AIFS Abroad Study + Intern in Prague, Czech Republic: Charles University

This program was awesome! ECES at Charles University has a broad range of academic options and AIFS makes the administrative side of things, especially while preparing for the program, easy. AIFS also has fun side trips and social features that supplement the ECES program. Prague is a city with lots to do/a lively social scene, Prague is inexpensive, Prague has lots of history and the city didn't suffer much damage from World War II, and Prague's central location in Europe makes it fairly convenient to travel to other places in Europe. Ideally the program would start about a week earlier and end about a week later. The professors are generally great but make sure you clarify their academic expectations for assignments. Overall the work load is very manageable except during the universal workload waves during midterms and finals. If the program were to spread the work out a little more and not have quite a narrow work-jammed finals period right on the last couple of days.

Studying abroad with AIFS was life changing and exciting. I studies abroad the Spring semester of 2021 and for the first part of the semester I spent my time exploring not just the magical city of Prague, but the surrounding cities as well. AIFS does a great job of planning activities for the students that vary by interests so there is always something for someone to be doing. In addition, AIFS highlights the Czech culture very well during orientation and shows the students that the Czech Republic is more than just Prague. I was able to attend great classes taught by brilliant professors and really explore all of the secret hidden gems of Prague.

After the first half of my study abroad experience, the COVID-19 virus began to spread. As the virus swept through the continent, AIFS remained calm and was able to provide every student with the support they needed to return to their home country safely. During such stressful times, AIFS relieved many of my anxieties. Putting the students safety and health before anything else, AIFS generously worked with students throughout the pandemic to create a safe environment for studying abroad.

Prague is the place to experience many new things and I guarantee you will quickly fall in love. I was abroad in the spring of 2020 when the global pandemic hit, so we did have to come home early. However, even with 2 months less, it was still one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The AIFS Prague staff are there for anything you need from a friendly conversation, to important questions, to leading students of cultural excursions included in the AIFS package. I still know I can talk to them whenever I need to about the program, future travels, or just life. I found the city to be intimidating at first, but then not even a month later it felt like home. I would want to go to the store by myself, or even purposefully get lost on the tram. I wish I could go back right now and explore more because it is limitless what you can do in that city.

I couldn't recommend AIFS highly enough for those looking to study abroad! The staff was extremely helpful from the start of my application all the way up to my return home. They were there to assist with any questions I had about my visa forms, scholarship applications, choosing classes, etc. They also offered a flight package for a very affordable cost, and I had the opportunity to meet a bunch of people in my program during our 2-day layover in London! One of the reasons why I chose AIFS is because of how much is included in the program costs (classes, housing, food, public transportation, a group excursion to Moravia, etc.), which made budgeting abroad a lot more easier. AIFS partners with Charles University in Prague to offer classes which were easily transferable to my home institution. I made the choice to live in a suite-style dorm hall just a short tram ride away from classes, but students also have the option to look for their own apartment if they wish to. While in-country, the staff also offered cultural excursions and events which made it so easy to explore the city more and meet more people in my program. Although my experience was cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic, AIFS had everyone's safety at their highest interest and made sure that we all got home safely and efficiently. I could not recommend this program enough!

Prague is stunning. I love everything about the city, it is absolutely the place to be. The AIFS staff on site were amazing. They are so helpful and are so excited to show students their city. The cultural events such as the opera are so fun. The AIFS tour guide Z is one of the kindest people ever and will show you places like Prague Castle and the Jewish Quarter. The included trip to Moravia was my favorite part of the whole experience. We had such good Czech food and saw beautiful underwater caves. Please go to Prague!!

Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world? Of seeing places you'd never thought you'd see, meeting unforgettable people in one of the most beautiful cities in the world? I have, and I experienced it.

I found what I was looking for when I stumbled upon AIFS and their Prague, Czech Republic program. With their all-inclusive programs and optional flight package (which I took), it was easy every step of the way. Their unconditional support before, during, and after the program has been incredible and reassuring. I've met lifelong friends and took some of the best classes I've ever taken. I miss the city I lived in for 4 short months, and every day I remember the beautiful cobblestones and grandiose castles, the swans in the river and Letná Park. Thank you AIFS for the best experience I could have ever asked for.

I know the title of this is super cheesy but its true! Studying with AIFS made my experience so much more enjoyable. Their staff was there for me throughout the application process to pre-departure to my time in Prague to making sure I knew about resources they had as I returned to the states. The onsite staff became my go to people to ask advice about what to do in Prague to just having someone to talk to about the local culture. Prague is a beautiful city with a rich culture and history that not a lot of people know about. Through AIFS we had the opportunity to have weekly walks through the city from one of our onsite staff who has lived in Prague for a good amount of his life. The things he showed us and told us about are things that I will never forget. He really knew where the gems of the city were hidden. That is just one of the many things AIFS provided us. They also organized optional cultural activities, such as going to hockey games, ballets, or cooking activities, and optional weekend excursions where they set up all transportation and lodging in a different city with local tours and events set up with free time to explore on your own. I am so lucky that I stumbled across this program when planning my study abroad trip because my trip would not have been what it was without AIFS.

My semester in Prague provided me with so many unforgettable experiences and has inspired more travel to even further places. The staff at AIFS Prague helped make my transition to living in a foreign country easy by setting up local excursions and activities to expand my comfort in my new home. During this program, I was able to complete 20 credit hours towards my graduation and I had the opportunity to travel to 8 countries throughout Europe at an affordable price due to the central location. The dorms were comfortable, in a great location and I loved spending my nights studying in the basement pub. I wish I could go back to my days walking the cobblestone streets of Old Town and enjoying a Trdelník after class. With the fairytale location, affordable pubs, endless travel opportunities and friendships that will last a lifetime, you can't go wrong with choosing this program.