History Study Abroad Programs in Western Europe

While I was in Greece, I visited a few Islands and a Tonne of nice restaurants. The people were wonderful and so welcoming It became a second home to me. I wish desperately that I could go back but unfortunately I'm in my senior year and can't travel abroad again but I definitely will be going back soon.

Coming home a new person! The program was awesome from start to finish, I never felt homesick, and the art course was a highlight. Only the Paris hotel let it down. I’d recommend it to anyone and already tell friends to apply.

I had an amazing time studying abroad in Greece with WorldStrides! It was an unforgettable experience filled with incredible memories, beautiful places, and opportunities to learn about a new culture. I loved exploring Greece, experiencing its history, trying new things, and meeting new people. Everything was well organized, and the experience allowed me to step outside my comfort zone while making memories that I will cherish forever. I am so grateful for this opportunity and would highly recommend WorldStrides to anyone considering studying abroad!

Studying abroad in Paris with Worldstrides was the best experience I could have asked for! From start to finish the staff were there to guide us with settling in and exploring the city. I made so many memories, and I miss it every day. I definitely recommend choosing this program if you're looking to study in Paris.

I spent my semester abroad in Florence, and it was a great experience. The city is beautiful and easy to get around, and after a few weeks it started to feel like home. I had my go-to coffee spots, I knew my way around, and I spent a lot of time just walking around the city. Even the everyday stuff, like grabbing groceries at the market or getting dinner with friends, felt like part of the experience. My classes were fun and a nice change from a typical semester. One of my favorites was an outdoor painting class where we went to different spots around Florence and painted the landscape. Spending a few hours painting one spot made me notice so much more about Florence than I would have just passing through. Traveling was a big part of my time abroad. I ended up visiting 10 countries, mostly on weekend trips. Florence was a good home base for that, and every trip was different. I got to try new food, meet new people, and see a lot of places I’d always wanted to visit. Some of my favorites were Morocco, Chamonix, Lisbon, and Madrid. Each one had a completely different feel, from the markets in Morocco to the mountains in Chamonix to exploring the city streets in Lisbon and Madrid. Planning the trips and figuring things out along the way taught me a lot too. Overall, I came home more independent, more comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone, and with a lot of good memories. I’d recommend studying abroad in Florence to anyone thinking about it.

When I first applied to Sevilla I was skeptical. Coming from a big school the normal was to study abroad in larger cities such as Barcelona, Florence, and London. What scared me the most was applying somewhere I would know practically no one, which turned out to be the best part. I quickly found my group within a few days thanks to Worldstrides cultural immersion experiences such as visiting the cathedral or going to a flamenco show. I became best friends with the girls in my program I was lucky enough to live with in the center of Sevilla, housing that you can only dream of. I spent my weekends feeling the true experience of being a sevillan, getting tapas with friends, volunteering to teach english at a local elementary school, and dressing up in our trajes for the feria de sevilla. to anyone hesitating picking a smaller city, i would absolutely recommend Sevilla 100 times over, the sense of community and support you get from not only the Worldstrides administration but the university is unmatched.

My summer in Greece through the CYA (College Year in Athens) program was an unforgettable experience that combined cultural exploration with hands-on environmental research. Through CYA, I was able to learn both in the classroom and outside learning about how plastic affects the mediterranean Sea. I had the opportunity to visit a wastewater treatment facility and landfill to better understand waste management and the ways human waste affects the marine environment. Then partnered with the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation and the Aegean Marine Life Sanctuary, where I learned how plastic pollution impacts marine wildlife and ecosystems. Participated in water sampling, marine wildlife monitoring, microplastic research, and underwater soundscape observations using hydrophones. Outside of research, I explored the islands of Samos and Lipsi, experienced Greek culture, and met people from different backgrounds. The experience allowed me to connect what I have learned in the classroom to real-world environmental challenges and strengthened my passion for marine conservation and environmental policy.

College Year in Athens responded to this reviewNovember 07, 2026

Hi Zahra, thanks for sharing your experience with CYA! We love to hear that you found your time both inside and outside the classroom to be impactful. We hope you can visit us again soon!

When people tell you that studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it can be hard to understand just how true that is until you experience it for yourself. Studying abroad genuinely changed who I am as a person, and looking back, I can say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My mom was born in Spain, and growing up, I always dreamed of experiencing even a small part of what her life was like there. Hearing all of her stories made me even more excited about the opportunity. Living in Spain allowed me to experience everything I had imagined and so much more. From the incredible food and rich culture to the late-night social life, historic sites, and overall lifestyle, I fell in love with everything about it. I was able to immerse myself in the culture both inside and outside the classroom, even taking a class entirely in Spanish. One of the most rewarding parts was the friendships I made, not only with local students in Seville, who I now have a reason to visit, but with people from Germany, France, Italy, the UK, and all across the United States. I came away with friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Seville's location also gave me the opportunity to travel and experience so much more of the world. I visited six countries during my time abroad, including Italy, England, and Morocco, just to name a few. Each destination offered a new culture, perspective, and experience that made my time abroad even more special. More than anything, studying abroad made me feel even more connected to a country that has always been such a meaningful part of my family's heritage. Being able to experience the culture my mom grew up in while creating my own memories and connections there is something I will forever be grateful for. If you are considering studying abroad, DO IT! It is completely normal to be nervous, but the people you meet, places you see, and person you become along the way make it all worth it. You truly will never get another opportunity quite like this one, and it is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Being stationed in Italy, I had the chance to go on a solo trip to Lublin, Poland, where my great great grandfather had immigrated from in 1909. It was a great chance to connect with my Polish heritage first hand in a town that very few study abroad students get to visit.

Studying abroad in Madrid changed my life forever- while this statement seems to leave every study abroad student's mouth, it really is the truth. I explored many different countries during my stay in Spain which opened my eyes to what the world has to offer other than the United States, but surely the most impactful part of my abroad experience was making Madrid my temporary home. I never thought a city could feel like home when I don't speak the native language, but Madrid is a place that speaks to you without words. The city itself is a beautiful place- well kept, rich in its culture, sights, and amazing eats but the city itself is alive. It is the most full of life place I have traveled to- everywhere you go everyone is present with the people around them, playing games, talking, laughing, sharing meals, dancing, singing, all of the above. It's a place that I will hold in my heart forever, a place that I wouldn't have been able to experience without a program like WorldStrides that made everything seamless. They made it comfortable to move to a foreign country and made our program feel like a family. Thank you WorldStrides and thank you Madrid for changing my life!

I had the best semester ever in Dublin, Ireland, thanks to the WorldStrides team. The experience was everything I dreamed of from meeting the best roommates turned forever friends, to studying at Trinity College, and exploring the vast countryside that Ireland has. The team set us up for success in every aspect, we had amazing housing only 10 minutes from the city center, and Amazing trips planned. We went to Galway and the cliffs of mother, and the mountains of wicklow to hold baby sheep. I miss my experience every day.

Studying abroad is one of the best decisions I have made! I was nervous to spend so much time away from home but as soon as we exited security at the Athens airport, the WorldStrides staff was there greeting us with smiles. They took us to our dorms and helped us acclimate to living in an unfamiliar place. The professors of all my classes were very understanding of our confusion and adjustment period. They supported me and made sure that the classrooms were a safe space, and I’ll always be grateful for them! Arguably the best parts of studying abroad were the people I met and the places I saw. One of my first days in the program I was adopted into a friend group, and they are still my closest friends today. They encouraged me to travel to many different places on my bucket list, accompanying me to many of them. As an avid fan of traveling, the support of my friends, professors, and WorldStrides staff to go explore new places was the best thing I could have asked for. I am no longer afraid of traveling by myself or of navigating a country in which I do not speak the language. I will look back fondly on my semester abroad in Athens for many years to come!

I had a great time during this program. I learned so much, both educationally and culturally. The classes were great, and the teachers and staff genuinely care. Dina made the transition so easy and was always just one email away whenever I needed anything. I met some great people who I am still in contact with and believe I will remain friends with for a long time. The location of the house was great and very convenient. However, I did think the housing could have been better. The bathrooms, especially, could use some work. All in all, I had a wonderful experience, and this program has been one of the biggest highlights of my life so far. One thing I wish we had done more of was introductory activities earlier in the program, such as visiting local markets and stores and learning how to navigate public transportation. I think having more of these activities at the beginning would have made the transition even easier and helped us become more comfortable in our new surroundings.

Odyssey in Athens with Webster University was a once in a lifetime experience. I was able to meet wonderful people from around the world and experience the joy of learning with them! I was able to spend weekends island hopping with my new friends and attend amazing classes during the week.

I was absolutely terrified getting on my plane to head to London for my London/Paris study abroad semester. Mostly everybody took the group flight except for me, so I already felt behind and like I wasn’t going to make friends. I was gravely mistaken, because when I landed and met my roomate, we instantly hit it off. My roomate, Savannah, has become one of my best friends and we still talk every single day. Together, we figured out the tube and big red busses, tried fish and chips, and learned new London slang from our host family (like "knackered", which we still use to this day). Our program provided tons of field trips, and we took advantage of every single one. We navigated foreign airports for weekend trips (shoutout having classes Monday-thursday so we could explore more of the world), and for the first time in my 20 years of life, I felt like an adult. It's important to note that my controlled environment helped me feel confident enough to book plane tickets, navigate foreign public transport, and be adventurous enough to try things out of my comfort zone. The staff on call 24/7 to help guide me and answer questions made me feel safe enough to do solo trips and try adventurous things I wouldn't have done otherwise. This single handedly has given me the confidence to be an independent and responsible person after I left study abroad. As we finished our time in London, we all took a train to our next location, Paris! Paris was everything I could've ever dreamed of, no matter how magical it looks in movies, it is even more magical in person. We took field trips to the top of the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triumph, wine and cheese tasting, the Mona Lisa, Monets water Lillies, and so much more. We took a cultural geography class in Paris taught my our professor Parmjeet, and to this day I still think about her class, it was by far the most impactful class I have taken as a college student. We talked about the history of Paris, took walking tours of the city, and even saw Jim Morrisons grave at the Père-Lachaise cemetery. I absorbed everything i saw, tasted, and learned, and tried to fully acclimate myself into the laid back culture, my host mom helped me improve my French, and she even made me love escargot! (snails). Not only did I find one of my best friends Savannah while studying abroad, but we formed an incredible friend group, and together the 5 of us traveled to Ireland and Barcelona together. We still have a group chat, and we frequently talk about our favorite memories studying abroad. I would not have done my study abroad experience any differently, and I would go back and do it a million times if I could.

I had such an amazing experience with my study abroad program in Athens Greece! Our apartment was in the heart of Athens that allowed me and my roommates to explore as much as we wanted when we were not in class. The professors for classes were incredibly kind and helpful. I went over seas alone not knowing anyone and came back with friends that I still meet up with 3 years later. I would not be the person I am today without this experience due to the independence, the learning, the culture and the people. This program provided so many opportunities to explore and learn about Greek culture and history. I strongly encourage students study aboard and this program is a fantastic way to do it!

I had a fantastic time studying abroad with WorldStrides. I learned so much about myself as a traveler and as a student. It was a truly life changing experience which I'll never forget. The experience that I had was tailored and customized to my needs. I had 24/7 customer support and access to the WorldStrides app.

At first I was very nervous about being in a country and culture that was completely different from my own. But the Rome AIFS team were amazing and the freedom I was given allowed me to grow so much as a person. I had never been by myself in another country before and now all I want to do is get back out there. I had to be accountable for myself in my school work and personal life. But the AIFS team were always there if I had any questions or concerns. The first week was an adjustment period but after that Rome felt like home and was quickly able to get navigate the city alone without any maps. I also got to travel to other countries and meet so many amazing people. I think this program was more then worth it and encourage others to take the leap into it.

Studying abroad in Seville, Spain, was one of the most memorable experiences of my college career. I was able to immerse myself in Spanish culture both inside and outside the classroom, from ordering food and drinks and communicating with my host family to exploring the city's streets, landmarks, and history. Living in Seville gave me a much deeper appreciation for the language and culture. Academically, studying in Seville gave me the opportunity to experience a different academic environment. I am a Spanish minor, so being immersed in the language greatly improved my proficiency and confidence. Practicing Spanish in real-life situations helped me become more comfortable with speaking and listening, especially with my host family, who only spoke Spanish. Adjusting to unfamiliar teaching styles and classroom expectations was an obstacle. At times, I found learning Spanish from a native speaker slightly difficult, but I am so glad I got to practice because it was ultimately very beneficial. I would recommend that students thinking about studying in another country communicate every question and concern with professors. It can be difficult to have a slight language barrier, even in an English class. Going abroad is still a college semester, even if it seems like you are exploring more than studying. Outside of academics, traveling was my favorite part of this experience. Seville as a home base made it so easy and exciting to plan trips to experience other places. I became so much more independent when needing to navigate train stations, airports, and the bus/metro systems. I would recommend budgeting and researching all your options when traveling to make it as cost-effective as possible. While waking up in a new country every day was exciting, there are also challenges that future students should know about. My biggest challenge when I landed in Seville was being away from family and friends, and the fact that I was the only student in my accommodation. I was lucky enough to have a small group to do everything with, but it was a little daunting to be separated from them. I think choosing to live in a host family was the best choice I could have made. It feels like I now have personal connections to Seville, and it made my trip so much more meaningful. In terms of packing, I would strongly recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes because you will likely walk much more than you do at home. My other recommendation would be to bring a portable charger too. The number of times my phone almost died while I was away from home was almost comical, and if I didn’t have a portable charger on me, I would have had trouble getting back. My biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of the experience. It is truly what you make of it. Fill your days with exploring, practicing the language, and learning new things about the city you choose to study in! I would encourage future students to try unfamiliar foods and participate in the cultural customs and activities. Step outside of your comfort zone and appreciate even the small everyday moments! Overall, I could not recommend studying abroad in Seville more. The experience helped me grow in so many ways while giving me a greater appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. I now have stories that I still share with my friends from home, and I have lifelong friendships with the people I spent my time with. I would strongly encourage anyone considering this program to take this opportunity and embrace it to the fullest.

I had a very enjoyable semester, the administration worked hard to make different events and excursions for the students to go on. I felt the classes were participation based and student centered rather than just reading notes out loud which was quite enjoyable