Women's Studies Study Abroad Programs in Spain

While abroad in Madrid I had the opportunity to visit 5 total cities throughout the country along with 4 additional countries. The Worldstides program made this possible by assisting me in selecting the right courses, plan excursions, and support me on all my European adventures!

If you get the chance to study abroad with CEA Capa, you should. Participating in Cal Poly's First Year GO Program, and venturing on my own to Sevilla, Spain, was the best choice I could've made. Before I left, I was nervous, unsure, and had never before left the country on my own. With CEA Capa, everything felt do-able. We were welcomed into the city, housed at a very pleasant residence hall, and got to take classes in a beautiful historic building in the city-center. Studying abroad with CEA Capa gave me the opportunity to see the world, immerse myself in Spanish culture, and build a variety of skills that I will carry with me throughout my life.

Studying abroad in Sevilla was one of the best experiences of my college years. I chose Sevilla because I wanted to improve my Spanish and truly immerse myself in the language and culture, and I got so much more out of the experience than I expected. One of my favorite things was walking through the streets around the Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa, especially in the afternoon when I had a break from class. From eating lunch that my host dad cooked to exploring Sevilla with my roommate and practicing Spanish in everyday situations, I became much more comfortable and independent. Sevilla slowly started to feel like home, and leaving was honestly one of the hardest parts. I made memories and friendships that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I would absolutely recommend Sevilla to anyone considering studying abroad.

Studying abroad in Seville, Spain, was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in college. As a first-generation college student, studying abroad was something I was not always sure would be possible for me, so being able to spend a month in Spain was a major accomplishment. During my time abroad, I took classes that allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture, communication, food, and history while also experiencing these things outside of the classroom. I visited important places such as the Real Alcázar, Plaza de España, and the Cathedral of Seville, and I also had the opportunity to travel to Lisbon, Portugal. One of my favorite parts of the experience was living with my host parents, Mama Rosa and Papa Norberto, because they helped me feel more connected to the local culture and gave me a home away from home. I also became close with the other students in my program and made friendships that I will always value. Being abroad pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me become more independent and confident. I returned home with a stronger sense of independence and memories that I will carry with me throughout college and beyond.

Forum-Nexus was an amazing experience. I made many new friends, enjoyed the professional and cultural visits, and loved the balance between school and fun. The staff was amazing, and I would definitely recommend it.

Although my time abroad in Sevilla, Spain with CEA CAPA was only 4 weeks in the summer, I had the most amazing time. I was nervous going into the program; I knew no one from my school who was going and was assigned a random roommate, but the CEA CAPA staff were super accommodating and reassuring. I met the best group of people, took a super fun class on Spanish food and culture for college credit, saw beautiful architecture, traveled all over Spain and Europe, strengthened my Spanish language skills, and learned so much about myself. I loved my experience so much; my only regret is not doing a longer program!

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.

It was the best time of my life. I was able to learn so much not only from the amazing teachers but also from the welcoming community of Alicante. The field trips were also very fun, and ended with the most beautiful views of the ocean and the city. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and genuinely encourage everyone to study abroad at one point in their college career.

Best summer I have ever had the classes were so fun especially the sailing class ! The best part was all of the new friends I made and being able to travel ever weekend with them and explore Europe! I would do it again if I could !

I graduated from high school a semester early, and the only way I wanted to spend my semester was by being abroad. I've known about Semester at Sea for around 6 years and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I searched up the requirements to be accepted and luckily fit all the requirements most importantly being 18, so immediately I applied. I then got an email back the next morning saying I got accepted into the program and that email brought me to tears in the middle of one of my classes. I couldn't wait to board the MV World Odyssey and embark on this journey of a lifetime. On the ship, I gained so much knowledge about different cultures and I was able to be fully immersed in them, not just sticking to the touristy things offered. Semester at Sea does an amazing job keeping the students' safety in country as a priority with having mandatory “Pre-Port meetings” the night before arriving in a country, and offering field programs which are ship run excursions with ship faculty leading them. The community on the ship was nothing I have ever experienced before. We were so close knit and it felt like I was truly in a connected, caring, and welcoming environment. I met the people I never imagined I'd connect with, and they ended up becoming the best connections I've ever made with people. Semester at Sea also helped me get out of my comfort zone which led me to have experiences I would have never imagined I'd have, best example being running a half marathon in Vigo, Spain even though I'm not a runner and have never been a runner. Semester at Sea has given me the world and the opportunity to appreciate it to its fullest. I left the ship with my passport full, but my heart is even fuller with people, memories, and connections I will forever cherish. Semester at Sea was truly the best experience I have ever had and would recommend it to anyone as it was life changing.

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!

The five weeks that I spent in Alicante were some of the best weeks of my life. The friends I made, the experiences I had, and the things I saw are truly unimaginable. You cannot explain how life changing something like this is until you are there. I was really on the fence about going abroad and I am so incredibly grateful that I made the choice to go. This program is ran wonderfully. I loved my classes, I always felt so supported by our advisors, and we had the most wonderful landlord. If you are even considering going abroad, do it!! I will always have a special place in my heart for Alicante and my time abroad.

Every person was SO helpful and supportive. Luis and Veronica were amazing and so were the professors. They did a fantastic job with the tours and trips, they were always so fun. There was also just enough time that me and my friends I made were able to explore on our own and experience the holidays and festivals Alicante had to offer.

One of the most underrated aspect of semester at sea is the ship campus itself. Being able to live so close to your friends and just walking a few flight of stairs to your classroom and being able to sit down with your professors for lunch is such an amazing experience. It's eternal sunsets, it's endless travel stories from your friends, it's lifetime of memories. Highly recommend. One of the best decisions I made. And still day dream about this experience, still talk and travel to meet my SAS friends 4 years later.

I have not experienced anything like semester at sea before, therefore giving me a whole lot of different lenses to look at the world with. I completely enjoyed my experience and understand the importance of understanding others concerns, communication, communities, and countries. A overall wonderful experience that has changed my views as well as the way I live and who I am as a person.

Being a premed student I was at first quite hesitant about applying for a study abroad since I was not very sure how it would work with my science classes. That was until I came across Spanish Study Abroad's page and saw that they offered a wide range of classes and programs that could too work for science majors! My first time applying was for the Spring of 2025 for which I was able to take both Spanish classes and do an internship organized by the Spanish Study Abroad branch in Seville at IENSA (a neurosurgery and neurology center in Seville). My second time, was the Spring of 2026 and with how well the program is organized, I was able to do my last Biochemistry class at University Pablo de Olavide. Long story short, the first semester abroad was honestly one of the best decisions of my life and definitely the best decision for my Spanish since between learning in the program and engaging with the very friendly Andalucian people, I successfully moved a whole level up in my Spanish in just a couple months. Additionally, Seville is culturally rich and I love that the program makes it a point to explain and share the wonderful culture and cusine with us! From this experience, I built my confidence and knowledge in Spanish and made very important connections with both locals and in the Spanish healthcare system. I loved it so much, I did the study abroad TWICE and I can confidently say it was 100% worth it!!!

Studying abroad was an experience I had always dreamed of, and I'm so thankful for the winter study abroad program that USAC offers. Time flew by in college, but this was worth the wait. I took Economic and Political Institutions of the European Union at the Universitat d'Alacant in Alicante, Spain. In the mornings, we debated European politics in class. In the evenings and on the weekends, I strolled the beach with views of the Mediterranean, climbed the Castell de Santa Bàrbara, and explored cafes and restaurants with friends — both old and new. I was excited to arrive in Alicante and sad to leave, and I would do it all over again if I could!

Je suis arrivée dans un pays où au début je me sentais étrangère. Très peu de relations avec les locaux comme si j’étais renfermée sur moi-même et ma culture. Pourtant, ce n’est pas ce que j’imaginais. Je m’imaginais sortir boire un verre un samedi soir. Tapear un peu, parler de tout et de rien. Ce que je faisais déjà un peu au Québec. Je cherchais une relation avec ma famille d’accueil, une ouverture de ma part, mais aussi de la leur. J’ai réussi à m’épanouir quand j’ai changé de famille. Cela a été le jour et la nuit. Ce changement m’a ouvert l’esprit et m’a permis de réellement m’encrer avec la culture. Connaître cette facette cachée dont seuls les locaux peuvent te guider à trouver le bon chemin. C’est ça que je cherchais réellement. Je suis tellement reconnaissante envers ceux qui m’ont accompagnée et qui me permettent de vivre l’expérience que je peux vivre aujourd’hui.