Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain with WorldStrides

I am so happy that I chose WorldStrides for my study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain. Going into the semester, I was worried about adjusting to a new country, a new school, and new people. The second I met the WorldStrides team at the airport, I immediately felt welcomed and safe with them. Throughout the entire semester, they went out of their way to support us and were there every step of the way. I lived in an apartment with five other girls, and they ended up becoming my best friends. Despite being in a completely new environment, I adjusted quickly because of the amazing support system I had. Madrid was the loveliest city, and I fell in love with it. I'm so glad I took this big leap because it ended up being the best and most formative experience of my life!

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to spend four unforgettable weeks studying abroad in Madrid, Spain through the ISA WorldStrides program. I took two courses—European Studies and Art in Spain—which dove deep into Spain’s rich history, vibrant culture, and cherished traditions. My classes were held at the prestigious Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, giving me the chance to fully immerse myself in Spanish life and connect with local students and professors. Although I had class every weekday, that never stopped me from experiencing all that Madrid had to offer. By day, I explored the city’s fascinating history—wandering through the Prado Art Museum, touring the Royal Palace, browsing the colorful streets at El Rastro, and strolling beneath the trees of Retiro Park. And when the sun went down, Madrid came alive in a whole new way. Whether I was watching the sunset from one of the city’s many rooftop terraces or dancing in the streets after a late-night dinner, Madrid’s nightlife never failed to amaze me. One of the absolute highlights of my program was a weekend trip to Valencia, perfectly organized by ISA. We ate authentic Paella right where it was invented, met welcoming locals, and spent time building unforgettable bonds with the other students in my program. It was the perfect blend of cultural discovery, friendship, and adventure. Living in Madrid was the best experience of my life. This journey pushed me to grow academically, socially, and personally. I left with a fresh perspective on the world, a deeper appreciation for trying new things, and memories—and friendships—that will last a lifetime. If you’re thinking about studying abroad, I cannot recommend it enough—especially with ISA in Madrid. It will be an experience you will never forget.

I had an absolutely amazing time while studying abroad in Madrid with ISA. I felt that the program did a great job of introducing us to other students when we got there and organizing events and trips. They showed us around the city and provided many tips and tricks to help us feel at home. They were always there to help us navigate the city. One thing I do wish I had though is my roommates contacts prior to moving across the world to meet them. I was assigned 5 random roommates to live with while studying abroad. While I agreed to this and was content with that choice, I was rather frustrated when I found out I had not contact to reach them. No phone numbers or emails were provided to communicate with each other. Eventually, we tracked each other down through social media but it was not easy and we all agreed we would have been fine with a contact being provided to the others. I was very satisfied with the location of our apartment as it was close to everything but not on a super busy street. Unfortunately, our apartment required a many maintenance requests and repairs. This became frustrating as the issues that needed to be fixed were not due to our error. While we understood it was an old apartment, it became inhibiting to our daily lives. In addition to the repairs, we were not expecting to have to leave our apartment earlier than told. While we were given another place to live temporarily, it was not an easy switch or what we were expecting to do during our final weeks of study abroad. Due to all that was going on, I decided to rebook my flight and return to the States early, missing out on my final days in Spain. I understand that another party owned the apartment, but it was still a problem we did not expect to face. Finally, I did not feel 100% supported by UC3M. While I loved meeting new teachers that taught in both Spanish and English, there were some things I did not like. In my Spanish classes, I felt there was a lot of bias and special treatment to those with Spanish as a first language. This was very frustrating as myself and many others were trying just as hard. It was also insanely hard to contact and communicate with teachers outside of the classroom, which I experienced many times from several teachers. I also felt that some of the class descriptions and syllabus that were provided when choosing classes were not accurate to the content taught in the courses. While I understand schools vary greatly across countries, I think that being able to easily communicate with teachers should always be a given.

I don’t think I could have had a better study abroad program to be a part of! The staff was absolutely incredible and you can tell how much they care about and prioritize each and every student. The groups trips were always incredible and it was so fun to hear all the incredible things the staff had to share about the history and culture of different cities!

It was a very fun experience traveling, meeting new people, and learning about other cultures. I enjoyed every aspect of studying abroad except for the school part. The commute to UC3M was a drag and I never got used to it. There came a point where I just gave up on going to my classes that didn't take attendance. I also don't like the website they use for school, which was called aulaglobal. I think canvas is set up more organized and they should switch to that. UC3M engineering is very difficult, and those classes definitely require too much effort for a study abroad student to be able to balance the fun study abroad aspects and school at the same time. I also think the professor for the class called "Measuring Instrumentation" is a terrible professor who doesn't care about his students learning or success. His name is Pedro Martin Mateos and everyone should avoid him and his measuring instrumentation class. I also think the security guard in the La Latina Mi Casa Inn needs to mind his business. He loved to order us around and tell us we couldn't be downstairs or we were being too loud when we weren't. I also didn't really like the shared kitchen aspect. But my overall experience was really amazing and I loved it a lot, I'm just going into detail on the downsides because if I went into detail on the positives this would be exponentially longer lol.

Doing ISA Madrid was the most life-changing experience. This same time one year ago, I was debating going abroad, weighing all the pros and cons. I impulsively decided to apply to Madrid, and I'm so happy I did. ISA does an amazing job transitioning everyone into a new environment, hosting activities that promote cultural learning and creating a sense of community for the students. Throughout the year, they were always extremely helpful with travel plans, urgent questions, etc. I tried to do as many cultural activities as possible - my favorite being the group trip to Granada where we got to explore the Alhambra - and felt immersed in the Spanish culture. I have had such an amazing abroad experience, and that's all thanks to ISA and the employees. If you're debating whether you want to do study abroad, this is your sign to just do it. I could not have imagined not coming to Madrid, and I would 10/10 recommend the ISA program.

I had such a great time studying abroad in Madrid and I made memories I'll never forget. With the help of ISA staff and resources, my semester abroad went smoothly. Would highly recommend this program.

I was so incredibly nervous to try something new, and studying in a foreign country is about as "new" as you can get. I worked so hard to be able to enjoy my time in Madrid, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I got to travel to a different country or city in Spain every weekend because of my class schedule. My classes weren't incredibly stressful and the professors were lovely. It was so interesting to be taught by a person from outside of the US and to learn outside perspectives as well. I had a lovely apartment in the center of Madrid. I had 10 roommates, some from America, some from Spain, and even from Puerto Rico, but they were all students and it was so much fun living with other young people from different places. The food was remarkable and I would honestly chop off my right arm in order to have some again right now. The support I got from ISA was unbelievable. I had to go to the hospital once for a general problem/sickness and ask for the address from ISA, but Carlos from the ISA Madrid office followed up with me for a few days following my visit and truly cared about how I was doing. It made my experience that much more wonderful and made me feel so much more safe than I already had. ISA also had so many tours, trips, and fun activities that were included in the program's initial price and were well planned and executed. I was so blown away by all the experiences I got to have with them; I know if I had chosen a different program I wouldn't have gotten the same opportunities. I have made lifelong friends and memories that I will never forget. ISA is the program you should go with if you are deciding between two different programs, they'll take care of you.

This was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve made during my years in university. Madrid in my opinion was one of the best choices in terms of cities to study in while in Spain, and the host university I was in was extremely warm and welcoming. ISA was very helpful in regards to how the program was structured, and it was so comforting to know that the staff was focused entirely on our well-being while we were there. I never felt alone while I was there, even though it was my first time studying abroad. We were given countless opportunities to explore, whether it was through guided excursions, tours, or with the freetime that we had. I would recommend this program to anyone who is contemplating going, because if I were able to I would do it all over again!

I've studied abroad 4 different times, but Madrid with ISA was probably my most favorite experience. I got to practice my spanish in and out of class, experience the night life of Madrid, and connect with other abroad students and create some of my strongest friendships. My apartment stay allowed me to grow so close with the other girls I was living with and my next door neighbors. We had a built in family that laughed, cried, and traveled all around Europe together. I'd do it all over again.

Study abroad was easily the best 4 months of my life. I got to meet so many new people from all over, since my classes were mostly with locals and other Europeans - I realized this is uncommon for a study abroad program, so I'm so glad ISA offered this!! I learned to be much more independent, while at the same time still feeling supported by the ISA team. The team was very communicative, great at problem-solving, and fun to be around! I had a wonderful host family experience and my roommate is now my life-long friend! Wouldn't change anything about this program; 10/10 recommend.

Traveling was always a far off goal of mine. I thought I would need to work for several decades, retire, and THEN start to travel. ISA showed me a different route that was the equivalent cost (and ease) of studying at my home university. It didn’t take much convincing after that. An incredible semester in Madrid!

Before I studied abroad, I had some pretty severe anxiety. Not to say that Spain cured me, but my time there helped me find my voice. Forcing myself out of my comfort zone and into a completely new culture and language really boosted my confidence. If I could succeed in Spain, I could do anything in America. My Spanish improved so much and I am so glad I went. I made some amazing friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

From the minute I arrived in Madrid, all the ISA staff was super friendly and helpful. They did a great job preparing us during the orientation, and all of the excursions were well done yet we still had plenty of time to do our own thing. I would do it again in a heartbeat and really can’t complain about any aspect of the experience. I lived in an awesome residencia with local Spanish students as well as a few other program members. I was able to learn a ton of Spanish over the semester by making friends in the residencia and the intercambio program that ISA set up for me.

Having never left the US, I wasn’t sure what to expect from abroad. This experience helped me to become more confident in my ability to travel, work, and live on my own. I made lifelong friendships and memories that I will never forget. I can’t wait to go back to Madrid!

My exchange student program in Madrid, Spain, was nothing short of amazing. From the moment I stepped into this vibrant city, I was captivated by its unique blend of history, culture, and sheer liveliness. The warmth and hospitality by ISA were beyond my expectations, making me feel like a part of their family. Our daily interactions not only improved my language skills but also gave me a deep appreciation. Academically, the program was both challenging and enriching. The courses offered a fascinating insight into Spanish history, art, and society. The academic environment, coupled with engaging discussions with fellow students, enhanced my understanding of the country. The weekends were filled with exciting excursions to nearby towns and cities, each offering a new facet of Spanish culture. Whether it was the majestic architecture of Toledo or the beachside allure of Valencia, every trip was a unique opportunity to broaden my horizons. Of course, no review of Madrid is complete without mentioning the iconic landmarks like the Prado Museum and Retiro Park. These cultural treasures, coupled with spontaneous street performances and bustling markets, added an extra layer of enchantment to my overall experience. All of these places had ISA directors or assistants to better guide and inform all students if they had any questions or concerns. As I reflect on my time in Madrid, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the friendships made, the memories created, and the personal growth I experienced. Madrid, with its perfect blend of tradition and modernity, made my exchange program an unforgettable chapter in my life. It's a city that will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I am immensely thankful for the incredible journey ISA provided.

This program was great! I felt very supported and loved having a community of other study abroaders in the country nearby as well! The trips ISA planned were so much fun! The staff was very nice and happy to answer even the silliest of questions.

Studying in Madrid was the best experience in my life. I was able to learn more about their language and culture. The classes offered were great and the teachers were as well. I was able to visit Valencia and Toledo, and those places are awesome, too.

ISA offered the perfect balance of guidance and freedom in my study abroad experience, making their resources for student success crystal clear. I absolutely loved attending excursions as the ISA staff were very knowledgeable about the history and amenities of Madrid and each city we traveled to. Outside of these events, the staff and my host family gave great tips and tricks for exploring independently and on a budget. One of my favorite parts of going to Madrid with ISA is that they have students in two different universities and a wide range of majors, allowing me to interact with students I wouldn’t have met in class. If you love a new adventure every day, I highly recommend heading to a big city like Madrid and taking the metro to wherever the map calls you!

International Studies Abroad is an incredible organization with FANTASTIC people working for them! They helped me with every single thing that I needed, were encouraging, friendly, and great people to get to know.