Course pre-registration for Spring 2025 Barcelona programs has been rescheduled. All students will be informed of the new date soon.
Who We Are
Our Mission
We educate students to become global citizens through premier study abroad and internship programs, which offer students worldwide experiential learning opportunities that set the highest standards of academic quality.
We launched the first IES Abroad program in 1950, more than 70 years ago. In September 1950, 23 American students boarded a ship to Vienna, where they would spend a year studying abroad in the Austrian capital. They traveled with Paul Koutny, an idealistic Austrian student who envisioned the program while studying in the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship. Among those wide-eyed, eager students were Clarence and Alberta Giese, young newlyweds from Chicago.
The year abroad inspired the Gieses so deeply that upon returning home, they sold everything they owned and helped Mr. Koutny bring another group of students to Vienna—and then another, and another. Today, more than 70 years later, the IES Abroad experience still elicits the same response from students as it did in 1950: that it irrevocably changed their lives.
1950s
1960s
1970s
1990s
2000s
2010s
1950s
1950: The first group of IES Abroad students board the SS Volendam to Vienna.
1954: Customized Programs begin to be offered, the first in the industry.
1957: First official affiliation established with a university abroad, Universitat Wien.
1960s
1961: Second Center is opened, in Paris, France.
1961: First study abroad scholarship is awarded.
1965: The Academic Consortium of U.S. colleges and universities is established.
1965: First IES Abroad Annual Conference for study abroad professionals is hosted.
1970s-80s
1976: First program review is conducted, making IES Abroad the first provider to formalize its review process.
1986: Expansion into Asia with opening of Nagoya Center.
1990s
1999: A Dean of Students is hired, the first in the field.
1999: The IES Abroad Model Assessment Practice (MAP), initiated by President and CEO Dr. Mary Dwyer, is established; it’s the first educational tool to design and evaluate study abroad programs.
2000s
2001: President and CEO Dr. Mary Dwyer is one of the founders of the Forum on Education Abroad.
2002: Completion of a 50-year longitudinal study of alumni, the first in the field.
2008: Diversity Initiative is launched, first in the field.
2009: CORE (Comprehensive Orientation and Re-entry Experience) launches, helping students cope with new cultures and reverse culture shock.
2010s
2010: Completion of the Forum on Education Abroad’s Category 2A Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) review, first in the field.
2011: Publication of IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication, a tool designed to codify our holistic approach to language instruction that provides guidelines for students and teachers at each stage of a student’s development.
2013: Publication of IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management, a set of guidelines for addressing student safety and crisis management in study abroad programs.
2013: IES Internships unit launches.
2014: Study Abroad Film Festival premiers, the first in the field.
2014: IES Abroad enrolls its 100,000th student.
2015: Approval of The Forum on Education Abroad's Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) Interim Report.
2017: IES Abroad and the Study Abroad Foundation merge to offer students from around the world the most enriching study abroad experience available.
2018: Named GoAbroad.com’s Top Study Abroad Organization for the second year in a row.
Caroline S. • Texas Christian University
Why do we do it? Our passion drives us.
Everything we do is about the IES Abroad student.
We’re a passionate team of study abroad professionals who believe in creating once-in-a-lifetime educational adventures that transcend expectations.
We work at IES Abroad because we believe that every student should have the opportunity to go abroad—especially in a fun, safe, and superior academic and cultural environment.
We believe so strongly in the power of our program, that we actively recruit students from underrepresented populations and provide millions of dollars in scholarships and aid. We are proud that our students are as diverse and exciting as the countries they study in.
We’re not ashamed to admit, we're a little bit obsessed with study abroad.
Angela T. • University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
We believe study abroad is a catalyst for peace and a long-term antidote to systemic racism.
We’ve had a front-row seat to observing how study abroad changes people—no matter who they are. Study abroad humanizes us. It expands our potential by honing our language, intercultural and other skills, and, deepening our capacity for humility, empathy and fairness. At IES Abroad, we use our knowledge of travel, cultures, and places to cultivate global citizens who reflect the world’s rich diversity. This is our form of social justice. This is our platform for change.
“In order to teach these kind of classes and courses, you have to became very broad and not just teach environmental issues but social issues.”
Dr. Hugo Valdebenito • Professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito
IES Abroad Vienna
What does IES Abroad stand for?
Our full name is the Institute for the International Education of Students. We know, it's kind of a mouthful!
What it means though, is that we're passionate about making meaningful academic and cultural education opportunities available to students around the world.
In fact, we've had a few names in our 70 year history. We started as the Institute of European Studies, then became the Institute of European Studies/Institute of Asian Studies (IES/IAS), next Institute for the International Education of Students (IES®), then finally our name became who we are today: IES Abroad.
Across our organization, you'll find global leaders. Meet some of our leadership including our President & CEO and Executive Team. As a not-for-profit organization, we are managed by a Board of Directors—a group of leaders in the fields of study abroad, higher education, as well as local, national and international business.
“The sustained exposure to a range of cultures combined with the deep cultural immersion is one of the most powerful ways to spark a deeper understanding of not only those around you, but also of yourself and your own personal biases.”
Gregory H. • President & CEO of IES Abroad
IES Abroad Cape Town
An Organization You Can Trust
IES Abroad is committed to delivering the highest quality academics and services, and that is why we are a recognized member of the Better Business Bureau.
Join Our Team
Want to join our profoundly passionate team of study abroad professionals? Check out our current job openings to be a part of the life-changing adventures we create every day.
“In order to teach these kind of classes and courses, you have to became very broad and not just teach environmental issues but social issues.”Dr. Hugo Valdebenito • Professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito
“The sustained exposure to a range of cultures combined with the deep cultural immersion is one of the most powerful ways to spark a deeper understanding of not only those around you, but also of yourself and your own personal biases.”Gregory H. • President & CEO of IES Abroad
