Psychology Study Abroad Programs in Freiburg, Germany

IES Abroad does a fantastic job of offering authentic experiences with the host country’s culture and educational system while catering to students with experience in the American education system. Orientation is in-depth for culture shock, language (whether or not you speak it), educational system, and so many opportunities to make friends with international and local students. IES offers a few faculty-led trips within the host country/surrounding area, which are incredible. They do a great job of picking cities with a rich history and that would be difficult for students to plan a trip encompassing the maximum number of highlights with enough time to enjoy the city. The staff also book tours of the cities with professionals who are always willing to speak at a lower level of fluency with students and explain concepts and events in several ways to that students all understand their point within the host language (if different that native language). Professors are the same and students can tell that professors genuinely enjoy both the subject they are teaching as well as interactions with students from all over the US and are very interested in comparing their experiences to students’.

I felt extremely comfortable in Freiburg from the first day I arrived to the last. A big part of this in my mind is down to the environment and attitude the city fostered. With its bike riding and pedestrian-friendly vibe combined with the fact that it felt just the right size. Not too big and dangerous but also enough people to feel excited. It is also a very beautiful and sunny city. This combined with IES gives us the freedom to learn while providing support and help to stay safe and enjoy. IES had the perfect balance of providing group activity but not restricting us or keeping us too busy. They understood that we would want to get out into the city and take risks. I appreciated how they showed us how to do this in the safest way possible and did not control us too much. IES did most of the hard work to make settling in very easy and the staff were very supportive and friendly. It felt like a family from day one. The classes and professors were all very good and I liked how they emphasized that we should be speaking German. All of this combined led me to enjoy and feel at home in Freiburg all while pushing my comfort zone and experiencing new things.

I was in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany for three wonderful weeks before I was sent home due to COVID-19. When I arrived I was greeted by a local German student who lived in my building. I had some time in my room to rest and unpack before meeting the group of IES students and student guides for dinner at a local restaurant. We got to know each other and made plans to find grocery stores, cook dinner, and explore the city together. I had been nervous about making friends, but once I was there it was pretty obvious that everyone wanted to hang out with everyone, since we were all in the same boat. This sense of group support and connection continued throughout my time there, and even when the program went remote. I also became friends with one of my flatmates! Our classes didn't start until we had already gone home, so unfortunately we never met our professors in person. Online classes were difficult because all online classes are, but the professors were really wonderful about trying to make the experience less stressful. The IES Abroad staff gave us mixed signals about COVID-19, which is understandable given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, but it was incredibly frustrating and stressful for the students. Our on-site staff told us IES would never send us home, but that was not based on any real policy, so when the Chicago office sent us home we had no warning at all. However, staff changes were made after the fact and they let us know by email. Ultimately, I had a really wonderful experience and I miss my time in person with IES. If COVID-19 hadn't happened, it would have been entirely positive. I definitely recommend going abroad with IES!

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

Being a part of the Language and Area Studies program, I was able to make friends (both American and German) while learning about different aspects of German culture. The administration of the IES office in Freiburg are super helpful and friendly and always there if you need help with something. The classes, although difficult, were informative and the professors interesting and knowledgeable. At the beginning of the semester, there is a lot of orientation but after that there are many things where you are left on your own to do, i.e. groceries, transportation, etc. This allowed me to really get a feel for living on your own in Germany and not just studying abroad there.

IES Abroad Program is very concerned about students' wellbeing both culturally and academically. It is a very well-organized program that offers student great opportunity to gain a global perspective on everything. My German improved a lot and I had a deeper understanding of the cultural. The German and American friends I get to know and the memories I had with them will be the wealth of my life.

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!

I studied spring 2017 in Freiburg, as part of the Language and Area Studies program, and I fell in love with the city and the program. I spent from February to July in the city and had the opportunity to study and do an internship while I was there. The living situation was great for immersion. I lived with 3 native Germans, and then one international student who also knew German, and so the language of the apartment was German. 2 of my roommates did speak proficient English, so if I didn't know a word I had people who knew English, but they understood I wanted to learn German, so they were helpful by speaking German with me. The living situation also was nice because I had kitchen supplies, and bedding already provided. When I said that I fell in love with Freiburg, that is 110% true. I loved the old buildings, along with the nature that was surrounding the city. Being in the middle of the Black Forest with ample amount of places for hiking, along with being an hour from France and Switzerland made it the perfect location for me. The program is also set up well if you have plans to travel. I don't know about the fall semester, but Germany has a lot of holidays in the spring and so we received a lot of days off, which allowed for a lot of travel. We were giving an Easter break, a Pentecost break, and 2 optional trips to Berlin, and Italy, which were also days off. We also did not have Friday classes, and so that provided another opportunity for weekend travel. Well, I had a fantastic time in my study abroad semester and plan on going back.

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!

I entered this program with little knowledge or background as to what to expect during my time abroad, and with IES. It was more fun than I could have imagined. I made life long friendships and incredible memories. Our program leaders were very supportive and helpful in every aspect of our immersion. They made sure that we were comfortable and safe the entire time. They planned excursions for the entire program and there were individual ones for specific classes. Every excursion was exciting and helpful for the curriculum. Our program was 32 students and our classes were together, taught in german but for American students learning german. Our professors were very understanding and supportive of our learning process. The student apartments were very nice, everyone had their own room in a shared apartment with a kitchen and bathroom(s) ranging from 4-6 people total. The city of Freiburg is easily accessible through the trams and buses, making getting anywhere very easy. Travel throughout Europe was also easy. I was happy the entire time that I was abroad and never felt uncomfortable, I was surrounded by people who were equally as thrilled to be there as I was and I learned endless amounts of new unforgettable knowledge.

I had a fantastic time on the IES Abroad Summer Language and Culture Program in Berlin. The program staff were available to help me with any problems I had and even checked in with me before I left to see how I was feeling. Once there, all the staff were very accessible and available to answer any questions I had. The program has got safety down to a science, there are phone calls to check you can be contacted in case of an emergency and a special website that warns you of any threats present in Germany. The home stay experience was one of my favorite parts of the program. I was initially very worried about living with a German family, however my host mom was very friendly and helped me improve my German speaking skills greatly. My classes at the IES Center were also very good and interesting. The professors are very qualified, and also understand that you are there to experience the culture of Berlin. I went on field trips around the city and saw things relevant to my classes, such as museums and even the buildings where historical events took place. Berlin is a beautiful city which is full of history, and I got to experience that first hand! The city of Berlin is a fantastic city on it’s own. It is full of green space, history, food of all kinds, outdoor markets and events going on everywhere. The public transportation is great, and IES provides you with a pass to get around the city. The center is right in the heart of Berlin and in a very safe area. The center itself is very well laid out and includes a lounge and an area to study in. Overall, I had an amazing time in Berlin with IES and would highly recommend this program!

This is a really good program. By the end of it, I felt that I really knew the area I lived in on both a geographical and personal level. My German undoubtedly improved in leaps and bounds, and I feel that I now have a much better grasp of German culture. The area in which this program truly shines, however, is in helping students to gain cultural fluency. And while I certainly found that fluency helpful in navigating the German academic world and the IES staff approachable and knowledgeable, it is worth noting that students with exceptionally specific areas of study may have trouble finding classes that fit their focuses.

I participated in the full academic year at IES in Freiburg and was pleased with nearly all aspects of the program. The course selection is broad, only limited by the number of students in the program. However, if a course is not offered by IES it is very easy to take it at the University. The IES professors are very engaging, knowledgeable, and cognizant of the students' other cultural backgrounds.The administration was also very competent and helpful in all regards. The full year students have the opportunity to stay in the Alban Stolz Haus, a student dorm in Littenweiler. There are many student-organized activities every week and the dorm seeks to foster great interaction wishing the ASH community. The city of Freiburg is truly a gem of Germany. Situated near France and Switzerland, one has plenty of opportunities to travel. The organized trips by IES to Italy and to Berlin/Hamburg were also very enjoyable. Living in Freiburg for an entire year, one has the chance to truly integrate oneself into the culture and student life. It is a vey vibrant city, always with something to do. I made German friends during the year that I will keep my whole life. The chances to improve fluency are ample, regardless of what level one is starting at. It really was the best year of my life.

I am so glad that I chose to go to Freiburg for my semester abroad. As a German Studies major, it was important for me to be able to immerse myself in the language, and Freiburg was a great place to do that. It has a smaller town feel, but is by no means a tiny town. The city itself is beautiful, especially in the Old Town. There are so many things outside of academics to do and experience around Freiburg. The program is great, and the staff at the IES Abroad Center were both well-qualified and more than willing to help if a problem arose. I really enjoyed all of the classes that I got to take while I was there, especially since the topics were taught from the European perspective instead of the American one. The courses challenged me, and since they were all in German, my language ability improved immensely. I also made some good friends while I was there, and was definitely sad to say goodbye to them. More than anything, I was sad to say goodbye to the city that I had come to love in the four short months that I spent there.

Considering that this was my very first trip to Germany and just my second to Europe overall, I came into this program hoping to discover and explore what it has to offer. And it certainly did not disappoint. Through this program, I would often discover the different and amazing qualities of Germany, and have fun while doing it. My classes allowed me to come up with and use different and creative approaches to learning and accomplishing tasks. There was a diversity of different places to go to study Germany's history, politics, and art. I had the opportunity to travel to different countries within Europe and experience their unique and awesome cultures, while meeting up with some old friends while I was at it. And all of this either as a sanctioned part of the program or as an opportunity provided by it. All in all, this was one of the most educational, illuminating, and certainly most worthwhile experiences of my life, as well as one of the most valuable insights into Europe, and by effect, into the world.