Program Reviews

A totally unique experience. Santander is a small city with breathtaking views. I could walk to the beach every day before or after class. I always felt safe exploring the city, even walking alone at night. During my stay I lived with Fernando and his family in lovely village just outside Santander: perfect for relaxing after a busy day of lectures. Fernando is so enthusiastic about Spanish and I got to take an intensive Spanish course, before the semester started, which really helped! This program is great because it is exactly what I was looking for. The university and its staff were brilliant plus it is very easy to explore Spain and other European cities like Rome and Vienna from Cantabria!

Enrolling to study in Cantabria, through the Spanish Program, was the best thing that has ever happened to me. The program I chose was so much fun and I was lucky to be able to meet many other students from across the States. I made so many new friends. I stayed with my host family, Fernando, Merche and the girls, which really helped my language skills and my Spanish is at a much higher level now. Overall, a great experience and I highly recommend it! Ps… Santander is a fabulous city with one of the most beautiful bays in the world!

Enrolling to study in Cantabria, through the Spanish Program, was the best thing that has ever happened to me. The program I chose was so much fun and I was lucky to be able to meet many other students from across the States. I made so many new friends. Staying with my host family, Fernando, Merche and the girls, really helped my language skills and my Spanish is at a much higher level now. Overall, a great experience and I highly recommend it! Ps… Santander is a fabulous city with one of the most beautiful bays in the world!

Picking my study abroad program was a stressful for me. Having never left the country, just the idea was daunting, lots of options. However, from the moment I contacted The Spanish Program, I was immediately put at ease by their Fernando, who amazingly, never got tired of my questions. In Sept 2018, I enrolled at the University of Cantabria through The Spanish Program. I was so excited!
When I got to Spain, both Fernando and Andy were there to greet me. We had an afternoon and evening exploring gorgeous Madrid then the following morning we all caught the train north to Cantabria.
My experience abroad was brilliant. The sights I saw, the friends I made and the home I lived in during my stay will forever be part of my life. When not in class, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the city of Santander. It’s a wonderful city.
100% recommended!

My experience in Spain was definitely positive. I was debating on where to go in Europe and a friend recommended Cantabria in Northern Spain. I can never thank her enough!
I was nervous as I had never traveled abroad before and Europe is so diverse, I had planned to travel with my friend but she pulled out. In the end my family gave me the courage to go through with this exciting adventure and I am so thankful to them and The Spanish Course for this experience.
They helped me a lot with my initiation and I soon settled in.
I chose to study my subjects in English and it was great. Most of my classes were full of people from all over the world.
The village is a lot different to back home, it is very quiet and calm and the villagers are so friendly.
Tip : Eat at the Marques restaurant in Puente Viesgo. They have the most amazing seafood paella.

When I arrived at Madrid, we (the group) were met by Fernando & Andy from the Spanish Course. We spent the next few days discovering the city before heading north to Cantabria. Great way to start our stay.
Andy recommended watching a game of soccer. I would have liked to watch Ronaldo play but he had already left for Italy.

The University of Cantabria was brilliant. The campus is breathtaking, directly facing the beach!

Andy and Denise’s home in Puente Viesgo is gorgeous. I had my own en-suite bedroom, TV, wi-fi etc...everything i needed. My host mom, Denise, cooked us a variety of delicious English/Spanish meals.

I loved my time in Cantabria. I would recommend it to anyone considering a Study Abroad program.

My Spanish improved immensely, I made close friends that I am still in touch with today, and Cantabria is amazing! Fernando and Merche are totally dedicated to the students and were always available if ever we needed them.I loved living with my host family.

The program is extremely well organized. You find yourself speaking Spanish most of the time. I lived with three other American students from different parts of the States. Great fun!

There were also field trips to places like the Basque city of Bilbao and the Picos de Europa which were included as part of our program.
Santander has its own International airport with flights available to Rome, Berlin, Dublin and London etc... I took advantage of this on a few weekends!

Everyone in the program lived in a homestay, which is definitely the highlight. We all improved our Spanish while immersing ourselves into their culture. Most providers offer homestay as an option but with this program its the norm, and it’s brilliant! Forget living in an apartment.
We shared meals together, watched movies and even went to a soccer game!

Where do I start?

Overall I would rate my experience as 10/10. I had an awesome time in Santander. The city is amazing. 

I was a little nervous to leave the States and study abroad but from the moment I arrived at Madrid airport and was picked up by Andy, I felt so relaxed. He’s so friendly and never stops laughing.

While I was studying in Santander, I chose to stay with Andy & Denise, which I loved. It was great coming home every day and chatting about the day. They are such a friendly couple. I also had a housemate for the semester, John, who was great company.

I learnt a lot about Spanish culture during my stay. Especially the strange eating times and the art of cutting a jamon!

Everyone was always available to help me with anything I needed. From helping me through the application process and making sure I had collected all of the necessary documents or to simply give me recommendations for places to visit during my stay.

Santander was a great place to study abroad. If you are interested in traveling to other European cities on the weekends, Santander is a perfect base to start from. Rome and Dublin were my favorites.

I highly recommend this program to anyone else thinking else thinking of studying abroad.

The best University!

Choosing to study in English was the best decision I've ever made.
I get by in Spanish but the thought of daily lectures and then the exams in Spanish just scared me to death. The University of Cantabria was brilliant. So relaxed compared to mine back home. Alvaro (Communication of Engineering) was especially brilliant :)
I was placed for my semester with Andy and Denise a couple from Liverpool, England who have a awesome home right in the center of Puente viesgo, a short bus ride from the UC campus. They speak Spanish too so they helped with any paperwork I had to do during my time in Spain.
They cooked a variety of different meals, obviously some of them local Cantabrian specialities. Andy makes a great bean stew and supports Liverpool FC, the best soccer team in the world, he repeatedly told me!
I wish I could have stayed longer.

My main goal in studying in Cantabria was to totally immerse myself in the culture and people. I stayed with Merche, Fernando and their their two, lovely twin girls in Puente Viesgo, a little village just outside Santander. I took the two week Spanish classes before my semester at the Universidad de Cantabria started, which helped me enormously.
I was quite nervous about studying abroad even though I had taken Spanish for the last 4 years but ‘The Spanish Course’ helped every step of the way.
Fernando assisted me through the visa process and really made an effort to ensure I was comfortable in their home. They took us on monthly day trips out to places like Santillana del Mar and Comillas. Truly amazing places. We even went to watch Racing de Santander, the local soccer team. (Not quite Real Madrid!)
I fully recommend studying abroad in Cantabria even if you don’t speak Spanish that well. Living in Puente viesgo allowed me to practice my Spanish language skills, with my host family and in the local shops and restaurants. People were very patient with me even if I didn’t quite understand what they meant or I was a bit slow with my replies.
Overall I was able to meet incredible people, experience a different way of life and fulfil my dream of living in Spain, even if it was only for 4 months.

My host family was phenomenal. They were warm, funny, generous, and welcomed me into their amazing, 250 year old home, with open arms.
From the moment I was picked up by Fernando in Madrid, to the moment 4 months later when I returned, they took care of me every step of the way and made sure that I had everything I needed to relax and really enjoy the experience.
Santander is such a beautiful city. It's a great city to live and study in, it's very safe with lots to do. Everyone is so friendly. It’s exciting but never feels too touristy, and with the university being so close to the beach, I often found myself down there, after class, strolling along the promenade or just relaxing over a coffee in restaurante El Parque, my favorite.
As well as my host family, I shared the house with two other students. I loved my time there. It left me with great memories and great friends. 10/10. No question