me something different. I especially enjoyed being surrounded by people with different perspectives, sharing experiences, and creating friendships that made the journey even more meaningful. Beyond the classroom, this experience helped me become more independent, adaptable, and confident. It allowed me to see the world from a different perspective and understand how valuable international experiences can be, not only for academic development but also for personal growth. Looking back two years later, I still carry the memories, lessons, and friendships from that summer with me. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity because it reminded me that some of the most meaningful learning experiences happen beyond the classroom. Studying abroad in Maastricht was not just a summer of studying; it was an experience that shaped the way I see the world and inspired me to continue pursuing opportunities beyond my comfort zone. Currently I’m studying my masters degree in Groningen and I decided to come back because all because of the unforgettable experience I had that summer.

My last time was in may 2026 and my Chinese speaking ability was noticeably better. This time the experience was different. I have learned a lot of Chinese speaking language words and I have understood almost everything of what Wu Laoshi was saying to us during a class.

Coming to the American University of Beirut from the Kurdistan Region was a big step for me. Like anyone moving to another country, I had so many questions. What would studying in Lebanon be like? Would I find my people? Would I feel at home? Looking back, I can say that my experience at AUB turned out to be much more than I expected. Studying Nutrition and Dietetics taught me a lot, not only about my field but also about how to think, question things and look at problems from different perspectives. There were opportunities to get involved in research, explore subjects beyond my degree and connect what we learned in class to things happening in the real world. One of the things I appreciated most was being surrounded by people with different backgrounds and experiences. I learned just as much from the people I met as I did from my courses. But honestly, some of my favorite memories have very little to do with academics. Moving to Lebanon meant figuring out how to live independently, adjusting to a different culture and building a life away from my family. AUB brought together people from so many different places, and somewhere along the way, a place that was once completely unfamiliar started to feel like home. The friendships, long conversations, spontaneous plans and even the ordinary days on campus are things I still look back on fondly. AUB also gave me opportunities I probably wouldn't have imagined before coming to Lebanon. Through the MEPI Tomorrow's Leaders Program, I was able to explore new interests, meet people from different backgrounds and take part in experiences that pushed me beyond what I thought I could do. These opportunities helped me grow in ways that went beyond my education. Of course, living abroad wasn't always easy. There were days when I missed home, days when things felt overwhelming, and moments when I had to figure things out on my own. But I think those experiences were just as important as the good ones. If I could tell future international students one thing, it would be to come with an open mind and not be afraid of what you don't know yet. Give yourself time to adjust, say yes to opportunities, meet people outside your usual circles and enjoy the little things along the way. You might arrive with a certain plan, but leave with experiences and friendships you never expected. For me, AUB was never just about getting a degree. It was about finding my independence, discovering new possibilities, and growing into a person I hadn't quite imagined when I first arrived. And for that, I'll always be grateful.

Wow...I cannot believe that just a few months ago, I was walking my route to la Universidad de Sevilla like it was just another day. I knew I wanted to go abroad from the day I started my college experience, but I was so nervous and homesick when I landed in Sevilla that I feared I had made a terrible mistake. I could not have been more wrong! Right from the start, the WorldStrides staff (especially Quique!) took us all under their wing and showed us the rich, welcoming culture of Sevilla. Our orientation was less about classes and more about immersing ourselves in the city, from touring the Catedral and Real Alcázar to trying our first tapas (espinacas con garbanzos, anyone?). My host mother was encouraging and helped me to practice my Spanish each day, and all of my professors were engaging and invested in student success. Most importantly, I met one of my best friends abroad in the WorldStrides program! We spent so much money at the Jester cafés there... By the end of my time abroad, I had connected with Sevilla in ways I could not have anticipated, and I grew in my confidence and open-mindedness. I spent my weekends navigating airports and metros in new cities I visited, tried plenty of foods I would not have spared a glance to back home (my host mom made great boquerones...), painted watercolor scenes around Sevilla in one of my classes, and learned to understand and walk alongside my neighbors across the world. I will never have an experience quite like this again - and what a bittersweet feeling that is. Thank you, WorldStrides, for gifting me with the opportunity of a lifetime! And to anyone reading this, if you are looking for a sign to pick Sevilla, this is it!!

The course is nicely balanced between grammar, receptive and productive skills, and how to teach. The vocabulary and games units were especially helpful, and it was nice space out the tense units so that I could learn each group and common errors and corrections separately without needing to worry about forgetting everything. I think online teaching should either be splashed around everywhere or be optional as I don't really ever intend to teach online: the thought actually makes me shudder. The certificate is very attractive and the QR verification worked when I tried it not long after I finished.

I really like my time abroad. The school is very organised and teachers seems like they enjoy their work! The structure is a lot of participation without computers, which means that we learn more in general.

Happy I did this and I feel more confident for taking notes and watching the lessons. I can't compare with anything else because this was my first online course and I have no English teaching experience, but the course helped me cover everything from basic parts of speech to different sentence complexes and that kind of thing. I knew many things from just naturally speaking, but it gave me the metalanguage and confidence to be able to pick out mistakes and (mostly lol!) be able to explain what students do wrong with language. The classroom management ideas are certainly useful and I knew they would be, but it was the motivation information that made me think about games and activities as more than just fun. The course had more than 20 units full of ideas and I think this alone was worth it, but they also provided me with a few packets of digital lesson plans and job information. Everything I could think I wanted was there except maybe individual videos covering every concept. They did show some concepts with their long lesson videos though. I have finished more intelligent on teaching!

I had never lived on a boat before which I’m guessing most people can relate to. If you are open to new things and keep a good attitude this will be a great experience for you. There will be struggles but that’s the point and you will have a blast getting over them.

I got to live in a homestay with a Spanish family, explore the city, travel, make new friends and had a lot of freedom doing so. The classes were good and I receive a lot of support during my time here.

Studying abroad at UAB in Barcelona has truly been one of the highlights of my college experience! From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with the city, its culture, and the opportunity to experience a completely different way of life. The program offers a great balance between academics and exploring everything Barcelona has to offer. I especially loved taking courses that gave me a more international perspective while learning about Catalan culture and traditions. Being able to travel throughout Europe on weekends, meet people from different backgrounds, and immerse myself in a new environment has helped me grow so much personally and academically. Barcelona is the perfect city for studying abroad, with incredible food, beautiful architecture, amazing weather, and something new to discover every day. I am so grateful for this experience and would recommend UAB to anyone considering studying abroad. It has been a semester I will never forget!

I come from a research background and so I appreciate facts and knowledge that’s well researched and has some robustness to it. The course text on this course was excellent in that regard, blending research based studies with experienced teacher comments and advice. It makes for good reading with high ethos. Everything is well presented

I absolutely loved this School. It’s been a perfect blend of solid lessons, fun after‑class activities, and a vibrant community. The classroom sessions are engaging and well‑structured, and the extracurricular events give us plenty of chances to practice what we’ve learned while meeting classmates from all over the world. I like everything here.

Wuxi Schönberg Education Technology Co.,Ltd responded to this reviewNovember 12, 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review，Eric! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience.😊Thank you for recommending us. We look forward to continuing this learning journey with you!

I can’t recommend this school enough. From start to finish, the staff and teachers made my time in Wuxi unforgettable and helped me make incredible progress with my Mandarin. Beyond the language, this school gave me an incredible community. I made wonderful friends, learned about Chinese culture, and fell in love with China.

Wuxi Schönberg Education Technology Co.,Ltd responded to this reviewNovember 12, 2026

Thank you so much for your recommendation, caitlin! 💯  We’re so happy to hear that you make more friends here by learning Chinese, also make more incredile progress. Please keep up your great work.

SeaMester changed my life. It challenged me physically, mentally, and socially, but in the best ways. The 4am wake-ups were brutal at times, but some of my best memories are from being on deck at night, laughing under the stars with friends who became family. It's been over five years since my time on Argo, and I still miss the simplicity of life at sea. The crew was fantastic. It's not a life of luxury, but you'll gain so much from it. If you want the adventure of a lifetime, this is it!!

We did a giant loop of the Caribbean in 88 days, beginning in Antigua and sailing down through the lesser antilles to the coast of South America, then on to Jamaica, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, and several other islands learning navigation, vessel operations, as well as credentialed college material.

My Sea|mester voyage(s) were unforgettable trips for more than a few reasons. Not only did it provide an environment where all students could live in their classroom and form unbreakable bonds, but it also allowed young adults to truly experience this planet we call home. I was able to sail the Carribbean while earning college credits, and get Padi scuba certifications- all taking place in the first few months of 2020. Even though we sailed right into the Covid-19 global pandemic (no pun intended), it really proved what an incredibly well thought-out program Sea|mester promises. Safety is always the top priority for any adventure, and this study abroad program delivers. The professional staff are excellent at teaching their subject matter, and the experiential learning never ends. This program is incredibly well suited for individuals that want to go out of their comfort zone, meet other students that also are seeking adventure, and who understand that you only live once. One of my main reasons for finding and selecting this program was because I was able to study abroad and experience different countries, cultures, and lessons- all while our floating home traveled with us. I even went back on a second trip with Sea|mester in the summer of 2021, and it was just as enjoyable as the first time around. These trips are for those who are excited to experience the world, and not afraid to put in the effort and teamwork to travel from place to place. You really do feel a sense of accomplishment when you can look back and see how much you learn about the subject material, and about yourself.

Before I had gone on this voyage I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life. I got my advanced and rescue diver certification and fell IN LOVE with the ocean and marine science. Since then I have gotten my dive master, logged over 1,000 dives, and dove for work in different countries. This program introduced me to a whole new world. I went in 2021 and still I go and visit my classmates from this voyage. It was the single best decisions I ever made.

If you had told me in January 2023 that I would spend my summer on a 112-foot schooner, crossing the Atlantic with zero sailing experience, I would have laughed, and then asked what a foulie was. My voyage was different from the typical Semester at Sea experience. Argo was small, with just 12 students and 6 staff, so there was nowhere to hide and no one to hide from. By the end, we were no longer a group of students and staff. We were a family. Some of my favorite moments happened after dark. My watch team and I would lie flat on the deck inside what we called the “sparkle dome”: bioluminescence glittering in the water below and a galaxy of stars above, so that it felt as though we were floating in the middle of a sphere of light. With no cell service for days, there was nothing to look at but the ocean and nothing to listen to but each other. Those nights, I felt both the smallest and the luckiest I have ever been. The ocean also gave me my favorite surprises. Crewmates would bang on my hatch window so that I would come up and see the dolphins, even when it wasn’t my watch. They knew how much I loved the marine life, and they cared enough to wake me for it. I can’t think of a better way to be loved. Then there was the adrenaline. Our passage to the Azores brought near gale force winds and 3 to 4 meter swell in the pitch black. We crawled across the deck at 4 am, dodging flying fish and waves crashing over the stern, then spent the rest of the day being tossed around our bunks. It was uncomfortable and chaotic, and it produced some of the best laughter of my life. On calmer days, I was backflipping off the bow, climbing the mast to free a halyard shackle, and leading my first sail raise. The girl who struggled on her first sailing test and felt like the only one without experience learned to motivate her watch team through the 3 am boat checks that no one ever wants to do. Our crew was divided into watch teams, groups that rotated through shifts steering, navigating, and keeping Argo safe around the clock. Over time, those teams became tight-knit units with their own traditions. That identity came to a head during the watch team challenge course, a friendly competition in which the teams raced against one another through a series of physical and teamwork-based tasks, including a run up a grassy, slippery hill. Watch Team Two won, and we celebrated it with the seriousness of an Olympic victory, complete with an aggressively chanted team name. In port, we hiked and explored new countries together, and each place felt bigger because I was seeing it through the eyes of people who had become my closest friends. Our captain, Calum, joined our holiday traditions, told stories we will carry with us forever, and taught us silly songs. He showed us how to be a family and, more importantly, how to be part of one. When the voyage ended, I walked the length of a dock in Gibraltar alone, leaving Argo and everyone aboard behind. It was one of the hardest goodbyes of my life. But it wasn’t really a goodbye. Our entire crew is still in a group chat that texts daily. Argo taught me how to sail, but the people taught me what a crew truly is, and I know they will be close to me for the rest of my life.

I did 4 weeks of spanish classes and extended and extra two because of the quality and depth of my classes. I had multiple teachers who were all exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful. I would absolutely recommend these classes to anyone willing and wanting to learn spanish!

I loved the lessons! And learned how to actually use the Language. I had great teachers and made new friends. Now It also want to go to other places. I feel confident now to talk in Spanish even though I still make mistakes a lot.