Spain: Madrid - Spanish Language, Art, and Spanish & European Studies

Madrid is such a beautiful city, and Gabriela & Sara (on site administrators) help you get to know the city and get involved in local activities! We had most Fridays free, so I got to travel on the weekends which was great! I love Spain and the spanish people and cant wait to go back. One thing I wish I would've known is that the classes are only with other USAC students, so you don't get much interaction with university students. I hope in the future they provide the opportunity to take actual university classes so that future USAC students can become friends with the local students

I had previously done a foreign exchange to Spain in high school and knew that I wanted to study abroad in Madrid in college. I had the absolute best time with the friends I made and the experiences we had together! I loved all of my classes and enjoyed learning about the Spanish culture. The professors and program directors were awesome and super helpful. I only wish there were some STEM related classes to count towards my degree, but it was also nice to learn about topics outside of my major. If I got to do this all over, I would definitely choose the USAC Madrid program again!

Studying abroad in Spain for a year allowed me to grow as a person so much. Being in a new country experiencing new cultures such as soccer clubs, different cuisines, taking cooking classes are all different experiences I’ll never forget. USAC also offered many fun excursions that allowed you to build new relationships with your program. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was how easy and convenient it was to travel all around Europe. If your debating studying abroad, I heavily recommend studying through USAC as they have an amazing group of teachers and staff and are very helpful and supportive.

Madrid was my first semester of two studying abroad and it was a great introduction to Spanish life. Everyone from Madrid is not from Madrid there is a great mix of different lifestyles and people. You can find English speakers there, but if learning Spanish it is worth connecting with people from the university. Like participating in the Buddy Program. I spend most of my time with my buddies and learned so much Spanish. The city has it all and so much more. It is also very easy to travel out from. The teachers and staff could have not been better.

I'm so happy I picked Madrid, it's such an easily accessible city and there is always something to do! The city tour and the campus community tour at the beginning of the program made me feel at home in the first week. The advisors, Gabriela and Sara, are what made this program special! They are willing to do anything to help, and I always felt safe during my program. When I had an allergic reaction to something I thrifted, I was able to get in to see an English-speaking doctor that same day. The excursions on the weekends gave us extra glimpses into Spanish culture, and the advisors would send lists of things going on in the city during the weekends we didn't have anything planned. Even though I was there during the summer, there were opportunities to interact with the other Spanish students at the university and practice Spanish. Very small class sizes means you get personalized instruction and you get to grow close with your classmates! I made friends and memories for life and can't wait to go back!

I decided to study abroad somewhat on a whim. I had studied Spanish for over four years, and was really looking to put my language skills to the test while tapping into the global field of my main studies. USAC staff were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive; I never felt unsure of what resources they were ready and able to provide for me. Spending two months in Madrid over the summer was amazing, and while it took a lot out of me as a first-time international traveller, I would do it over and over again if I could.

USAC coordinators Sarah and Gabriela were so welcoming from the start! They were honest, friendly, and always made sure every member of the program felt safe and at home. The living accommodations were amazing, as well as our landlord, and the transportation access was so helpful. I had a great time abroad and believe the program gives students the leniency to do what they want, but also follow correct safety guidelines. We were very immersed in the Spanish culture and I hope to visit again one day.

I cannot say enough good things about USAC Madrid. I loved the professors, especially my Spanish teacher who introduced us to numerous Spanish traditions. I also really appreciated the administrative staff who were always happy to answer questions. Finally, I absolutely adored Madrid. I loved living in such a vibrant city with beautiful parks like Retiro, amazing architecture, and fun activities like holiday markets. Leaving Madrid turned out to be the hardest goodbye, and I cannot wait to return.