Study Abroad in Spain
Providing unique learning experiences for North American university students since 1969
Why study abroad in Spain?
Spain is one of the top destinations for American students and it is the number one place they go to study and perfect the Spanish language. Every person’s choice has its own reasons. If you’re like our students, one or more of these factors could lead you to choose a study abroad program in fabulous Spain:
- It’s in Europe, the most important region for US students going abroad for education.
- Spain’s fun and relaxed lifestyle
- The climate! Our programs are on or near Spain’s beautiful coastline in Seville, Alicante and Barcelona.
- Immersion in the USA’s second language
- Spain’s history, culture and festivals
- Mediterranean cuisine
Spain as a study abroad destination
- Population: 47,000,000
- Europe
- Euro
Setting your priorities
Studying abroad in Spain has a strong tradition among US students and the reasons comprise a long list. In choosing your study abroad destination, it takes understanding your own priorities. As noted above, there are some obvious reasons such as wanting to study in Europe, warm temperatures and the quality of life in Spain. Spain is also known for quality education and personal safety, if those are important to you. You also need to take into account what courses you might need to stay on track for graduation as well as what destinations are approved by your university.
How much does it cost to study abroad in Spain?
Spain is more reasonable than most people imagine and compares favorably to other European countries. There can be some variance by university but our shorter programs are generally from $3,000 to $5,000 and semesters can be around $15,000 without factoring in financial aid and scholarships. When making your budget, consider what extra expenses you may have; for example, if you plan to travel extensively on the weekends, your expenses will be higher than someone who focuses on staying primarily in one’s host city.
How to get started studying abroad in Spain?
For American college students, the first steps are to speak with your academic advisor and the international education office on your campus. Our programs are for college credit and it’s important to figure out how a study abroad program can fit into your degree plan. Financial issues must be considered, such as how your financial aid can apply as well as what other scholarships may be available. Keep in mind that Spain is a great destination for many types of majors beyond Spanish or International Studies -- Spanish Studies Abroad has classes taught in English. In fact, almost all of our Barcelona coursework is offered only in English.
Where should I study in Spain?
Spanish Studies Abroad offers 3 locations in Spain so consider what type of environment suits you best. Seville in the South combines the history and culture of Spain with a medium-sized urban environment. If you want to be surrounded by beautiful, historic buildings and the Spanish language, Seville is a great choice.
Alicante, on Spain’s Southeastern Mediterranean coast, offers a small and friendly city, with beaches, seafood and an outdoor lifestyle. Students take their classes at the prestigious Universidad de Alicante. It’s a great choice if you enjoy fresh produce and delicious seafood as well.
Barcelona is Spain’s most cosmopolitan city. Located on Spain’s Northeastern Mediterranean coast, Barcelona provides students with a sophisticated European environment to study, learn and experience. As a multilingual city, most available course work is in English.
Seville,
Spain
Immerse yourself in Southern Spain’s culture – history, architecture, flamenco and tapas.
Barcelona,
Spain
Surround yourself with big-city sophistication, culture, art, sports, culinary delights and a Mediterranean climate.
Alicante,
Spain
Enjoy an American-style university experience in this seaside, temperate paradise.
When can I study abroad in Spain?
SSA offers semester programs in the Fall and Spring, which can be combined into an academic year. If you can’t work out a full semester, Spanish Studies Abroad offers January term language programs and short-term Summer programs (including May). Many of our students combine June and July terms to spend two months in Spain. SSA also supports a lot of colleges’ short-term faculty-led trips to Spain.
Even More Reasons to Study Abroad in Spain
Still not sure if Spain is the right destination for you? We have some great resources for you to help in your decision, starting with "why study abroad is. so hugely beneficial to students", and “10 great reasons to study in Spain”. Here are some good stories of alums of our programs and the impact that their study abroad semester has had on their lives. If you’re seriously contemplating a study abroad program, here’s an A-Z guide for you; there may be things you haven’t thought of!
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Programs in Spain
Spanish Studies
Historically, this has been our most popular program, for students who are studying Spanish as a major or minor or who simply want to develop their fluency in the language. Spanish studies focuses on courses in the Spanish language as well as the culture and history of Spanish-speaking countries. Courses are for-credit to transfer back to a student’s home campus.
Integrated Studies
This is an option for students with high levels of Spanish proficiency to take some “real world” academic courses. “Integrated” refers to taking university courses in Spanish with local students. To be considered a student in this program, you only need to take 1 course and the rest can be in another category. Taking content courses in Spanish challenges students to use their
International Studies
Students in International Studies do not need a high level of Spanish proficiency. They take at least one content course in English in a wide range of areas, to keep you on track for graduation. International Studies students in Seville and Alicante also have required Spanish language courses to improve from whatever your starting level is (optional courses in Spanish are available in Barcelona).
Experiential learning
Spanish Studies Abroad offers experiential learning to supplement your classroom studies through unpaid internships and volunteer work. Students tell us that these are often the most rewarding experiences of their study abroad as they allow you to meet many people as well as learn and use Spanish in real-world settings.
What are the best universities for international students in Spain?
At Spanish Studies Abroad, students can combine Spanish language classes with taking content courses at various universities, in Spanish for advanced speakers of the language or, in many cases, English.
In Seville, we work with both the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universidad Pablo Olavide, two excellent options for international students.
The Universidad de Alicante is renowned for its excellence in STEM, as well as other areas.
It provides international students with an atmosphere similar to US universities, with a spacious layout and beautiful landscaping as well as amenities like a sports pavilion and cafes.
In Barcelona, Spanish Studies Abroad places students into two prestigious universities as well as Elisava, an excellent school for design and art. The two universities are the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and the study abroad campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Why travel to Spain with Spanish Studies Abroad?
There are many choices in study abroad so you should look at different options and destinations. So why do our students love our programs?
- Over 50 years of experience - SSA has proven that it can provide great student experiences over decades. You benefit from our stability and know-how. Programs that fail to delight their students don’t last for over 5 decades.
- Focus on students’ experiences - From our carefully selected homestay families to experiential learning opportunities and fun excursions, we focus on making your time in Spain the most memorable experience in your college education. We provide you with high-quality instruction and ways to improve your conversational fluency, such as our intercambios (conversation partners).
- Value pricing - As you look at other programs, consider the value that they provide. In addition to SSA’s reasonable costs, we include almost everything that you’ll need during your program, thus reducing the additional spending money that you might need.
- Great locations - Our three locations in Spain - Seville, Alicante and Barcelona - offer you great options of history, culture, festivals, great weather and clear choices for the size of city that appeals to you.
Testimonials from students
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