Geneva! and Geneva only August 11, 2023
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/20/2023 to 06/08/2023 with
Geneva Graduate Institute - Undergraduate Semester Programme
I learned how to live on my own, take care of my own administrative tasks, and find fun things to do while being pretty alone most of the time. I did get an internship in international affairs in Europe for the summer, partially because the organization I applied to was familiar with IHEID. So that was a big plus. Lastly, I had a lot of free time generally and was able to travel around Switzerland and to neighboring countries frequently, which was fun. Of course, these things gained were worthwhile, but it still doesn't mean that maybe there was a more enjoyable study abroad experience out there that I could have chosen in retrospect.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I personally didn't love the teaching style at the Institute - it can be very lecture heavy and exam-based, and not as collaborative/interactive as teaching at Wellesley. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It is not a particularly structured program, and the on-site administration wasn't the most responsive to questions or requests. There are lots of administrative tasks to complete to live in Geneva (residence permit applications, biometrics, health insurance) and I would've appreciated more thorough and timely guidance on these issues. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
At the Grand Morillon, housing administration rules are quite strict, the rent is high, and there isn't much of a community or anything. But it is a very nice, clean, convenient, and comfortable place to live, so if you're okay with the caveats, I would still highly recommend GM. |
| * Food: |
The food scene in Geneva is very expensive, so I mostly cooked for myself. Groceries were expensive too - Geneva and Switzerland in general is known to have some of the highest food prices in the world. However, the quality of the produce and other groceries is generally noticeably higher than what you would find in the US for the same items. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Geneva is a pretty "international" city and IHEID has a lot of international students, so if you're seeking an experience with more immersion into Switzerland, I wouldn't suggest this program. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Geneva is overall a very safe city. I felt safe walking around and jogging at night. I'd advise to be mindful of belongings around the central train station (just like in any city), because someone tried to steal my bag there. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would only recommend this program to someone who *really* wants to be in *Geneva* and be exposed to "international Geneva" for a specific reason (i.e. you are seriously considering a career in international law or humanitarian work). If you're just generally interested in "Europe", I'd recommend a less expensive and more international student-friendly country. If you are interested in Switzerland, I would recommend studying at a university with more local students that is not exclusively a graduate institute. Geneva is not a city conducive to student life or needs (it's expensive and full of professionals), and IHEID does not have a very accessible social community, as it is a grad school. I came into Geneva with a strong interest in Geneva specifically. However, even I walked away a little dissatisfied with my experience. Of course, Geneva was really fascinating, but IHEID is simply not a place built to fit for someone seeking a more enjoyable and accessible undergraduate study abroad experience, and that's okay. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I'd guess 100 francs (not including trips) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook, shop at Carrefour in France rather than any Swiss grocery stores, try and find free events and activities |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | A0 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you want to improve your French in Geneva, you need to take initiative to practice daily. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Geneva and its neighboring towns are very fun and accessible to explore by bicycle. There are monthly/short-term bike rental options with La Bicyclette Bleue and Donkey Republic available if you are interested. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
