Spanish Gap Year - Three Month Gap Semester

Spanish Gap Year - Three Month Gap Semester

Location
  • Spain
    • Madrid
    • Salamanca
    • San Sebastián
    • Granada
    • Barcelona
Length
4 - 26 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel After College Arts College Credit Conservation Cultural Immersion Drama Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Music Post-High School Social Justice +2

Program Details

Activities
Animal Viewing Canyoning City Exploring Cycling Dancing Hiking Horseback Riding Mountain Climbing Sightseeing Surfing Trekking Wine Tasting Yoga Ziplining
Timeframe
Fall Spring
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hostel
Primary Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18

Pricing

$18,400
Price Details
Our program fee ranges from 16,000 to 18,400 euros depending on pathways. This includes:

-Pre-travel preparation: online individual interviews and group meetings
-Onboarding resources: Spanish culture course and language learning subscription
-Access to our online learning & support program and course materials
-Full-board accommodation for the 12 weeks (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
-All transport between locations*
-All classes, workshops and activities
* Does not include travel insurance and airfare

Payment options: to book your place, we require 20% of the program fee. Please contact to us to discuss what payment options are available to you and we can work on an installment payment plan together.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Tour Guide Transportation Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

24/7 support in English and Spanish

What's Not Included
Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Jun 11, 2026
May 28, 2026
46 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

This all-in-one semester begins with one month traveling Spain by train, followed by two months in Barcelona where you choose your pathway. You’ll build soft skills (communication, confidence, problem-solving), hard skills (Spanish, digital tools, cooking), and leadership abilities focused on positive impact.
Choose one of three pathways:
- The Internship Pathway offers full-time hands-on experience, real projects, and strong hours for future credit or professional goals.
- The Entrepreneurship Pathway combines a part-time internship with entrepreneurship labs, mentorship, and Spanish classes, ending in a Shark Tank–style pitch.
- The Personalized Pathway lets you blend part-time internship, volunteering, and classes, or focus fully on volunteering plus Spanish or creative electives.

If you want to explore Spain, improve Spanish, travel sustainably, and gain real-world experience with impact, this semester is for you.

Program Highlights

  • Immerse Yourself In Cooking Classes, Cultural Workshops, And Adventures
  • Visit San Sebastian, Madrid, Salamanca, Granada, and Barcelona
  • Earn Up To 12 College Credits While Abroad
  • Travel Sustainably By Train Across Iconic Spanish Destinations
  • Live And Learn In Multiple Spanish Cities While Mastering The Language

New 4-Week Course!

Program Reviews

4.70 Rating
based on 40 reviews
  • 5 rating 70%
  • 4 rating 30%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.65
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.5
  • Value 4.4
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 17 - 24 of 40 reviews
RJ
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spain by Train

This is an amazing trip that you will remember for the rest of your life. I have met some of the most amazing people, are some of the most delicious food, and have visited many of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. This trip pushes you to discover many things about your self and others around you. You spend times in hostels very close with your fellow travel mates where you will get to share many laughs and truly know them. In host families you refine your Spanish and truly learn the Spanish culture.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
We did some mountain climbing which really forces me to push over my fear of heights. Now this is one of my favorite memories of the trip and felt so amazing to complete.
Pros
  • Amazing People
  • Great Food
  • Beautiful locations
Cons
  • Early morning travel
  • Can be tiring at times
  • Not staying in one place long
110 people found this review helpful.
Amanda
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SGY

I had so much fun with SGY! I made a lot of amazing friends and am so grateful that I was able to visit so many beautiful cities and do so many wonderful activities. Sagri was the BEST LEADER EVER, I would come on this trip again just to hangout with her. She was patient, caring, supportive, and made everything so much fun. The Granada classes were a lot of fun, I loved Juan Luis and being able to explore the city with him and Sagri and learn about the Spanish history. I would also highly recommend SGY for anyone who loves food, there are so many amazing dishes and desserts that I was able to try along the way!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve-racking thing for me was our 3 day bike along the Camino. I have never been a strong biker so I was very nervous for this activity. But- I overcame my fear with the support of Sagri and the group and had a great time.
Pros
  • Lots of good food
  • Meeting local/international students
  • Beautiful cities and landscapes
Cons
  • Frustrating group members
119 people found this review helpful.
Oliver
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Future leaders spring 2024

This trip has been extremely valuable for me. I have built many great relationships that I hope to maintain for the rest of my life. The entrepreneurship part of the program has been ran perfectly and was my favorite part of the entire program. The internship has also provided me with a lot more knowledge on how to be an asset in the workforce. The only complaints that I do have is the food was disappointing. Overall I definitely highly recommend this program especially for people who are thinking of taking a gap year.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Ask as many questions as you can. Also, use the help that’s provided as much as possible.
Pros
  • Networking
  • Work experience
  • Resume booster
Cons
  • Food
  • Lots of pickpocketers
79 people found this review helpful.
Grace
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Educational, Entrepreneurship-Focused Group Program in Spain

This program covers a variety of different components and will offer you a very well rounded experience.
In terms of program support, resources and leadership, this program is so well run and absolutely incredible in this aspect. Their number one goal is clearly to provide a top tier experience that suits your goals and they put in so much effort to make this happen.
One of my main goals during this program was to improve my spanish, and for other people who might have that goal, the resources are all available to you but it requires a lot of independent motivation to make it happen. There is a month in a homestay and language school and you interact with spanish speakers all the time, but you have to take the initiative to speak the language and take the opportunities.
In terms of entrepreneurship, I am not someone who plans to pursue it or had much interest in that aspect going into the program. Even still, I learned so much that is applicable to my career path, especially in terms of presentation skills and networking. I also found the mentorship support system absolutely incredible. However, I would recommend this program above all to people with high interest in entrepreneurship because that will be a huge proportion of your time and requires a lot of motivation for it to be worthwhile.
The internships were very well set up and I loved mine. I worked in the industry (sustainability) that I hope to work in in the future and was also able to work in spanish to work towards my language goals.
In terms of social experience, this program is good for people who are looking for a social structure built into the program because you spend a lot of time with the same small group and the social structure ends up built around it. At the same time, there are opportunities to meet other people in student residences or other areas, and weekends are open for independent travel, but the timing is a bit short if you are hoping for longer distance trips around europe. The environment and social life of this trip is definitely better suited to people who enjoy cities and are looking for a well structured experience.
Arantxa’s vision and organization for this program was nothing short of incredible and absolutely made my experience, The mentorship team and everyone involved is so invested in student success and I felt well supported and like I was learning a lot the whole time.

What would you improve about this program?
I found the first component in Madrid with the homestay to be too long. The first two weeks I enjoyed, especially with the spanish class which I found incredibly valuable, but by the second half, I found a lot of aspects to be very limiting. I much preferred the more open social setting, individual internships, and independent living experience in Barcelona and that greatly improved my experience. I think a balance that was more 2 vs. 10 weeks might have fit better.
Pros
  • spanish language learning
  • internship experience
  • travel opportunities
Cons
  • entrepreneurship curriculum is the main focus (only a con of this isn’t your priority)
  • small group can limit social opportunities
  • housing wasn’t the most convenient
86 people found this review helpful.
Kylie
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Future Leaders Spring 2024

Future Leaders is an incredible introduction/real life experience for anyone who’s actively interested in entrepreneurship. For myself personally, even though that wasn’t my passion in the program, I was helped by the FL team to find outlets I could channel my interests into. I really liked the Spanish school portion of the program, and found that it was an excellent way to meet people outside of the program, along with the multiple chances of interaction you get with Absolute Internship students. Although your weekdays can be busy, weekends are a good chance to travel, however don’t expect to have a lot of time to do that. It’s only about 1 1/2 days of traveling, because you can only leave Fridays and have to return Sundays. However, depending on where you are you can get a fair amount done in that time! Overall, I would recommend Future Leaders.

1) Entrepreunership
2) Learning
3) General elements

85 people found this review helpful.
Ishan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Future Leaders quick summary

Overall the program was a great experience. It’s super well run, with great communication and the right balance of independence and guidance from the program director Arantxa. Housing was good overall; the homestays during the first month in Madrid are nice enough and the dorms in Barcelona are remarkably well kept, especially by US college standards. The internship component of the program was really fun for me, and gave me great real life work experience. Generally would definitely recommend for anyone interested in a travel program where you’ll also learn a ton.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Use the weekends to travel. Big highlight for me and lots of my peers.
Pros
  • Great internship
  • Interesting classes
  • Good community
Cons
  • Food that is provided was pretty up and down.
85 people found this review helpful.
Charlie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Invaluable experience

The Spanish classes alone provided a ton of hands on learning. However, the entrepreneurship and internship portions are what provided a level of experience that has changed my life. With the internship portion you are given the opportunity to explore a field of your interests while making connections within the field and learning real business and work skills. The entrepreneurial portion provided invaluable experience where one can create and chase their ideas while working with mentors who have real credible experience. The skills of forming, creating, and pitching an idea as a real world entrepreneur is invaluable. You will learn public speaking, networking, how to ask for help, what works and what doesn’t with business, and a million other practical real world skills.

89 people found this review helpful.
Daniel
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Future Leaders Spring 24

The overall experience was fantastic, I don’t have any complaints. I always felt supported by all facilitators. I would say the overall attitude of some of the receptionists at the residency weren’t very welcoming. On the other hand, our host family was fantastic and very welcoming. Furthermore, the overall experience with the entrepreneurial aspect of the course coupled with the internships was extremely valuable as we got to learn a lot about all stages of creating a business and pitching it to investors.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make the most out of your time, three months goes by very quick. You have so many resources and so many brilliant minds to help guide you through the experience so make sure to reach out when you need help.
Pros
  • Networking
  • Gain real world experience
  • Learn from mentors who have a lot of entrepreneurial knowledge
Cons
  • Very fast paced
  • Residency food could be better
91 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers