Computer Science & IT Study Abroad Programs in Madrid, Spain

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.

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.

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 spent the fall of my junior year abroad in Madrid, Spain, and it was the best decision I had made for myself. Through CEA CAPA Programming and Housing assignments, I met some of the best people I have ever met. My eight roommates and other friends supported me endlessly during my time abroad. My favorite memory is the 24-person Friendsgiving my roommates and I hosted; that was the moment we all knew how abroad had impacted us and our long-lasting friendships. The most common questions regarding my experience from people interested in going abroad are about academics, social life, and traveling. I studied at the Universidad de Carlos III in Spain, and only half of the classes I took during my time abroad were related to my major. The rest were considered general elective credit because I knew I wanted a more flexible schedule when I was abroad. I would say that they were at about the same difficulty level as my home university. Another question I often get is about the commute to campus. In my opinion, Madrid has one of the best metro systems in Europe. It is incredibly convenient and easy to understand. My apartment was in Madrid, and the Carlos campus is in Getafe, a little out of Madrid. I took the Cercanias train straight to school from my apartment, and the commute took about 45 minutes. I wish it was shorter and at first, I thought commuting was crazy, but my roommates and I got used to it. It was also one of the first times I had ever experienced public transportation alone. I also structured my classes so that I only had to commute there and back once a day, and I spent time in the library between classes. One of my favorite memories is that my friends and I always got a cafe con leche and a pastry for 1.60 euros daily between classes. The social life in Spain is very alive. There was always something new to do, and it felt like the city had never slept. Our favorite tapas place is called Malaspina in the city center. The staff laughed every time we walked in because of how often we would go. My friends and I also loved to explore new places in different neighborhoods. My favorite neighborhood was Malasaña because it felt young. My favorite trip was to Sevilla, which CEA CAPA organized. It was a beautiful location, and the trip felt stress-free. Not only were all my friends on this trip, but we could take our time rather than feel like we had to be on the go compared to other trips I had been on. The program also organized different optional tours during this trip, making coordinating easier.

I had the best time abroad with CEA CAPA! I felt so supported every step of the way. It can be very overwhelming trying to get a visa, knowing what to pack, and booking flights but I felt so supported with an advisor from the CEA staff. Once I landed in Spain I got picked up from the airport and there was always someone there for me to talk to with any questions. Regarding safety and health there was so much help if you needed to go to the doctors or get some help. Highly suggest CEA.

A striking impression of CEA CAPA is the staff, who facilitate one’s dream of studying abroad. Throughout each step in the process, I am grateful for the staff and their understanding of my questions, concerns, and curiosity about the opportunity to go abroad. Throughout my term abroad, the CEA CAPA team in Madrid served the students with genuine joy to share their unique culture with those from abroad and excelled at serving the students in a wide-ranging capacity, from housing to excursions––ensuring students felt included and excited to explore. I am certain that my experience abroad would not have been the same without the dedication and joy of the Madrid CEA CAPA team. I am so grateful for my wonderful experience abroad in Madrid, Spain!

CEA responded to this reviewMarch 16, 2024

Hi Caleb! Thanks for your review. We're so glad you felt the dedication and joy from the CEA CAPA Madrid team and got to enjoy your wonderful study abroad experience!

The CEA CAPA staff was incredible at making my time abroad exceptional. They planned awesome excursions and activities and were always there to help! I greatly enjoyed my classes as well. Furthermore, my accommodations were wonderful, with AC and heat, a dishwasher, and a washer/dryer. Plus, I lived right next to the royal palace!

I enjoyed my time studying with CEA CAPA in Madrid, Spain. The on-site staff was extremely helpful and made my experience great. I had awesome housing in an apartment and could easily walk to school. I highly recommend studying at Univeridad Nebrija in Madrid to improve your Spanish language knowledge and learn more about other interesting topics regarding Spanish culture.

I loved my experience with CEA CAPA because of how user friendly they made their program online. Prior to starting the program so many emotions are brewing and CEA CAPA is there to remind you every step of the way that you are not alone! Included excursions are definitely a bonus too.

I lived with a host family during my time in Madrid with Middlebury College. It was amazing and I loved my host family. They cooked the best meals and cared a lot about me. I still am in contact with them. :) As much as it was challenging, the grammar class helped me perfect my Spanish whereas, in the other classes, I was using my Spanish and learning about a variety of subjects. These courses were very interesting and gave us the chance to immerse ourselves more in Spanish Culture with classes on the anthropology of Spain, literature and art of Spain, Arte del Museo del Prado, and more. Most importantly, I improved my Spanish so much and feel so comfortable in it. I loved this program and would have stayed for a second semester if I could!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Madrid, and also liked the experience of the Middlebury program. Those in charge of the Middlebury program were some of the most welcoming and kind people I have ever met. I do believe the program was very rigorous and demanding in terms of schoolwork, requirements, and grading. Their cultural engagement opportunities were amazing, and my time in Madrid was made better due to the Middlebury program

I really loved the program and the staff associated with it; I found the staff to be really helpful, caring, and attentive to our needs. Also, the activities (i.e., day trips, academic/advising meetings, and social gatherings) were all very helpful/fun.

Studying abroad with CEA was the best decision I have ever done. It was such a life time experience and meet so many wonderful people from all over the world. My host family was wonderful and super nice and so comforting my first few weeks. Aside from this Madrid itself was such a wonderful host city with so many things to do and see. The food is unbelievably delicious with so many options for tapas and dishes as well.

I absolutely enjoyed my study abroad experience with CEA. They made sure to give clear instructions pre-departure and made me confident in my ability to succeed abroad. The staff are always so friendly and willing to help. Throughout my time in Spain, the planned excursions and activities made me feel closer with my friends, and certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone! I wouldn’t change anything in my study abroad experience, I would definitely recommend CEA for students thinking about going abroad!

CEA responded to this reviewMay 11, 2020

Thank you for your review, Rubie! We are so happy to hear you had a wonderful time with CEA in Madrid, and took advantage of all the program has to offer. Your review will help serve as a guide for future students researching their own study abroad programs. We hope you’ll stop by and say hello the next time you find yourself in Spain, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

I am so grateful for the time abroad with CEA in Madrid. After hearing about some other students' experiences with other programs, I think CEA was the best choice for me personally. The CEA Madrid staff was good with communication from the very beginning, which always makes the experience a lot easier. They always made it clear that they were available for us whenever we needed. It was also really cool that they included some planned activities for us as well, both inside and outside of Madrid. I lived with a homestay, and would definitely recommend it. My homestay experience was amazing, and have only heard good things as well from others in my program who lived with a Spanish family. Another recommendation I would have is to do the early start program if you can! It is a great way to not only get to know the CEA Madrid staff better, but to explore and get to know the city before the regular semester starts. The extra month is worth it. SO thankful for my time abroad in Madrid, and hope to come back soon!

CEA responded to this reviewJune 06, 2019

Thank you for your thoughtful and thorough review, Noelle (and what a gorgeous photo of Retiro Park)! We are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful semester and experience studying abroad through CEA. We're so glad our wonderful staff members were helpful throughout the whole process. Your recommendations for a homestay and choosing the early-start route will help guide future students when deciding upon their own study abroad experience. Be sure to stop by and say hello the next time you find yourself in Madrid!

I loved my time abroad in Spain, especially because of CEA. All of the staff was super helpful and available to help with any issues. I personally stayed in an apartment which limited my Spanish immersion, and while it went smoothly, I highly recommend a home stay. Everyone I know who did one loved it, and it makes immersion so much easier.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 04, 2019

Caila, thank you for your review! We are thrilled to hear you had a wonderful semester and experience studying abroad through CEA. Your tips for choosing housing will help guide future students when deciding upon their own study abroad experience. Be sure to stop by and say hello the next time you find yourself in Madrid!

When looking for places to study abroad in Spain, I was lost. Everywhere seemed amazing, so I had to focus in. The CEA program in Madrid is one of the main reasons why I chose to study here. Madrid is the best place for students: the people are nice, there is so much to do, and there is plenty of culture in every corner of the city. But my CEA program makes it even better. The school is so close to the city center, and the school itself is beautiful. In addition, CEA offers activities and excursions almost every week, so there is never a dull moment. Whether you're getting churros together or going on a fully-paid trip to Seville, you always have the opportunity to share amazing abroad experiences with every student in CEA. I'm so glad I chose this program, and I think you will like it too!

CEA responded to this reviewNovember 20, 2018

Thank you for sharing your insights on studying abroad with CEA in Madrid, Grayson! There are so many different CEA programs and destinations to choose from, so we are thrilled to hear Madrid was a wonderful fit! Your detailed insights will help guide future students when selecting a study abroad program. Best wishes in all your endeavors!

I had a stellar time abroad in Madrid this past semester, and a large part of that was thanks to CEA. The on-site staff team were incredible (Thanks Silvia, Alvaro, and Emilia!) and they did a great job at making the transition to Madrid as smooth as possible. Throughout the semester, the staff were readily available to answer any questions and were quick to resolve any issues that arose. Additionally, the excursions and trips made up some of my best memories, and helped to enrich my experience abroad. My parents were grateful for all the planning that the CEA team did before I left, giving them some peace of mind as I headed across the Atlantic. I highly recommend this program! My only complaint would be regarding the CEA provided housing. My housing this past semester was adequate, but not excellent. I lived with 7 other Americans (also studying with CEA) in a four bedroom apartment with one living room and a small kitchen. The tight quarters certainly made things more challenging, and it was impossible for more than two people to cook at one time. Also, the location was conveniently located roughly 4 km north of the center of the city, but this meant that I had an hour long commute to school, located 15 km south of the city center, which was frustrating. However, CEA made up for some of these shortcomings with a weekly cleaning service and through the quick to fulfillment of any maintenance requests I made.

CEA responded to this reviewJune 27, 2018

Hi, Ryan. We are happy you had a stellar time studying with us in Madrid and appreciate your candid feedback. We are always looking for ways to improve our<br/><br/>programs and will utilize your feedback as we continue to evaluate and adapt our programming. -CEA

I absolutely love that I chose to study abroad with CEA. They really prepare you for all aspects of studying abroad and will answer any questions you may have. The weekend excursions are absolutely amazing, as well as day to day life in Madrid. I highly recommend this program to anyone!

CEA responded to this reviewJune 19, 2018

We are so glad you enjoyed your study abroad program with us in Madrid. Thanks for sharing your experience and recommendation, Cara! - CEA

If you're reading this review and trying to figure out of you should do it or not, let me just say right now that you should because you will not regret it and it WILL be the most extraordinary experience of your entire life. Being in Madrid truly changed my life because I learned how to adapt to a COMPLETELY different culture especially with the language. It was challenging, but that's the whole point of going abroad: to be submerged in a culture that is so unknown. The places that scare you and that are unfamiliar are the places you will truly grow the most. CEA's Madrid program is absolutely outstanding. Both of the program directors are incredibly kind and caring and truly treat you as family. They give you advice, tips and so much more as soon as you arrive. You're picked up from the airport by CEA's staff and completely taken care of. CEA makes sure you feel comfortable and that you are taken care of and do not have to worry. I was in the Spanish and Language program with CEA in Madrid for the Fall semester and it was absolutely amazing. The university i attended (Nebrija) had incredible professors who were intentional with their students and ultimately had the students' interests at heart. They want to help you succeed and if you're like me, learn the language better. Some things were disorganized with class scheduling etc, but truly every school has that. Outside of academics, CEA provided us with incredible trips to Valencia, Sevilla, Palaces, University's in Spain, Congress trips, Flamenco shows and meals where we could try local food. This program is absolutely stupendous and they really take care of. The apartment I stayed in for the semester had a doorman and was in a great part of town, where it was safe and also lively with families and lots of locals. The transportation in Madrid is excellent and CEA makes sure you get your Metro Card even before you get to Madrid. CEA was great at that aspect: getting you prepared even before you arrive by giving you deadlines for materials due. All in all, this was hands down the best experience of my life and I made so many incredible friends because of CEA and i will never EVER forget it!!!