Fashion Design & Merchandising Study Abroad Programs in Madrid, Spain

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!

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 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.

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.

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!!

My Sevilla program through Adalante was amazing! I made some great memories, traveled a lot, and made some friends. Covid cut the semester short but for what it was, it was great. Adalante was cheap enough for me to enjoy my time, be well supported in Spain, and still save money. They were very accommodating and kind.

I would not have traded my Semester in Madrid for anything in the world. It was an experience I will never forget and nothing will ever compare to. I think Madrid is a great location if you love the hustle and bustle of a city and don't mind being far from the coast. I will say that is the one thing I missed while I was in Madrid, I've been lucky enough to always live near the coast in my life but this semester was an exception. But on the other hand, Madrid is a prime location if you're looking to travel Europe being that you're right near one of Europe's largest and most important airports. It is extremely easy and fairly inexpensive to travel around Europe from Madrid (easier than from other cities in Spain anyway). The nightlife in Madrid is so widely varied that no matter what type of experience you're looking for you're guaranteed to find it there. Spain in general is a great place to study abroad if you're looking for new experiences. If you like to try new food, listen to some new genres of music, and try out a new way of life, Spain is the place for you. API is a great program to study abroad with because they plan a number of great trips and organize some fun cultural events throughout the semester as well. They make the study abroad experience so smooth and comfortable that it becomes easy to feel right at home in your study abroad location. They were always extremely helpful when it came to needing to go to the doctor, to advice on ways to travel, to help with the language, etc. Suffolk University is a good school to attend if you're looking for an experience similar to that you would receive at any American university. The courses are fairly challenging but the variety of classes are slightly lacking. If you are coming from another university, make sure to look at the course offerings in advance and be sure that they are offering courses that are applicable to your major/minor. The professors there seem to be good overall and the staff there are extremely friendly. It took me a little bit longer than expected to settle in but at the end of the day I absolutely loved my experience living and studying in Madrid.

If you only read one sentence, let it be this: you should study abroad. API was absolutely incredible, and four years later I still cannot say enough great things about them. They made everything easy and bent over backwards to help out. After flying from CO to LA, I was told that I didn't have the right paperwork to get my visa. One quick (and panicked) call to API and I was sure everything was taken care of; when I had problems with my home university accepting my classes, API immediately fixed it. This program in particular was awesome. I loved Madrid, and the classes at Nebrija were phenomenal. I lived in a residencia, and made friends that will last a lifetime. Maria and Quique were great as hosts, and I loved getting to know them as they showed us the amazingness of Spain. The excursions are fantastic, and easily some of the best offered by a study abroad program. If you're ready to have the experience of a lifetime, I highly recommend using API!

Best part of the API programs the opportunity for excursions. In one afternoon you can learn/see more history than years of classes.

Everything was fantastic - loved being immersed into the culture (people, food, activities).

It was a wonderful time. I met a lot of great people and visited so many beautiful places. There was never a dull moment in Spain.

This has been the best experience of my life and every day I don't know what to expect! Madrid has so much to offer.

This has been one of the best experience I've ever had, Madrid is wonderful. The people are wonderful and I know I will leave with the more cultural growth than when I came!

This program was an amazing experience! Not only did I get to learn a different language from my classes but also from everyday life - getting a taxi, ordering a meal or getting hit on a at a bar! It was the perfect balance of fun and learning! Chance of a lifetime.

I loved my experience here in Madrid. I have learned so much during this month and I would recommend others to study abroad with API. My host mom was wonderful and my teachers were great as well. Madrid has so much to offer. Students especially La Plaza de Toros, the food and night life. API is a great program.

API was extremely helpful throughout the entire program and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone involved! The culture, food, atmosphere, and everything exceeded my expectations. This study abroad experience was the time of my life and I learned more than I could ever imagine about myself and the world around me!