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 25 - 32 of 76 reviews
Samantha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I recommend CEA CAPA to anyone looking to study abroad!!

I absolutely LOVED my experience in Madrid, Spain, with CEA CAPA. The staff was always so attentive to students' needs, and planned immersive experiences for students to learn more about the Spanish culture! Every week, the staff also sends out emails to inform students of local restaurants to try and events going on in the city! I always felt safe and heard throughout my time in Spain. I would recommend CEA CAPA to anyone looking to gain an immersive and enlightening experience in wherever country they may choose!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travelers would be to say YES to every experience or opportunity you are given. Your time abroad will go by super fast, so make sure you are making the most out of every moment you have!
44 people found this review helpful.
Mycah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible! I love Madrid.

My semester abroad with CEA Capa in Madrid was easily the most impactful of my entire college career. My homestay specifically was a highlight of my time there, I became so close with my family and learned so much Spanish through them as well. Madrid is truly a city unlike any other, rich culture, every type of cuisine, and the most incredible ambiance of pure joy. Retiro Park was my personal favorite, so if you get the chance lay a blanket down and enjoy a salmon bowl from Mercadona! I would go back 100x over, me amo Madrid!

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was getting stuck on the metro in Madrid during the power outage, at the time it was horrible but looking back it was one of the funniest times sitting with a bunch of strangers for hours.
Pros
  • Incredible University, Carlos Tercero de Madrid
  • Amazing homestay
  • Best public transport
Cons
  • Rainy weather in march :(
  • Long commute to school
  • Cash deposits for excursions
35 people found this review helpful.
Ella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Experience with CEA CAPA in Madrid, Spain!

My experience in Madrid with CEA CAPA was unforgettable. As a premed student I never thought it was possible to spend a semester abroad. Looking back I am so happy I made the room in my schedule to make it possible! CEA CAPA was so organized, attentive, and welcoming. Both before my trip and during the staff was so friendly and supportive. Every detail was planned and explained so well. I never felt alone or confused! Everyone should get the opportunity to have a life changing experience like this one.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I did was my trip to Morocco with some of my best friends. Traveling to an entirely new continent was an absolute dream. We even got to spend a night in the Sahara desert. I will never stop talking about how amazing that experience was!
Pros
  • Meeting new people
  • Practicing a foreign language
  • Traveling to new places
Cons
  • missing family
  • missing a semester of school
  • language barrier
36 people found this review helpful.
Marlee
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester in 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.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw was a Castell (a human tower) in the middle of a city square walking home from class in Madrid. It is exactly what it sounds like; tons of people coming together to build a human tower!
Pros
  • Housing
  • Acquiring a Visa
  • Fun program activities
Cons
  • delayed communication (did not find out about housing until right before I left, and it worked out, but was still kind of nerve-wracking)
68 people found this review helpful.
Francesca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA Madrid

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.

77 people found this review helpful.
Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA Madrid

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.

97 people found this review helpful.
Peyton
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

CEA CAPA + Madrid = AMAZING

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.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The calamari sandwich "bocadillos de calamares", is EVERYWHERE. You have to eat it when you go. I like calamari but was unsure on it in in between two slices of bread. Very good!
Pros
  • Grew more comfortable with myself
  • Better developed my Spanish
  • SO much travel
Cons
  • having to keep track of spending and not having an income
  • Missing people and family
84 people found this review helpful.
William
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Time in Madrid

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.

94 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers