Economics 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.

I studied abroad in Madrid through USAC in the Summer of 2023. The coordinators at URJC Vicálvaro and the pre-program preparations were fantastic. Group excursions covered so much, and they offered a variety of living options. The language immersion helped me earn by Global Seal of Biliteracy and I made lifelong friends.

Studying abroad was an incredible experience—immersive, eye-opening, and unforgettable. I grew academically and personally while exploring new cultures, making lifelong friends, and gaining confidence. Highly recommend!

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 studied with USAC in July of 2025. I learned Spanish on URJC’s campus. The location was 20 minutes from downtown Madrid via metro or car. It was quiet, and there is a small grocery store near the dorms. I stayed on the university campus so I luckily had A/C! The USAC staff was very helpful and kind. They even offered to help me with my language skills when I wasn’t in class and needed extra tutoring. The field trips were fun, especially to Segovia. My cohort was very friendly, and I enjoyed going on trips with them around Spain. We had weekends off which was super nice. The cafeteria food was okay, and you could only get one meal from there a day. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this study abroad program!

I would recommend CIEE to a friend because of how streamlined the process is and how affordable the program is compared to other ones at my university. I also appreciate how there are a lot of opportunities within CIEE to grow, like internships and ambassador programs.

Madrid specifically has awesome staff, good schedule for classes with ability to travel and spend time exploring. Liked taking 2 classes at a time to be able to live fully too. Liked the internship seminar a lot.

**This is a great opportunity for UNR/UNLV students and I would not recommend for students that don't attend these schools.** For clarification, I was on a one month (July) Summer program. Something I didn't realize when applying for USAC is that it is based out of University of Nevada. I was one of maybe 5-8 people from other schools out of a 30 person group, which wasn't very fun when the others were a giant group of people that could see each other after the program, etc. I did make some amazing friends, though, and everyone was generally very kind. My Spanish class was very easy and I did not feel challenged at all, I showed up to class and did my work and forgot it when I left. However, my teach we amazing and I wish I could have her as my teacher again. The two "excursions" were bus rides with some museums that I could have paid less than 100 Euro to do by myself. I had to pay extra to live in the dorms which only included one meal a day. My friends who lived in apartments had 20-60 minute Metro rides to campus (UJRC). Finally, since I was not on the group flight, they didn't allow me to join their provided transportation even though I landed at the same time as the group flight. I also had to provide my own transportation to the airport when I left.

I had the best time in Madrid! The city had so much to offer, I made friends that I’ve traveled to see again since the program and I loved my classes! The staff for my program was lovely and were always there to support us!

My study abroad in Madrid was wonderful. I stayed with a great host family and I found the usac staff to be very helpful. If I had the chance to do it again, I would in a heartbeat. The friends I made in Madrid are something I think about all the time. I miss being there and immersed in the culture.

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.

I had an amazing time in Madrid, Spain. There, I learned Spanish, met locals, made lifelong friends and traveled all across the country and Europe. My academic advisors and professors were so helpful every step of the way with supporting not only my academic but also my personal journey. I loved my housing situation as I lived in a beautiful apartment in the heart of the city with my very own room and amazing roommates! And all my classes were so fun and helpful in learning Spanish and I even got to take a photography class. I would recommend going to Madrid to anyone considering studying abroad!

I had such an amazing time! I’m actually going back to live in Madrid for 10 months because I enjoyed my time there so much! That staff was amazing and most of the teachers I had were very kind! I would definitely recommend!

I met so many amazing people while I was in Madrid and had experiences and connections that I will spend the rest of my life reminiscing on. I hope I can be so lucky to do something so beautiful again! I got the opportunity to see Morocco, which completely changed my life, I went on short beach trips, made lifelong friends, experienced the culture, learned a ton of Spanish, and experienced freedom and independence for the first time in my life. I will be forever indebted the universe for allowing me to have experienced something so pure and beautiful and I will never be the same. Part of the reason this was possible is because the program, specifically Sara and Gabriela did a fantastic job making sure logistics were taken care of so all we had to worry about was settling in and having a wonderful experience.

Sara and Gabriela (the program instructors) were incredible and made my experience exponentially more safe and fulfilling. The professors were great and my Spanish improved significantly! I felt challenged by my coursework without missing out on experiencing the city. I made friends in the program and enjoyed the day trips with the group. I really liked my shared apartment and got very lucky with its location. I'm so glad I chose USAc because their on the ground support felt very secure while I was abroad.

Studying abroad truly changed my life! I had always dreamt of going abroad and USAC made that possible with still being able to graduate on time. Nobody prepares you for the lifelong friendships you will make while being abroad and the true sense of independence that comes with being in a new environment on your own.

IES Madrid was honestly such a great experience. Even though I signed up last minute, the staff made everything super easy and helped me get settled without stress. The classes were interesting, and the teachers really cared about you, not just academically but personally too. What I loved most was how immersive everything felt. The events and trips were fun, and the staff felt more like friends than just people doing a job. If you ever needed anything, all you had to do was ask. I also got to be a photo correspondent during the semester, which meant I helped capture moments from around campus and on trips. It was such a fun and creative way to experience something new and be more involved. I ended up spraining my ankle during the semester, and they were amazing about helping me with accommodations and transportation. I had a great time and would definitely recommend it! My Spanish improved so much while I was there, and I’d love to go back someday.

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.