My name is Alyeska Reimer, and I am currently a senior Theatre Management and Spanish student. I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain in the Spring of 2022 and I couldn’t have been happier with the experience!
My SU Madrid experience was actually a little different because I was enrolled in the UAM program as well. This meant that I took half of my classes at one of the best Spanish Universities alongside Spanish students and other international students as well. The classes were challenging, but my language ability improved so much and I met friends that I’m still in touch with! The program was also about a month longer than SU Madrid program was, but I felt that it gave me more time to settle into my homestay and really get to know Madrid.
The SU Abroad center in Madrid was also a great place to take classes, grab a café con leche in the cafeteria, and connect with the staff. They were always super helpful in helping me navigate my class schedules, work study, organizing tutors, and letting us know what activities to check out in the city. Additionally, they were a great resource whenever I needed health appointments and made me feel prepared to get tested for Covid and even find allergy testing when I needed it.
I had a lovely experience living with my host mom, María José, in an apartment by the Real Madrid Stadium. She helped me practice my Spanish by talking with me about my day and sharing with her family, watching the show “Pasapalabra” together most days of the week, and eating dinners together. She also helped me get familiar with public transportation on busses and metros – I had never lived in a city before, but I sure do have an appreciation for Spanish transportation now!
One of the best ways I found to get involved was to participate with the Erasmus program. This was a program run through the Spanish public universities that had a jam-packed schedule of social and cultural activities for international students (generally European, but we took advantage of this!). They would have weekly conversation groups, occasional trips, and more! I participated in an Improv group every Tuesday night and had so much fun, and I also loved the trip they sponsored to volunteer at an animal sanctuary.
I am grateful I experienced the UAM program as well because now I feel more confident in my speaking and comprehension. This study abroad experience has inspired me to apply for a Fulbright in Mexico in order to immerse myself in another Spanish speaking country and expand my cultural awareness even further. I really hope you consider traveling abroad during your years at SU!
Hi! My name is Danielle Luing, Syracuse University Class of 2025, and I am currently a double major in Marketing and Finance with a minor in Sociology. So, study abroad- woo! I chose my specific program because I applied in December of my freshman year. I was, and still am, so young, but wanted to be able to get a head start on my Whitman abroad requirement. I also wanted to be able to get a feel for studying abroad early on in my time at SU, so I could decide if I wanted to go for a whole semester. I chose to apply to the London program as it was important to me to go to a country that primarily spoke English as its primary language since I have Celiac Disease and wanted to be able to communicate with people so I would not get sick from what I was eating.
The course I took was “Business of Nightlife in London”. This has been my favorite course as well as favorite professor I have had during my time here at SU. The professors and staff are so personable and really get to know you so well, in London, since there are not that many students there during each specific block. This really helped me feel more comfortable being in a new country, as I knew I had people who cared about me at the Syracuse London Center. My class really helped integrate me into the new area I was in, since multiple assignments required us to go to London nightlife events and write reflections/study the dynamic of the event. My professor was quite knowledgeable about the subject as he was a club promoter, so he truly knew the industry better as he directly worked with it in the past. This class also allowed for us students to be involved in extracurricular activities, as my professor set up private events for us to go to outside of class- one being a lesson on the art of being a DJ and matching beats.
One of the highlights of my trip was the Syracuse sponsored trip to Oxford. It was one of my favorite experiences during my time in London as I believe it really allowed the group to bond. Not everyone in Block 2 went on this trip, so having a smaller number of people really allowed us to connect. From time spent on the bus, to all living on the same floor at the hotel, to the tours of Oxford where we got to interact with one another, it truly brought us all closer and made us a little Syracuse London family. The school-sponsored trips are truly so worth it, and I would highly recommend taking advantage of everything they plan as they are the experts on that country and will allow you to explore without having to plan everything.
I lived in a four person flat which was about ten minutes away from Faraday House. The housing accommodations Syracuse chooses are better than one would think. At least for me, in London, I felt very safe in the area I stayed in, as it was a community of college students, some being from Syracuse and others from different schools. My roommate and I were able to have our own bathroom, and then my other two housemates had their own bathroom, which was very nice. The kitchen was also a fully functioning kitchen, which made it easy to try to budget and allowed us to cook for ourselves instead of eating out for every meal. I feel like when I look back at the slideshows presented to us at our London meetings, I was worried about how small the flats would be, and we were warned that this was a city and the living quarters were going to be smaller than usual. I was greatly surprised when my double room was actually bigger than my room at Syracuse University, and the bathroom was bigger than the pods I was used to in the dorms. Overall, much better than I anticipated, and nothing to be stressed about before going. New housing options available as of fall 2022.
Studying abroad truly changed my perspective on the world, and made me realize that I do not want to solely live in the U.S. after I graduate. It made me start to think about jobs that would give me the opportunity to live in London, and look into graduate programs that would allow me to take classes in a different country than I am right now. I plan to travel more in the future, as I feel more confident knowing that I was able to adjust once to a totally new country and culture and feel more comfortable doing that again. I’ve learned to be more confident in myself and what I can do, since I never thought I would have the courage to go to a whole new country alone, and end up thriving.
Hola! My name is Leah Ford and I spent the Spring 2022 semester studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. I will be graduating in Spring 2023, with majors in finance and accounting. Here are some questions and answers about what it’s like to study in Madrid:
Why did you choose this program?
Out of all the options for study abroad locations, Syracuse Madrid aligned best with my academic, personal, and experiential goals. As a Whitman major, a majority of the courses offered fulfill the arts & science elective requirements, giving me a wide range of options to learn about topics I wouldn’t typically take on campus. I also knew I wanted to be somewhere with a different language to expand my knowledge and step outside of my comfort zone. I was able to learn so much through my Spanish class, living with a host family, and immersing myself in Spanish culture. The professors were extremely supportive of my academic goals and gave opportunities to visit local museums and monuments to learn through primary experience.
Personally, it was my first time out of the country, so I wanted to make sure I was really pushing myself. Besides coming to Syracuse from home, I had never felt confident enough to travel on my own. Being with the program was the perfect mix of support and independence outside the country. Personally, I wanted to become more outgoing and able to tackle day-to-day tasks. By the end, I was comfortable going up to new people and embrace being uncomfortable. My mom came to visit while I was abroad and she said she noticed a visible difference with my confidence.
It was also really important to me to have a holistic experience and take advantage of all opportunities. The Madrid program offers a lot of activities within the city, as well as travel throughout Spain. I was able to learn so much about the culture, the food and the history. Madrid is also a major travel hub and the airport is amazing, making it super easy to travel internationally.
What interesting courses did you take abroad?
Healthcare in Europe- This course compared the US healthcare system to European systems, such as Spain, NHS England, and Germany. We discussed the funding and performance of these systems. Additionally, we took a trip to one of the local hospitals to learn about how they operate.
The Business of Sport- I thought this class was extremely engaging and interactive. We completed case studies weekly to take a deep dive on certain sports events. Also, we took multiple trips to both the National Golf Center and “Go Fit.” We were fortunate enough to have a few guest speakers speak about their sports businesses.
Drugs & Human Behavior- In this course, we analyzed numerous types of drugs and how they impacted human psychology. We also focused on legalization and how different countries view drugs. It was a group-oriented class, so we were able to collaborate and create meaningful projects.
Did you travel on your own while abroad?
Short answer, yes! The program sponsored bullet train day trips. These were focused on learning about the culture in a particular city, such as Salamanca, Toledo, Valencia, etc. I also traveled outside of Spain with some of the friends I made in the program. My favorite location was Florence, Italy because it was such a beautiful city, rich with history. I was also able to meet up with friends from Syracuse in the Florence program. Another favorite was visiting Switzerland and going Paragliding through the mountains.
Traveling can definitely be intimidating, but it was so worth it! I was able to see so many countries in a short period of time. Once you get to Europe, travel is relatively affordable compared to the US, so I would recommend taking at least a few weekend trips!
What challenging experiences did you face while abroad?
An easy one is not speaking Spanish. I had taken Spanish all through high school, but I wasn’t anywhere near fluent. Fortunately, with my minimal knowledge, I was able to survive just fine. I could rely on some of my friends that spoke better Spanish, which also helped me learn.
I have celiac disease, so finding food that was safe was often very difficult and exhausting. Europe in general is pretty good at preparing gluten free food, so with a little bit of searching I was able to overcome this. I found a couple places, such as Naked & Sated and Celicioso, that were dedicated gluten free. My host mom was pretty good at preparing meals once I explained to her what my needs were.
Finally, it was difficult to take classes in a new environment. While it is a Syracuse campus, the classes and professors are different from what I was used to. The class length was longer and the assignments were much more collaborative and project based then I was used to. Overall, everyone was very supportive and you are able to adjust within the first few weeks.
What was your living experience like?
I lived in a homestay! It was a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment just north of Chamberí, the neighborhood where the Syracuse campus resides. My roommate and I lived with one woman who has grown children and missed living with others in the house. She was absolutely amazing and I could not recommend homestays enough! She prepared breakfast and dinner for us everyday and was always willing to take requests on what we wanted to eat. The food was really good and she made sure to give us a taste of Spanish food. Our host mom was very supportive of us experiencing all aspects of the culture and traveling. We stay in touch to this day and I plan on going to visit her again next summer!
What has studying abroad taught you about yourself and the world?
Studying abroad taught me that I was holding a lot of my personality back. There’s nothing quite like trying survive in a foreign country without the support of people typically surrounding you. I was forced to adapt and push myself in unexpected ways. I am now significantly more outgoing and willingly to tackle seemingly scary situations.
I have a heightened appreciation for travel and experiencing the world. I’ve been talking nonstop about how much of the world I haven’t seen and how desperate I am to do so. Going abroad truly is lifechanging and gives you opportunities to learn more about yourself and your limits.
To celebrate 30 years of collaboration between the Council of Europe and Syracuse University, the Consul-General of the United States, Darragh Paradiso, hosted a reception on September 29, 2022. In attendance was Raymond Bach, outgoing Director of Syracuse University Strasbourg; Darragh Paradiso, US Consul-General; Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Europe; and John Goodman, current Director of Syracuse University Strasbourg.
The reception highlighted the hundreds of Syracuse Strasbourg students who have interned at the Council throughout the years and was a great opportunity to thank Council staff for their mentorship of Syracuse students. Deputy Secretary-General Byørn Berge spoke on the fruitful relationship and the need to strengthen and carry forward the ties between the Council and Syracuse University.
On Twitter, Bjorn Berge recently tweeted about the reception and his appreciation of the strong partnership with Syracuse University:
“The partnership with Syracuse University highly appreciated by @coe spreading knowledge of work and values of the CoE among young people in Europe and beyond, is a priority for us; and we benefit greatly from their new and insightful ways of looking at things @USAStrasbourg.”
The Council of Europe includes 45 national Member-States from across Europe encompassing 650 million people. The Council is the continent’s leading human rights organization located in Strasbourg, France.
As an opportunity exclusive to students on the Syracuse Strasbourg program, a limited number of internship placements are available at the Council during the semester and over the summer, providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students interested in politics, human rights and international affairs.
Recent Internships at the Council
Katie Blomkvist studied abroad in Strasbourg, France in fall 2021. Majoring in Public Health and Policy Studies and graduating in spring 2023, Katie was an intern at the Council of Europe International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addictions. Read more about Katie’s semester in Strasbourg.
As a dual-degree M.A. in International Relations and Master of Public Administration student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Ben Shultz was presented with an unmatched opportunity to explore European policy space in a hands-on manner in Strasbourg during spring 2022. He took a graduate course at the Syracuse Strasbourg Center and undertook an internship at the Council of Europe International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group). Read about Ben’s research work at the Council.
Applications are now being accepted for 2023 summer programs – expand your horizons and study abroad next summer! Choose from a variety of programs, locations and courses to find the best fit for you.
Learn more about sessions and courses at our Centers in Florence, London, Madrid and Strasbourg: Summer Sessions
Need-based financial aid is available to all students who qualify. The Office of Financial Aid awards Study Abroad Grants (SAG), based on financial need, that range from $250-$2,000 for 3 credits and $500-$4,000 for 6 credits. Need is determined by the previous academic year’s FAFSA information.
Additional need-based grants of up to $3,000 are available for Syracuse University undergraduate students who attend a summer program at a Syracuse Abroad Center: Florence, London, Madrid or Strasbourg.
Syracuse University undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.4 or above are able to apply for a $1,000 Merit Scholarship for 2023 summer programs. Details of how to apply will be found within your application portal.
There is still time to apply for spring 2023 programs! We’re extending the application deadline to October 15 for select Center programs listed below. Our Center locations offer culturally enriching programming, unique courses and exciting extracurricular activities for students planning to study abroad in the spring.
Check out spring 2023 programs still accepting applications:
Syracuse University has been ranked #9 in study abroad in the latest 2022-2023 US News & World Report. US News ranked the top 40 study abroad programs in the nation, with Syracuse Abroad landing in the top 10. Tied with Arcadia University and Michigan State University, Syracuse Abroad programs have been recognized for its academic excellence and valuable programmatic experiences, fostering student growth and immersion.
Syracuse Abroad has moved up two spots, since ranking #11 in the 2021-2022 report. Its annual, prestigious ranking is largely due to its five study abroad center programs and award-winning featured program in Central Europe, along with annual summer and short-term program options for students.
This year, Syracuse Abroad Week will take place Sept. 12-16. Students, partners and faculty are invited to take part in a variety of in-person and virtual events to learn more about study abroad opportunities and program offerings. Throughout the week, Syracuse Abroad staff will host virtual information sessions discussing program options, financing study abroad, internship opportunities and more. To view all events and sessions, visit the schedule of Syracuse Abroad Week events.
Syracuse Abroad is taking over Shaw Quad on Sept. 14! Students, campus partners and faculty are invited to visit the Syracuse Abroad tent on the quad from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday to learn about options for international study and explore more than 100 programs in 60 different countries.
Syracuse Abroad is excited to announce a new addition to the Santiago Center program.
Reintroducing the intensive Spanish immersion program, students will now have the opportunity to begin their semester in Argentina, as part of a prequel course prior to arriving in Chile. This new Buenos Aires immersion will prepare students for the Spanish language program in Santiago, while introducing them to the modern culture and iconic city of Buenos Aires.
The retirement of Dr. Raymond Bach, Center Director of Syracuse University Strasbourg, has paved the way for new leadership in France beginning this fall semester. As this new chapter unfolds, Syracuse Abroad is excited to announce the new director for the Strasbourg Center, Dr. John J. Goodman.
Goodman joins Syracuse University Strasbourg with an extensive background in law, diplomacy and conflict resolution, education, and leading international organizations, having served as a lawyer, an international relations scholar, a delegate in South Sudan for the Red Cross, and an advisor to former United States President and Nobel Laureate, Jimmy Carter.
Bach will be retiring after leading the Strasbourg Center for 22 years. During his tenure, he has been a pillar of Syracuse Abroad and integral in the development of the Strasbourg Center programs and curriculum. Bach is a leader of great intellectual force and a respected mentor and guide to students and colleagues alike.
Syracuse Abroad is grateful for the dedication and innovative spirit that Bach has provided for the past 22 years, and is excited for this new chapter of leadership Dr. Goodman will deliver.
