International Relations Study Abroad Programs in Austria

I had a fantastic time on my semester abroad in Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade. Based in Vienna, the program took us deep into the heart of European politics, democracy, and diplomatic institutions. Through excellent guest lecturers and site visits, we were introduced to the complexity of Europe. Vienna is a hub of international happenings and a city soaked in history, art, and culture. Staying with a host family was an amazing opportunity to get local knowledge and practice cross-cultural skills. From Vienna, we traveled to Budapest and Belgrade. Through cultural outings, academic discussions, and political events, our knowledge was challenged, changed, and cultivated during the excursions. During the ISP period, I was able to dive deep into the politics of Vienna by exploring the democratic implications of it's excellent public space infrastructure. For anyone interested in international relations, European politics, diplomacy, or democracy, I would highly recommend the program.

While I have had the opportunity to study abroad in multiple countries, through multiple different programs, AIFS Salzburg is by far the best program/experience I have ever had the pleasure of being apart of. From on site personnel, to the immersive experiences, AIFS Salzburg has not only provided me with the best abroad experience, but given me the tools and resources to continue to grow and navigate the globe. I am forever grateful for having had the opportunity and privilege to be apart of such an amazing and inspiring experience.

I studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria this past summer 2025. In comparison to many other program providers, AIFS has a ton of amazing choices for shorter length programs like summer and January term. Summer term was a great option for me because my major requires several important classes during the term on campus. From before departure through my time in Salzburg our program coordinators and instructors were amazing! They were so helpful, easy to work with, and excited to help us build connections and experience Salzburg. My program offered dorm-style housing which was a great way to meet people in program as well as other international students. The Salzburg program had a ton of awesome excursions scheduled for us which ranged from a baking class to taking a weekend trip to Vienna! I improved my language skills by getting involved in a German speaking community, gained more confidence solo traveling, and developed my communication skills by building relationships with some great friends I made and some members of the Salzburg community. I would recommend this program to any students who are looking for a program that has a good balance of structure and free time. I would also recommend this specific program to students in humanities majors. I'm a History Major with a Minor in Art History so I especially enjoyed the Austrian Folk Art and Folk Customs class where we got to visit a bunch of amazing museums!

As someone who's studied abroad multiple times, I was beyond excited to participate in a program closer to home! Initially, I wanted to come out of the experience with a little bit better Serbian, and some new friends and experiences! Upon completing the program, I realized I got those and much more! During my three and a half months in Serbia, I had an incredible host family and gained relationships I hope to foster for life. My favorite part of the program was its internship component, which allowed me to connect with the local culture more by interning at a local organization that perfectly fits into what I want to do in the future!

I participated in this program during the spring 2024 semester. I had never been to Europe prior to the program, and was unfamiliar with the Balkan region aside from some historical context. During the program I gained invaluable perspective on the region and Europe, experienced the culture first-hand through day-to-day life and my host family, and made lifelong friendships. I really enjoyed the excursion aspect of the program where we got to visit other countries and learn comparatively. I would recommend this program to any student interested in expanding their studies internationally and eager to step outside their comfort zone!

Although I was definitely nervous to live in a foreign country, Studying Abroad untimely turned out to be one of the greatest experience of my life. The life experience I gained there is invaluable, and the memories will stay with me my whole life. I would definitely recommend studying abroad in Salzburg with AIFS. The staff was accommodating and the professors were passionate about teaching. The workload is relatively light, with is good for those who want to travel (which I would say is a necessity if you want the entire study abroad experience). Salzburg is a beautiful city that I loved every minute of my living there. I would say that, even if you are hesitant, at least look into this program, as this is the only time in your life to sign up for something like this. I know I would regret not studying abroad had I not signed up. For your own sake, please study abroad in Salzburg.

My choice to study in Salzburg was considerably the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. The city itself is a charming mix of the old architecture and history you will find in smaller cities and with also an added hustle that is common in cities the size of Salzburg. The people who head up the Salzburg sector of AIFS are lovely and accommodating to any issue that should arise during the duration off your program and all of the professors are professional and helpful. If you are looking for an experience like no other, I highly recommend choosing Salzburg!

Salzburg study abroad: where culture classes met cobblestone confusion, schnitzels challenged my face size, and the Sound of Music tour became a questionable karaoke session. Amidst strudel-induced wisdom and late-night cram sessions, friendships blossomed, creating a chapter filled with laughter and personal growth. Pro tip: embrace the chaos, savor the strudel, and let Salzburg's charm shape your semester.

I expected studying abroad would change my life perspective, and it did. Immersion in the culture opened my world and mind. What I didn’t expect was the immediate forging of friendships that changed love and inclusion as I knew it previously. I experienced collaboration as each of us unguardedly leaned into our strengths to build a diverse and enriched whole. The experience changed my soul. Thank you for the opportunity.

I cannot express enough how truly thankful and blessed I am to have had the opportunity to study abroad in Central Europe with AIFS. I had many reservations and concerns about studying abroad, as I was doing it by myself. I had not been out of the country for extended periods of time, and I had also never been to Europe. After about a week in my new home, however, I quickly became attached to the people, culture, and opportunities offered to me there. Few countries rival the beauty and history of Austria, and this made my experience all the more enjoyable. During my 3+ months abroad, I made countless friends, traveled to 9 different countries, learned an enormous amount about European history and culture, experienced dozens of new and astounding opportunities, tried many amazing foods and drinks, collected several awesome souvenirs, and made scores of amazing memories that I will cherish forever. I firmly believe that the staff at AIFS Salzburg is second to none. Ingrid, Marie, Gunda, Andreas, and all of the professors and department coordinators were absolutely amazing. Not only were they extremely kind and welcoming, but they were also there for my every need, whether it was financial, medical, academic, etcetera. I truly cannot say enough about how amazing my experience was studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria with AIFS!

I really enjoyed my time in this study abroad program. There were only ten of us which made making friends easy. Salzburg is a beautiful, historical, and safe city. It was also a great location in Europe -- I was able to easily travel to Munich, Hallstat, Vienna, and Bratislava by bus. Having the opportunity to travel elsewhere while abroad was important to me when I was researching programs. The classes were excellent (German Language & Austrian history / culture). The professors were locals from Salzburg and were incredible knowledgeable and engaging. The classes were all two hours in length, however, so be wary if you struggle with longer classes. The hostel we stayed in was wonderful for the most part but a bit loud at night. It was in a perfect location in the city so of course there are trade offs. Overall the program was well organized and I truly had a fulfilling and expanding experience studying abroad in Salzburg.

A truly spectacular program. Not even sure where to begin. We had about 40 total students in the program and it was unbelievable how close we all became in the span of 3 months. The group turned into a family and turned every experience into one of the greatest core memories of my life. In terms of academics, I had not one complaint about the professors or workload. We rarely received homework yet the teaching style was perfect and translated into real learning, not grades based on assignments. Austria itself is like a playground, with something new to do everyday just around the corner. The staff was extremely nice and supportive and provided snacks everyday which was beloved by all. I can assure you that joining the experience that is provided by this program, you will become a much happier being!

There are no words to describe how incredible my experience with AIFS was in Salzburg, Austria. I never had to question my safety or my education value that was I was receiving with the program. I tell everyone about how amazing and perfect the program was for me. I was able to improve my German in and outside of the classroom. The optional excursions, the field trips with my classes, the interactions with my Austrian professors, and the friends that I made from this program is something I will never forget.

I had so much fun in Salzburg! It was so easy to get used to the city and feel like you know your way around. Groceries were super cheap, and there were lots of Erasmus students to mingle with as well as other AIFS students. The living situation in Institut St. Sebastian was super central and so pretty, especially the roof! The bus system made it so easy to get around, and the train station is also sooo nice, so once I got a eurail pass, travel was quick & easy! All of the professors for my program were also very kind and interesting. Also, the AIFS staff were super attentive and ready to help in any situation, which made me feel safe and supported. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone! Salzburg is wonderful! :)

I had a lovely time here, although it was not without flaws. The amenities were not great especially considering how much we paid to be here. The company guilt tripped and body shamed us. But I made innumerable new friends and had experiences that I will cherish forever.

Very nice experience, learned a lot. People I’ve met here are now friends I will still be in contact with. The internship was where I learned new skills and networked with people within the fashion industry and got inspired by being here abroad

I definitely had a really exciting and wonderful trip. There were a few aspects like traveling and staying at more cities besides just Salzburg would have been a lot more fun. But the tours and field trips were absolutely incredible and the people who showed us around were amazing! Loved to see the history and beauty all over

I studied abroad with AIFS in Salzburg, Austria in the Fall 2019 semester, and it completely changed my life! I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but had never been out of the country and didn’t know if I could really handle a whole semester living in a non-English-speaking country. But AIFS provided the perfect level of support; they include health and travel insurance, a meal plan, cultural excursions and activities, on-site staff, and so much more! Whether it was figuring out how to send/receive mail, navigating the healthcare system, or finding ways to get involved in the local community, the on-site AIFS staff was always there for anything I needed. But they also were incredible about allowing all students to shape their experiences however they wanted. This wonderful dichotomy was the perfect balance between challenging myself to figure things out independently, and always feeling like I could go to them with anything I needed. The classes I took at AIFS were so engaging and interesting, and I really got the chance to see how they played out in real life! I took classes in Contemporary Austrian Culture, Art and Architecture History, International Conflicts and Resolution, and German. These courses allowed me to understand the historical and contemporary context that shapes Austrian culture. Not only that, but we were even able to do tours around the city observing different styles of historical architecture and art too! All of the courses that AIFS offered transferred back to my home institution easily, and even counted toward my double minors in German and Government, or for core credits! Salzburg is the perfect place for anyone who wants a more intimate local experience due to its smaller size than other metropolitan areas, and is nestled right in the northern foothills of the Austrian Alps, so there are plenty of great hiking and outdoor adventure opportunities if you’re a nature person! It’s small enough to really get to know the city, but large enough to have everything you could need or want - restaurants, nightlife, museums, shopping malls, etc. Salzburg holds such a special place in my heart, and I owe my amazing experience all to AIFS for guiding me through the process, and allowing me to just focus on having the best time possible. Something else that is unique to the AIFS experience is the level of alumni engagement. Coming back from abroad, I definitely experienced reverse culture shock, and was eager to connect with any of my peers that I could relate to and share stories of my time abroad with. I didn't really find that community at my home campus, but AIFS had so many opportunities to engage with other alumni from different programs and helped me find that community. It's clear the impact an AIFS experience has on people, because even those who studied abroad with AIFS more than 20 years ago still connect with each other through alumni social media pages! I can't recommend studying in Salzburg and going with AIFS enough!

IBS is such an amazing program! I attended their summer Europe seminar and it was such an awesome experience. You get the time you want to immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy the different cities while also studying the different business practices! I'd have to say my favorite part of the trip was that it was the perfect amount of time to be out of the country. Other programs offer a semester long experience but I did not want to miss everything that was happening on my own campus. IBS gave me the opportunity to travel without experiencing the FOMO (fear of missing out) that I had about traditional programs. The staff on the trip were very experienced and were able to help me with any problems that occurred on the trip and knew what to expect at every turn. I would recommend this program to everyone!

IBS offers a great opportunity to go abroad without spending the time and money required for a full semester. I had never left the country before my trip, and it was definitely helpful to be guided for that experience. Though we were not in any one place for very long, I got a taste of each of the six countries we visited, and I now plan on returning someday. Another interesting aspect of this trip is that it was not a conventional study abroad trip. I was not in a classroom at any point while I was overseas. Instead, we visited various companies everywhere we went, and we learned about how businesses are run in each of the places we went. This offered us insight to foreign perspectives that we may very well come across in the professional world.