IES Abroad Madrid

The IES abroad program gives each student complete flexibility to make the experience exactly what they are looking for. Students have the option to take relatively small amounts of class and explore Madrid on their own, or they could take on a full Spaniards course load taking classes at the Complutense. While 9am grammar class is rough when returning from the clubs, professors can be very understanding on Friday mornings. For housing students are given the option for dorm style life if students are comfortable making friends in Spanish, this proved to be a great option, another big plus about the dorm is that it is a 3 minute walk from your room to class. The homestays as always are very hit or miss especially with distance to class. Some homestays are on the outskirts of Madrid and can make cab rides expensive and long commutes to class in the morning. The program is truly what you make of it and provides opportunities for everyone.

I absolutely loved my time in Madrid, I was always busy and usually it was with something fun. The museums were great, the food delicious and the nightlife fantastic. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience. IES center staff were helpful and easily accessible, and the center was close to both my homestay, downtown, and the Universidad Complutense. The city has great public transportation, and is also easily walkable. The IES center facilitated great outside activities with Spanish students as well as several field trips included in the program cost with other IES students. I visited Bilbao, San Sebastian, Segovia, and Toledo with the IES program. For students hoping to take a class at the Complutense I would recommend that they begin searching before the semester begins and that they maintain close contact with the academic staff at IES as it's sometimes tricky to facilitate. I had an internship with a Spanish nonprofit that IES helped facilitate--it turned out great! I worked as a translator between Spanish and English. Madrid has a bunch of daytime cultural attractions (art museums, historical sites etc) as well as a really vibrant nightlife, though beware, the metro closes at 1:30 AM. I quite enjoyed my IES classes, even though they were less rigorous than what I was used to at my home school--my grammar class was especially good for teaching me "native-like" grammar and expressions. The classes, since the workload was less than I was used to, also allowed me to travel on several weekends, which was an added bonus.

I cannot praise and commend my past semester abroad in Madrid, Spain enough. Upon one week's return to the US, my friends back home already got tired hearing about me boast on and on about the experiences I went through while away for the semester. It was an adventure of a lifetime and I would most definitely recommend Madrid to any student looking to study abroad. Madrid was an endless city--one with tons of historic events, art, culture, and most importantly, a place that felt like home away from home. From day one, I was surrounded by students like myself, by natives who welcomes all foreigners, and by staff members and professors who wanted nothing more than to help fully immerse us into this new world.
My host mom welcomed me into her home with arms wide open and a always a smile on her face. She was amused and excited to learn about my culture and my background and to try and teach me about her way of life and her traditions. Some memories will always include days she came home screaming about something new she found in the city--a new store, a new cafe, or a new viewpoint of the city she couldn't wait to share with me. I loved weekends where her extended family would come over and include me as if I were another cousin in the bunch. Family conversations would escalate for hours upon hours aside a deliciously home cooked traditional meal.
Learning in the classroom in Madrid allowed me to experience a whole new field of education. As a pre-med student, I have always been glued to textbooks, working on science and math problems, and trying to understand things a conceptual sense. However, the classes I took while abroad introduced me to a new sphere of thinking. Taking classes about literature, architecture, and art history not only expanded my critical and creative thinking but also taught me about the history of Spain as a country. Watching movies, reading stories, and looking at art work from historic Spain taught me a lot about the cultural movements of the country and as well allowed me to better appreciate architecture and art as I walked through the city daily.
Of course, learning was not limited to the classroom. I was constantly learning new words by going to the supermarket, to restaurants and to cafes, meeting many natives and further other tourists and study abroad students visiting the city. I took advantage of traveling on the weekends and only left the country of Spain for one weekend! I still can't wait to go back and visit a few other cities I did not have the chance yet to see. The history and culture of each Spanish city I visited varies drastically. From the Aqueduct in Segovia to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the art and architecture of each building design is so different and speaks a thousand words on its own.
Although I am sad that the semester came to an end, I am incredibly grateful for the experience I had while away and hope that students will continue to visit Madrid and see all it has to offer. I am lucky to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of IES and share my experience with other and try to promote this incredible prospect. It is not goodbye, it is see you later, Madrid. I will be back.

When I landed in Madrid's International Airport in the Summer of 2011 for a three-month study abroad program in Spain's capital, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was nervous, jet lagged, and literally and figuratively shaking in my breeches. All of that fear and anticipatory anxiety washed away when I made it to the arrivals gate and was greeted by 3 smiling faces, directors of my program all waiting to wish us a happy "bienvenidos." I was lucky enough to be placed in an apartment near the university with a native 24-year old and a fellow American student. We were within walking distance of our daily classes at the beautiful Universidad, the metro line, and a handful of markets and shopping centers.

The professors were all kind, supportive and enthusiastic and the course load was more than manageable. The program directors were always available for questions and assistance and accompanied us on a few wonderful weekend excursions to cities around Madrid.

The program was structured such that we had classes 4 days a week until the early afternoon and were free to explore the city and surrounding countryside on the weekends.

My fellow students and I attended various elective classes such as dance and cooking. And set up our own weekend excursions to wonderful cities like Granada.

The program allowed me to experience the culture of Spain in an authentic study setting, enhance my language skills, and meet people from all over the world.

I loved my time in Madrid with IES! The program staff are incredible, excursions were fun and informative. Only critique: the "Spanish only" rule is not enforced that strongly. I think in a different program I would have improved my Spanish further, but I primarily talked in English with other IES students and therefore didn't speak as much Spanish. If you want a 100% Spanish-only experience, this program may not be for you. However, IES is great in that there is a support system there to guide you when you need, but you can also be totally independent if you want too. The opportunity to take classes at la Universidad Complutense was my main reason for choosing IES.

I absolutely loved my time in Madrid and am so happy I chose to study abroad with IES. The staff is incredibly helpful and supportive and they organize trips and events throughout the entire semester. You really can't beat this study abroad program...

Living in Madrid was a wonderful experience. It is a vibrant city full of culture and things to do. IES had multiple optional events like museum visits, cooking classes, dance classes, walking tours of different parts of the city, etc, almost every week. Even if you choose not to participate in IES events, there is never a shortage of things to do during the day in Madrid. And of course, the tapas, sangria, and overall nightlife can't be beat.

IES planned 4-5 trips to different parts of Spain, all of which were a great time. You can also travel on your own very easily since the Madrid airport is a major hub and most students can choose to only have class Monday-Thursday.

Housing through IES was also very good. I chose to live in a homestay, which most students choose. IES works extremely hard to match you up with a Señora who will fit your needs (though all of them are truly great). Most students lived in a neighborhood where other IES students were, and all of us were close enough to a metro that meeting up was no problem.

There's a pretty extensive selection of classes you can take since you can choose from three different schools. The majority of the Engineering classes are in English but you'll be in a classroom with Spaniards, which is great, and the classes themselves are not terribly difficult. Classes at the engineering school are hit or miss in terms of how engaging they are but the classes offered at IES are all taught very well.

Overall, IES Madrid was a fantastic experience. I couldn't imagine having chosen to study anywhere else but this awesome city. IES made the transition incredibly smooth and the staff is extremely supportive. I made friends through IES that will last a lifetime and I am counting down the days until I return to Spain again. Go abroad, go to Madrid, and do it through IES... seriously.

I LOVED MADRID!!!! BEST CITY IN THE WORLD AND THE PROGRAM STAFF IS THE BEST! the activities were great and everything was a blast. My host mom lived straight downtown and i was able to be my metro anywhere.