Location
  • Spain
    • Valencia
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Archaeology Biology Business Communications Computer Science Cultural Studies Economics Education Engineering Film Health Sciences Humanities International Business Language Studies Linguistics Literature Mathematics Natural Sciences Nursing Physics Political Science Sports Science +12
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
• Comprehensive Advising and Support
• Tuition at the Host University
• Official Transcript from Host University with ISA Cover Letter
• Housing
• Meals and Laundry Services
• Bridging Cultures Program
• Full-Time Resident Staff
• On-Site ISA Offices
• Computer and Internet Access
• Excursions
• The ISA Discovery Model
• Cultural Activities
• Medical Insurance
• Comprehensive Health, Safety and Security Support
• Airport Reception
• Visa Support
• Tutoring
• The Professional Development Toolbox
• Scholarship Opportunities
Jun 20, 2024
Sep 15, 2024
39 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Study abroad with ISA in Valencia, Spain's third largest city. Located on the Mediterranean coast approximately 200 miles south of Barcelona, Valencia has a rich history and is often referred to as one of Spain's more modern cities. Celebrations and festivals throughout the year, like the Fallas, provide an excellent opportunity for study abroad students to witness Spanish character at its best.

ISA offers courses through four universities - the Unviersity of Valencia, Universidad Catolica de Valencia (UCV), Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) and Florida State University Study Center!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

Our team at ISA is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and ISA staff. We have developed our ISA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of ISA destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.
Our team at ISA is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and ISA staff. We have developed our ISA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders. Our country-specific diversity pages offer information about the societies and cultural history of ISA destinations. This information can be used to start your reflection about how your intersecting identities relate to the host community context.
ISA is committed to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of neurodivergence. Our Health & Safety team is available to answer questions about insurance and medication, as well as provide students with materials on overseas access to support.
ISA is committed to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of accessibility. With our wide portfolio of program types and locations we’re confident there is a suitable and accessible program for each student. Accommodations abroad can be complex and take time, so those with accessibility needs should inform ISA of any accommodations requests as early as possible in the advising process. Please contact accessibilityteam@studiesabroad.com with questions or for more information.

Impact

We have partnered with Fill it Forward to engage team members and program participants in waste reduction practices. The goal is to encourage the elimination of single-use waste. Every QR code scan shows the impact of reusable bottles and unlocks a donation to environmental impact groups.
WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

Program Highlights

  • The City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia is one of the largest scientific and cultural complexes in Europe.
  • Spain is made up of various Autonomous Communities that have a certain level of self-government.
  • Take courses with other international students, local students, or a mixture of both.
  • Interact with local students through language exchanges.
  • Spain has the third largest number of UNESCO sites in the world and is known for its culinary art, architecture, and beautiful beaches.

Popular Programs

Valencia, Spain

Specializing in science courses, the Universitat Politècnica de València is among the universities preferred by Erasmus students. It’s recognized as an institute of tertiary education by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. UPV is an American-style campus, with coffee shops, sports facilities, and libraries. The Agricultural, Civil, Industrial and Telecommunication Engineering programs at the UPV have been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Valencia, Spain

Offering courses taught in English in the health field as well as providing internships in both Spanish and English, the Universidad Católica de Valencia (UCV) hosts about 11,000 undergraduate and 4,500 graduate students per year. Founded in 2003, UCV is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain. Popular areas of student include biology, chemistry, sports sciences, Spanish, and nursing.

Valencia, Spain

Universitat de València (UV) has a student population of over 45,000 and several active and scenic campuses. You can take classes at the Facultad de Filología located on Blasco Ibañez Avenue, minutes away from the ISA office. With courses focused on the language and culture, history, art, and literature of Spain, the UV provides a fantastic environment where you can dive into these subjects while immersing yourself into the culture outside of your classes.

Valencia, Spain

FSU’s International Programs (FSU IP) is consistently ranked in the top 15 of US study abroad programs and is recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. The renovated Valencia Study Center is housed in two historic buildings in the center of Valencia, just behind the landmark Serrano Towers. The Center contains part of the original Roman city wall, as well as a portion of a thousand-year-old Arabic wall, and several 14th-century tanning tanks.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 11 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.9
  • Support 4.55
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 8 of 11 reviews
Default avatar
Anaston
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Place to Go!!

Valencia was an amazing city to study abroad in. It truly is so easy to navigate, and you have the chance to immerse yourself in a culture immediately. There are always random festivals to go check out, and there are many international students. There are many opportunities where you can practice your Spanish with people at coffee shops or even meet people from different countries! A great city overall! Additionally, the airport is convenient to get to when going on those international trips! :)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I was a part of was celebrating Las Fallas. This is a 20 day festival only in Valencia! It is celebrated with fireworks, fireworks, churros, and buñuelos!
Pros
  • Public Transport
  • Vibrant Culture
  • Safety
Cons
  • Language Barrier
  • Host Family Food
16 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ashley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Study Abroad Spot!

Valencia, Spain was the perfect study abroad location for me because it was inexpensive, had easy public transportation, and so many fun things to do! I was originally hesitant to study abroad because I was worried about spending too much money but, Valencia had so many cheap restaurants, places to visit, and transportation options compared to other countries. ISA was helpful in helping me to reduce my expenses by placing me in a host family. My family provided me with three meals a day and laundry once a week. My host family not only helped to save me money, but immersed me in Spanish culture through their cooking, language, and everyday life. I am so thankful for ISA for giving me this eye-opening experience!

13 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Julia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Favorite Semester

My experience in Valencia Spain was one of a lifetime. All staff were fantastic and were great program leaders. My transition to living in Spain was painless and my time spent there was beyond enjoyable. We did many different cultural activities as a program and through my ISA program which were all fun and very educational. I was able to build relationships with the ISA staff and others students from all over which was very cool. I recommend ISA and and this program to anyone and everyone!!!!!!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Traditional Valencian paella
Pros
  • Walkable
  • Safe
  • Clean
Cons
  • Smaller city
  • Not a lot of English speakers
  • Expensive to travel to and from
12 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sophie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ISA Valencia Experience

I highly recommend this program to individuals who want to experience city life but not in an overwhelmingly large city. Although Valencia is the third largest city in all of Spain, it feels extremely safe, large enough that there is plenty to discover, and small enough that it is easy to navigate and get familiar with. The numerous historical museums, buildings, and cathedrals have a ton of history to rediscover, and the beach is only a metro ride away. I especially loved the daily routine of going to the street flea markets that happen in different parts of the city every day of the week besides Sunday.

Pros
  • Feels very safe, even at night
  • Easy access to public transportation
  • Inexpensive to eat out
46 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Makena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A trip I will never stop thinking about!!

As cliché as it sounds, my study abroad experience with ISA in Valencia this past summer was hands down the best thing I have ever done. Since I returned to the US in July, a day has not gone by where I don't wish I was still living in Spain. From the second it began, I was beyond happy with every aspect of the program and my life in Valencia, and ISA did a fantastic job facilitating everything. Not only did I meet some of my best friends (whether that be from my own college, other universities back in the states, or people who lived in Europe), the independence of living in a homestay allowed me to thrive independently and truly feel like a local. I was amazed to see how much 6 weeks abroad was able to broaden my horizons and allow me to try new foods, see new places, and be comfortable with being uncomfortable at times!
Aside from the social aspect, taking two courses at Centre d'Idiomes de la Universitat de València really expanded my educational experience and showed me a new way of teaching/learning I hadn't previously been exposed to. Being in class from 9-2 on Monday-Thursday didn't feel like a burden, and we were able to do plenty throughout the week still. All in all, I couldn't be more grateful for my study abroad trip and all it gave me, I definitely would say I'm a different person than when I left back in May and have learned exponentially more than I could've ever anticipated.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
On the front end of my trip, I decided to do a short solo-trip to Madrid before flying to Valencia to begin my program. As someone who had never left the country, I thought my several experiences traveling alone and my proficiency in Spanish would be enough to get me through the first 48 hours, but the culture shock was real! Upon landing in Madrid, I was shocked by how massive the airport was, and was certainly overwhelmed by the signs and directions. I checked into my hotel with over 24 hours of no sleep, then decided to go explore the city. I had absolutely no idea how to use public transportation such as the metro or buses, wasn't familiar with Euros as currency, and certainly wasn't used to being somewhere where nobody spoke English. I made it to downtown Madrid and spent the afternoon sightseeing, eating out, and trying not to get lost! I took the wrong train going home, and called my parents thousands of miles away in a panic. Looking back, despite the immense stress of my solo venture to Madrid, I feel as if it made me capable of traveling to any foreign country on my own in the future.
Pros
  • Way of life in Spain
  • Personal connections with new friends
  • Ability to use my spanish-speaking abilities in real life
Cons
  • Adjusting to schedule at homestay (different meal times, etc)
  • 6+ hour time difference with friends/family back in the states
  • Lengthy classes (2.5 hours) with minimal breaks between
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Isabella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Valencia Semester Abroad

I went abroad to Valencia during the spring 2023 semester and it was one of the best experiences of my life! I learned a lot about Spanish culture, traveled around Europe & Morocco and met lifelong friends. While traveling, I was also able to complete credits at UCV for my kinesiology major. The classes I took were all interesting and we were given many resources if we ran into problems. Both of the advisors were also amazing and were there when we needed any type of help. I recommend going to study abroad in Spain!

Pros
  • Beautiful beaches and scenery
  • Excursions and trips with friends
  • Great advisors
70 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Experience in My Life

Valencia was the best choice I have ever made. I studied abroad through ISA but I am a nursing major, and it was a little difficult to find a program that met my requirements so I could still enter nursing school. Valencia provided the opportunity to not only get into nursing school but learn so much about myself, how I handle difficult situations, and just be free to experience life and different cultures. I loved the friends I made, and the people I was with that made this experience the best.

Pros
  • Adventure
  • Friendships
  • Great weather
Cons
  • Different timing for food and waking up
68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nikki
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Time of My Life!

Studying abroad in Valencia was hands down the best 5 weeks of my life. I went into my experience without any expectations, knowledge of Spanish, or preconceived ideas of what was ahead of me. Little did I know I would meet the most amazing people, learn to communicate with a lotttttt of hand gestures and facial expressions, and fall in love with a city I never even knew existed. I wouldn't change one second of it even if I could. Not only did I come back with exciting stories and memories, but I actually enjoyed the courses I took and no doubt learned way more than I ever would have if I had opted not to step out of my comfort zone. Because it was such a short time, every day was an adventure, whether it was a class field trip, an excursion with ISA, or a day trip with my friends in the program--I was always on the go. If you want a thrilling experience in a unique city immersed in a beautiful culture, Valencia is the place for you!

What would you improve about this program?
In all honesty, I would not change anything about this program. There was just the right amount of tourist excursions, cultural trips, and challenges.
146 people found this review helpful.
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