Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Not just Vienna, but Austria as a whole March 14, 2023

By (Psychology, Kenyon College) - abroad from 08/29/2022 to 12/16/2022 with

IES Abroad: Vienna - Psychology & Social Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I had the opportunity to see and learn about not just Vienna, but Austria and Austrian culture as a whole. IES offered trips around Austria, such as to places like Wachau, Linz, and Graz, as well as the legendary ski trip in the Austrian Alps. I also had the opportunity during the week-long break to tour Salzburg, Vorarlberg, and Innsbruck with a friend. Overall, I saw as much of the beauty and culture Austria as I could, and I grew as a person in ways I could not have imagined. I had the time of my life and would do it again in a heartbeat.

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.

Classes were the appropriate amount of intensity, allowing for enough time to travel while continuing education

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a studio apartment with a shared kitchen in the 2nd district of the city. The shared kitchen let me connect with new friends from IES while still having a space to go back to that was my own.

* Food:

Students had to cook on their own or go out. Going out was delicious, but not sustainable to do every night.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The IES staff tried to help get students involved with local culture by promoting sports teams to join and finding language buddies for students. However, there were few opportunities (besides self sought) to connect with local communities.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was easily accessible; it was relatively similar to US healthcare, but required fewer "referrals," though waiting times for appointments for non-urgent things (mental health treatment, routine checkup, etc.) were somewhat longer. IES required all students to have CISI insurance, and that was paid for as part of the program costs.

* Safety:

There were very few times where I felt unsafe in the city. The only times I did feel unsafe, it was due to drunk individuals who were dealt with by bar/club staff.

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? $100-150 on a normal living week, more when traveling
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Only take a certain amount of money out every week, and use only that money to get through the week (unless there is an emergency).

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate
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? Use it! Even if your language isn't perfect in restaurants, people will try to understand you, especially if they know you are practicing.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Relevant program trips
  • Ski trip
* What could be improved?
  • Could be more interaction with local communities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's okay to be nervous - I was super anxious when I first arrived, but quickly learned that a lot of other people were just as nervous as I was about the semester. In the end, once we were better acquainted with where we were, it was weird to think that we were ever nervous about the city that treated us as its own.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!