Winter Study Abroad Programs in Madrid, Spain

Studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, was one of the most memorable experiences of my college journey. I had the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds, travel throughout Europe and Morocco, and become more independent. Living abroad pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow personally and academically. It is an experience I will always be grateful for and encourage other students to pursue.

I recently completed a Study Abroad in Madrid Spain and I had the best summer of my life. I meet so many people both in the program and locally. I was immersed in so much culture from festivals to food to clubs. There will be something you love there. The academics were great not too easy or hard and a good balance with school and life. The only issue I had was with my host family. It was a small family with a mom and a son (23yrs). We barely talked or saw each-other, the rare times we eat it was microwave food. Despite this my time was not ruined and I know plenty of people with better host family experiences!

I studied abroad in Madrid this past summer, and it was the best time of my life. I thrived and would do anything to go back. Worldstrides was extremely helpful while I was in Spain if it was feeling home sick, needing something that I forgot at home, or just being lost an dneeding directions on how to get home. Also, their planned excursions were very fun and planned very well, with fun schedules and activities planned throughout the entire. I would recommend this to anyone.

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!

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.

Instituto Hemingway offers long-term Spanish courses that truly work. Teachers are skilled and supportive, lessons are engaging, and the immersive environment in Bilbao helps you progress quickly. I improved my fluency and confidence every week. Highly recommended!

When I decided I wanted to go abroad, I was nervous about a lot of things. First off, I was scared that when I went abroad I would have to settle for a location I did not want to be in because I needed my credits to transfer over. Luckily AIFS had a program in a wonderful city with a bunch of classes that would transfer back to my home university super well. When I chose this program, I was overjoyed but nervous about living in a homestay. When I got there I was happily surprised to find that my host family was amazing and provided me with an experience I would not have been able to have if I had been in a dorm/apt. The people that I met in the program were some of the coolest people I have ever known and am happy to call them my friends to this day. If you are looking for a great program in Paris where you have the freedom to meet new people, travel, and find yourself in a new place, I would 100% recommend this to you!

This is a really well-structured soccer academy in Madrid. Great staff, intensive training sessions with coaches that are the best of the best, and to top it off, you are immersed in the Spanish competition that clearly pushes your development to another level. Thank you MESA, you guys are doing an incredible job!!!

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!!

We spent the month of July 2024 in Spain and were looking for something our son (17) could do during the days besides just going to the Barcelona beaches - and we found this pre-university summer entrepreneurship program. We really loved seeing our son take part in this and it made for a wonderful experience during our month abroad! As entrepreneurial parents, it was inspiring to watch him gain the knowledge and confidence we wish we’d had at his age. He did the course-only option as he was staying with us, so we cannot speak to the accommodations and excursions that the other students participated in with the full package. Thank you for nurturing his creativity and showing him what’s possible—he’s already dreaming up new ideas, and we’re excited to support him as he explores his potential and future opportunities.

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.

I'd be likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a peer for a beginner international abroad experience. The program helped guide me through traveling international and the leaders guiding us were amazing throughout the process.

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.

My semester abroad in Granada, Spain was absolutely unforgettable. I decided to stay with a host family and I lived in their home with another student in the same program. Living with a roommate, we became really close friends. My host family was so kind and welcoming, they included us in everything they did. I learned so much Spanish culture and tradition from spending time with the family. The school was called Center of Modern Languages and I had a mixture of Spanish and Business classes. I loved speaking Spanish in class and getting to know other students. AIFS provided a level placement test at the beginning of the semester so that everyone found courses that were appropriate for their knowledge of Spanish. The classes were very fun and I enjoyed going to class. The AIFS program excursions were some of the best experiences/trips that I went on. I was blown away by the Morocco trip as well as the Seville/Córdoba/Gibraltar weekend. The trips were well planned, affordable, and allowed for free time to explore with friends. I made so many connections with locals, got to experience once in a lifetime activities like riding camels next to the ocean, and tried amazing foods. The program application process was hassle-free and the program advisors in Granada are so helpful. I would often visit their office and just chat with them or ask their advice on where to visit on the weekend. They organized cooking classes, art classes, sporting events, and cultural activities like a flamenco show. Granada is such a wonderful city. It is very walkable and the people are very friendly. There are endless tapas bars in the city where you get free food with each drink purchase. I made friends with lots of locals and other students from across the US. I attended exchange club meetings where you get drinks and tapas, and you chat in whatever language you are trying to learn with people from around the world. AIFS did a wonderful job providing opportunities for all of the students in the program to get to know each other. I made a close-knit group of friends and we spent so much time together. I am so thankful for having met them thanks to AIFS. We even visited each other once we arrived back in the US! I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to experience Spain on a more personal scale compared to bigger cities. I think Granada is the most beautiful city, and the Alhambra is a must-see!

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.