USAC Spain: Bilbao/Getxo - International Business & Spanish

My experience with USAC study abroad in Bilbao was one of the greatest decisions I made in my undergraduate education. The program staff from start to finish were accommodating, empathetic, encouraging, and an overall fantastic resource. They supported me in getting connected and building relationships within the Bilbao/Getxo communities, allowing me to supplement my courses with Social Media Admin opportunities, Classroom experience as an English Language Conversation Assistant in a local elementary school, tutoring opportunities with local families, and several group excursions that piqued my curiosity and sense of adventure! They offered great recommendations for regional travel to explore all that País Vasco had to offer, provided a safe space for any concerns I had, and took interest in my experiences and day to day life! When it came to housing, my host family was an incredible placement. I lived in an apartment with the most amazing family who supported me far beyond providing room and board. My host mom and her daughters were friendly, and I spent many days with them laughing at the kitchen table, exploring the community, and creating a relationship that has lasted beyond my program’s end. I fell in love with Bilbao and Getxo as a host city, felt enriched by my curriculum and professors, and returned home more confident in my language fluency than ever before. The ease of travel from Bilbao to the rest of Spain and more broadly throughout Europe was a complete breeze! I often spent time traveling and exploring on weekends, expanding my cultural competency and my passion for learning about the world around me. I feel that the USAC program offered me a chance to test my boundaries and grow as both a student and a person, I would encourage anyone considering study abroad with USAC to take the leap of faith and know that you’ll love where you land!

This program challenged me academically, socially, and personally. I grew so much as a person learning that I can adapt in an unfamiliar/foreign environment. I viewed this as a great way for personal growth. The classes were difficult but doable. Yes, you have to put in the work, but the instructors really enjoy watching students learn and grow. The location of the Bilbao program was perfect. Anything you might need is walkable. The support staff is great and ready to help all students, no matter what or no matter the time of day. Everyone in my group really enjoyed themselves! The only issue I have is that there were way too many emails beforehand, that some potentially important information could have easily gotten lost.

I had an amazing time with USAC! From start to finish, staff was very helpful. Classes were the perfect pace and structure. Teachers are aware that you may travel on weekends, so the structure of classes may be less homework based.

I had an incredible time and learned so much! I felt so safe while being in Bilbao and felt that the city was easy to navigate. I loved my apartment and all the friends I made. We went on so many cool trips like to san juan gaztelugatxe, art museums, wine tasting, surfing, a fancy spa as San Sebastian, and went to France. There were endless cool things to experience and I had the time of my life.

Studying in Bilbao truly changed my life. It broadened my horizons to the world around me, I grew so much as a person, I learned so many skills that will help me in my life, and I gained a love for new cultures and places. USAC did such a great job of making study abroad feel accessible and they helped me every step of the way. The program directors were amazing and I just went back to Bilbao this month and saw them and my host family! My host mom became my second mama and I am so grateful for her! Bilbao is a clean beautiful and safe city and i think of it as my second home! I couldn't encourage people enough to go study abroad!

It was an amazing experience and felt so short. I would go back in a second. Met so many friends and got to experience so many fun things. All of the staff administration were so nice and helpful too. Best decision ever!!

My semester abroad was the most fun I've ever had. It was a great experience to understand Spain's culture and differences compared to what I am used to in the States. I love the country so much! I loved Spain so much that I feel like Bilbao would be a great place to retire, as all the older people seem like they are just living life. Spain was an awesome country and learning Spanish was huge for me because I can use it in the super helpful business world.

I decided to study abroad with one of my friends from school and on the last day of enrollment he decided that he was unable to attend with me. Shortly before going to Bilbao I had a realization that I was moving 5,500 miles away from my friends, family, structure, and daily habits. I was moving to a part of Spain that many of the locals do not speak English and decided to go all in and when I left, I left with more than a semesters worth of memories, I left with a family that I would have for the rest of my life. Bilbao changed my life through the culture and experiences with people. The staff was there to help us adjust to the new lifestyle and adjust to the new challenges that we may face. I lived 150 meters from Estadio San Mamés and every gameday we were surrounded by one of the most unique experiences in the world. The whole city changed into a magical wonderland for Christmas and had one of the most magical Christmas seasons that I have ever seen. Gorka was an amazing professor and taught us so much Spanish that was more than just the ability to communicate with proper grammar like we would learn here but also would teach us how to survive and how to ask for help in grocery stores or how to order food at a restaurant. The language barrier was the biggest blessing in disguise that I have ever experienced as it taught me how to be by myself in public and how to live through difficult times and how to take care of myself when my usual structure is not there. The group that went to Bilbao with me will forever be my family and many of us are still in contact every single day.

This program transformed my life. Personally, professionally, and academically I am a completely different person than I was two years ago and I could not be more grateful for the amazing friends I made and professors who guided us during our summer abroad. I cannot rave about this experience enough!

I loved my time in Spain. Bilbao is truly the best city it has such a nice location. Meaning it is close to the beach and the border of France. Transportation was super reliable and cheap. I got so lucky with my study abroad group, everyone was very friendly and I made lifelong friends. Bilbao also has the absolute best advisor, Ibon. He is very kind and welcoming. He was born and raised in Bilbao and really showed the insider information. Bilbao also has a good sized airport so I was able to travel to a lot of places on the weekends. However I loved Bilbao so much I was sad to leave on the weekends.

I loved my time studying in Bilbao, Spain in the Basque Country Region, which is unique in its own way and unlike any other part of the country. The classes offered were insightful and worked well to transfer easily back to my home university, along with amazing elective courses like surfing and basque cooking (where you’re taught by a Michelin star chef!). The on site staff felt very supportive and I felt like I could go to them for anything, especially since transitioning from never leaving the US to living in a completely Spanish speaking area could feel lonely at times. Having my fellow study abroad peers around really made the experience more memorable as well. I love the city of Bilbao and its great food scene, nightlife, art museum, and charming old town. Not only this, public transportation is very affordable and costs less than 2 euro to get to the airport by bus. Decently large airport that offers many cheap flights to other parts of Spain, overall a pretty good central hub just because of how easy it is to get from the Bilbao city center to the airport. I think about my experience and miss it everyday! Thank you USAC for simplifying the study abroad process and allowing me to have the best time ever!

I had an absolute blast on this trip. The classes and activities were fantastic. The opportunity to join in with Erasmus events gave me a social group beyond my classmates and the surfing class was my favorite part about the entire trip. Bilbao is very unique and doesn't give you the same enormous city vibes with very nice people and great opportunities to practice Spanish and you can never run out of things to do as long as you keep looking and asking for recommendations.

This was my second semester studying in Spain. I would say this program was fantastic, the courses were challenging but the teachers were more than helpful. The community was welcoming but you should know that the culture is different from the other parts of Spain. Friend groups that they call "quadriás" are not as inviting to foreigners as the other places in Spain. It's not a problem but you just have to work harder to make friends. The things to do outside of school are endless. The beaches are accessible by metro and there is alot of opportunities to explore the cool landscape there. Best place to experience the culture there is Casco Viejo. There is always something going on there, try out Calle Somera. I loved my time there and my Spanish improved greatly. There is so much to experience In Bilbao.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Bilbao, Spain. This was a great decision for me because Bilbao is amazing in so many ways but also not super well known so I didn’t feel like a tourist, I was able to immerse myself in the culture a lot easier than I imagined. I met the most amazing people and had great support along the way through my program directors. I had so much fun exploring Bilbao, the beautiful hikes and beaches in Getxo, and traveling to other countries. I feel that I grew so much as a person while also learning a lot and having so much fun. I could not have asked for a better study abroad experience through USAC.

My experience in Bilbao was nothing short of an amazing experience. I made a ton of local friends and saw so many Spanish cities. Instead of the normal Madrid, and Barcelona trips I visited Asturias, Cantabria, Burgos, Galicia, Granada, and nearly every region in the Iberian country. I had stayed for a year and I really wanted to visit everything in between the two large capitals. I competed in gaming tournaments all throughout Spain and traveled nearly every weekend to a different event to represent the Basque Country. Each week with my group of local friends we would travel to a nearby community to represent Bilbao in these tournaments. Due to this, I met a multitude of people all throughout Spain who would end up becoming some of my best friends. Overall, an amazing experience I wouldn't trade for even the world.

Studying abroad in the Basque Country of Spain was an enriching experience that surpassed all my expectations. Immersed in vibrant culture, I explored festivals, indulged in local cuisine, and engaged in academia that offered unique insights. The region's breathtaking landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for adventure, while interactions with locals and fellow students enriched my global perspective. Overall, it was a transformative journey that I'd highly recommend to anyone seeking an unforgettable study abroad experience.

Studying abroad will not only be unforgettable, but it has shaped a change in my life that I will never not be grateful for. Within my experience, I was completely immersed in the culture as I had chosen to stay with a host family. Aside from my family, I attended a campus that was historic to the area of Bilbao where my program studied, so everyday I was able to experience the townspeople and even mingle with them on my own terms, creating life-long friendships. This was my first time going anywhere outside of the United States, expanding my view in the world and assuring that the fears I once had before leaving, were only there because of the vast changes that have been made in my life since. These changes were only for the better though. I have had dreams of traveling since I was young, and as a surfer it meant the world to me to get to surf outside of the USA. Since studying in Bilbao I have made that dream come true. I feel like I have conquered what I thought was impossible way before I expected to be able to, which taught me to never stop striving for my goals because you never know how things will work out for you, but you can trust that everything will. I lived in Gexto, a beach town outside of the city Bilbao. Here in the north of Spain, it was challenging because of the Basque language being so popular aside from Spanish that people speak due to the region they’re from and born in. This taught me to be open minded to learning the differences of peoples culture and not just basing them off of which continent they came from. I learned the appreciation to see everyone in a more unique light, and that there can also be similarities found in people no matter where we come from. It also taught me a lot about my home country and how the rest of the world views us. Most importantly I learned a deeper sense of gratitude for where I come from and the place I belong to. I will always cherish that Spain was once a home but now apart of my life forever.

Studying abroad with the USAC program in Bilbao has been an enriching experience thanks to its exceptional staff and immersive environment. The cultural immersion opportunities, such as exploring Basque landmarks and engaging with the local community, have been eye-opening. Additionally, the academic quality provided by the UPV, combined with the supportive guidance from USAC staff, has ensured a rewarding and smooth experience for students. Overall, the USAC program in Bilbao offers a well-rounded and transformative study abroad experience.

Studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain was an absolute dream come true! From the vibrant culture to the breathtaking landscapes, every moment felt like a picturesque adventure. The university provided top-notch education, immersing me in Spanish language and culture seamlessly. The locals were incredibly welcoming, making me feel like a part of their community from day one. Exploring the charming streets filled with delicious pintxos and lively music became a cherished routine. My time in Bilbao not only enriched my academic knowledge but also left me with unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. Grateful for this transformative experience!

I was very nervous to start my process to study abroad. I didn’t know anyone else at my school that was going to be studying abroad the same time as me, but I did not let that get in my way. I continued with all the paperwork and meetings. It was finally the week before I left for Spain. I packed my bags and headed to the airport, and this was the hardest part for me. I said goodbye to my family and my friends, and headed off to the long journey ahead during my six weeks in Bilbao I met the nicest people and had the most wonderful time. The relationships and connections you make with locals, professors, and other students is remarkable. I would recommend this 100/10 to anyone! You can do hard things!