History Study Abroad Programs in Vienna, 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.

Recently, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Vienna with IES Abroad this past spring semester of college. At first, I was a bit skeptical - everything was happening so quickly. I was adjusting to a new environment, meeting new people (and repeating the same introduction over and over), and on top of that, beginning to learn a new language - German. As the semester progressed, I became increasingly grateful to be in Vienna. I met so many wonderful people, many of whom I still stay in touch with, and gained a fresh perspective on many aspects of life. The IES staff were incredibly supportive and fun, and I genuinely enjoyed most of my courses. One of the highlights of my experience was how much I was able to travel, far more than I could have back at my home university. I would absolutely recommend Vienna as a study abroad destination.

My time in Vienna through IES Abroad was the most influential experience I had in my college career. I had the opportunity to meet life-long friends, explore new cities, immerse myself in new cultures, and take courses that challenged my worldview and helped me grow into a more compassionate and well-rounded individual. The people I met in Vienna are some of my closest friends. Our time traveling together cemented a bond that I will cherish forever. IES: Vienna also sponsors trips and provides information to aid students in traveling both in Austria and across Europe. IES: Vienna provides a space for its students to take academically rigorous courses that are designed to interact with the city of Vienna itself. My classes took trips to museums, parks, churches, and monuments to explore Vienese history and culture. IES guided us every step of the way through pre-departure, our time abroad, and as we transitioned back home. I would recommend the program to anyone looking to study abroad!

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!

Studying abroad will always remain one of the best decisions I will have ever taken during my college career. It was an opportunity for me to learn about myself more. I am already an international student in the USA at the University of the South, and at first I did not know I needed to expand my horizons by participating in the Study Abroad Program as well. I am so grateful that when I did, I chose IES Abroad Vienna! The IES Abroad Vienna Team is very organized and super interactive. It has been nothing short of a blessing for me. The classes were awesome, and the professors are excellent, they remain part of my connections today! My experience in Vienna has been rewarding, educational, transformative, and most of all, FUN! I am super grateful that I went to study abroad in Vienna with IES!

As a classical voice student, Vienna was the only location that I considered for study abroad. Looking back on it, Vienna was absolutely the best location for me (and for most music students!). Although there was not enough support with the Visa process, the pre-departure staff were generally helpful with choosing internships, housing, and courses. The on-site staff were phenomenal, organizing frequent community-building activities. They did organize some culturally immersive activities (such as matching us with "language buddies"), but I wish there were more. The staff gave us suggestions for additional events, customs, and restaurants to try out in Vienna. The classes were of a high standard. All my professors made an effort to teach me about the culture of Vienna, and we frequently went on cultural excursions. Safety was taken seriously, and I always felt safe in Vienna. The music professors were fabulous, introducing me to new aspects of music history. If I could spent another semester (or year, or years!) in Vienna, I would do so in a heartbeat.

I spent my fall semester of 2022 in Vienna, and I can safely say it changed my life. Each day I would wake up excited to see what was coming next. IES Vienna gave the opportunity to explore not only Vienna, but Austria as a whole. I attended the Psychology and Social Sciences program as a psychology major, and I had the chance to take courses that were not offered at my home school, such as Psychology and Society in Vienna and the Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. These classes met usually once a week at the IES Abroad Center, in the 1st district, near Stephansdom. I also had an intensive German class that met 3 times a week; I had taken German before so I was placed in a higher German class, but I heard from friends that they benefitted greatly from intro German classes. I lived in the 2nd district, in a studio apartment with a shared kitchen. The shared kitchen let me connect with new friends from IES while still having a space to go back to that was my own. The commute from the 2nd district to the 1st for class was about 15 minutes, and the IES Vienna staff walked us through it the first time. I appreciated this as someone who had never lived in a city before. IES staff were incredibly welcoming and easy to talk to; they helped with everything from housing issues to personal issues, and were a great resource to better understand the culture of Austria. IES also offered trips around Austria, such as to places like Wachau (the wine region) and Graz, as well as the legendary ski trip in the Austrian Alps. I also had the opportunity during the week-long break to travel around other parts of Austria with a friend - we toured Salzburg, Vorarlberg, and Innsbruck, and were able to do it all by train. Overall, I saw as much of Austria as I could, and I grew as a person in ways I could not have imagined. I had the time of my life and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I spent my spring 2019 semester abroad in Vienna, Austria with the IES program and overall found the involvement in the cultural space and the academic environment to stimulate my desire for further learning and personal growth. Lots of food, music, art, and language to learn about and many opportunities for me to develop myself as a person. Overall good experience.

I loved every second of my time abroad. I was full of anxiety prior to leaving...this was my first “solo” trip away from home and I started second guessing whether or not I was ready for such a big step. Immediately after I stepped off the plane and into Vienna, I was already in love. The fears melted away and from that day forward, I knew I had to come back in the future. The IES staff members were incredibly kind, helpful and encouraging during the whole semester. They were always available for any questions, concerns and for a lending ear if need be. IES truly provides you with all the help you need, so you are never alone in the process. I was very anxious about not knowing any German, especially since I needed to see health doctors during my time there for medical reasons. The IES staff helped me every step of the way and was able to connect me with English-speaking doctors. (Also! You will learn the language very fast while you are there. I was able to learn a good deal of basics through the IES course and was able to communicate in German at a beginner’s conversational level with natives! Not to mention, nearly every Austrian in the cities can speak perfect English.) As a musician, Vienna is dear to the hearts of all classical music lovers. I was able to see some many historical sites including the gravesites of some of the most famous composers (such as Beethoven, Strauss, and Brahms), Brahm’s birthplace, and of course the famous State Opera house (a 2 minute walk from the IES center!). Before this trip, I was feeling rather uninspired musicially and was considering putting my instrument away and pursuing another path. However, after this trip I have found my inspiration again and I cannot be more grateful for that. Thank you IES for such a wonderful experience!

I know it's cliche to say that going abroad changed my life, but it truly did. IES gave me the opportunity to connect with students from all over the world. Even though most of the participants were American, I had classes with people from all over the world, with different experiences and backgrounds. I loved getting to know both students from my home university and other universities, as well as being given the opportunity to connect with Austrian students through the IES-sponsored language buddy program. My favorite part of studying abroad through IES was going on IES-sponsored trips such as a weekend-long ski trip, and an excursion to the Wachau Valley. I got to see other places in Austria besides the city I was living in and had the chance to bond with other students and the IES staff. I really learned how to step out of my comfort zone and be myself!

Going abroad to Vienna was one of the most influential and important decisions that i've made during my college career. IES really provided an exceptional education that tied all aspects of my studies to the history and society of Austria. I experienced for the first time, a classroom setting outside of the US and the differences were remarkable. Additionally, the program incorporated excursions and trips which were well organized and thought-out and broadened my cultural experience and breadth of understanding of Austria outside of just Vienna. The program is administered by Austrians, classes are taught by Austrian professors, and students have the opportunity to live with an meet other Austrians as well. This interpersonal aspect was one of my favorites things about IES.

My study abroad experience in Vienna was one of the best times of my life! I was able to engage is so many cultural experiences and also really enhance my German language skills. There are a variety of courses you can take in either English or German, one German language learning course is required though so you will learn at least some German! The program is structured pretty well. There is a 2 week German intensive course that really helps you engage with the culture. My favorite part about the classes is that most of them involve field trips around the city which makes them quite enjoyable. IES is pretty strict about class attendance, and there is an attendance policy as well as a required German class on Friday. Vienna is a great location with so much to do and it is really easy to travel and reach other locations. The program does a lot to ensure that you are safe so that is not something I would necessarily worry about. The housing options are pretty favorable however I did experience a problem with our RA that we had to discuss with program coordinators. Overall Vienna is a great place to live and study and if you are looking for a structured program with an emphasis on German language learning then this is the right program for you!

I applied to the IES Vienna Music Program thinking I would focus on piano and harp performance for a semester. At my home institution, I am a math and computer science major and, unfortunately, don't always get to practice my music. The semester was different from what I expected. Instead of performing, I took two music classes: Music and Politics and The Lied. These interdisciplinary classes allowed me to learn about music history from different perspectives. Additionally, I took an arts and culture management class, in which I went on field trips to different non-profit and for-profit arts sites to learn about the bureaucratic aspects of arts in Vienna. I attended the Opera, orchestras, and many other music performances to indulge myself. IES was a wonderful skeleton for my experiences abroad. I was independent by choice and able to navigate Vienna and what I wanted out of this opportunity. IES provides an abundant of resources for those who need them. I took advantage of a few, like the language buddy program and a day trip to Wachau (the countryside).

I got to study with a master violinist, perform a lot, see major ensembles like the Vienna Phil and Vienna State Opera for free or for very cheap, take classes that I could use for my major, and meet a lot of locals, one of them being a lifelong friend that I'll never forget. I also learned so much more German in just one semester than I thought I would, seeing as I didn't know any when I got to Vienna. I lived in an apartment that was about 20 minutes away from the city center, which I thought was really nice--close enough and far away from all the tourists. I also took advantage of a lot of the IES Abroad opportunities like Student Council and Student Forum, which I found rewarding. There really is nothing more that I would have wanted.

This program definitely required me to adapt to a variety of new experiences. Vienna is a wonderful city, easy to navigate with public transportation, and even if you have no German background, you will be able to get around and communicate at restaurants or stores. There is so much to do, with museums, music performances, parks to hang out in, and tons of restaurants to eat at. It is a great "home base" for traveling around Europe. As for the actual program, the German class was well-run. My teacher was clear in her expectations, helpful, easy to understand, and a good balance of fun but firm. The homework load was not too heavy. It was not great for communicating at stores or restaurants or any basics like that. Despite that, it was fun every time I connected the dots between signs around the city and what I was learning in German class. The academic music classes were frustrating. I definitely learned a lot, but some of the teachers did not use Moodle and left the pages up from previous years, which left us confused on required readings and due dates. Grades were not updated regularly, if at all. One class had due dates moved up (earlier) with only 2-3 days notice. This gave me a lot of stress when I wanted to go do things around the city or travel on the weekends, but would suddenly have more homework than I expected. The music performance workshop was not a good experience. One of the teachers seemed to occasionally go out of her way to publicly humiliate students and pieces were not always assigned to the instrument they were written for. This left some of us with an insane amount of rewriting to do. I had almost no practice time, but I was in a special situation due to my instrument. Those who work at the program in administrative ways are wonderful. They are always willing to help with directions, German phrases, or ideas of fun things to do. The trips they plan are worth it too, especially if you are interested in the history of the places you visit. Overall, study abroad was a good experience, but I can't say it was because of the classes. I met a lot of really great people and saw places I would not have seen for a really long time if I had not gone on this program.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the music semester program (piano and voice) at IES Abroad Vienna. The IES center itself, a clean, well-maintained (as old as it is), historic, beautiful palace has a central, accessible location that is relatively close to two metro stations. The classes are manageable, allowing study abroad students ample time to explore the city and immerse themselves in all Vienna has to offer, from its many world-class concerts to rich history to unique culture. I loved the easy access to many extremely affordable concerts: 4 euro standing room tickets at the Vienna State Opera, 6 euro tickets to Musikverein concerts… Attending so many high quality concerts exposed me to excellent music-making, a vast array of repertoire, and really helped me grow as a musician. The faculty are knowledgeable and well-connected in Vienna, giving students access to a wealth of cultural insight. The applied music faculty consists of professors and professional musicians from Viennese conservatories and music schools, and this opportunity to work with local, professional musicians was very, very rewarding—I loved my teachers and learned a lot. IES Abroad Vienna is somewhat lenient on attendance, but not so much that it interferes with the quality of classes. The IES staff are also very helpful, friendly, and quite organized. IES also offers excellent well-planned, optional excursions for additional fees. I lived in the apartments in Margaretenstraβe, which were very nice and comfortable to live in and made traveling anywhere in the city very easy. There are also very nice practice rooms next door to the Margaretenstraβe apartments, making practicing a breeze. In all, I had a wonderful time at IES Abroad Vienna and would highly recommend it to aspiring musicians.

I really loved the program in Vienna and the staff was amazing. The city is beautiful, even in the dead of winter, and transportation is very convenient and easy to figure out. A few things I wish that had been different were living situations. It varied from person to person and some of us had laundry we had to pay for whereas others had laundry in their apartments, so it added an extra cost on to some of the students. I also wish we had more of an opportunity to get to know some of the local students since it can be a challenge to meet the younger people in Vienna. However, the program academics were excellent and I loved having teachers from all over Europe!

I loved Vienna! It is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been in. Vienna offers you everything a big city has with a small-town vibe. There was something happening almost every night whether it be an opera, a jazz bar showcase, or a ball. The music program was amazing. All the music staff I interacted with were performing in Vienna. It was great to get their first-hand experience and connections to concerts. A professor connected me with a local choir that I got to sing and perform with during my semester in Vienna. I love Vienna, I already want to go back. Whenever someone tells me they are studying abroad I tell them they have to go to Vienna, at least visit it. The culture surrounds you everywhere and the people are so nice. I did a teaching internship when I was there and it was great to get out into the city and meet even more people. IES Vienna is just a great place, with amazing faculty and staff, and I’m so happy I went. I made a lot of new friends and just loved my time there, I can’t wait to go back!

I loved living in Vienna! It is a cultural epicenter, as well as being very livable and having a lot of opportunities for students. My professors were very nice and understanding. I would move back to Vienna in a heartbeat.