Education Study Abroad Programs in Berlin, Germany

My time with IES Abroad felt very well-organized and well-planned. There were no hidden aspects or questions that couldn't be answered with a quick call. My time in Berlin was rewarding and something I will cherish forever. I was able to participate in student life as the event planner and marketing executive of the IES Berlin Student Council, and I enjoyed participating in field trips to Sachsenhausen and Munich, where we got guided tours about the history and significance of the locations and sights we visited. As I'm not a city person, immersing myself in Berlin was tough at first. However, the staff at IES Abroad Berlin helped me adjust to these new emotions and the feeling of being out of place. I began solo-traveling to different countries and cities, exploring in ways I knew I would enjoy, and I am so grateful that Berlin was able to give me this new sense of independence. I never would have gained this independence by staying in my hometown. Living in a new country challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, adapt quickly, and rely on myself in ways I hadn’t before. I learned a lot about who I am while in Berlin, which is why it was one of the most rewarding and transformative parts of my college years. While studying abroad in Berlin, I was one of the presidency, marketing, and student affairs interns for an international university, where I primarily focused on online presence, social media operations, organization, and analysis. This hands-on experience will help me gain an international position at a bilingual company after graduation. There are a lot of things that you can learn through a textbook or lecture hall, but nothing compares to first-hand experience. I have been learning German my whole life, but speaking it in a casual, daily conversation wasn't something I was used to before going abroad. Through studying abroad, I was able to immerse myself in Germany’s culture, hobbies, and customs, and that is something I wouldn't have learned in a classroom setting. I wish I had made more friends while I was abroad, because that is what I saw everyone else gain from their experiences, but what I gained was more personal. I gained freedom, independence, responsibility, and organization. These are skills I will be able to highlight and use in my personal life and future career, and I have IES Abroad to thank.

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

I loved my study abroad experience and I loved the area. Freiburg is a medium-big traditional German college town in the Black Forest. This means that there were a lot of typical German traditions with a mixture of a feeling of open-mindedness. I feel like I connected with the locals by going to the student clubs in the city and the clubs in the dorms (which is a cool must-see). Although I didn't do that very often since that isn't something I find great joy in doing, but there were other things like going to the Christmas markets and going to see plays that helped me to feel more connected to the city. What was very helpful was how all the IES staff were very nice and good at giving us helpful tips on how to feel less homesick and trying to get students out of their dorms to explore the general area. I learned a lot about myself when I was away from my support group and family that feels way different from college. I felt like an adult which was incredibly exciting. I also learned to be more open-minded because I got to see the many ways that Germany tries to help its citizens through the development of different renewable energies like Biogas and how there is a cab service that is free for women after a certain time. The academics offered were tough courses that challenged students in their ability to understand and retain information in german. I also really enjoyed most of my professors. They were always there to help and would find many different ways to explain core concepts to us in German and English to help us understand. That being said the spacing of everything was weird because of where they decided to place breaks. That made it so that Midterms happened 2 weeks before the final and most teachers did not give prompts for the final until the week before the final essay was due which was terrible since everything was to be written and taken in German. Travel Tip: Freiburg is a great city to have as a base to return to when traveling in Europe because it's always very calming and small. Often if you plan to go to large cities that have a lot to offer and do having a medium-sized city to return helps with unwinding from weekends of traveling. Also, Freiburg's public transport is good for getting used to European public transport systems. Freiburg covers a large area and offers many modes of transport and train lines to get around which is helpful for when going to bigger cities that are difficult to navigate. For traveling Freiburg is a good location because of an amazing company called FlixBus. FlixBus is an incredibly cheap way to travel through Europe via Bus. Most trips cost around 30 euros less than the train like Deutsche Bahn. The buses come with wifi and a place to charge your phone. It's a nice bus and because of Freiburg's placement in Europe, it's a 1-hour drive to France and Switzerland and 4 hours to München

I have had a great experience, it is organized and comes at a good cost. The staff on-site is very supportive and helpful (as well as Brooke in Portland), but we had an emergency situation and the Portland higher-ups didn't handle it well, nor did anyone answer the emergency number provided to us.

I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

CIEE is very well-staffed and they do everything they can to make sure you have the best experience possible. Everyone is friendly, the rules and guidelines are laid out for you, and the excursions CIEE plans are a blast!!

This has been the best summer of my life. Everything about CIEE has blown me away. Virginia Niera has been an extremely attentive and helpful program director. She and Antonio Romero were both quick to offer help with any issues I might have. The professors, Amador Fernandez and Antonio Rodriguez, taught with enthusiasm and care. Each class genuinely excited and intrigued me. They graded fairly and truly cared about students understanding and learning. We took informative, fun, and interesting trips. They were all well-planned and extremely enjoyable. The tour guides we had, Adrian and Alicia, were knowledgable and made the tours very meaningful. The trip to Morocco really opened my eyes to other cultures and ways of life. Finally, my homestay could not have been better. I really got close to my host family, and I felt like I had a place in Seville where I could be totally comfortable. I have already recommended this program to two of my friends, and I plan to encourage more to do it if they w

My first experience abroad and I love it here. I feel that CIEE tries to have activities for us and I really do feel that I am learning a lot here. Also everyone here seems really nice and I feel that though we are different a lot of the students seem to have the same mindset and its a good chance to network.

Study abroad is something that everyone needs to be apart o at least once in their lifetime, and CIEE was a great way to do it. I think I would recommend this because we’re given a place to reside in a foreign country with people who have no problem helping you at the drop of a pen. The CIEE community becomes your family and makes you feel like you’re at home and always offer things to do for free or at least help to make your study abroad experience as great as it can. It’s also nice that you can choose from different programs and either be a student for half and an intern for the other half, be an open campus student and stay for an entire semester, or every 6 weeks choose a new home. It’s an amazing experience for a reasonable price but an opportunity and of a lifetime.

My year abroad in Berlin has been one of the best experiences of my life. Studying abroad provided me with a chance to truly experience the German culture and language firsthand while also getting to learn a different side of myself. This experience has shaped me into a person who is willing to be adventurous, chase understanding, and explore new sides of myself and my surroundings. But not only have I gotten to know myself, but I have become a part of the language and culture around me. Being able to take classes both through IES and Humboldt University, I have been able to learn about the German educational culture while furthering my German language skills immensely. But while these aspects of my education have given me a greater understanding and appreciation of studying in Germany, they almost do not compare to the amount I have learned outside of the classroom. Living in Berlin has taught me more about Germany - in the past and the future - than I could have ever hoped to learn from afar. I have been able to live and be part of the history of Germany. My home-stay taught me about the German culture and past from the point of view of someone who lives it everyday. It is truly amazing to be able to discuss things like the Berlin Wall with someone who lived in Berlin from the time of the Wall's creation until the time of its destruction. Things like that can only happen on a study abroad like this, and this is just one small example of the amazing things I have been able to experience through this study abroad experience. No matter what I do in the future, I know that this experience has helped shaped me into an independent, open, and ever-learning individual. I could not be more satisfied with my IES Abroad Berlin experience, and I highly recommend the opportunity to anyone and everyone.

After four months in Berlin with IES, I can confidently say that I have found a new home in Berlin! Not only was the city itself a lively place to live as a student with countless concerts, exhibitions, parties, and other events going on every week, but my homestay was cozy and comfortable and my host family super kind, generous, and excited to chat and help me improve my German. From an academic standpoint IES also exceeded expectations. I took only classes with IES (I wish I could have taken classes at Humboldt or Freie Universitat, but due to the German university schedule (fall/winter semester classes end in February) I could not), which worked well for me, as I prefer small seminar-style classes and being able to speak with and get to know my professors. The course load was manageable, and all of my professors were so friendly, funny, and smart. I actually wanted to go to class and learn from them. Above all, they were sympathetic to the fact that all of us were German students, not native speakers, and it was clear that they cared about our success. The student assistants at IES, all students at Humboldt, were available for tutoring sessions to help proofread assignments or simply to provide general advice and recommendations in Berlin. They were a great resource! All of my classes also put an emphasis on using Berlin as a classroom, which meant lots of "field trips" and excursions to relevant museums and monuments, libraries and archives, or to theater performances. That was definitely a huge plus to being in Berlin, and one of the academic highlights for me. In the case of any concerns or problems, the staff at IES was always available and willing to help, super approachable and friendly. My only complaints would be an occasional lack of organization and communication, especially at the beginning of and prior to the program about scheduling. On the whole, however, I would definitely recommend IES Berlin for anyone looking to improve their German and interested in really learning and getting to know this beautiful city. I will definitely be back!

Let me start off by saying I wish I could have stayed longer. There is so much to get involved with that I found it hard to do it all! IES does a really good job laying out the activities, clubs, groups, and events at the beginning, and they give you many resources for inquiry. I found the Orientation experience extremely helpful at introducing us to the city and each other through guided tours, seminars, and fun ice-breakers. I felt well prepared to take on the city and the academic semester. I was nervous about taking all of my classes in German, fearing that I would not understand everything and struggle. However, realize that we are not native speakers and they are very accommodating to this fact. My German improved with great strides everyday and very quickly I found myself understanding everything in my classes with ease. It also helped that I lived with Germans! My living situation was ideal. I lived in a suite with 4 Germans and 1 person from Ireland who also spoke German. This allowed me to practice my German at home and build great friendships with native speakers. They also could help me with my homework when I didn't understand! My favorite thing was playing game night with them. I miss them a lot but we stay in touch! Overall, Freiburg is a great city to experience. It is close to France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, so it makes traveling quite practical. IES is a wonderful and supportive program that aided me in this rare experience, and I would definitely recommend it for study abroad!

I studied abroad with IES Abroad Summer 2018 in Berlin and can't say enough good things about the program. It was definitely life changing. IES staff were great every step of the way as I navigated getting into courses that I needed, getting medication to Germany, and applying for financial aid. The host family with they paired me with was wonderful and quickly become like another family to me. All the stress that goes into studying abroad was quickly relieved by how well they support students.

My time in Freiburg Germany over the summer of 2018 was one of the best experiences I have had. The IES program is extremely organized and the classes I attended were so interesting. The information I learned in these classes was not only relevant to my major, but I have been able to use the information I learned and apply it to classes I am currently enrolled in at Indiana University. Beside having a great class experience, other aspects of the program such as my living situation and the friends I have met all made my experience that much more special. I chose to live in a communal apartment where I shared my common living space with other German students. I was intimidated at first because I did not know any German and was afraid there would be a major language barrier, but my roommates proved to not only be nice, but people who made me feel very welcome. A few nights throughout my time in Germany, my roommates made me traditional German meals. It was such a fun experience to not only cook a variety of different foods but sit and talk to my roommates and learn more about their culture as they learned more about mine. Because my program was during the summer it was a much smaller program than a normal semester one. I really enjoyed the small size of my program as I was able to make friends with everyone I attended class with. I lived in the same complex with five people from my program and the rest were located in two different locations. We all really enjoyed spending time together so even though we did not live in the same building we all still found ways to spend time together and explore the city. Freiburg is an extremely easy city to navigate and so most nights were spent either doing homework or hanging out with my classmates at a nice restaurant or park. Since leaving the program I have stayed in touch with many of my friends and we are planning on getting together over break this year. Studying abroad is an experience unlike any other because it not only allows you to understand a different culture from your own, you meet new people, and are encouraged every day to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world around you. I had an amazing time while in Freiburg and hope to go back one day. The city is not only beautiful, but full of history. Walking to class everyday was always enjoyable, and the food and places to go out were very unique. I highly recommend this program because I know it will not disappoint.

I spent the entirety of the 2016/17 academic year in Berlin with the IES Language and Area Studies programme, and at the end of it my only complaint was that it wasn't longer! The classes offered by IES were all wonderful, taught by a great faculty, and I also really enjoyed the courses I took directly through the the local universities. The IES courses especially really made being in Berlin even more worthwhile. Learning about German literature and politics (to name just two examples) while actually being in the country made IES a complete experience. One of the best things about IES for me was having the student centre right in the middle of Berlin. It was great having a place to meet up with other students and hang out between classes, and the location couldn't have been more conveniently located. I loved nothing more than getting out of class and walking a few blocks to the nearby park to have lunch. The staff at the centre were all wonderful. The few issues that did come up over the year were all easily handled and I never had a concern that should something go wrong, I would be on my own dealing with it. I can't stress enough how amazing Berlin is as a city, and experiencing it through IES was one of the best years I've ever spent. I learned loads and greatly improved my German, worked an internship, and made many new friends. It was everything I hoped and more!

Let me start by saying: I became convinced over the course of my semester in Berlin that it's basically the best place in the world. It's a capital city, but without many of the things that ruin a capital city and make it boring and unlivable. It's cheap, young, political, and there's an incredible amount happening. There's great music, bars, parks, even multiple lakes for swimming not too far away (some with sand beaches). But in addition, the city also has so much history, including incredible museums, monuments, and memorials. I've travelled a fair amount in my life, and lived in the UK and the US, and I found Berlin truly unique. All of this is not to say that Berlin is without problems, but you'll learn about those in your courses and become more attuned over time. None of it persuaded me to revise my opinion. The IES Programme itself was also great. The people that work there were always available and helpful, whether with course questions or health insurance queries. I took half of my courses within the programme. I would especially recommend Multicultural Berlin with Sabine Berking-- I learned a lot about Berlin and Germany, and we took some awesome field trips to places around the city. My German improved unbelievably quickly just from being there and being immersed, and I'm so glad I had this opportunity. I would say that I did not feel hugely academically stretched by my IES courses, but they catered well to a wide range of German abilities, and if you are feeling more confident, there is an opportunity to take classes with ~real~ German students at Humboldt. This is something I would absolutely recommend. Though it was a little effort to make it work, it was definitely worth it to meet people outside the programme and feel like a real Berlin student. For this reason, if you are only going for one semester and it is an option for you, I would definitely recommend going in the spring, as the Humboldt semester doesn't line up particularly well with our semesters, and in the spring the extra couple months run into summer rather than your spring semester back in the US (I was in Berlin until the end of July). Plus it means that the weather only gets nicer and nicer while you are there! Most of my friends in the programme lived in home-stays in the city. I personally had an amazing experience and grew close with my host mum. Others had more difficulties, which is tough for IES to solve, though they will talk things through with you. A couple other of my friends organised living arrangements outside of IES, and so lived alone or with other students, which is an option to consider if you're feeling very motivated.

My experience in Berlin was beyond incredible. I had been dreaming of going to Germany for study abroad for so many years and this program experience will be tough to ever beat. I lived in teh trendiest part of Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg, in an apartment with a host and it was truly immersive. I spoke more German than English during my time in Germany and that was given the fact that I studied in English. The staff and professors at IES Berlin were always there to encourage my growth as a student and as a person. So I can honestly say the program changed me for the better. Plus, the trips I took with my friends as part of the program to Dresden and Paris were unforgettable. In total, I visited 9 countries: The Kingdoms of The Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark, Germany, Poland, France, Switzerland, Austria and my personal favorite, the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein.

Studying abroad in Freiburg with IES, I experienced perhaps the most ideal lifestyle as a college student. I lived in a suite-style apartment with six Germans and one other American on my program -- communal living, hiking and becoming very close with both Germans and Americans made my time unique. I bought a bike and was beautifully mobile, getting from point A to point B as the Freiburgers do (along with walking and taking the light-rail tram). Freiburg's urban planning is a green exemplar for the world. It's nestled into the Black Forest, where we would hike almost every weekend and during the week, often based on suggestions from our IES staff. And the IES staff in Freiburg were truly wonderful -- helpful and caring to the utmost degree. They crafted our time there so we were not too overwhelmed in the beginning, gradually introducing more information and opportunities as we were there to explore the city, the surrounding areas, and meet Germans and learn the language and culture. My experience in Freiburg was a surreal chapter in my life that I will always look back on fondly.

Studying with IES in Berlin provided me with everything I had hoped for when trying to decide where to study. I arrived having done the minimum language requirement for the program and was worried about how that would translate to my courses. What I found was that the courses were challenging, but incredibly helpful in developing my German language skills. Additionally, we went on field trips as part of courses throughout Berlin and we were able to visit and see things that I know I would not have known or been able to do otherwise. The structure of the courses also made it easy to be involved in extracurriculars, travel, or just explore the city. The staff would post on a bulletin board whenever a cultural event was coming up, in addition to any information about local community events. The staff were also always willing to help and any questions I had (whether it about a course, housing, or travel) were answered quickly. My time abroad was one of, if not the most, amazing experiences of my life and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone I meet! So I’ll end this by saying that this is an experience that I won’t soon forget and I hope the same goes for you!