Thursday, September 20, 2007

Study International Business in London

The economic and financial capital of Europe, the city of London lives and breathes international business. Comparable only to New York in its size and power, the London Stock Exchange lists stocks from corporations around the world. The center of London, known as the City, houses Europe’s largest financial sector. What better place to learn about international business? Study abroad in London opens the door to countless experiences, including valuable insights into the world of business that you simply can’t learn anywhere else.

When you choose CEA for your study abroad trip, not only will you live right in the heart of London, but you’ll also have the unique opportunity to take classes in your chosen major. For students interested in business, study abroad in London offers a variety of business-related courses to choose from. Offered by CEA’s partner institutions, which include the University of Westminster, Middlesex University and Goldsmiths College, University of London, you’ll choose from a wide range of business courses, including everything from marketing and business strategy to economics and finance.

Want a bigger dose of international business? Study abroad in London also offers you the chance to complete an internship with a business organization, from international conglomerates to smaller enterprises to British governmental agencies. With the addition of on-the-job experience in British business, study abroad in London is the best way to prepare for your future career in international business.

In addition to offering a variety of courses in marketing and business, study abroad in London also allows you to take part in excursions throughout the UK, broadening your cultural experience and making sure your study abroad offers more than just studying. Excursions vary based on your program’s length and time of year, but may include visits to the Oceanside resort town of Brighton, Stonehenge, Oxford College, the city of Bath, Shakespeare’s birthplace of Stratford and more.

Even if your major isn’t business, study abroad in London can still open doors and widen your horizons. In fact, when you choose CEA for your study abroad, you’ll find a number of courses and academic programs to choose from, so no matter what your major is – communications, art, literature, history, social sciences or countless others – you’ll find courses in your field.

Looking for additional information? Find even more reasons to study abroad with CEA on our Website. Ready to begin? Apply now to study abroad in London, and start planning your study abroad trip with CEA today!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Open Doors to Your Education with a Czech Republic Study Abroad

Located in the heart of Central Europe, between the traditionally Western nations of Germany and Austria and the Slavic nations of Slovakia and Poland, the Czech Republic has straddled the divide between East and West for centuries. With a Czech Republic study abroad program from CEA, you’ll live in the heart of European culture: Prague.

Located in Bohemia, a historical region spanning much of modern-day Czech Republic and Germany, Prague is a city that truly lives up to the free-spirited bohemian lifestyle. Home to such literary greats as Franz Kafka, it is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and known the world round for its lively nightlife, vibrant cafés, towering church spires and misty, mysterious city streets.

If you’re interested in a Prague, Czech Republic study abroad program but don’t know much about the region, read on for a brief history of the region – you’ll be surprised how many major events took place here.

Know Before you Go: History of Prague and the Czech Republic

With a history that dates from the 5th Century, Prague has been at the center of major political, social and cultural movements for centuries – and with a Czech Republic study abroad trip with CEA, you can immerse yourself in this fascinating land.

Multiethnic from the start, it was founded by Germanic and Slavic tribes. Ruled by the Bohemia dynasty throughout the Middle Ages, Prague became the seat of the Holy Roman Empire during the Renaissance. In the 16th Century, the Habsburg dynasty came into power, ruling the region until the fall of the Holy Roman Empire at the hands of Napoleon in 1806.

Throughout the 19th Century, the Habsburgs continued to control the region as a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire – until 1914, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked World War I and the empire collapsed. Following the Great War, Czechoslovakia emerged as a brand-new nation, merging two historically distinct peoples under one national identity.

During World War II, German forces occupied the nation, effectively dissolving the nation until the end of the war, when it was reestablished. During this period, most of the nation’s ethnically German citizens were expelled. Simultaneously, communism took root in the nation, with Czechoslovakia joining the Soviet Bloc in 1948.

With Soviet rule came a strict crackdown on personal freedom, forcing the city of Prague away from its past as an artist’s and writer’s haven. In fact, Soviet control was so strict that in 1968, when Prague experienced a brief period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring, the Eastern Bloc responded by invading the country and reigning in personal freedom once again.

But with the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the Soviet Union dissolved and Czechoslovakia once again became a free state, embracing political and social freedoms. In 1993, it peacefully split into two nations, giving the Czechs and the Slovaks individual rule once again. After joining the European Union in 2004, the Czech Republic is once again a bustling, thriving European nation.

Apply Today for your Czech Republic Study Abroad

With so much history to absorb and a rich mixture of languages to learn – Czech, Russian and German are all widely spoken here – Prague is the ideal city for an incredible Czech Republic study abroad experience. Visit CEA today for more information on all our programs, and start planning your study abroad in Prague today.


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Thursday, September 6, 2007

Top 10 Reasons to Study Abroad

Why study abroad? From expanding your horizons to earning college credit, there are a lot of great reasons to choose a study abroad program with CEA, one of the most respected foreign study organizations in the United States and Canada. With programs in more than a dozen countries and instruction offered in English, Spanish, French, German and a host of other languages, CEA offers diverse study abroad options for college students – and an endless list of study abroad benefits. Read on for our top 10 reasons to study abroad with CEA.

1. Improve your resume. According a survey by Penn State researchers, potential employers look favorably on study abroad experience when hiring recent grads. The survey took data from 352 employers with ties to four different universities, finding that employers consider study abroad experience among the top three most valuable college experiences.

2. If not now, when? Once you graduate, chances are slim you’ll have another opportunity to spend a long period of time abroad. As a career, spouse, kids and other obligations get in the picture, you’re unlikely to have the flexibility to embark on a major overseas adventure. Do it now, while you’re relatively mobile and not tied down. And with financial aid and scholarships, study abroad is affordable, too. Why wait?

3. Stay competitive in a globalized society. A 2005 report by the Goldman Sachs Foundation and the Asia Society finds that U.S. students risk falling behind their international peers because the skills needed to compete in an increasingly global marketplace are not yet part of standard college educations. To stay competitive, the report advises American college students to make extra efforts to bridge gaps in global knowledge, foreign language and global perspectives – all skills obtained in a foreign language study abroad program.

4. Learn a language. No matter how hard you study French in college, nothing can take the place of taking French courses in France when it comes to learning conversational cues, increasing vocabulary, improving your accent and more. The same is true for any foreign language: study abroad brings your skills to a higher level.

5. Gain cultural awareness. Study abroad not only introduces you to new customs and traditions, but it also makes you more aware of your own cultural background. When you experience cultural immersion, you’ll appreciate the nuances of your own culture, and also be more comfortable with diversity.

6. Build lifelong friendships. Whether you bond with a Spanish host family, travel the German countryside with your fellow American students or spend time volunteering with native Costa Ricans, you’ll build friendships that stand the test of time when you study abroad, giving you connections to people all over the world.

7. Earn college credit without being on campus. The ability to stay on track with your degree is one reason why study abroad is great for college students. At CEA, our study abroad academic focus even allows you to take courses in a variety of disciplines. We’ve worked with more than 1,000 universities throughout North America, and we’ll help you facilitate course approval and credit transfer. Many CEA students even fulfill major requirements while abroad.

8. Become a more well-rounded person. Sure, studying abroad is about attending classes and learning a new culture, but it’s also about personal growth. You’ll gain independence and self-confidence, learn to tackle challenging and stressful situations and become comfortable in myriad social settings. If navigating the bustling streets of Rome alone seems daunting now, just wait – after a study abroad trip, you’ll be prepared for that and so much more.

9. Take it home with you. Your international experience doesn’t end when you come home. Whether it’s an authentic Chinese dim sum recipe or a perfect rendition of a Czech folk song, you can share your international flair with friends and family once you return.

10. Have fun. Perhaps the biggest of all the study abroad benefits, having fun is a major part of all of CEA’s programs. Spend time traveling, hit the beach or find your city’s hottest clubs – all in the company of great friends and hosts. In fact, you’ll learn as much out on the town as you do in the classroom on your CEA study abroad.

Get started with CEA today to find even more study abroad benefits. From foreign language study abroad to study abroad in English, there are endless reasons why study abroad with CEA is the way to go.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Looking for an exciting university study abroad? Spain is waiting!

From the towering peaks of the Pyrenees to the warm waters of the Mediterranean, Spain’s geography is nearly as varied as its cultural traditions. Whether you visit the gothic cathedrals mixed with Moorish castles in Andalusia, the Basque villages near the Bay of Biscay or the bustling modern cities located throughout the country, you’ll find incredible histories and traditions when you study abroad in Spain.

Combined with its reputation for great nightlife and social events, this varied landscape makes the country a perennial favorite for university study abroad. Spain study abroad programs from CEA give you multiple options for courses to take and cities to live in, so you’re sure to find a study abroad program that meets your needs and fits your schedule.

While you enjoy the culture and social experiences of Spain, you’ll also earn academic credit. Study abroad with CEA and you may even be able to apply courses taken abroad directly to your major. When it comes to transferring academic credits to your home university, study abroad Spain programs offer a wide range of choices. While increasing your Spanish proficiency is a natural choice, it’s not your only option. Take classes in international business, liberal arts, Hispanic studies and more during your trip, and come back with a great education and great Spanish skills.

University Study Abroad: Spain Programs from CEA
Ready to choose your study abroad in Spain? CEA offers exciting programs in six beautiful cities:
Alicante - A city best known for its miles of beaches along the Costa Blanca and a castle, the “Castillo do Santa Barbara", which sits high above the city on a cliff
Barcelona – This Mediterranean gem is a cosmopolitan city known for an eclectic mix of gothic towers and modernist structures.
Granada – Located along the edge of the Mediterranean, Granada is a fairytale city with plenty of Moroccan influence.
Madrid – Spain’s largest city, Madrid is a bustling metropolis famous for its lively streets.
Salamanca – A picturesque town near the Portuguese border, Salamanca is home to the oldest Spanish language university in the world.
Seville – A Charming city in the southern Spain region of Andalusia.

Need advice before you choose your program? Learn how to select an overseas study abroad location, and use our helpful tips to pick your ideal city. Not in college yet? At CEA, we offer more than university study abroad. Spain is also home to a number of great high school study abroad programs, so you can get a taste of España before you even graduate.

No matter which program you choose, you’ll fall in love with the land of flamenco and fiestas on your high school or university study abroad. Spain is waiting – apply to CEA today.