Communications Study Abroad Programs in Madrid, Spain

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!

Before Expanish, I struggled to feel confident/comfortable in Spain due to my lack of knowledge in Spanish. Expanish not only allowed me to finally feel comfortable in Madrid, but helped me to really thrive in Madrid. By being able to learn Spanish I felt so much more connected in my Madrid community by being able to build relationships with my gym instructors, the clerks at my regular grocery store, waiters at my favorite restaurant. That changed everything. I also learned and saw so much of Spain and Madrid through the cultural immersion events. It had the most positive impact on my experience and I’m forever indebted to Expanish. The classes themselves were great! My instructor was Aurora. She was very kind and patient which is so necessary when learning a new language. She was also great at explaining new concepts and will repeat it as many times as you need. Everyone on staff is absolutely incredible. Everyone was more than willing to offer help if I needed something. I was having issues with my apartment agency and one of the staff was more happy to call the agency to speak with them in Spanish on my behalf (I didn’t stay in housing that was part of Expanish). It just goes to show how much they care. They all ask questions about you and want to get to know you personally. You’re not just a number at Expanish. If anyone’s considering signing up, I promise you won’t regret it!

Expanish responded to this reviewJuly 25, 2026

Alexa, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice review! :) Reading this genuinely made our day, especially the part about feeling connected to your Madrid community, building those everyday relationships that really make a place feel like home. That's exactly what we hope for, so knowing you got to experience that means the world to us. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Aurora, she'll be so happy to read this. And to our team, thank you for noticing and appreciating that extra effort. You're not just a number to us, you're part of the Expanish family, and we love being able to support you even beyond the classroom. Thank you for recommending us and for being such a wonderful part of this journey. It was truly a pleasure having you with us!

My study abroad in Cordoba helped me grow, pushed my boundaries, and highlighted the parts of my life that I deeply value. I was able to view the world through different perspectives and challenge my ideas of what normal was. Finding new ways in which I fit into communities that looked different from the ones I grew up around helped me find different parts of myself. The global variety of people I was able to meet, talk with, and form deep relationships with, helped me understand myself in brand new ways. Additionally, Spain has so many different places with their own distinct cultures, histories, and communities. Being able to explore the different parts of Spain enriched my study abroad beyond my experiences in Cordoba. Studying abroad completely transformed how I will approach new people and situations in the future and fueled my desire to learn more about the cultures, languages, and people that form the world.

we quickly became one big family. We laugh and argue just like every family does, but I’m very thankful for everyone, particularly my roommates; they shaped this experience for me. I feel that every person has taught me a lesson I needed to learn before going home and I appreciate all of them.

Every Thursday in Jon’s class, we would either explore a new district in Madrid or visit a museum. He made our class feel like it wasn’t even a class. We were learning but we weren’t sitting at our desks, reading from textbooks. We were out in the city, seeing for ourselves the history that we were learning about.

Every teacher, friend, and coworker has made this experience for me. I have made unforgettable memories and I know I am going home a much happier and more mature person than I was coming here.

I’ve found the Master’s in Bilingual Education at Nebrija to be a rigorous and intellectually engaging program. Several professors stand out for their clarity, strong grounding in theory, and practical classroom applicability—particularly in CLIL methodology and active learning approaches. The program requires a high level of autonomy and time management, especially for students who are also working. For those combining teaching responsibilities with full-time study, it is important to be prepared for an intensive schedule. However, the academic depth and exposure to bilingual methodology provide meaningful professional growth. One of the strongest aspects of the program is its emphasis on connecting theory to real classroom contexts. When students actively engage with the material and apply it in their teaching practice, the learning becomes especially valuable. Overall, the program offers solid academic preparation for educators seeking to deepen their understanding of bilingual education within a European framework. RVF also provided excellent support throughout the application process. Thank you.

I was planning on minoring in Spanish before I came here, but now I am definitely set on becoming fluent. I have met so many people here who speak 3, 4 even 5 languages and it has really inspired me.

All of the students and I have agreed that we are enjoying Madrid. There is so much to do and see, and we all appreciate the cultural differences here. The food is even better than I expected and the city is always so full of life, even late at night. Every day is a learning experience, and I am so grateful for this opportunity

So far I’ve traveled to Toledo, Barcelona, Seville, Tangier Morocco, and Lagos, Portugal. Next weekend I’m planning a trip to Valencia for one night, and then my classmates and I are going to Ibiza for Halloween.

I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain with AIFS in Spring 2024, and it was an amazing experience. The staff were supportive from the very beginning (before applying), always responsive and quick to help. When my roommates and I had an apartment issue, it was solved right away, and our director constantly checked in on us. Even months later, when I reached out to one of my directors, she remembered me, which shows how genuine the connections with staff really are. Some of my favorite moments were the cooking class, where we made paella and tortilla de patatas, and the friendships I built; I still talk to the people I met abroad every day. This program also helped me grow personally, especially in communication and problem-solving. I’d recommend AIFS Abroad to anyone looking for a program that helps you grow, build lasting friendships, and truly immerse yourself in a new culture.

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.

My time with RVF International as an English Auxiliary in Spain has been nothing short of fantastic. I am ethnically Spanish, but was adopted as a child, so this allowed me to get in touch with my roots. However, no one could have told me the extent to which I would fall in love with Spain and its people. Whether it’s tapas on the street, local dives, or beach trips to Alicante, everything is a lifetime adventure. There are places online that talk about the school experience in a stressful light. In my experience, it was a great chance to grow alongside the kids. Quickly, we adapted to each other, and I’ll miss all of them as I leave the school in San Lorenzo in the coming weeks. The area around my school is stunning, as the monastery is an authentic Spanish treasure. I am a little sad that you can only be in one school for two years, as I’ve formed strong bonds with the students and faculty during my time here. I came to Spain with a base level of Spanish that can only be achieved from an American High School. Needless to say, I wasn’t the strongest speaker. However, in Madrid, everyone was super nice and easy-going from the moment I stepped off the plane. My local alimentacion is run by a couple that speaks no English, but we crossed that divide and now check in with each other every few days if we don’t go to the store. While the city of Madrid offers the hustle and bustle and nightlife of a major city, it also has a sense of tranquility amongst the crowd. This program is 110% recommended for people of all ages looking to immerse themselves in a new culture.

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!

As someone who was completely new to the process of applying for a master’s program—especially abroad—I was feeling pretty overwhelmed at first. I had no idea where to start or what steps to take. Then I found RVF!! They made everything so much easier than I expected. From day one, the team walked me through the entire process in a way that was clear and manageable. They explained everything I needed to know, helped me gather the right documents, and stayed in touch regularly to make sure I was on track. What seemed complicated at first quickly became doable thanks to their guidance and support. They answered all my questions, helped me write a strong application, and made sure nothing fell through the cracks. Because of them, I got accepted into a great master’s program and feel confident about this new chapter. If you're new to this process or just need someone to help you navigate it smoothly, I can’t recommend RVF International enough. They really made something that felt intimidating feel super achievable!!

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.

Studying in Madrid with CEA Capa was so much fun! It was truly a life changing experience and CEA made it as smooth as possible. CEA is super helpful with finding housing for you and helping you get set up with roommates, as well as flights, a ride from the airport, a metro card, etc.. It is a huge leap to leave the country for months at a time, but CEA makes it feel so easy. This is such a once in a lifetime opportunity and I really grew so much from being immersed in a different culture for 3 months. I made lifelong friends and memories that I will hold forever. Madrid is also the perfect city to live in for study abroad! It is great if you are looking to work on your Spanish skills and challenge yourself to leave in a busy city environment that highly values relaxation and fun!

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.