Academic Year Theology Study Abroad Programs

Studying abroad in Greece through CYA was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Living in Athens allowed me to experience everyday Greek life while exploring iconic landmarks like the Acropolis and discovering the neighborhoods such as Pagrati. One of my favorite memories was taking a field study to Thessaloniki, where we encountered pelicans on a boat tour and even had the chance to feed them by hand. I also loved traveling throughout Greece, trying authentic Greek food, and making lifelong friendships with students from around the world. This program helped me become more independent, confident, and open to new experiences, and I would encourage anyone considering studying abroad to take the opportunity.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewJuly 24, 2026

Hi Molly, thank you for sharing your experience with CYA! We are so happy to hear you were really able to make Athens your home and found your time learning and exploring in Greece to be unforgettable. Hopefully you can visit again soon!

Studying abroad in Italy is an absolute dream come true, offering an incredible mix of world-class education, deep historical immersion, and unforgettable weekend travels. It is the perfect destination if you want to balance your academic goals with a vibrant, slow-paced lifestyle full of incredible food, art, and culture.

I had honestly the most fun ever here with my friends! I thoroughly enjoyed my classes, learning about the culture, exploring Italy and Europe! It was life changing and I would highly recommend to everyone!

I had a really great time with my experience in Rome! I love my roommates and we’ve become really great friends. I’ve also had a great time exploring Rome and immersing myself in the culture while also being able to do weekend travel.

Class selection was good, particularly Art & Archaeology which I would consider a must. There's no city as good as Rome for learning about history given the plethora of ancient Roman sites and museums. Also, there was ample time for exploring Italy on my own.

I felt like I lived in Rome for so long and got immersed to fast, it felt like I had lived here forever. This got me missing home, but that’s not a bad thing. I got enough non-academic days that it allowed me to explore other part of Italy and Europe too.

I will never forget my time at CYA! We went on guided trips across the entirety of Greece, were completely immersed in the culture, received a great education, and created a sense of community thousands of miles away from home.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewJuly 02, 2026

Hi Tori, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love to hear that you were able to learn so much while traveling around Greece through our hands on program. We hope you can visit us again soon!

This experience was definitely worth it, but looking back I wish I had known what to expect. First I warn you to AVOID LANGUAGES, or at least avoid taking more than one. Greek learning expectations are lower than American for anything BUT language. You will drain all of your free time. College Year in Athens almost exclusively has students from certain universities that have direct partnerships. If you're at anything other than a New England or Pacific Northwest school, prepare to be the outlier. Students are very cliquey. There are exceptions to this, and you do find your group, but it takes a while. Also, everyone spends their free time traveling all around Europe, which can feel like a letdown if you don't have the budget can do the same. Don't worry. Field Study programs are great and free ways to travel, and there are so many cool things to do in Greece alone, and even in Athens. Get an internship or volunteer. It's worth it. And befriend the staff, they're all cheering for you.

Studying abroad with CYA in Athens, Greece was one of the most transformative experiences of my college career. As a Psychology major, I was excited to explore how culture influences human behavior, but I gained much more than academic knowledge during my semester abroad. Through courses in psychology, Greek history, and Modern Greek language, I developed a deeper understanding of both Greek society and the broader cultural factors that shape people's lives. Living in an apartment with three other students from my program created a strong sense of community and led to friendships that became one of the most meaningful parts of my experience. Together, we explored Athens, traveled throughout Greece, and supported one another as we adapted to life in a new country. One of my favorite memories was sitting at the top of the Panathenaic Stadium with my friends, reflecting on everything we had experienced and accomplished during our time abroad. Having previously moved to Los Angeles without knowing anyone helped prepare me for the challenges of studying abroad. The experience strengthened my independence, adaptability, and confidence while encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone. Thanks to support from USC, CYA, and the Gilman Scholarship, I was able to pursue an opportunity that broadened my academic, personal, and professional horizons in ways I will carry with me for years to come.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewJune 19, 2026

Hi Lorien, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love to hear you found the program to be highly impactful and had the chance to see so much of Greece as part of your program. We hope you can visit again soon!

I enjoyed my study abroad program! I felt my time there allowed me to integrate into the culture to the point that I truly saw the local culture rather than what people see as a tourist. It showed me that I can adapt quickly to assimilate the customs of the community while also still retaining my independence and sense of self. Coming back to the U.S., I came back with a better understanding of my personal identity and how different practices around the world are similar and different to where I live. This program helped me see ways I can incorporate different cultural perspectives in my career advancement and knowledge. I highly recommend this program to people that want to challenge themselves!

I loved living in Greece and doing a Spring Semester with CYA; I will I could be there still! As an Ancient World Studies major, getting to experience the sites in person that I have read about/seen pictures of was so amazing. One of the classes I took was completely on-site, meaning we visited different parts of ancient Athens every class, which was great! I loved exploring Athens and connecting with Greek culture. I even took a marble carving class set up by CYA which was very cool. CYA also took us on many trips across Greece, so I got to see other parts of the country as well. There are so many great things to say about my stay in Greece, but I highly recommend studying there with CYA!

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewMarch 13, 2026

Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love hearing you were able to explore Athens and beyond through our on-site courses and connect with the Greek culture. We hope you can visit again soon!

Studying in South Korea was truly life changing! It was my first time being away from home, so I was nervous to go to a place where I knew no one. But the friends I made and experiences I had were so life altering.

CYA was the perfect way to experience Greece. The housing was perfect and immersive, the food around Athens was cheap and good, and classes being held at historical sights was a dream come true. I would recommend this program to anybody who has a remote interest in history. I would also like to mention that the work/study trips were amazing, and gave all of us students opportunities to meet friends and learn history hands-on.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewFebruary 20, 2026

Hi Samuel, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love to hear you found yourself immersed in the community and culture plus had the chance to explore Greece through your courses. We hope you can visit again soon!

I studied abroad with College Year in Athens for a semester in Fall 2025 and I am so glad to have made that decision. The staff, courses, students, and extracurricular activities I interacted with while abroad enhanced my experience in Greece, allowing me to connect with the county's history, culture, and everyday life on a personal and interactive scale. The campus, although small, is in a perfect location to explore all that Athens has to offer. CYA is more than willing to help students explore the city, offering tutorials on how to use public transportation, catering events towards students' wants and needs, and housing students in locally-owned apartment blocks within walking distance from campus to encourage students to engage in everyday life in Athens. Studying abroad in Athens was such an incredible experience, and partnering with CYA to do so was a great decision.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewFebruary 20, 2026

Hi Aubrey, thanks for sharing your experience and photos with CYA! We love knowing you were able to make Pangrati your home and see so much of Greece while taking your courses. We hope you can visit again soon!

I studied at CYA for the Fall 2025 Semester. The professors and staff are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. Every professor I had genuinely cared for each student and about the subject they were teaching and wanted to the students to understand the material, not just memorize and pass the class. Some of my best memories happened in in class while visiting different sites around Athens or workshops put together by our professors for a hands on learning experience. The program itself is located in the perfect neighborhood in Athens. Its only a 10 minute walk to the acropolis and a 15 minute walk to the ancient agoras. Pangrati was very safe, even when walking back to our apartments after dark if we were studying at local cafes. CYA offered so many opportunities for us students and I wish more than anything I could relive my semester abroad!

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewFebruary 14, 2026

Hi Lohla, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love hearing you enjoyed your professors, the chance to travel across Greece, and made Pangrati your home. We hope you can visit again soon!

There is almost nothing negative I can say about my experience abroad with CYA, and an infinite amount of positives. Never having left the United States before and knowing very little about Greece, I was very anxious about what my time there would look like. Now looking back, I can confidently say I know Pangrati and much of Athens like the back of my hand. My fears instantly disappeared as I met some of the kindest people I know and was guided the whole time by CYA. Staff and faculty made the effort of incorporating academics into the space around (i.e. Athens and the greater country) while also giving amazing advice and recommendations about what to try. Between a blend of organized travel through the program and my own exploration, I experienced things I never knew existed and am all the luckier that I know them now. I can not recommend this program enough because it allows you to learn in an academic setting while also gaining certain insight about the world, only possible by simply being present and engaged with what is around you. Truly the best 4 months of my life!

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewFebruary 05, 2026

Hi Nicholas, thanks for sharing your experience and photos with CYA! We love to hear you had an unforgettable experience and had the chance to immerse yourself in the culture through our program. We hope you can visit again soon!

Nous avons vécu une excellente expérience de stage grâce à l’association Mente Argentina. Ils nous ont accompagnés à chaque étape de notre projet : organisation du voyage, aide pour trouver un hôpital afin d’effectuer notre stage infirmier, et soutien tout au long de notre séjour. En plus de l’aspect professionnel, l’association a également organisé plusieurs repas dans différents restaurants de Buenos Aires, ce qui nous a permis de découvrir la culture locale et de rencontrer des habitants. Grâce à leur professionnalisme, leur disponibilité et leur bienveillance, notre expérience a été à la fois enrichissante sur le plan professionnel et humain. Nous recommandons vivement Mente Argentina à toute personne souhaitant réaliser un stage à l’étranger en toute sérénité.

I thoroughly loved my time in Athens, although I did sabotage myself by choosing to apply to graduate schools while taking four language classes. The professors were amazing, but the classes I chose were at the senior level and were very stressful to deal with and left me with not much time to explore Athens.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewJanuary 17, 2026

Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We are happy to hear you found your semester in Athens to be rewarding both academically and personally. We were grateful to be able to support you as you prepare for graduate programs and further your studies. We hope you can visit again soon!

My Canada study visa experience was smooth and well-guided. The team provided clear information, timely support, and professional assistance throughout the process. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend their services.

BrainEdge GoAbroad offers expert study abroad guidance with transparent counseling, scholarship support, and smooth visa processing. Highly professional and reliable service. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable, professional, and result-oriented study abroad guidance.