Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great and safe program with helpful staff July 04, 2025

By (Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/15/2025 to 05/10/2025 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was very worthwhile! I had a lot of time to explore on my own outside of courses and visit museums, parks, and attend events. Madrid is a great city to be a young person in because local transportation is cheap and there are so many things to do and places to go.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed the courses with IES Abroad. There was a wide variety of course offerings and small class sizes. I especially enjoyed my Spanish language and art history class where we learned about art and culture in Europe and went on field trips. There was a large emphasis on group work in all classes. Classes were not too demanding but there were tests and assignments/projects.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were very accommodating and responsive before arrival and during the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was very safe, clean, and in a good area of the city.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-100

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? A2
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Participate in language exchanges or go to spaces where you can speak with locals.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Flexibility
  • Variety of courses
* What could be improved?
  • More integration with locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You have to put some effort into engaging with the local culture - just because you live in Spain doesn't mean that you will easily make local friends, learn the language, and learn history.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.