Parents
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At IES Abroad, we consider living and studying abroad to be one of the most exciting experiences in a young person's life. It's a time of tremendous growth and has shown to have significant personal, academic, and career benefits. We strive to make the once-in-a-lifetime educational adventure of study abroad accessible to all students—but as a parent, you probably have many questions about your student living and learning abroad and how we’ll support them along the way.
High-Quality Academics
Returning students tell us that studying abroad affects both their personal growth and influences their academic interests and commitment to their studies.*
- 87% of returning students said study abroad influenced subsequent educational experiences
- 80% reported an enhanced interest in academic study
- 52% of students attained graduate degrees after studying abroad
Incomparable Career Benefits
Students and employers acknowledge that international experience on a résumé is a competitive advantage in today’s job market. In many cases, students add professional experiences to their résumés while they’re abroad through part-time (semester) and full-time (summer) internships in fields such as business, humanities, communications, and engineering. Students improve their language skills, develop intercultural competency, and increase confidence in themselves and their abilities—all skills that will serve them greatly no matter where they land after college.
Did You Know?
- IES Abroad alumni earn, on average, $6,000 more in starting salaries, compared to recent U.S. college graduates from the general population.
- 93% of our alumni found their first job within six months of graduation, while nearly three fourths of them found their first job within just two months.
- 84% of alumni felt that studying abroad helped them build valuable job skills, such as language proficiency, cultural training, tolerance for ambiguity, adaptability, and communication skills.
- 96% indicated that study abroad increased self-confidence.
Commitment to Diversity
At IES Abroad, we understand that diversity must be cultivated and supported in several ways and at multiple levels, from accessibility and inclusiveness of a diverse student body to the learning environment and courses offered.
Read About our Commitment to Diversity.
Putting Students First
As a not-for-profit, we dedicate our time and resources to your student. Our academic and social support services range include pre-departure advisors, a Diversity team, and a dedicated Student Affairs staff who assist in your student’s cultural and academic preparation and adjustment.
See What's Included for Your Student.
Health & Safety
The safety of IES Abroad students is our highest priority. Our staff is well-trained and knowledgeable about our safety procedures and protocols. Unlike most study abroad providers, IES Abroad has a full-time Chicago-based Dean of Students Office that establishes and oversees our health and safety guidelines, and consults with the IES Abroad Centers to maintain high standards of safety.
Read More About Our Safety Measures.
On-Time Graduation
With advanced planning, your student’s study abroad experience doesn’t have to delay graduation. IES Abroad has formal agreements with more than 235 top-tier American colleges and universities that approve IES Abroad programs and accept IES Abroad credit. Plus, with a personal College Relations Manager and Program Advisor, your student and their needs are supported by IES Abroad staff.
See What Schools Make Up Our Consortium.
Setting Industry Standards
We believe transparency, best practices, and maintaining the integrity of our business principles are in the best interests of our students, our global academic partners, and our organization. We constantly strive to make sure our offerings are the best in the industry as a not-for-profit organization with more than 65 years of leadership in study abroad.
Learn more about the IES Abroad Difference.
On-site Support Abroad
IES Abroad is proud of our global Centers, which typically house staff offices, classrooms, student lounges, and more. This means your student has a physical space to connect with IES staff while abroad and around can count on receiving around the clock support from our experienced and professional on-site staff.
"My daughter had a wonderful time abroad and was well-served by IES Abroad. I thank you for the dedicated staff who have guided the students so well."
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Made Us Crave Nature This Week
We're smelling the roses and chasing waterfalls this week while celebrating all things nature. See the students who have been, too!
13 Students' Perspectives on the Study Abroad Courses Now Offered Online
We asked our Ambassadors (alums of IES Abroad programs who love to share their experiences with prospective students) what they enjoyed most about the courses they took abroad to help inform you about your course options for IES Abroad's Virtual World DiscoverIES program.
Merrill Scholar Emerges as Global Storyteller—Alum of the Month Jimmie Briggs
Meet Jimmie Briggs (IES Abroad Vienna | 1989) a gifted storyteller and humanitarian. Jimmie was pre-med at Morehouse and pre-accepted to Harvard Medical school, he spent a semester in Vienna after receiving a Charles Merrill Jr. Scholarship. Vienna changed Jimmies trajectory, he decided not to pursue medicine but journalism. Witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the fall of Eastern Europe had a profound effect on his life.
Future-Focused Friday: Things That Sparked Our Creativity This Week
Everyone's had to get a little more creative lately and where better to look for inspiration than study abroad students? Their varied, global experiences have motivated them to create and perform some pretty school stuff!
Future-Focused Friday: Things We Want to Cook This Week
It's May! Mother's Day! Gradua-...okay, we know graduation may look different for your peers this time around. Tune in to our newsletter this week as we dive into a food edition.
Future-Focused Friday: A Few Things That Helped Us Slow Down This Week
When was the last time you took a deep breath? Like a big, body-filling breath? It's not always top-of-mind, so if you're in the same boat, here's a little invitation. We've got you covered with our most stress-relieving favorites from this week, so plug in and unwind this Future Focused Friday—you deserve it!
