IES Abroad Madrid - Language Area Studies Semester/Year

Reviewed by Susanstudent on May 18, 2013.

Loved the city and the cultural immersion taking classes at Complutense. HATED my living situation. Don't request to live in Sol. My apartment was so small, for 4 girls. A couple of friends had an apartment in Moncloa, much bigger and better. Spent way too much time in class, even though it was a joke, but good that there were no classes on Friday. Attendance policy is annoying. Read more

Reviewed by Mark Eisenbergstudent on April 24, 2013.

I had a fantastic time with a great host family. My only negative: IES makes it difficult to get out of the American bubble because they make you take all of your classes with other Americans. Read more

Reviewed by Sarahstudent on March 25, 2010.

I loved getting to take courses at UCM. Though the program directors are unorganized, if you ever need any help whatsoever they are there for it. The attendance and visitor rules are stupid, but you don't have classes on Fridays so it's still totally possible to travel and enjoy Madrid. The course load is not too difficult. Madrid is basically the most amazing place to live. Read more

Reviewed by Elisa Almeidastudent on March 08, 2010.

Madrid was absoluty amazing! I stayed in an apartment and loved it! I had great roommates and perfect location to school as well as to main things around the city. The program was great... I ended up getting kidney stones my first week there and Yolanda, one of the directors was fantastic, she came with me to the hospital and was just there for me the entire time. The whole staff Angel, Ricardo, and Marta..and etc. were always caring and conside... Read more

Reviewed by Ashley Semlerstudent on February 11, 2010.

The administration was horrible. Do not care about student progress at all. Very unhelpful, esp. if you choose to take university classes. Strict, pointless rules about attendance, number of classes you have to take, having people visit you, etc. Madrid as a city is amazing! Great night life, culture, travel opportunities, etc.... Just maybe pick a different program. Read more

Reviewed by Marianna Diallostudent on May 10, 2009.

Not really a great program. low level of academic expectation Read more

Reviewed by Marisa Jonesstudent on May 10, 2009.

Madrid is an amazing city - so fun to go out, experience the nightlife, and travel from to other parts of Spain. IES program administrators did not care about students, made things challenging in terms of organization, and the academics were a waste of time. Maybe it would be a good program if you're not that good at Spanish maybe. Read more

Reviewed by Anna Stock-Matthewsstudent on May 10, 2009.

Bad homestay. Didnt do much work, lots of Americans wanting to party with other Americans, pretty disorganized, but overall good experience in general (apart from program logistics) Read more

Reviewed by Jakestudent on May 10, 2009.

Amazing for experiencing Spanish culture, but provided little in the way of academics. Read more

Reviewed by nonestudent on May 10, 2009.

Classes were easy but very interesting - Madrid is a really cool city - fun stuff to do, TONS of bars, parks, cafes, etc. I's recommend the program overall. Read more

Reviewed by Allison S.student on May 10, 2009.

IES was great. Academics were weak, but gave us time to enjoy living in the capital of Spain. Staff was friendly and even tried to learn our names. My homestay was accomodating, relaxed, and fun. Read more

Reviewed by Marianna Diallostudent on May 10, 2009.

Not really a great program. low level of academic expectation Read more

Reviewed by Mark Eisenbergstudent on April 24, 2013.

I had a fantastic time with a great host family. My only negative: IES makes it difficult to get out of the American bubble because they make you take all of your classes with other Americans. Read more

Reviewed by Anna Stock-Matthewsstudent on May 10, 2009.

Bad homestay. Didnt do much work, lots of Americans wanting to party with other Americans, pretty disorganized, but overall good experience in general (apart from program logistics) Read more

Reviewed by Elisa Almeidastudent on March 08, 2010.

Madrid was absoluty amazing! I stayed in an apartment and loved it! I had great roommates and perfect location to school as well as to main things around the city. The program was great... I ended up getting kidney stones my first week there and Yolanda, one of the directors was fantastic, she came with me to the hospital and was just there for me the entire time. The whole staff Angel, Ricardo, and Marta..and etc. were always caring and conside... Read more

Reviewed by Sarahstudent on March 25, 2010.

I loved getting to take courses at UCM. Though the program directors are unorganized, if you ever need any help whatsoever they are there for it. The attendance and visitor rules are stupid, but you don't have classes on Fridays so it's still totally possible to travel and enjoy Madrid. The course load is not too difficult. Madrid is basically the most amazing place to live. Read more

Reviewed by Aleksis Psychasstudent on May 05, 2009.

I was in the IES Madrid program for the fall 09 semester and had the best semester of my life. Madrid is amazing city with something always going on. The nightlife is among the best in the world, and I really fell in love with the city as a whole. The program itself is also awesome. The administration-Marta, MJ, Angel, Elvira- were all very helpful and caring and the teachers themselves, most of who taught regular Spanish universit... Read more

Reviewed by nonestudent on May 10, 2009.

Classes were easy but very interesting - Madrid is a really cool city - fun stuff to do, TONS of bars, parks, cafes, etc. I's recommend the program overall. Read more

Reviewed by Jakestudent on May 10, 2009.

Amazing for experiencing Spanish culture, but provided little in the way of academics. Read more

Reviewed by Marisa Jonesstudent on May 10, 2009.

Madrid is an amazing city - so fun to go out, experience the nightlife, and travel from to other parts of Spain. IES program administrators did not care about students, made things challenging in terms of organization, and the academics were a waste of time. Maybe it would be a good program if you're not that good at Spanish maybe. Read more

Reviewed by Ashley Semlerstudent on February 11, 2010.

The administration was horrible. Do not care about student progress at all. Very unhelpful, esp. if you choose to take university classes. Strict, pointless rules about attendance, number of classes you have to take, having people visit you, etc. Madrid as a city is amazing! Great night life, culture, travel opportunities, etc.... Just maybe pick a different program. Read more

Reviewed by Allison S.student on May 10, 2009.

IES was great. Academics were weak, but gave us time to enjoy living in the capital of Spain. Staff was friendly and even tried to learn our names. My homestay was accomodating, relaxed, and fun. Read more

Reviewed by Marianna Diallostudent on May 10, 2009.

Not really a great program. low level of academic expectation Read more

Reviewed by Susanstudent on May 18, 2013.

Loved the city and the cultural immersion taking classes at Complutense. HATED my living situation. Don't request to live in Sol. My apartment was so small, for 4 girls. A couple of friends had an apartment in Moncloa, much bigger and better. Spent way too much time in class, even though it was a joke, but good that there were no classes on Friday. Attendance policy is annoying. Read more

Reviewed by Susanstudent on May 18, 2013.

Loved the city and the cultural immersion taking classes at Complutense. HATED my living situation. Don't request to live in Sol. My apartment was so small, for 4 girls. A couple of friends had an apartment in Moncloa, much bigger and better. Spent way too much time in class, even though it was a joke, but good that there were no classes on Friday. Attendance policy is annoying. Read more

Reviewed by Mark Eisenbergstudent on April 24, 2013.

I had a fantastic time with a great host family. My only negative: IES makes it difficult to get out of the American bubble because they make you take all of your classes with other Americans. Read more

Reviewed by Sarahstudent on March 25, 2010.

I loved getting to take courses at UCM. Though the program directors are unorganized, if you ever need any help whatsoever they are there for it. The attendance and visitor rules are stupid, but you don't have classes on Fridays so it's still totally possible to travel and enjoy Madrid. The course load is not too difficult. Madrid is basically the most amazing place to live. Read more

Reviewed by Elisa Almeidastudent on March 08, 2010.

Madrid was absoluty amazing! I stayed in an apartment and loved it! I had great roommates and perfect location to school as well as to main things around the city. The program was great... I ended up getting kidney stones my first week there and Yolanda, one of the directors was fantastic, she came with me to the hospital and was just there for me the entire time. The whole staff Angel, Ricardo, and Marta..and etc. were always caring and conside... Read more

Reviewed by Ashley Semlerstudent on February 11, 2010.

The administration was horrible. Do not care about student progress at all. Very unhelpful, esp. if you choose to take university classes. Strict, pointless rules about attendance, number of classes you have to take, having people visit you, etc. Madrid as a city is amazing! Great night life, culture, travel opportunities, etc.... Just maybe pick a different program. Read more

Reviewed by Marianna Diallostudent on May 10, 2009.

Not really a great program. low level of academic expectation Read more

Reviewed by Marisa Jonesstudent on May 10, 2009.

Madrid is an amazing city - so fun to go out, experience the nightlife, and travel from to other parts of Spain. IES program administrators did not care about students, made things challenging in terms of organization, and the academics were a waste of time. Maybe it would be a good program if you're not that good at Spanish maybe. Read more

Reviewed by Anna Stock-Matthewsstudent on May 10, 2009.

Bad homestay. Didnt do much work, lots of Americans wanting to party with other Americans, pretty disorganized, but overall good experience in general (apart from program logistics) Read more

Reviewed by Jakestudent on May 10, 2009.

Amazing for experiencing Spanish culture, but provided little in the way of academics. Read more

Reviewed by nonestudent on May 10, 2009.

Classes were easy but very interesting - Madrid is a really cool city - fun stuff to do, TONS of bars, parks, cafes, etc. I's recommend the program overall. Read more