Anthony Bilis-Gruson

CEA CAPA Amsterdam, Netherlands - Summer in Amsterdam
Summer 2024

University College London Exchange 
Spring 2026

Majors: Political Science; Public Policy

Minor: French

Hi! I'm Anthony, and I'm a senior majoring in Political Science & Public Policy with a minor in French.

I studied abroad twice through UMass, first during a summer program at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and later as an exchange student at University College London. My semester in London was easily one of the highlights of my time at UMass. I loved getting to experience everyday life in the city, meeting students from around the world, and being able to travel throughout the UK and Europe. One of my favorite memories was traveling to Edinburgh with friends I met during my first week abroad, traveling with students from the UK, Australia, France, Lebanon, and Dubai, was an experience I will not forget.

Outside of school, I'm a huge soccer fan and have always been interested in politics, sports, history, languages, and cities. I grew up spending summers with family in France, so studying abroad was a chance to explore interests I've had for a long time. One of the aspects I enjoyed most was seeing places I had learned about in class or followed in the news become places that I actually lived in and explored.

I really recommend going abroad and I'd be happy to talk about anything from choosing a program and adjusting to life in a new country to traveling to new places or simply what it's like to live in a foreign city as a student. No matter where you're hoping to go, I'd love to help you find the experience that's the best fit for you.

• Studying in Europe/UK & life abroad in major cities
• Semester vs summer abroad programs
• Exchange vs Partner programs 
• Traveling around Europe independently
• Finding the right program for you
• European culture & everyday life
• Integrating into your abroad community

Mondays: 1pm-3:30pm
Wednesdays: 12pm-3:30pm
Fridays: 1pm-4:30pm