May Term Business Study Abroad Programs in Spain

My experience studying abroad in Barcelona with CEA CAPA was one of the best experiences I have had in college. I chose Barcelona because I have always loved Spain and wanted the opportunity to experience Spanish culture, travel, try new foods, and explore a new city. From the beginning, CEA CAPA made me feel welcomed and supported. Moving to a new country can definitely feel overwhelming, especially at first, but the CEA CAPA staff were always there to help and made me feel much more comfortable throughout my experience. One of the things I appreciated most about CEA CAPA was how safe and supported I felt while abroad. The staff were welcoming, approachable, and made it easy to ask questions or get help whenever I needed it. Knowing that I had people there who cared about my experience made being so far from home feel much less intimidating. I also loved that CEA CAPA helped create a community where I could meet other students and feel like I was not alone in a new country. I was able to become more independent while still knowing I had a support system if I needed one. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was an experience I will never forget. CEA CAPA gave me the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet amazing people, travel, and grow as a person while also making me feel safe and welcomed. I would definitely recommend CEA CAPA to anyone considering studying abroad, especially students who may be nervous about living in another country for the first time. It made the entire experience feel more comfortable, supported, and exciting.

My experience studying abroad in Barcelona with CEA CAPA was one of the best experiences I have had in college. I chose Barcelona because I have always loved Spain and wanted the opportunity to experience Spanish culture, travel, try new foods, and explore a new city. From the beginning, CEA CAPA made me feel welcomed and supported. Moving to a new country can definitely feel overwhelming, especially at first, but the CEA CAPA staff were always there to help and made me feel much more comfortable throughout my experience. One of the things I appreciated most about CEA CAPA was how safe and supported I felt while abroad. The staff were welcoming, approachable, and made it easy to ask questions or get help whenever I needed it. Knowing that I had people there who cared about my experience made being so far from home feel much less intimidating. I also loved that CEA CAPA helped create a community where I could meet other students and feel like I was not alone in a new country. I was able to become more independent while still knowing I had a support system if I needed one. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was an experience I will never forget. CEA CAPA gave me the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet amazing people, travel, and grow as a person while also making me feel safe and welcomed. I would definitely recommend CEA CAPA to anyone considering studying abroad, especially students who may be nervous about living in another country for the first time. It made the entire experience feel more comfortable, supported, and exciting.

My time in Barcelona was one of the best experiences in my life. Out of all the cities I visited when I was abroad, Barcelona was by far my favorite and I was always so excited to come back from traveling. I loved the people, the metro, the city, and the beach. There was always something going on to have the best time of your life.

My experience studying abroad with CEA CAPA in Barcelona was truly amazing. I had high expectations going into the program, and they were completely exceeded. My apartment was in a great neighborhood that felt extremely safe while still giving me an authentic, local experience. It was also close to everything, which made it so easy to walk around and explore the city every day. I also had a great experience with my classes. My professors were extremely understanding and supportive, which made balancing academics with everything else that comes with studying abroad much easier. The CEA CAPA staff was incredibly welcoming and played such a big role in making my experience as great as it was. They offered so many activities, events, and opportunities that helped me meet people, experience Barcelona, and feel comfortable living in a city so far from home. Overall, studying abroad in Barcelona was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful I chose to do it through CEA CAPA. I would absolutely recommend the program to anyone considering studying abroad!

Living and studying in Barcelona for four months was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The city itself is beautiful and full of live. I love how everywhere is walkable and you can get anywhere using the metro. There's so so much to do whether it's going to the beach, out for tapas, hiking in the surrounding mountains, shopping, or having a night out, Barcelona really is for everyone. CEA CAPA made my experience so smooth from start to finish.

I had a wonderful experience with Barcelona SAE! They have been a huge help in every step of my study abroad experience, from coordinating my housing, providing an academic mentor to turn to with any questions, their curated website full of resources and recommendations, and hosting various social events throughout the semester to connect with fellow students. They made my transition to and time in Barcelona so much easier. I also can’t recommend the UB track enough. I felt like it was the perfect balance between rigorous language instruction and accommodation for non-native speakers, and all the professors were so enthusiastic and responsive to any questions or confusion. I can confidently say that my Spanish skills grew this semester largely due to my classes at UB, so if you’re looking for a great opportunity to improve your language skills, I would highly recommend!

This program truly exceeded my expectations. From the program staff to the professors themselves, everyone is so excited about assisting us students and making our experience so special. My housing was amazing and other students felt the same, especially with the apartments and home stays.

This program is for students who want to strike a balance between cultural immersion and familiarity. The program is very well organized with cultural activities and excursions every week to help students explore Barcelona and its surrounding areas with fellow students from the US. I especially enjoyed the “dinner with a local host family” event where I got to dine with a local family and learned more about Barcelona from the local perspective. Besides organizing these events, the program also sends out a weekly newsletter about what’s happening in Barcelona so students can explore on their own. The staff members are all very friendly and helpful; extremely responsive with any needs.

The summer of 2025, when I studied abroad in Granada for one month, I also traveled around Europe a lot. And, I can say with complete confidence that Granada was my favorite place out of everywhere I went. AIFS had a lot to do with that. Noelia and Alberto were so kind, helpful, and accommodating. My positive experience in Granada had so much to do with them.

There are not enough works to express how amazing this experience was for me because I ended up meeting my best friends during my last semester of college. We all signed up for different programs through AIFS, but since we lived in the same building, we were able to bond and dive deeper into the beauties of Barcelona together. We were able to travel to different countries and do fun excursions through AIFS like visit a winery, go hiking in Montserrat, take a cooking class and visit the city's landmarks. While we had to adapt to the cultural differences, living with other AIFS students and spending time with everyone in the program was truly a home away from home. These people were my foundation. We were able to be vulnerable with one another and discover not just a whole new culture together but learn things about ourselves that we never realized before. I will always remember when my friends and I wrote letters to one another to read on the flight home from Barcelona and I do not think I will ever cry as hard as I did than when I read those letters. We have gone from being just steps away from each other in our student residence to being separated by thousands of miles. Barcelona will always be our special place, and I am so thankful to AIFS for introducing me to my best friends.

When you are a Bulldog at Butler University, it’s hard to leave your vibrant campus life behind for a full semester. Still, choosing to study abroad became one of the most rewarding decisions of my college experience. Thanks to Calie Dickey and staff at Butler's Center for Global Education, the decision quickly became a no-brainer. I took my international business and Spanish studies from our campus classroom all the way to Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Living life as a Madrileña, every day brought something new. Spanish language immersion was central to my goals, and living with my incredible second family as a host daughter in their home became the most impactful part of my experience. My family welcomed me into every part of their lives - their gastronomy, daily rhythms, friends and family, evening street culture, and cherished traditions. I learned that Spaniards can always find something to celebrate. During my time abroad, three things stood out: • Discomfort turned into confidence • Curiosity turned into cultural exploration • Strangers turned into family As a student at the Instituto Franklin-UAH, I was challenged in nearly all Spanish-speaking courses and connected my daily experiences with coursework in Spanish poetry and traditions. I also completed a marketing internship with local business Buceo Alcalá, where I grew as a professional in my secondary language - proving to myself that growth lives on the other side of discomfort, even amid cultural and language barriers. The International Business major in me was eager to absorb everything around me. Before I departed, even my former colleagues at Eli Lilly and Company were excited to send me off. I was later invited to visit our Government Affairs team at the international office in Alcobendas, Spain, an unforgettable opportunity to see one team working across seas. My time with Teresa Millan and her team Cristina Escudero Marquez, and Claudia Penzol López will always be cherished. Now back in Indianapolis for my final semester as a Butler undergraduate student, the golden question remains: “Do you miss it?” And while yes, I miss the adventure, the unknown, and the beauty that is Spanish living, I am grateful to be home. I smile with contentment for the life-changing memories and apply my broadened perspective to my life every day.

This study abroad program truly transformed my life. I fell in love with Barcelona almost immediately, and over time, the city became a place where I learned, grew, and discovered more about myself. By the end of the program, I realized I had become a more confident, independent, and open-minded person than when I first arrived. The experiences I had, both inside and outside the classroom, shaped the way I see the world and my future. I made unforgettable memories, built meaningful connections, and gained perspectives that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am incredibly grateful to this program for allowing me to experience Barcelona in such a meaningful way.

Studying abroad in Barcelona was genuinely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. From the start, BSAE made the semester unforgettable through incredible student activities like cooking, pottery, and flamenco classes and beautiful day trips to Montserrat, Girona, and more. Many of these experiences are now some of my favorite memories from abroad. SIS offered classes with a variety of topics that were especially interesting because of the field studies woven into the coursework. Being able to connect what we were learning directly to the city and its culture made everything feel more meaningful and engaging. I also made some of my best friends from my home university and from around the world through this program, and I’m incredibly grateful for the community and connections it gave me. Overall, the combination of academics, travel, and daily life in Barcelona made the semester both exciting and deeply impactful, and it’s an experience I would recommend to anyone considering studying abroad.

This program significantly improved my Spanish speaking ability and increased my independence, despite initial challenges with constantly speaking a different language. I highly recommend it to future students—it's a rare opportunity! My advice: plan ahead and pack lightly.

My time in Spain was truly unforgettable. From the very first day, my host family made me feel like I belonged they were welcoming, kind, and always ready to share their traditions, meals, and laughter. Living with them gave me a window into everyday Spanish life that I will always treasure. I also fell in love with the food it was fresh, flavorful, and every meal felt like a little celebration. I loved exploring the city, especially taking the metro and discovering new neighborhoods on my own. Nights out, dance classes, and spontaneous day trips, like the one to Girona, made every week an adventure. The Spanish people I met were warm, funny, and generous, and immersing myself in the language and culture taught me so much more than I expected. Of course, being far from my own family was hard at times, and I missed them dearly. But the friendships I made, the new experiences, and the personal growth I gained made it all worthwhile. Looking back, this experience wasn’t just a trip it was a life changing chapter full of laughter, and unforgettable memories. Thank you Todos and UAB for making this experience possible for me!

This program, the city, and the overall experience was incredibly life-changing. I came to Barcelona not really knowing anyone. BarcelonaSAE quickly changed that. The activities this program provided allowed me to make awesome friendships. Additionally, the cultural immersion adventures gave us a glimpse of life in Spain that I believe other programs could not have offered. The program also sent out weekly emails detailing things to do around the city. This was immensely helpful as someone who always wanted to do and see something. Additionally, the city of Barcelona is an extravagant city that has so many nice people, good food, and hidden gems. I can confidently say that I am returning to the US as a different person thanks to this city and this program.

Studying abroad in Barcelona was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived, I was immersed in a culture that pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, become more independent, and see the world from a new perspective. Academically, my courses challenged me to think critically while connecting what I learned in the classroom to the city around me. Personally, navigating a new language, culture, and daily life helped me gain confidence and adaptability. I formed meaningful friendships with people from all over the world and created memories I will carry with me forever. Barcelona truly became a second home, and this experience shaped who I am both personally and professionally.

My study abroad experience with BSAE was truly amazing and stands out as one of the most meaningful (and one of my favorite) chapters of my academic and personal life. Living and learning in a city so rich in culture, history, and energy allowed me to deepen my connection to Spain while also seeing it through a fresh, independent lens. Academically, the experience pushed me to think more critically about communication, culture, and global perspectives, especially through coursework that had a lot of discussions, observation, and real-world engagement beyond the classroom. The teachers surpass expectations by constantly being engaging and supportive. This experience changed the way I approach life, and I couldn't have done it without the help of the team members of BSAE. Immersing myself in a city that blends history, creativity, and constant movement taught me to slow down and appreciate the present rather than obsess over structure and perfection. Throughout these 3 and a half months, I learned to let go of being so uptight and instead embrace flexibility, spontaneity, and optimism. The experience reinforced my interest in international perspectives and cross-cultural understanding, while giving me unforgettable memories and skills I’ll carry forward. Choosing to go to Barcelona with BSAE was the best decision I have made in my life. Even if you have doubts, go. I promise you won't regret it.

From the first day in this beautiful city, the Barcelona Study Abroad Experience makes every student feel like family. Two moments in particular stood out to me, exemplifying the care and consideration that this program provides. Firstly, the inaugural tapas lunch was a fantastic welcome. The school brought us to a restaurant on the beach and treated us to an extensive meal of local cuisine. Sharing a delicious lunch with new classmates and academic mentors proved to be a great opportunity to make friendships that lasted the entire semester and beyond. Secondly, following an international trip, I suffered from a respiratory infection and had to miss two consecutive days of classes. On the second day, I received a personal email from the Senior Coordinator of Student Life checking in to make sure I was healthy and taken care of. This kind of attention to detail and personalization is precisely the service that makes this program so irrefutably excellent. Having attended seven schools in my life, I can confidently attest to the attention to detail and opportunities that this program consistently provides, and I would be eager to recommend Barcelona SAE to any of my fellow students.

My biggest personal challenge in Granada was getting comfortable being independent. The greatest benefit of the program was the Spanish immersion to learn the language much faster. I would absolutely recommend this program to future students for an authentic and cultural experience abroad.