Study Abroad Programs in Salamanca

Nicknamed la ciudad dorada (the golden city) for the sandstone buildings that are located within the walls of the Old City, Salamanca is widely considered to be the place where the most “pure” variation of Spanish is spoken. It may be for this reason alone that many Spanish and international students choose to study at the Universidad de Salamanca, founded in 1218.

Located about two hours and a half from the capital Madrid, this medium-sized Spanish city does not attract the hordes of tourists found in Barcelona or Madrid, making it all the more unique and immersive for study abroad students.

The city especially comes alive in September during its feria season and in April during its Semana Santa (Holy Week) religious processions. For those that might want to explore beyond Salamanca, its close proximity to Portugal and to the cities of Avila, Ciudad Rodrigo, Zamora, Valladolid, and Madrid all make for ideal day or weekend trips.

Culture and Immersion

In the heart of the Old City lies the Plaza Mayor, a popular hangout spot for local salmantinos and students alike. Bullfights used to be held there up until the 19th century. Today, instead of running away from bulls, people flock to the restaurants and tourist shops that line the plaza’s archways. Long believed to be the most beautiful plaza in Spain, the Plaza Mayor is especially impressive at night when it is illuminated. Unsurprisingly, most of Salamanca’s nightlife is centered around the Plaza Mayor. Because Salamanca is essentially a college town, there is a plethora of bars and discotecas to choose from, making it very easy to meet fellow students.

Aside from the legendary nightlife, Salamanca boasts an imposing “new” and “old” cathedral which dominate the Old City skyline. Construction on the “new” cathedral started in 1513 and took more than 200 years, while the “old” cathedral is much smaller and dates from the 12th century (the “new cathedral” was built onto the “old cathedral” so it all looks like one big cathedral from the outside). Other places of note are the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), a building adorned with over 300 scallop shells on its façade that today houses the public library, and Casa Lis, an eclectic and funky museum that houses a variety of exhibits centered on “art nouveau.”

Also, if you are an avid birdwatcher, you will get plenty of opportunities to observe the storks that build their nests and roost on top of nearly every tall building in Salamanca, adding to the city’s charm.

Culture Shock and Support

The slower pace of life in Spain is evident through later meal times (lunch at 2 PM, dinner at 9 PM) and the mid-day Spanish siesta, often leading to stores closing between 2 and 5 PM to accommodate the later lunch hour. Customer service isn’t nearly as attentive as in the United States and if you are a vegetarian, you may find it a bit tricky since it may seem Spanish food revolves around ham. You have to keep in mind things won’t be exactly like they are at home—you are no longer in the United States and therefore you are playing by a set of different rules.

If you are the kind of person who tends to get homesick and has difficulty adjusting to a different lifestyle, you may want to take into account the level of support offered to students when you are selecting a program. Most programs have a period of orientation before the program starts, helping students get settled into the city and suggesting all kinds of cultural and extracurricular activities students can get involved in (I joined a hiking group while living abroad in Spain and absolutely loved it!). If you are uncomfortable with your level of Spanish and feel you need more practice, some programs like API will offer extra tutoring at no extra cost. If you are finding it to be too much to cope on your own, don’t be afraid to talk to the onsite staff—they are there to help you!

If learning Spanish in a beautiful city that caters to a high student population sound appealing to you, you may want to consider studying abroad in Salamanca. The Golden City is waiting to welcome you with open arms!

Fees and tuition vary depending on the study abroad program you are considering, but prices usually range from $10,000 to $15,000 per semester. Airfare is not always included, but sometimes programs will take care of flight arrangements for an extra fee. Program costs differ depending on what is included in the overall study abroad package, so it is important to figure out what kind of program you want and what you expect to get out of it. Do you want a program that organizes cultural excursions? Do you want to live with a host family or with other students? Do you want a program that offers medical insurance?

Spain’s currency is the euro and it is always a good idea to take into account the exchange rate when trying to estimate how much money you think you will spend while studying abroad. The cost of living in Salamanca is not as high as Madrid or Barcelona since it is a smaller city. For example, you will probably not be spending a lot of money on transportation since Salamanca is mostly a pedestrian city. It also all depends on you as a person—you may want to travel a lot, you may want to take advantage of the Salamanca nightlife, or you may want to join a gym. Think about what you think you will be spending your money on and budget accordingly.

If you only plan to study abroad in Salamanca for a semester, talk to your bank and see if you can use your debit or credit card in Spain. Keep in mind you will probably be subject to some hefty fees each time you use your card to get cash at the ATM. (Also don’t forget to warn your credit card companies you will be using your cards outside of the US—otherwise you may end up with a hold on your account!) Spain is mostly a cash based economy and often stores have a hard time reading American credit cards because they do not have the chip that is embedded in most European credit cards.

If you think you can’t study abroad because you are finding it to be too expensive, then think again! There are a number of scholarships you can check out for studying in Salamanca:

• ISA offers the Dr. Carlos E. Castañada Memorial Scholarship, a financial and merit-based scholarship for students who attend ISA-affiliated universities.
• AIFS has a variety of scholarships available, including merit-based, financial aid, and those committed to diversity.
• API has many scholarships to choose from that are applicable for their programs in Salamanca.
• More Study Abroad Grants and Scholarships