IES Abroad Madrid – Engineering, Math & Science

I absolutely loved my time in Madrid and am so happy I chose to study abroad with IES. The staff is incredibly helpful and supportive and they organize trips and events throughout the entire semester. You really can't beat this study abroad program... Living in Madrid was a wonderful experience. It is a vibrant city full of culture and things to do. IES had multiple optional events like museum visits, cooking classes, dance classes, walking tours of different parts of the city, etc, almost every week. Even if you choose not to participate in IES events, there is never a shortage of things to do during the day in Madrid. And of course, the tapas, sangria, and overall nightlife can't be beat. IES planned 4-5 trips to different parts of Spain, all of which were a great time. You can also travel on your own very easily since the Madrid airport is a major hub and most students can choose to only have class Monday-Thursday. Housing through IES was also very good. I chose to live in a homestay, which most students choose. IES works extremely hard to match you up with a Senora who will fit your needs (though all of them are truly great). Most students lived in a neighborhood where other IES students were, and all of us were close enough to a metro that meeting up was no problem. There's a pretty extensive selection of classes you can take since you can choose from three different schools. The majority of the Engineering classes are in English but you'll be in a classroom with Spaniards, which is great, and the classes themselves are not terribly difficult. Classes at the engineering school are hit or miss in terms of how engaging they are but the classes offered at IES are all taught very well. Overall, IES Madrid was a fantastic experience. I couldn't imagine having chosen to study anywhere else but this awesome city. IES made the transition incredibly smooth and the staff is extremely supportive. I made friends through IES that will last a lifetime and I am counting down the days until I return to Spain again. Go abroad, go to Madrid, and do it through IES... seriously.

I cannot praise and commend my past semester abroad in Madrid, Spain enough. Upon one week’s return to the US, my friends back home already got tired hearing about me boast on and on about the experiences I went through while away for the semester. It was an adventure of a lifetime and I would most definitely recommend Madrid to any student looking to study abroad. Madrid was an endless city—one with tons of historic events, art, culture, and most importantly, a place that felt like home away from home. From day one, I was surrounded by students like myself, by natives who welcomed all foreigners, and by staff members and professors who wanted nothing more than to help fully immerse us into this new world. My host mom welcomed me into her home with arms wide open and always a smile on her face. She was amused and excited to learn about my culture and my background and to try and teach me about her way of life and her traditions. Some memories will always include days she came home screaming about something new she found in the city—a new store, new café, or a new viewpoint of the city that she couldn’t wait to share with me. I loved weekends where her extended family would come over and include me as if I were another cousin in the bunch. Family conversations would escalate for hours upon hours aside a deliciously home cooked traditional meal. Learning in the classroom in Madrid allowed me to experience a whole new field of education. As a pre-med student, I have always been glued to textbooks, working on science and math problems, and trying to understand things in a conceptual sense. However, the classes I took while abroad introduced me to a new sphere of thinking. Taking classes about literature, architecture, and art history not only expanded my critical and creative thinking but also taught me about the history of Spain as a country. Watching movies, reading stories and looking at art work from historic Spain taught me a lot about the cultural movements of the country and as well allowed me to better appreciate architecture and art as I walked through the city daily. Of course, learning was not only limited to the classroom. I was constantly learning new words by going to the supermarket, to restaurants, and to cafes, meeting many natives and further other tourists and study abroad students visiting the city. I took advantage of travelling on the weekends and only left the country of Spain for one weekend! I still can’t wait to go back and visit a few other cities I did not have the chance yet to see. The history and culture of each Spanish city I visited varies drastically. From the Aqueduct in Segovia to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the art and architecture of each building design is so different and speaks a thousand words on its own. Although I am sad that the semester came to an end, I am incredibly grateful for the experience I had while away and hope that students will continue to visit Madrid and to see all it has to offer. I am lucky to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of IES and share my experience with others and try to promote this incredible prospect. It is not goodbye, it is see you later, Madrid. I will be back.

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Madrid! The lively city kept me amazed and entertained for four incredible months. Everyday was something new and with the multitude of museums, restaurants, bars, and sight seeing locations, I was never bored. The city has so many interesting neighborhoods and parks that are great to explore when you have a few hours to spare. If you decide you want to explore outside of the city for a bit, there are several towns just a short bus ride away with tons of history that are sure to surprise you. The IES center in Madrid is full of extremely helpful and friendly people. I was constantly surprised by how often they went the extra mile to make the students were getting the most out of their study abroad experience.