CIEE College Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain

My time in Madrid with CIEE was absolutely incredible! I had a full immersion experience, taking classes at the local university (UC3M Getafe) and living with a great host family. CIEE offers many options in terms of studies, housing accommodations, and activities. They also held weekly events to visit new spots in Madrid. Some of my favorite include a cooking class, a trip to an art and history exhibit at Circulo de Bellas Artes, watching the sunset at Templo de Debod, and a Flamenco class. They really touch on every "Madrilena" experience I wanted to get. I truly believe CIEE allowed me to have the freedom I needed to grow independently as well as the support I needed to feel safe while miles away from home. I could not recommend CIEE enough and would love to answer any specific questions anyone has before choosing a program.

CIEE's Engineering and Society program in Madrid was amazing! The staff is very friendly and helpful--I felt very comfortable talking to them right off the bat and they always suggested cool places to check out in Madrid.

All of my classes (apart from the three week intensive language course) were direct-enroll, so I was in class with local Spanish students--though my classes were in English. This was a good way to get to know local students as well as gain an understanding about their perspective on academics and education, which was different from what I am used to in the US. In doing this I also met a lot of other American students that were not in CIEE..

The staff organized a lot of social and cultural events (like Flamenco lessons, bike tours, socials with local students, and cooking classes to name a few) which were very fun and a good way to make friends with other people in the program (as well as non-engineering-CIEE students). My favorite things they organized were our weekend excursions. My semester we went to Bilbao and then on the way back we went wine tasting in La Rioja. We also took the high speed train to Sevilla, which was another great city. It was really fun to have these excursions organized by the staff because it enabled us to explore different areas of Spain with some direction (they covered hotels and most meals and tours) while giving us enough free time to bond with other students and explore on our own.

Madrid is my absolute favorite city after living there for a semester (and I live in NYC!). The people are nice and the Spanish culture and night life is so fun to explore! I stayed in a homestay which I really enjoyed (as it was where I developed most of my language skills), but I also know people who enjoyed living in an apartment with other students.

All in all I recommend this program!

I had the best semester of my life in Madrid. It's a great city, especially for students. Madrid isn't Spain's top tourist destination, but it is the heart of the country. I visited most regions in Spain, and 12 countries, and I would not have chosen to study anywhere else. There's no reason to leave on the weekends, but cheap transportation (domestic and international) is abundant if you wish to travel elsewhere on the weekends. The CIEE Staff went above and beyond to support the students. Occasionally, I stopped by the CIEE Study Center just to say hi to them because they foster such a friendly, welcoming community. I made many lifelong friends from other universities during my time here, including my host family. I would absolutely recommend this program.

There is no such thing as a typical abroad experience. As a college junior, I decided to do course work in Madrid, Spain and gained a cross cultural understanding that will last a life time. Many college students who study abroad visit Europe. Europe is in fact part of the Western world. My time in Spain does share similarities to other university students who visit Europe: being in a new place, trying new food, learning a foreign language. However, what I hope to be our greatest similarity is an expanded worldview and new appreciation for other cultures. There is no such thing as a typical abroad experience, but many instances abroad shape students to come to the same realization: the world is much bigger than it seems. This program helped me feel comfortable in other city in a way I did not think was possible, Madrid felt like my home.

Madrid is a remarkable city. I loved it. As others have said, the city offers everything and can fit for anyone and any activity. At least 3 times a week, I would wonder the streets by myself or ride to a random metro stop and explore the city. I am returning to Madrid this spring and could not be more excited

My favorite day of the week while studying abroad was tuesdays. I, along with my closest friends, had classes in the morning but the entire afternoon off. We would go to the famous sandwich shop at Carlos III and then go to retiro to eat these delicious sandwiches. It doesnt sound like much. But, when you felt true spanish hospitality and love from the sandwich shop owners, then took easy metro to the park, and then laid in the park on a sunny beautiful day at retiro watching people all relax and slow down... then it becomes something special

the CIEE program was great. Highly recommended-- the staff, the programming, the trips, the filed trips, the center, the host family, everything was good

My time with CIEE Madrid was amazing! From before I left the States to when I made to Madrid, it was smooth sailing. The Director and staff made themselves available to answer all my questions and ensure the transition was smooth. While I was in Madrid they offered lots of assistance for the classes and made recommendations for things I should try out in Madrid (& they never steered me wrong). I had such a wonderful time in Madrid, I hope to return one day and live there for a few more months. Thanks CIEE Madrid for making such a positive and lasting impact!

Studying abroad in Madrid through CIEE was the best decision I have made in my life. Not only did I perfect my Spanish speaking, eat delicious food, and make friends for life. This program also allowed me to grow as a person. I will never forget the memories I made on this trip, and the experiences I had that continue to influence me every day. The support and compassion from the program staff is unparalleled, and they will ensure that you have the best experience possible.

A single story could not possibly be sufficient in explaining my experience with the CIEE Liberal Arts program in Madrid. Instead, I'll offer a few examples that I think are definitive of my experience and will likely help answer a few questions students considering this program may have.

First, the city itself. Finding the right mix between a large city with lots to do and a small city with character and community vibes was important- and I found Madrid to offer a perfect mix. While the city of Madrid may be massive, the program is located right in the center of Madrid where boutique bars/restaurants, historical sites, and eclectic neighborhoods all seemed to fit together within a 3-mile radius. It was navigable and communal yet continuously exciting and full of new places to explore. Whether you want to party at 10 a story club, bar hop, get lost in a modern art museum (Reina Sofia), row a boat or run around a beautiful (and massive) park, Madrid truly has something for everyone.

Traveling was huge- Madrid's location combined with the flexibility of the CIEE program enabled us to take weekend trips throughout Europe and even Africa (Morrocco)! Flights to Amsterdam, Germany, Italy, and more were all affordable and easy.

Last but not least- the people. Between the CIEE staff and my host family, everyone was positive, interesting, and awesome! Living with a Spanish speaking family, immersing yourself in their culture and traditions, learning about their hobbies and world view...it was phenomenal. I finished my semester abroad over 2 years ago, and to this day I still genuinely miss all of the wonderful people I met while I was there.

While you may be thinking that an experience of a lifetime can come from any study abroad program- I believe that the CIEE Liberal Arts program is a step above the rest. They clearly put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into making the students' experiences as memorable and enjoyable as possible. They allowed us to be independent yet still spend time together with the right mix of group events/trips, class offerings, and general flexibility. This program is a great decision for any student considering studying abroad- I assure you- you'll never regret it!