Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

IES Vienna: 10/10, 100% recommended Past Review

By (Trinity University) - abroad from 01/11/2017 to 05/21/2017 with

IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
7 new countries, over 10 new cities, a plethora of cultural experience

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Excellent program, focused towards students who are studying abroad. Program was very conducive to experiential learning and included field trips multiple times per week.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Excellent apartment. I was fortunate to receive one of the best apartments in the program, but most that I went to were satisfactory.

* Food:

Minimal/no food options included with housing. There are some events that offer food but not many. Food was provided at orientation and was quite good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Amazing insurance and coverage. 100% covered for all medical including mental health after the first ~$200 or so.

* Safety:

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

Absolutely. Classes were excellent, program administration was excellent, instructors were excellent. To highlight the biggest flaw I experienced, the IES system is a bit disorganized and their events can be very last-minute and not always well-planned.

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)

Vienna is amazingly cheap while still providing excellent public transit, good nightlife, a variety of outdoor activities and places to explore, among numerous other benefits. It was a great place to live all around. I would spend about $1-200 per week eating healthy options from higher-end grocery stores and low-cost restaurants in the city.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eating out worked out to be a fraction of the price of buying groceries, especially when cooking for one. A large, good tasting chicken sandwich at a store by my apartment was 2.50 (Euros) and enough food for at least a full meal, often with leftovers. Cooking a basic meal with protein, carbs (rice/bread), and some veggies was never under 10 Euros worth of ingredients.

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? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I took German in Vienna, which I had never taken before. I studied 4 years of French in high school and about 4 years of (slow paced) Spanish before high school.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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
  • International Students
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?
  • Cultural experience
  • Classes
  • Professors
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
  • Class information
  • Event planning
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Honestly, nothing that I can think of. Not to say that I didn't learn a lot this past semester, but I did feel very prepared for the experience. One challenge which doesn't really relate to IES was planning trips during the semester--booking transportation and lodging as well as making friends to go places together was a lot to do in not a lot of time.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.