Since our founding in 1950, IES Global has grown to become a collective of programming units comprised of IES Abroad, IES Customized & Faculty-Led Programs, IES Internships, and the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF), offering study abroad and internship opportunities for students and university partners.
IES Abroad
IES Abroad designs programs that are uniquely tailored to the needs of study abroad students. With 140+ premier international study abroad programs in 30+ global locations, serving more than 275 Consortium Member U.S. colleges and universities, IES Abroad is committed to championing meaningful academic and cultural education.
IES Abroad operates programs from on-the-ground facilities (Centers) that allow students and partner universities to engage in a range of academic, cultural, and pre-professional activities. In addition to partnering with leading local universities, IES Abroad collaborates with local professors to offer courses at our Centers. These courses are subject to a robust academic governance system, through which our Consortium Members ensure that coursework aligns with the quality expectations of their institution. In addition to IES Abroad transcripts, students may request transcripts from our School of Record, the University of Rochester.
Beyond academic offerings and faculty, our Centers are fully staffed with trained student affairs professionals that maintain carefully vetted part-time internship and community-based learning placements, housing that has been screened to meet our highest standards, and connections with local organizations that offer students meaningful opportunities for cultural learning and integration.
Customized & Faculty-Led Programs
In an ever-evolving educational landscape, IES Global stands at the forefront of school-specific global learning experiences through our Customized & Faculty-Led Programs. Our strength lies in our ability to customize programs for unique student groups that align perfectly with the needs and academic goals of our partner institutions, including through our newest offering, pre-built Customizable Global Pathways.
Program Planning & Collaboration From concept to execution, our Chicago-based team collaborates closely with our university partners and our in-country staff to ensure that every aspect of the program reflects the educational objectives and cultural nuances desired by our partners for their group programs. Our programs go beyond academic enrichment; our teams can accommodate all aspects on meals, housing, field trips, visa advice, and more.
Leveraging Local Customized & Faculty-Led Programs leverage local insights, connections, support, and expertise of established IES Global Centers, our on-the-ground teaching facilities in approximately 30 cities. Experienced academic and student affairs professionals tap into our vast network of relationships with the local academic, professional, and cultural communities to give students access to extraordinary experiences only made possible through years of on-the-ground know-how.
IES Internships
IES Global has offered meaningful internships as part of study abroad programs for more than 55 years. In 2013, IES Internships was launched to provide full-time, hands-on internships abroad with dedicated assistance before, during, and after students go abroad. Full-time IES Internships programs guarantee placements in students’ career field of choice, with businesses and organizations across 12 destinations. Remote internships are also available for when traveling abroad may not be an option, but gaining international experience is a must.
IES Internships by the Numbers
0, 3, 6, or 9 academic credits
8 weeks in the summer
12+ weeks in Fall or Spring Semester
12 destinations around the world
25-40 hours per week at internship (varies by location)
Hundreds of opportunities in students’ desired fields
Study Abroad Foundation (SAF)
Founded in 2000 and joining IES Global in 2017, the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF) provides semester, quarter, and summer study abroad opportunities to students from elite institutions across the globe. SAF focuses on offering students from outside of the United States access to high-quality study abroad opportunities, typically through direct enrollment in prestigious Western universities.
SAF has helped more than 10,000 students study abroad and remains dedicated to providing high-quality international education and support to students to foster global connections and understanding. SAF programs give students the option to pursue traditional academic or language studies, and/or complete an internship.
Programs are offered across approximately 60 host universities in: Australia • Canada • Europe • New Zealand • United Kingdom • United States
