Skies alight with summer sun late into the evening. Late-night parties and world-class fútbol. Classes for film majors, STEM majors, architecture majors, and everything in between—and the cultural landscape to back it up. Wouldn’t it be great if you could choose a place to study abroad that checked every box?
Check, check, check.
Enter: Madrid, which manages to offer all the bustle and culture of a European capital while still staying affordable. Come for the academic and language opportunities, the gastronomy and nightlife, or the weather. Our best tips for studying abroad in Madrid will set you up for a successful semester (or summer, or winter…have we mentioned that Madrid has something for everyone?) no matter what first drew you in.
15 best tips for studying abroad in Madrid
If you want to study abroad in Madrid, these tips will have you ready for all the art and culture, Spanish tradition and trendy nightlife, and learning opportunities in this cosmopolitan but oh-so-Spanish capital:
1. Pick the right program for you
The right program will influence your entire experience in Madrid.
Madrid is an incredibly popular destination for students worldwide, so you can choose from a seemingly endless array of subjects to study. The trick? Picking a program that meets your needs in terms of courses offered and timing.
Creative folks will find inspiration for their art or creative writing in a city known for its culture, but this is also the place to go for STEM fields like computer science or engineering, deep dives into political science or European studies, and a host of other subjects. And if you’re studying Spanish, you can’t beat Madrid.
2. Practice Spanish every chance you get
Even if you’re not sitting in a Spanish class every day, learning Spanish abroad is your ticket to immersion that’s both fun (ordering tapas and beer, anyone?) and good for your brain. Madrid offers plenty of opportunities to work your mental muscles and gain the fluency in a language that only comes from real-life practice.
Whether you’re living with a host family, chatting it up with your classmates, or using basic phrases when shopping for groceries or touring a museum, take advantage of this great chance you have to learn the local language.
3. Get out of your bubble
Here’s one of the best tips for studying abroad in Madrid: Make the effort to leave your bubble. It’s really easy to stick solely with friends from your home school and country when you’re studying abroad—they know what you’re going through and speak your language.
When you interact with people beyond those easy-to-access peers, you’re opening yourself to a richer, more authentic experience abroad.
4. Make local friends
Step out of your comfort zone! That’s what travel is all about.
Getting out of your bubble may feel intimidating at first, but Madrid abounds with ways to interact with locals. Participate in university events, strike up conversations with people you meet at cafés or bars, spend time with your host family, or join a language exchange group.
By making local friends, you’ll have opportunities to practice Spanish and learn more about your temporary home city than you ever could simply by going to class.
5. You can take advantage of the opportunity to travel…
No list of Madrid study abroad tips would be complete without a shout-out to how Madrid delivers as a major travel hub.
Between the huge railway network connecting Madrid with the rest of Spain (and beyond) through the main Atocha and Chamartín stations and one of Europe’s busiest airports in Madrid–Barajas, you’ll have so many ways to up your travel game while you’re studying abroad.
6. …but don’t forget to explore close to “home”
It’s easy to get caught up in checking cities off your bucket list when you have most of Europe in reach. But don’t forget about the country you’re calling home while you’re abroad.
From Barcelona to Bilbao, Sevilla to Granada, Spain gives you landscapes, museums, unique food and traditions, and undiscovered corners to explore. Above all, take the time to check out what Madrid has to offer—it’s a whole lot!
7. Remember why you’re studying abroad (hint: the word studying)
Train rides, nightlife…going to class? Don’t lose sight of what brought you to Madrid in the first place. You can absolutely travel and explore your home away from home, but devote some energy to practicing Spanish and maintaining your grades.
8. Pack for the season
Don’t throw just anything in your suitcase—pack strategically!
Madrid’s Mediterranean climate is a big draw, but you’ll need to pack for study abroad according to when you’ll be there. Expect hot, dry, sunny summer weather but damp and chilly winters in Madrid. One must-have item on your packing list, regardless of the season? Shoes that keep you comfortable as you explore this walkable city.
9. See the city as a pedestrian
In fact, “pack your walking shoes” deserves its own entry on a list of tips for studying abroad in Madrid. Traversing Madrid on foot will help you learn the ins and outs of the city, and the metro lets you bridge bigger distances so you can get out and walk some more (just make sure you know when the last train leaves at night).
Though those old buildings and streets mean Madrid isn’t the most wheelchair-friendly destination, the city has made improvements in terms of accessibility, including plans to increase the number of accessible metro stations.
10. Embrace the Spanish lifestyle
Midday siestas, hours-long dinners starting after 9 p.m.—“Spanish time” is real, and the leisurely lifestyle can cause some culture shock if you usually live at a faster pace. Planning your grocery shopping around siesta may take a little getting used to, but afternoon naps and late-night nightlife are a great fit for the student rhythm.
11. Make time for mealtime
Part of living like a madrileño is embracing long, late dinners. Meals here are social experiences; that server you read as inattentive is actually giving you space to enjoy your time with food and friends.
Look at it this way: Long, social meals translate to more elaborate sampling of patatas bravas and jamón serrano while considering where you’ll go for additional drinks at one of the many tempting bars afterwards.
12. Don’t forget to budget
Count out your euros for a gastronomical tour of Madrid.
Big city living on a budget? That’s Madrid for you. Madrid delivers a low cost of living compared to many other European cities, offering a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable city to study abroad. Save up, plan your budget, then live your best life while you’re studying in Madrid.
13. Balance big-city bustle with nature
Sure, you’re signing up to live in a cosmopolitan capital city with top-notch institutions and people from all over the world. That doesn’t mean you can’t escape to nature in Madrid. You’ll find gardens and parks dotting the urban landscape, so stop by El Retiro or one of the many other natural oases to cool off and take a study break.
14. Look for free activities and discounts
No matter how strict your budget, Madrid makes it easy to indulge in culture. Your student ID can get you reduced or free entry into museums like the Reina Sofía, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, and more. Plus, many museums in Madrid are free for everyone on certain days and times.
Your youth status can even land you discounts for travel, so do your research and get your documents in order to make the most of your time in Madrid.
15. Take advantage of everything your program offers
Do international students at your university host a weekly movie night? Does your program provider take you on tours and excursions? ¡Vamos!
There’s no better time to take advantage of perks like museum visits and flamenco workshops than when you’re studying abroad. Trust us, you won’t regret signing up for that guided tour of the Prado, even if you’re tempted to sleep in.
Next steps to study abroad in Madrid
Here’s how to secure your study abroad adventure.
Consider this your bonus sixteenth tip to round a list of best tips for studying abroad in Madrid: Plan ahead to make sure you’re set up for a successful time abroad. Here’s how to tick things off your to-do list.
1. Choose what you’ll study
Whether you want to take courses for your major in Spanish or to stick to English for your coursework, Madrid has you covered. From art history and literature to business, psychology, Spanish (and so much more!) the range of subjects you can find in Madrid makes this capital city a great choice.
Map out classes you need to take while abroad to fulfill degree requirements—and see if you have room for electives so you can explore subjects you might not get the chance to take back home.
2. Decide when you want to go abroad
Once you know what you want to study, look for programs that feature classes you need. You can dive into the madrileño life with a semester in the fall or spring or even study abroad for a full year, or you can opt for a shorter-term program in the summer (or winter!).
Again, Madrid has it all, so consider your academic goals, personal preferences, and financial needs to choose between summer, winter, fall, spring, and academic year programs.
3. Talk to your home university
Does all that sound overwhelming? Don’t forget you have plenty of folks to help you figure out how to make your dream of studying in Madrid a reality. You’ll want to speak to a few different people at your home university, including your study abroad advisor, academic advisor, and financial aid advisor.
Before you even start studying abroad in Madrid, their tips will help you choose a program that meets your needs so you can get your courses abroad approved and hand in any required paperwork before boarding that plane.
4. Get your finances in order
If the idea of paying for studying abroad makes you want to abandon your plan altogether, first, take a deep breath. Madrid is a great option for an affordable experience.
On the exhale, it’s time to make a plan for financing your time overseas. You often can get financial aid for study abroad, but you need to make sure you’re picking a program and term that lets you access your financial aid package.
Ask your study abroad advisor about study abroad programs approved at your home school, and check with the program you want to attend about financial aid, too—many providers offer merit- and need-based funding. You also can (and should!) apply for scholarships to bring down your final bill even more.
Find and compare study abroad programs in Madrid with MyGoAbroad
Studying abroad in Madrid will leave you bitten by the travel bug
First stop: Spain. Next stop: the whole world?
OK, one more bonus tip: Let Madrid inspire you. Inspire you with its museums and parks, slower pace, and vibrant nightlife. Inspire you to travel more and really get to know a culture and language. The ultimate destination for artists, foodies, historians, and linguists alike, Madrid is waiting to transform you.
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