Amazing! March 06, 2019

By (Ithaca College) - abroad from 01/03/2019 to 05/10/2019 with

European Study Center: Heidelberg - Study Abroad in the EU

I learned how to navigate a foreign country on my own, so not only did I become more independent but I also gained more confidence.

Personal Information


Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses offered covered a wide range of topics and were very interesting. The professors were very helpful and genuinely wanted the students to learn and enjoy the class. Classes were offered in a very intimate setting with usually about 5 to 6 students per course.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Germany is beautiful and I recommend everyone to go

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While Germans have the stereotype of being cold and rude, all the Germans I met were very nice and understanding. They were also very helpful when I was trying to acclimate to German culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a doctor's office right near the ESC and the administration was very helpful in arranging appointments and making sure my needs were met when I was sick

* Safety:

Heidelberg is a very safe environment


Heidelberg is in the middle of Europe, which allowed me to travel to multiple other countries with ease.




My experience could be rated as a 3.5. Heidelberg is not the most expensive city compared to other countries. However, it all depends on how much you plan on traveling.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-300 a week depending on travel
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook as much as you can and find the cheapest housing/transportation


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



How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Start small by ordering food items in German and eventually try talking to a foreign student in German

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Freedom to travel
  • Flexibility of schedule
* What could be improved?
  • Housing conditions
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how to budget better

Reasons For Studying Abroad

The Outright Urbanite