CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Madrid, Spain

CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Madrid, Spain

Location
  • Spain
    • Madrid
Term
Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter
Subject Areas
Art History Biology Business Communications Computer Science Cultural Studies Design Digital Media Economics Engineering European Studies Film Finance Global Studies Health Sciences History Humanities Information Technology International Business International Relations Journalism Language Studies Law Linguistics Literature Marketing Mathematics Media Relations Philosophy Physics Political Science Pre-Med Social Sciences Sociology Statistics +25
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, Work study, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma Associates Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
Included: Personalized Pre-departure Advising; Tuition & Registration; Travel Medical Insurance; On-site Orientation; Housing; Volunteer Opportunities; On-site Staff Support; Excursions and Cultural Engagement; Host Institution Services & Amenities and more. Scholarships available.
What's Included
Some Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes
Sep 29, 2025
May 11, 2026
25 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Home to roughly 3.5 million inhabitants, Madrid is Spain’s primary political, financial, art and cultural center. Madrid boasts many historical and cultural landmarks, such as the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, as well as world-class cuisine and a lively nightlife.

Study liberal arts, business, or engineering at CEA CAPA’s centrally-located Study Center or take courses with locals at one of our partners, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Antonio de Nebrija University. Both universities offer small class sizes, courses taught in English, and an immersive experience.

Interested? Click the “Visit Site” button to learn what’s waiting for you!

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program’s supportive staff, well-organized excursions, and safe, central housing in Madrid. Academics are engaging, with opportunities to immerse in local culture and build lasting friendships.

Program Highlights

  • Hands-on learning experiences that transform the world abroad into a classroom
  • Personalized Pre-Departure Advising, including visa and immigration support
  • Courses offered in English that fulfill major and general graduation requirements
  • Comprehensive on-site support, including 24/7 emergency phone
  • Career workshops, Internships Abroad, and Alumni Ambassador positions

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

CEA CAPA provides, in conjunction with Diversity Abroad, Destination Guides which provide resources and tips for Black/African-American students, Latinx students, Asian American students, and all other students of color.
Through our personalized advising, CEA CAPA takes steps to understand the needs of a diversity of student identities like the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to diversity and identity training, CEA CAPA leadership engage in continuous department level project work to identify and revise policies and practices using the appropriate Justice, Equity, Diversity or Inclusion lens as a frame to reduce bias and barriers that impact students, faculty, and staff. CEA CAPA is intentional in elevating diverse student voices and providing a platform for a broad array of identities to share their experiences abroad. The CEA CAPA World Blog promotes stories and personal experiences from the perspectives of diverse student bloggers and vloggers.
CEA CAPA is willing and able to assist students with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. Students are requested to disclose disabilities through the application health forms as part of their application and in discussion with their application advisor or program manager. The earlier CEA CAPA is made aware of learning or physical disabilities the better we can work with the student, institution, and overseas team to tailor an Individualized Education Program if necessary to support the student.

Impact 🌎

CEA CAPA makes a conscious effort to create study abroad experiences that leave a positive impact on host communities. Each location implements a variety of strategies to support the local community and promote sustainability. Examples include:

Use of recycling bins in Study Center locations and in CEA CAPA housing

Signage in CEA CAPA housing urging students to limit water and electricity usage

Students are often given reusable bags and water bottles upon arrival to limit single plastic use

Students are provided with instructions for acquiring transportation passes to promote use of public transportation rather than taxis

Program Reviews

4.95 Rating
based on 76 reviews
  • 5 rating 94.74%
  • 4 rating 5.26%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.3
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.9
  • Housing 4.6
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 17 - 24 of 76 reviews
Daniela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience

I had a great experience studying abroad this summer in Madrid. I was able to take Calculus 3 as well as a Spanish Civilization course. In my Spanish Civilization course we went on a bunch of field trips around the city and I learned so much about Spanish history and had so much fun. I travelled to several different cities in Spain and everyone I met in Spain was super nice. I also got the opportunity to travel to other countries on the weekends and met so many people both from my university and others.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most unique experience I had was when we took a trip to Lake Como and got to ride in a boat while we got a guided tour!
34 people found this review helpful.
Brendan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA - Madrid

Studying Abroad in Madrid was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The adventures I went on in the amazing city of Madrid, food I tried, excursions I went on. I was able to experience things that I never thought I would ever be able to do. The most amazing part though was the people. There are truly no words I could write to truly describe all the amazing people I met and they are from all over the world! There will forever be a special place in my heart for this city and even more those people!

35 people found this review helpful.
Jesse
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Review of CEA CAPA study abroad in Madrid

I had an amazing experience in Madrid through CEA CAPA. I came in to my semester abroad as a sophomore while knowing no other people in Madrid or in my program. But within days I felt super involved with the people around me and the city. Madrid is a beautiful place with countless opportunities for people living there. The city is consistently lively and there is always something going on, whether it's a soccer game or a festival, or just the day to day energy that the city provides. It is very easy and relatively inexpensive to travel outside of the city by train, bus, or plane, which allowed for amazing trips. CEA CAPA specifically does a great job of integrating students into the city during their first weeks, and consistently reaches out and provides resources as needed from anything ranging from mental health resources to travel tips and advice. As well as this they offer a handful of included trips and cultural experiences. My personal favorite was a cooking class offered in Madrid. I had an amazing experience and would 100% recommend CEA CAPA and Madrid as a city.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I spent a weekend in a small town in Northern Portugal with a friend who spoke Portuguese (and was the only way I could communicate with anyone in the town). We met the three kids our age in the town and spent a night playing cards and learning about each others lives.
Pros
  • Easy to travel
  • Huge city, countless places to see and neighborhoods
  • Very safe
Cons
  • Difficult for non Spanish speakers
33 people found this review helpful.
Anna Prin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA-CAPA Madrid- The actual city of love

From the moment I landed in Madrid, CEA CAPA exceeded every expectation. What makes CEA CAPA truly exceptional is their commitment to authentic cultural immersion. CEA CAPA's success lies in its attention to detail and teamwork. Every staff member works together to create unforgettable experiences for students. They understand that study abroad is about more than academics; it's about personal growth, cultural understanding, and building lifelong connections. Their ability to balance structure with independence, handle challenges professionally, and prioritize student experiences makes CEA CAPA the best choice for studying in Madrid. This program doesn't just offer study abroad; it offers transformation. The biggest thing I can say is to engage in your program because that is where you find immersion!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
When you are studying abroad, especially in a European country, there is an emphasis on traveling as much and as often as possible. Which is a wonderful thing and an incredible experience however, being in your home country is in of itself a new experience. The only thing I would truly change is being more present in my home country. For example, I did not go to Retiro Park, one of the best things about Madrid, until my last week! What a disgrace! I did take advantage of the city, but I could've had a lot more if I did not travel as much. Since I was traveling almost every weekend, it made the week a regrouping time rather than an exploring time in Madrid. Again, not saying that was a bad thing, it just did not allow a lot of room to explore Madrid itself. Being present is so important, and I could have done that more in Madrid.
Pros
  • Prepaes you for your home country for example, getting around the city and transportation.
  • CEA CAPA is exceptionally easy to reach in your host country. Very accessible.
  • Great activities and trips.
Cons
  • I know people who had housing very far from the city which was hard for them.
38 people found this review helpful.
Jada
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Spring Semester Ever!

Coming from someone who has never been to Europe, Madrid was the perfect home base and CEA CAPA was the most amazing program to experience study abroad through. I felt safe and content with all my accommodations while being so far away from my home. I truly got the chance to discover different parts of the world, meet the most amazing people, and immerse myself in the culture of Madrid. At first study abroad can feel scary and uncomfortable and sit with those feelings, it's totally normal. Once you have acclimated, feel free to say yes to everything- take that language course, go to the festival with new friends, go on that free museum tour, study abroad is such a special time- take it all in!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take all opportunities to indulge in your home city and the experience of study abroad in general.
42 people found this review helpful.
Esteban
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA Study Abroad in Madrid

If you want to grow both as a learner and as a person, I would recommend studying abroad in Madrid with CEA CAPA. Starting off with pre-departure they were accomodating and were proactive in answering any inquires that I had. Overall, I had a great experience when it came to housing, as I chose the homestay option of the program. Amelia, my host lady was extremely accomodating and well-experienced regardless of the level of spanish that me and my roommates had. I couldn't have been placed in better location, in the neighborhood of Chamberi, a quiet neighborhood that I grew to love with great restaurants and parks in the area. Academically, it was their first time offering my specific class, and given the constraints and difficulty of the class I thought they did a decent job. It's generally difficult to squeeze a class that is generally difficult in a semester setting, into a 2-month window. So I would just say be prepared to take initiative and put in more work to learn the content yourself outside of class. Besides class, events were well-planned and exciting. Would recommend this experience.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be proactive about finding time and space for your hobbies. Academics will be fast pace, so finding time for yourself is very important. I enjoy playing basketball, so around week two I found a park close to home I could consistently visit and play with other people. Some of the closest bonds I created with others while abroad were with the basketball players I had spent so much time with.
Pros
  • Active communication
  • Supporting culture and overall safe environment
  • Clean city with great transportation
Cons
  • Weren't that many resources for academic support
  • Be aware of your surroundings and pickpocketers
  • Culture shock and eating habits may be difficult for people.
40 people found this review helpful.
Courtney
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad Experience in Madrid

I studied abroad in Madrid last semester and attended UC3M. I lived in Moncloa with 9 other girls in a shared apartment, and I absolutely loved our surrounding neighborhood. My classes were rigorous but I enjoyed the topics I got to learn about - local journalism, media structure studies, gender perspectives in European literature, and film narrative studies. I loved speaking Spanish on a daily basis and exploring Madrid's vibrant music, social, and food scenes. I was also able to easily travel to multiple other countries as well as different cities in Spain, which was a dream come true! I highly recommend studying in Madrid or Spain in general, especially if you are pursuing a degree in Spanish Language.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers on this program is to take each day at a time and really explore the city as much as you can. Being so far away from home and your comfort people can absolutely seem daunting, but it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you owe it to yourself to give it your all!
Pros
  • Immersion in Spanish culture and language
  • Constant activity and opportunities to grow both personally and academically
  • Easy access to other travel destinations
Cons
  • Homesickness overall
  • Rigorous classes and long commute to school
  • Small living quarters and little shared space with 10 roommates
46 people found this review helpful.
Henry
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad in Madrid, Winter/Spring 2025

I like to tell everyone who asks about my experience abroad that I gained a lifetime of memories in a single semester. The funny thing is, that isn't an exaggeration. For the first time, I was traveling alone, trying to feel at home in a foreign country, and meeting more strangers than I could ever have imagined. The best part was, I loved every part of it. Sure, I was nervous about being abroad for a few days, but after my first meal with friends, I realized I was going to love every second of my experience. Not only did I feel at home in Madrid, but coming back felt like I was leaving home.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
In late April, the power across all of Spain went out. I expected panic. I thought I would see people running around the streets looking for food and water to grab. No one knew how long it would last, and I was honestly a bit freaked out myself. However, I went out on the street and heard music, laughter, and dancing. People were out on the streets enjoying the blackout with their friends. Instantly, my worries subsided.
41 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers