Study Abroad Programs in Spain

A study abroad programme in Spain lets a student enrolled at a university at home, most often in the United States or Canada, spend a summer, a semester or a full academic year in a Spanish city and bring the credits back to the home degree. The student does not enrol in a Spanish degree: the programme provides the classes, often with a US university acting as the school of record for the transcript, plus housing, orientation and support on the ground.

Our directory currently lists six active study abroad programmes in Spain. Barcelona has three and Seville two. The list includes long-established providers such as Spanish Studies Abroad, which has run programmes for North American university students since 1969 and opened its first programmes in Seville, as well as organisations based in Spain that send students to courses elsewhere.

How study abroad programmes work

Programmes differ mainly in length, language of instruction and how closely they connect students with Spanish universities. Common formats are:

• fall or spring semesters and full academic years
• short programmes of three to four weeks in January, May or the summer
• courses taught in English for students with little or no Spanish
• courses taught in Spanish, sometimes with classes at a Spanish university
• internships, service learning and teaching practicums
• summer programmes for high school students

Spanish Studies Abroad, for example, offers academic years, semesters and short terms, and states that some of its programmes are taught in English so that applicants do not need to speak Spanish. Centro MundoLengua in Seville, active since 2005, runs Spanish courses, DELE exam preparation and a summer programme with the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, with locations in Seville, Cádiz and Madrid. It appears on the Instituto Cervantes list of accredited centres in Spain. ALBA Study Abroad is a small programme in central Barcelona linked to Portland State University.

Most programmes place students in a homestay with a Spanish host family, a shared apartment or a student residence. A homestay means daily practice in Spanish and meals at home, but also house rules to respect.

Admission and credit transfer

Admission is usually handled by the programme provider or by your home university's study abroad office, not by a Spanish admissions system. Typical requirements are good academic standing, a minimum number of completed semesters and, for Spanish-taught tracks, a set level of Spanish. Before you commit, ask your home campus study abroad coordinator which courses will count towards your degree and how the grades will appear on your transcript.

US citizens staying less than 90 days for study do not need a student visa. For longer stays, a national student visa is needed before travelling. The Spanish consulates in the United States list the main requirements:

• proof of enrolment and tuition payment; fees paid to the home university under an exchange agreement are accepted
• proof of financial means of at least 100% of the IPREM, Spain's public income indicator (€600 a month in 2025, according to the Spanish embassy in Kingston)
• health insurance with no co-payments or deductibles and at least €30,000 of cover
• an FBI criminal record check for applicants aged 18 or over staying more than 180 days
• a medical certificate

Applications are made in person at BLS Visa Service, between six and two months before the programme starts; the New York consulate asks applicants to allow at least five weeks. The consular fee for US citizens is $160 at the Miami consulate. For stays of up to six months the visa covers the whole stay; for longer stays, students must apply for a Foreigner Identity Card (TIE) within one month of arriving in Spain. Requirements depend on the consulate for your place of residence, so always check its own page.

Costs and funding

Programme fees vary widely with the length of stay, the housing option and what is included (excursions, insurance, meals), so compare what each price covers. Besides tuition, budget for the visa fee, health insurance that meets the consulate's conditions, flights and daily expenses. Many students pay their usual home tuition under an exchange agreement; ask your home university's study abroad and financial aid offices whether your scholarships and aid can be used for the programme.

How to choose a programme

• Credit: which institution issues the transcript, and has your home university approved the courses?
• Language: English-taught, Spanish-taught or a mix, and whether you can take classes at a Spanish university.
• City: Barcelona and other Catalan cities are bilingual (Catalan and Spanish); Seville, Madrid and Salamanca offer Spanish-only daily life.
• Housing: homestay, apartment or residence, and whether meals are included.
• Support: on-site staff, help with the visa, orientation and excursions.
• Length: a summer gives a taste; a semester or year gives real progress in Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

Do US students need a visa to study abroad in Spain?

Not for study stays of less than 90 days. For a semester or a full year, US citizens need a Spanish student visa, applied for in person through the consulate for their place of residence.

Do I need to speak Spanish to join a programme in Spain?

Not always. Several providers offer courses taught in English, while others teach in Spanish and set a minimum language level.

Will my credits transfer to my home university?

That depends on your home university. Check with your study abroad coordinator before you enrol and confirm which institution issues the transcript.

How early should I apply for the student visa?

Spanish consulates in the US accept applications between six and two months before the programme begins, and the New York consulate asks applicants to allow at least five weeks for processing.