The 10 Best Study Abroad Programs in Spain in 2023

Felicidades! You’ve made the excellent decision to study abroad in Spain. In between study sessions and exciting coursework you’ll be able to unwind to the sounds of Flamenco music, indulge in endless plates of delicious tapas, and explore the country’s incredible history, nature, and culture -- all with a glass of wine, of course!

There is an overwhelming number of fantastic options for studying abroad in Spain, so we’ve closely evaluated reviews from alumni to narrow down the list to these top 10 study abroad programs for 2023. Find your best fit and get ready for an incredible study abroad experience!

Program length: semester, summer, J-term, full year
Price point: $
What's included: housing, visa assistance, excursions, health insurance, orientation, 24/7 support, parental support

✅ Pros:

• Students with no Spanish language experience can participate.
• Participants can choose from apartment accommodation or a homestay and fees are factored into the overall price.

❌ Cons:

• Summer term students mentioned a lack of air conditioning in their accommodation.
• Most courses are focused on Spanish language and literature.

Spend a semester studying abroad in the coastal city of Alicante located on Spain’s Costa Blanca at the University of Alicante with USAC. The University of Alicante is known as one of the most beautiful school campuses in the country with sleek architecture, plenty of outdoor seating, and a massive sports center that even includes an indoor swimming pool!

Courses are available in Spanish language learning from beginner to more advanced as well as literature and culture. What could be better than taking a study break at the beach and a dip in the Mediterranean Sea?

Studying abroad with USAC in Alicante is perfect for students who want to embrace Spanish culture, language, and cuisine. You’ll also have volunteer and internship opportunities where you can engage in the local community while enhancing your career skills.

Program length: semester, full year
Price point: $$
What's included: homestay or dorm accommodation, meals depending on housing choice, excursions, optional internship, optional volunteering, visa assistance, 24/7 support line

✅ Pros:

• Excursions include trips to Seville, Córdoba, Ronda, and even Morrocco which is partially subsidized by IES.
• Meals are included in the homestay option while plans for the dorm dining hall can be purchased for a separate fee.

❌ Cons:

• You will need a minimum of two semesters of college Spanish to enroll.
• Granada is fairly small so it may not be the best choice if you're looking for a bustling city.

If you’re fascinated by the Moorish influence in southern Spain, then you won’t want to miss the chance to study abroad in one of the most diverse Andalusian cities, Granada! The IES Abroad program in Granada offers two distinct courses with the goal of helping you to improve your Spanish proficiency.

Study abroad students may choose between the Intermediate Spanish Program and Advanced Spanish Program. The major difference is that the advanced program coursework is all taught in Spanish while the intermediate program has some classes in Spanish and others in English.

IES Abroad also offers optional internship placements included in the course fee. Personalized placements are available in fields like tourism, economics, health sciences, education, and international relations. Gain invaluable international work experience while earning college credit.

Program length: summer, J-term, semester, full year
Price point: $$$
What's included: housing, pre-departure advising, optional internship, on-site support, excursions, travel insurance, 24/7 emergency support

✅ Pros:

• Students loved the activities, classes, and excursions planned by CIEE.
• Participants felt like they were able to fully immerse themselves in Spanish and Catalan culture.

❌ Cons:

• Students who choose to live in a dorm or apartment must budget extra for meals.
• Some living arrangements require a longer commute to the university.

What’s not to love about Barcelona? Historic architecture, vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, delicious tapas, and friendly locals. With CIEE you can take advantage of everything the city has to offer while studying abroad at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

The program is available for those who wish to study abroad for the fall or spring semester, or even the entire academic year! CIEE has programs with varying language requirements for subjects such as liberal arts, international business, economics, architecture, and more.

In addition to a wide range of academic choices, students can get involved in various activities like hikes, museum visits, day trips, and even an optional internship.

Program length: summer, semester, full year
Price point: $
What's included: housing, meals with the homestay option, excursions, airport pickup, health insurance, on-site staff, 24/7 support

✅ Pros:

• Past participants felt that Seville was the perfect size to immerse themselves in an intimate setting without getting lost in the crowd.
• Students can choose from a variety of housing options from homestays to residence halls.

❌ Cons:

• You may have commutes of up to 40 minutes from your housing to campus.
• Apartment and residence hall housing options do not include meals so students will need to budget extra for food.

ISA is a great and affordable option for studying in southern Spain in the gorgeous city of Seville. While they offer programs covering business, Hispanic studies, and the Spanish language, you will have the unique opportunity to take classes related to education in a multicultural setting.

Education majors or those hoping to pursue a career teaching English as a foreign language will study alongside two hours a week of teaching practice as an English language assistant in a local school. Through this, you will develop an e-portfolio and learn the ins and outs of lesson planning. This is invaluable experience to add to a resume and will help you to be more confident in the classroom after graduation.

Past students loved the architecture and beautiful weather in Seville. A very walkable city, you will be able to practice your Spanish while exploring restaurants, museums, and parks with your new study abroad friends.

Program length: summer, semester
Price point: $
What's included: housing, airport pickup, on-site staff, orientation, health insurance, emergency support, visa assistance

✅ Pros:

• Students can choose from an array of courses across art, literature, history, business, and language.
• SAI arranges many outings, tours, and cultural activities for students to enjoy.

❌ Cons:

• Students majoring in math or science won't find many class options.
• You must have a B2 language level to take classes in Spanish.

SAI's study abroad at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona allows students to take classes in both Spanish and English while living in one of the most dynamic cities in Spain. Past participants felt SAI's program was well-rounded with just the right mix of independence, group activities, and quality education.

If you are looking for a program with a superior level of support, SAI is a great option. Student reviews rave about the pre-departure support they received but it didn't stop there. The on-site staff makes sure you have everything you need and make an effort to connect you to extracurricular activities around Barcelona to take your experience to the next level.

Standard housing is included in the program fee which entails shared rooms in apartments with between 2-8 students. If you prefer a private room or even a homestay, SAI can make the arrangements for you at an extra cost.

Program length: summer, J-term, Maymester, semester, full year
Price point: $
What's included: housing, excursions, cultural activities, health insurance, on-site staff, airport or train station pickup, pre-departure advising and support, access to alumni network

✅ Pros:

• API study abroad programs are open to students in their freshman through senior year.
• Students in residential housing are provided with 3 meals a day.

❌ Cons:

• Students who stay the entire year must find housing between the fall and spring semesters.
• If you are looking to take classes in a wider range of subjects, you need an advanced level of Spanish.

Salamanca is easily Spain’s most notorious college town, and certainly the oldest. Universidad de Salamanca was established all the way back in 1218, making it one of the first higher education institutions in the world! Spend your semesterAPI in Salamanca loved their experience.

Study abroad students can either enroll at the Universidad de Salamanca via API for an entire year or just one semester. Healthcare students have the rare opportunity to take relevant courses to their majors like bioethics, medical Spanish, genetics, health communications, and molecular bases of disease.

The program also includes courses in advanced Spanish language & culture, humanities, and one of the best study abroad programs for business students if health and medicine aren't your thing.

If you study abroad in Salamanca during the fall semester you’ll have the chance to participate in one of Spain’s biggest parties: New Year's Eve at the University of Salamanca in the beautiful town square, Plaza Mayor. The party has been happening for almost 100 years and there are usually over 35,000 students in attendance! The event is in mid-December and not actually on NYE.

Program length: summer, semester
Price point: $
What's included: housing in a homestay, meals, in-country support, excursions, books and materials, airport pickup

✅ Pros:

• Students can take classes in English across subjects like biology, chemistry, psychology, and political science.
• Meals are included in your homestay which saves you even more money!

❌ Cons:

• Compared to other programs, there are fewer planned excursions.
• The university is located 5 miles outside of the center of Seville but is connected by metro.

This semester-long study abroad program in Seville is quickly gaining popularity due to the fully-accredited Hispanic Studies Department, modern facilities, and affordable program fees. All levels of Spanish speakers are welcome to study abroad with Adelante Abroad in Seville.

Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced speaker, Adelante Abroad has two programs broken up by proficiency level. Take classes in English, Spanish, or both, across interesting liberal arts and science subjects.

The Adelante Abroad in Seville has positive feedback from past participants which gives future students like you confidence that you’ll receive excellent support while studying abroad in Seville. Designed for independent students, you'll have plenty of time outside of classes to travel around Seville, Spain, and the rest of Europe if you choose!

Program length: summer (1 or 2 months), semester, full year
Price point: $
What's included: 6 or 12 credits depending on length, homestay or dorm accommodation, 3 meals a day, health insurance, cultural activities and excursions, airport pickup

✅ Pros:

• Instituto Franklin-UAH offers internship placements that also include professional workshops and seminars.
• Alumni felt their Spanish improved dramatically during their studies.

❌ Cons:

• Courses are mainly limited to language and cultural studies.
• Alcalá de Henares is about an hour outside of the center of Madrid by public transportation.

Alcalá de Henares is one of the most picturesque towns near Madrid and is home to one of the oldest universities in Spain, Universidad de Alcalá. Students have the opportunity to learn in the historic educational institution which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site via the Instituto Franklin-UAH program which has been helping foreigners study abroad in Spain since 1987!

The study abroad program in Alcalá de Henares focuses on students who wish to study abroad during their undergraduate studies and offers a variety of lengths of study, from short-term to a full academic year with the possibility to take courses related to Spanish food, film, and literature.

From the historic campus, inviting atmosphere, and dedicated support team, study abroad students loved their time at Instituto Franklin-UAH.

Program length: summer, semester, full year
Price point: $$
What's included: housing, meals with some housing choices, on-site staff, airport pickup, cultural activities and excursions, health insurance, emergency support, visa assistance

✅ Pros:

• Excursions include exciting places both in and outside of Spain like northern Morrocco and Lisbon, Portugal.
• The CEA study center is staffed with friendly and helpful admin workers and professors.

❌ Cons:

• The minimum GPA required for some study programs is 2.9.
• Some students mentioned that the Andalucia accent was difficult to understand at times.

With CEA, you can combine study abroad with an independent research project. If you hope to progress to graduate school after finishing your bachelor's, such an experience will be sure to benefit your applications. Choose from subjects like social psychology, urban planning, communication, education, media studies, and more, and be paired with a local faculty member. You will also be able to take classes related to your major.

You have the option to live in a number of different settings like a homestay, private apartment, residence hall, or homestay hybrid. Some of these include meals while others are equipped with shared kitchens where you can hang out and cook with your roommates.

Program length: 1-52 weeks
Price point: $
What's included: Spanish classes, optional internship placement

✅ Pros:

• EUROACE's highly customizable programming is tailored to you and can involve an internship, volunteering, or joining a sports team in addition to Spanish classes.
• Past participants felt truly immersed in local Spanish culture in Valencia.

❌ Cons:

• Activities like group outings and cultural events are a la carte and need to be paid for separately.
• Available housing options are a bit pricey.

The Spanish Language and Culture Program with Euroace is available year-round for international high school or college students like you that are looking to improve their Spanish language skills and live like a local in Valencia, Spain. Valencia is one of Spain’s most historic towns with a beautiful coastline, cultural city center, a number of festivals, and the birthplace of some of Spain’s most cherished foods like paella, horchata, and, of course, sweet Valencia oranges.

The unique Euroace study abroad program combines Spanish language learning with cultural activities for incredibly immersive experiences. You’re encouraged to enhance your Spanish by living with a local host family to see the daily way of life and forge life-long friendships. While not affiliated with any universities, EUROACE will help you arrange for college credit.

So, there you have it! We’ve narrowed it down to the ten best study abroad programs in Spain, based on the feedback former students shared on Go Overseas. The results are based on alumni’s real experiences so you can be confident that their appraisals are honest.

Now it’s your turn to choose which program is the best for you! Where will you study abroad in Spain?

Continue your study abroad research with GO:

• How to Find Student Housing in Spain
• How to Study Abroad in Spain on a Budget
• How Much Does it Cost to Study Abroad in Spain?
• The 9 Best Cities to Study Abroad in Spain