IES Abroad Vienna Program Class Action Settlement

Individuals who enrolled in the spring 2020 study abroad program in Vienna, Austria, through the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) and paid the company directly for tuition and housing may qualify to receive a cash payment of $250 from a class action settlement.

IES Abroad has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging the it failed to provide contracted in-person educational services and experiences after it moved the program online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who are the class members?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They enrolled in the IES Abroad spring 2020 program in Vienna, Austria.
• They paid IES Abroad directly for tuition and housing costs related to the 2020 spring program.

How much are settlement payments?

Cash payment: Eligible class members will receive a $250 cash payment.

No claim form required

Class members do not need to submit a claim form to receive a settlement payment. Those who would like to receive an electronic payment can submit a payment election online. Class members can also update their address information online.

Payout options

• Electronic payment (available only for class members who submit an online payment selection)
• Venmo
• PayPal
• Zelle
• ACH

• Paper check mailed to the address provided to the settlement administrator or the last address on file with IES

Settlement fund breakdown

The settlement fund will include:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and expenses: Up to $30,000
• Service award to class representative: Up to $8,200
• Payments to eligible class members: $21,500

Important dates

• Exclusion deadline: May 4, 2026
• Final approval hearing: June 24, 2026

When is IES Vienna study abroad settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will issue payments to eligible class members approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit alleged IES Abroad breached its contractual obligations by moving the spring 2020 Vienna program to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The plaintiffs claimed students paid for in-person education, housing, meals and field trips that the company did not fully provide.

IES Abroad denied the allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the risk and expense of continued litigation.

Sources

1. Settlement notice
2. Settlement agreement
3. Settlement website