CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Madrid, Spain

I studied abroad with CEA CAPA to Madrid my junior year spring semester. They really did make everything super easy, from housing to getting my visa. My housing was excellent, an apartment in the middle of the city. I do think I got lucky with my apartment though, as some of my friends were in apartments a little farther out of the city center. I took one CEA class and three classes at Nebrija University. I enjoyed the CEA class I took, it was sports and culture. The professor was great. The staff was also all very responsive and helpful. Of course, Madrid as a city itself is amazing, and I am so glad I chose it to be my "home base" for study abroad.

Studying abroad in Madrid with CEA CAPA was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The program was incredibly well-organized and supportive from start to finish, and the staff were genuinely helpful, which made adjusting to life abroad feel so much smoother. They also planned incredible programming events designed to help us immerse ourselves in the local culture, from Flamenco shows to cooking classes and dance lessons. Academically, the courses were engaging, with professors who truly cared about our learning and cultural immersion.

Living in Madrid was nothing short of amazing. My student housing was in a convenient and lively neighborhood, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and easy public transit. Exploring the city was effortless—whether I was strolling through Retiro Park or admiring the art at the Prado, there was always something exciting to do. And the food? Unbeatable. Tapas, churros, and everything in between—Madrid is a foodie’s dream.

The city’s central location also made it easy to travel throughout Spain and to other European countries, which added even more value to the experience. Overall, I couldn’t recommend CEA CAPA Madrid more highly. It gave me the perfect mix of academic growth, cultural enrichment, and unforgettable adventures in what has become one of my favorite cities in the world.

I couldn't recommend this program enough. CEA CAPA offered so many resources that made my time in Madrid seamless and comforting. Academics were both engaging and thought-provoking and the professors were excellent. Madrid is a huge travel hub and allows easy access to explore other parts of Europe and beyond. The food is incredible—you can't pick a bad spot, whether you're grabbing tapas or eating at Mercado San Miguel. You can't miss the city's vibrant culture, from the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum to Retiro Park—and especially Real Madrid Games—all offer something unique and memorable. I couldn’t have asked for a better academic setting while immersing myself in my new favorite city.

CEA CAPA allowed me to feel safe, protected, and never alone throughout my entire time abroad. Traveling alone and living random, I was nervous and wondered if I would have a support system all the way on the other side of the world, and I never felt lonely. Madrid was safe, SO fun, and had enough to do to live there for 10 years and still be finding new things. What an experience! The city itself is so full of life, and especially around the holidays their are people everywhere and you feel the strong sense of community they have.

My first semester in college I was granted the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid. My program, part of the University of Massachusetts, was organized through the CEA CAPA office. All of my classes were taken in said office, and so, I was able to personally get to know many of those who allow CAPA to function so well. Every single person who ran our program was amazing, generous, and available at a moment's notice. Apart from the education, the experiences were amazing. CAPA took us on a variety of amazing cultural outings that furthered our enjoyment in the country. Overall, my experience was amazing.

Madrid is such a BEAUTIFUL city with so many fun things to do, museums to visit, history to learn about, and surrounded by so many other great cities. I would recommend this trip to college students looking to have a fun time and learn about a different culture. Madrid is a centralized city and for future students, I recommend you visit all around Spain to Segovia, Toledo, Seville, Barcelona, and more. I also recommend you reach out to other students in your classes to hear different perspectives from students from different countries and have friends to explore the city with.

Going abroad with CEA CAPA is very easy and a great decision for all. The staff supports you all the way from the time you start your application until you check out of your apartment and fly back home. There’s always someone you can talk to for help and any issue I’ve had has been resolved quickly. The location and quality of our apartment was great; we could walk outside and go to many nice restaurants, and a main train station was only 5 minutes away by walk. The university was a long nearly 1 hour commute, but going to the center of the city only took about 10-15 minutes. Madrid is large and there’s many places to explore, and it’s a easy place to travel from to other cities or countries.

My name is Niesha, I'm studying social and behavioral sciences I studied abroad with CEA CAPA for my first ever semester during Fall 2024!! As you may imagine studying abroad is a big step to take but I'm so glad I took it. Honestly, I had some difficulties adjusting but the CEA CAPA team was extremely accommodating as they helped overcome challenges academically, culturally, mentally and socially. I loved my experience and I would definitely go again so I recommend everyone to study abroad at least once.