The Ultimate Guide to Studying Abroad in Spain
If you're considering studying abroad in Spain, you're in for a treat. Home to mouthwatering tapas, captivating Flamenco dancing, entertaining bullfights, and rich art, literature, and architecture, this warm and welcoming country is the ideal location to pursue your study abroad dreams.
In fact, Spain is such a prime study abroad destination that we offer 27 different Spanish study abroad programs here!
To help you discover the best Spain program, we鈥檝e compiled a 日博体育-approved guide to studying abroad in Spain. This is an excellent resource for those thinking about Spain, as well as for those who are about to head that way.
Why Study Abroad in Spain
According to the Institute of International Education鈥檚 , Spain is one of the top study abroad destinations for U.S. students 鈥 and it has been for well over two decades.
And, it鈥檚 no surprise. This laid-back country is made for adventurous students 鈥 like you 鈥 who want to dive deeper into:
- The language. There is no better way to learn a language than by immersing yourself in it. Studying abroad in Spain gives you the opportunity to hear, speak, write, and read Spanish, morning 鈥榯il night. There鈥檚 no way you won鈥檛 improve your Spanish language skills 鈥 one of the most popular languages spoken on Earth.
- The culture. Spain is a famously inviting country rich in culture, history, cuisine, and a whole lot more. And, of course, it boasts an incredible art scene with some of the greatest collections and masterpieces in the world.
- The food. You could choose Spain solely for its food. We won鈥檛 judge you 鈥 it鈥檚 that good. While it鈥檚 of course known for paella, our alums favor the country鈥檚 c补濒莽辞迟蝉, escalivada, gazpacho andaluz, and many more delicious dishes.
- The climate. Yes, the weather varies between cities. Southern cities, like Seville or Malaga, tend to be milder than northern cities like, Madrid or Barcelona. But overall, Spain offers a lovely Mediterranean climate with hot summers perfect for spending time at the beach.
- The affordability. Depending on your program, your housing, excursions, study tours, and tuition will all be included in your 日博体育 fee. But honestly, the cost of living in Spain is quite affordable. Cheap eats are readily available. And, you can travel about using Spain鈥檚 low-cost, highly efficient public transit system.

How to Study Abroad in Spain
As we noted earlier, 日博体育 offers close to 30 different ways you can study abroad in Spain. How you do it is entirely up to you. To get you on the right track, we recommend you ask yourself the following five questions:
- Why do I want to study abroad in Spain? Maybe to experience the culture, or further your Spanish language skills. Maybe it鈥檚 to boost your resume or develop practical skills as an international intern. Determine your 鈥渨hy鈥 first and foremost. After that, the rest will start falling into place.
- How long do I want to go abroad? You may have a lot of flexibility in your schedule, or maybe you don鈥檛. Fortunately, we offer programs that are as short as 20 days, as long as 18 weeks, and a lot of others in between.
- What program makes the most sense for my goals and degree? Below we go into our amazing program options in Spain.
- Am I eligible? Different programs have different requirements, such as GPA, language skills, etc. Don鈥檛 get your heart set on the program until you check these requirements.
- Can I afford it? Our fees go a long way and typically cover tuition, tours, excursions, orientation, on-site support, airport meet-and-greet, and more. We also offer millions of dollars in scholarships and grants each year, based on financial need and merit. Your college鈥檚 study abroad advisor may also know of other avenues of financial support. Be sure to reach out to them for more information and guidance.

Study Abroad in Spain Tips
You鈥檒l make the most of your study abroad experience in Spain if you go into it well-prepared. To help, we offer the following tips from students who鈥檝e already been there and done that.
Know some Spanish.
Many of our students are proficient in the language, but not all. If you are in the latter group, don鈥檛 worry. But we do recommend learning some basic Spanish before you arrive. This will help make your Spanish immersion experience more fun and more authentic from the very start.
Use your Spanish.
If your Spanish is newly acquired, use it. If your Spanish is rusty, use it. Don鈥檛 be afraid, just do your best. You鈥檒l be surprised at how proficient your Spanish language skills will be by the end of your stay.
Read more: The 6 Best Places to Learn Spanish Abroad
Take the tours.
This may be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Picasso Museum, Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, or Mediterranean Sea. Don鈥檛 miss out!
Keep a journal.
Handwritten. Vlog. Blog. However you want to capture your daily experiences, do it. It鈥檚 the best way to keep track of the memories you won鈥檛 want to forget.
Bring comfortable shoes.
You are going to walk a lot. We offer more tips on packing below, but this one is worth mentioning twice! Trust us on this.

Think long-term.
Do you know that former participants have returned to Spain to work in a company where they previously interned in? True story. So, think long-term. Make connections. Build your network. And be open to whatever this life-changing opportunity brings.
Meet the locals.
Whether through a co-curricular club, local volunteer opportunity, becoming a regular at a nearby caf茅, or all of it, immerse yourself in the community.
Embrace the unexpected.
If you wanted to stick to life at home, then you鈥檇 stay there. Instead, you鈥檙e choosing to study abroad to experience the way other cultures do life. So let yourself live like a local and embrace the new!
What to Pack for Study Abroad in Spain
Packing for your study abroad trip shouldn鈥檛 be stressful, but it鈥檚 important to cover your bases. Here are the must-haves when you study abroad in Spain.
Essential documents:
- Passport + a photocopy (just in case)
- Visa + a photocopy
- A second form of valid ID (e.g., driver鈥檚 license or government-issued ID)
- Plane tickets
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of 日博体育 enrollment
- Cash (Spain uses the Euro) and a credit card accepted in Spain
Essential items:
- Comfortable walking shoes (ideally closed-toe and waterproof)
- Camera to capture Spain in high-def
- One nice outfit for special occasions
- Prescription medications (enough for the stay if possible)
- Preferred over-the-counter medications
- Prescription eyewear
- A reusable water bottle that you can fill up at the airport and use when on-the-go in Spain
- Adapters to compatibly charge your tech in Spain鈥檚 electrical outlets
- Sunglasses + sunblock
Best Study Abroad Programs in Spain
Now, let鈥檚 get to the heart of your Spanish experience: your program.
We offer the most amazing programs for studying abroad in Spain 鈥 and in five epic cities around the country, including:
- Alcal谩 de Henares: A small, charming city with a large student population
- Barcelona: An international tourist hot spot and seaside city
- Madrid: Spain鈥檚 political and cultural center
- Palma de Mallorca: A dreamy Mediterranean island
- Seville: The city of a thousand faces, colors, tastes, and smells

Read More: Best Places to Study Abroad in Spain
Our study abroad and global internship programs offered across each Spanish city vary by location. Generally, our Spanish study abroad programs include:
- J-term: These three-week winter programs are convenient for students who want to go on short-term study abroad adventures during their winter breaks between classes back home.
- Engineering + Society: Designed for students interested in aerospace, energy, or biomedical engineering courses.
- International Business + Culture: The perfect program for students who want to earn credits in business, economics, marketing, communication, history, psychology, literature, chemistry, biology, and more.
- Language + Culture: Ideal for students eager to learn more about Spanish history, religion, literature, linguistics, marketing, journalism, and more.
- Liberal Arts: Designed for students majoring in humanities, social sciences, journalism, economics, business, or communications.
- Open Campus Block: The most customizable program available! Students can spend one, two, or up to three consecutive six-week blocks living and learning in one of Spain鈥檚 Open Campus Block locations 鈥 or another qualifying city around the world!
- Summer Business + Culture: Perfect for students who want to spend their summers appreciating stunning architecture, world-class cuisine, and Spain鈥檚 vibrant cultural heritage.
- Summer Global Internship: The ideal program for students who want to gain real-world work experience while living and learning in Spain. Internships can be part-time or full-time, depending on your preference.
- Summer Global Internship Language Immersion: This program offers all the perks of a summer internship with an expanded focus on strengthening your business vocabulary, immersing yourself linguistically, and gaining relevant work experience in a new culture.

Looking to compare programs? Check out all of our study abroad programs in Spain! There you can even do a quick program comparison to weigh your favorite programs side-by-side!
Get On Your Way
So much to do, so little time! Don鈥檛 waste another second. Visit our study abroad in Spain program page, and get started today!
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