Kinesiology & Exercise Science Study Abroad Programs in Greece

I was very very hesitant on applying and even once I got accepted I was very skeptical about joining BUT I truly had the best time ever! Getting to experience different clinics around Athens was an amazing and the PTs were truly the best! We started out strangers but once it was time to end it was the hardest see you later ever! Best directors ever too!!!

I had the most fun during CIS Abroad's Summer in Greece program! It included both excursions from CIS and from the university, the American College of Greece. Greece is beautiful and the area surrounding the college is safe and takes less than one hour to get to downtown Athens by metro or bus. There is so much to do in Greece - outside of the included excursions, I would recommend going to an island or doing a guided tour, and there are so many options for these! The program's staff were always extremely helpful and supportive, as well as my professors. The grading system was different than what I'm used to as someone from the U.S., as your final grade is usually split between two exams or projects, although I didn't find it too bad. Overall, I would recommend this program, especially if you love islands/beaches and history!

During my 4 months abroad in Greece, I was immersed in the culture, traveled the world, met lifelong friends, tried wonderful food, and gained a good education that will help me later on in my career. I was able to gain a global mindset, which helped me grow so much personally and will follow me throughout my future career. I genuinely had the best time abroad and would do it again in a heartbeat.

This program was packed with hours of rotations, and let me tell you—Greece is SERIOUS about medicine. The hospital had the best equipment, the surgeons were amazing teachers, and I learned so much. The city tour was a blast, and the food was so good (I miss gyros already). Highly recommend!

This program was a game-changer! One week, so much hands-on learning, and the surgeons actually explained everything. The city tour was a vibe, and the group dinners? Chef’s kiss. Greece is stunning, and I already want to go back. Stavros made everything seamless, and I’m so grateful for this experience.

I was kinda nervous flying all the way from Cali, but the second I landed, I felt at home. Greek hospitality is something else. The rotations in neurosurgery, internal med, and anesthesia? SO good. The doctors actually cared about teaching us. The excursions were straight-up unreal (Meteora looks like something out of a fantasy movie). If you’re thinking about this program, DO IT.

Coming from NYC, I expected this trip to be cool, but it completely blew my mind! The hospital was insanely clean, the staff was super kind, and the rotations (shoutout to general surgery, ortho, and emergency medicine) were crazy good. Also, the Greek food? Unreal. The excursions to Meteora and the Aegean coast made me feel like I was in a movie. So worth it!

I studied abroad with CIS in Athens, Greece in the Fall of 2024 for a semester. The opportunities I was met with were life changing and I am so grateful for all of the people who made my trip a possibility. Meeting new people was easy because of the residential dorms as well as the welcome dinner that gave us all the opportunity to mingle with each other and meet like-minded others. I was unsure of what to expect from Greece, since I had only really seen movie depictions of it in my past. Some of my favorite experiences from the trip were the CIS excursions, especially the one traveling to see the Meteora of Kalabaka and Kastraki which is not something that would have been on my radar without the influence of CIS. Of course I had to see some of the most notable places like the Parthenon, Acropolis, and the Oracle of Delphi, but my favorite places to travel to during the trip were the islands that were only a short of Kea, Hydra, Agistri, and Aegina that were only a short ferry ride from the port in Athens. There are endless possibilities for adventures in this program and I would recommend anyone who wants to have an incredible adventure to take action and get involved with CIS!

I have attended two Philotimo Fellowships now and have loved both of them. In the summer of 2019, I went to Athens for 2 weeks and gained 25 shadowing hours in the hospital. I also got to experience the city and culture through our free time and weekly excursions. I was then allowed to attend a Senior Fellowship in Larissa, Greece during the summer of 2024 which was another amazing experience with Philotimo I attended this fellowship for three weeks and gained 60+ shadowing hours in various specialties. One of the amazing things about this fellowship is that not only are you able to gain shadowing experience and grow academically, but you are also able to travel on the weekends and explore the city you are living in during the afternoons. also, Philotimo MedAbroad has weekly excursions planned to show everyone the highlights of the city. I honestly think any pre-med who can take advantage of this program should. It has been one of the highlights of my time in college and my summers!!

Philotimo Med Abroad responded to this reviewMarch 29, 2024

Hello Melissa, I'm glad that the Philotimo Program helped you in your career and gave you a better perspective on life.

This experience was very exceptional for me. I got to travel on my own, make new friends, and enjoy a beautiful country. My city managers were very helpful and were great guides for the city. The staff at the hospital were also very welcoming and taught me a lot. I had the luck to shadow a birth and a heart surgery all the same week. We also shadowed at the shelter for minors. Here you need to apply many other knowledge and activities. We got many letters of recommendation.

This experience has been something I’ll never forget, both in terms of the memories I made with my group and the things I experienced at the hospital while shadowing. I am so grateful to have had this experience. I was able to experience not only the social scene in Larissa and explore the country in my free time, but also got structured group activities as well as hospital shadowing. I felt supported throughout the program and this program is something I wish I’d known about sooner.

Philotimo Med Abroad responded to this reviewMarch 29, 2024

I'm glad that the Philotimo Program helped you in your career and gave you a better perspective on life.

This experience was one I will never forget. You learn so much in all aspects of the program. You get an accurate view of the medical field, and you become immersed in the culture surrounding you. I made so many new friends while I was there and we went on plenty of adventures. I would easily do this again. If you're even thinking about doing this, then go ahead. You won't find this experience anywhere else. This gave me a better understanding of what I want to do in the medical field.

I enjoyed this program because of all the opportunities provided. We were able to shadow several departments throughout two weeks: orthopedics, otolaryngology, and dermatological. It was a great way to gain clinical experience and shadow several doctors while being able to travel abroad. We were able to learn so much about the medical field from the hospital and make life-long friends along the way. I think every pre-med or healthcare student should take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience

Philotimo Med Abroad responded to this reviewMarch 29, 2024

I'm glad that the Philotimo Program helped you in your career and gave you a better perspective on life.

I attended this program during my spring break. Although inexperienced, I had an incredible time gaining healthcare exposure while also making lasting connections. The doctors were all incredibly kind and willing to incorporate me into their busy days. Being able to follow them throughout their entire day helped me get a more complete understanding of a doctor's routine, something that is not too available in the United States. I think my favorite part of the program though was getting to shadow all the scheduled surgeries, getting our scrubs, and being a witness of this beautiful work. On the weekends we traveled to Athens and Skopelos. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a unique pre-med experience!

Shadowing abroad with Philotimo is a great and unique opportunity for anyone interested in a career in the medical field. Not only was I able to learn more about the field I want to go into, but I also got to expand my knowledge of the Greek language and culture. The hospital staff were all extremely welcoming, helpful, and insightful and I felt very comfortable in that setting. Additionally, Stavros, the director, and the staff were always attentive and responsive. I would recommend this program to anyone!!

I would say there are two important components to this program. The experience you get shadowing in the hospital and the experience you get to know Greek culture. Being inside the hospital you feel like part of the staff once you start interacting with doctors, residents, and nurses, everybody is welcoming. We shadowed many surgeries, each one took about 1 to 2 hours long. The doctors are so patient with us and very informative. Exploring Greece was something challenging but it helped me to be more open-minded. Trying different food and speaking to locals made my experience very fulfilling.

I really liked the program- it was fun and educational. It definitely helped me reach my pre-health career goals. The doctors I shadowed communicated with me in English. We shadowed various medical clinics, neuro, pediatrics, and ob-gyn. The accommodation is awesome. I think after this experience I am more independent. I learned to travel alone and to make friends of other nationalities. I enjoyed the beautiful city of Larissa and loved meeting students with similar goals. I loved and admired my city manager who made me feel at home and taught me many things about Greece. I would recommend this program to any student who would like to be abroad while reaching their goals.

My Internship was 2 weeks long. is my first time in Greece and I loved it. Larissa was really fun and exciting, I enjoyed the hot springs and going downtown. The accommodation was good, the food was the same every breakfast but that’s ok. The program itself was very rewarding and complete. I shadowed a couple of surgeries in different departments. The orthopedics are very knowledgeable and neat in their work. We started every day by 8:30 am and finished by 3:00 pm. Stavros the director is very helpful and always asks if we need anything. I recommend this program to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and gain hands-on learning experience. Thank you Philotimo!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 weeks spent in Greece. I had a wonderful shadowing experience in many different areas, created great connections with doctors, made new friends, and immersed myself in a new culture. even though I am Greek I never had the opportunity to work and live like a Greek. I never felt overwhelmed with shadowing it was just five to six hours a day Monday-Thursday. Each Friday we did a fun group excursion. The food is very fresh and delicious.

Shadowing outside the US provides students with a unique experience to learn about a healthcare system different from the US and how it affects its patients. There are different cases and diseases you may experience and learn about that you otherwise would not have. The doctors are so helpful and want to teach the students and make it as memorable an experience as possible. When I was not shadowing, I was immersed in the culture with my amazing Philotimo group. The excursions were a lot of fun and a great way to see other parts of Greece that I never would have visited! My city manager was excellent as well and made sure all of us were getting the most out of our shadowing and time in Larissa. I cannot say enough positive things about this experience and encourage everyone to go and try it for themselves. I 100% would do it again!