Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a fascinating city that can go from ultra-modern in one neighborhood to medieval the next. The oldest part of the city, El Centro, has narrow, winding cobblestone streets that show the city’s ancient origins. Elsewhere, find skyscrapers and wide, sprawling boulevards lined with department stores, markets, restaurants, discotecas, theatres, monuments, and museums.

Madrid is  the country’s center of politics, fashion, art, cuisine, film, and all facets of contemporary Spanish culture. The 4 million people who live in the nation’s capital are intensely proud of their city and heritage and love to share their knowledge of Spanish language, culture, and history with visitors. You will soon learn to both understand and replicate the distinctive Spanish accent of this region, called Castellano (Castilian).

Many of the most famous spots in Madrid are located in the city center, within walking distance of each other. From the grand Plaza Mayor, it takes only a few minutes to walk to the Puerta del Sol, and then just a few minutes more to the world-famous “Triangle of Art.” In this part of the city, any art lover will find their bliss, with 3 of the world’s most important art collections at your fingertips: the incomparable Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofía, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

If you’re a sports fan, watching a Real Madrid soccer match is a must! Or enjoy one of the city’s beautiful parks, where you’ll find madrileños jogging, reading, or sunbathing. Finally, you may have heard about Madrid’s legendary nightlife – it will make you wonder why New York is called the city that never sleeps!

Your location in the center of the country will make it easy to visit other parts of Spain, as the Madrid airport and train stations will take you just about anywhere in the country. With high speed rail lines going to Sevilla and Barcelona, you can sometimes get to your destination faster by train than by plane. If you need to fly, however, the airport is conveniently connected to any part of the city by the Metro (subway).

1 overnight excursion and 2 day excursions are included with your program fee. Destinations may vary by term. Past terms have included trips to:

• Sevilla (overnight excursion) - Sevilla is a city that stimulates all of the senses – the flutter of Flamenco guitar coming from the nighttime tablaos, the heady fragrance of orange trees, the smell of freshly made tapas being delivered to an outdoor table, and the colorful Spanish tiles that grace buildings, plazas, and street signs. The vibrancy of this city, its people’s zest for life, and its ancient multicultural history are reflected in its aesthetic everywhere you look.
• Toledo (day excursion) – Located about an hour outside of Madrid, this medieval hilltop city has one of the most important cultural heritages in Spain, as well as a fascinating history of co-existence of Muslims, Jews, and Christians from the 8th to the 15th century. You won’t want to miss the world-famous collection of El Greco paintings and the gorgeous cathedral.
• Segovia (day excursion) – The history of Segovia dates back to the Celts – even before the Romans, who took power of the city in about 75 BC. Segovia has some of the most unforgettable sites in Spain, such as the Roman aqueducts built in 81 AD that, amazingly, still carried water into the city until the mid 19th century. The stunning Alcázar of Segovia, a castle and fortress, sits on a hill overlooking the city and was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle!

• Minimum GPA 2.5 (Students with a GPA between 2.30-2.49 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
  
  

• At least 17 years of age

• Language requirement: None. Open to students with any level of Spanish.

• Must have graduated from high school

• Official transcript from the most recent institution attended.

• ASA Application. To start a new application or continue an existing application, click here.

• Scan of your valid passport that does not expire sooner than 6 months after the day you plan to return home from abroad. If you don’t have a valid passport, confirmation of an expedited passport application is required before you can be accepted into this program. Please submit your passport application by expedited service if you do not have a valid passport.

• For Application Deadlines, please click the Cost & Dates tab.

INCLUDED

• ROOM & BOARD in a Spanish homestay with daily breakfast and dinner and 1 load of laundry per week included

• TUITION for the maximum number of credits or courses indicated on the program course offerings page. Enrolling in more than the maximum number of credits/courses (if permitted by the host institution) will result in an additional fee.

• ACADEMIC CREDITS: Students who receive pre-approval from their home institution can transfer the credits they earn to their home institution.

• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: Final transcript is issued by your host institution. Upon completion of the program, ASA will provide one free shipment of your final transcript to your U.S. institution.

• EXCURSIONS: 1 overnight excursion and 2 day excursions, locations to be decided

• INTERNET ACCESS: Students will have free Internet access at their host institution and in their program housing.

• AIRPORT PICK-UP: Group ground transportation is provided from Madrid (MAD) airport for students who arrive on the official arrival date, by the designated time.

• SITE DIRECTOR: Students will have an on-site director to assist them with any academic or cultural difficulties they may encounter.

• MEDICAL INSURANCE: Comprehensive international medical insurance is included. Click here for details on benefits and coverage.

• VISA ADVISING: Students are ultimately responsible for obtaining their visa (if required for their term), but ASA will provide detailed, helpful information upon acceptance about which visa students will need and how to go about applying for one. Please click here and scroll down to “Student Visa Information” to find out if a visa is required for your program.

• • ASA may be able to get your Student Visa FOR YOU if you live or study in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, or Vermont. Minimum number of sign-ups required. The additional fee for this service is $150. Full details will be sent to eligible students after they are accepted to the ASA program. If you do not live or study in these specific states, you will need to apply for your visa on your own – ASA will send you detailed, helpful information about how to apply for your visa after you are accepted.

• PRE-DEPARTURE HANDBOOK & ON-SITE ORIENTATION

• SUBSCRIPTION TO SAFETURE SAFETY-ENHANCING MOBILE APP

• SUBSCRIPTION TO MINDHAMOK: a 24-7 service designed to support your mental, physical, and social wellbeing throughout your program. You can find out more about mindhamok in our Pre-Departure Guide for All Programs

NOT INCLUDED

• Round trip airfare and travel expenses to and from the program location

• Books, materials, lab fees

• Local transportation

• Personal expenses

• Daily lunch

• Meals on excursions

• Student visa, if required

• Transportation from the airport if the student does not arrive on the official arrival date by the designated time

• Transportation back to the airport at the end of the program

For academic year students and those enrolling in more than one session, housing and other ASA services and benefits are not provided during the break between sessions. For academic year students only, medical insurance during winter break is included if it is required to get your visa.

If you need a budget or Costs of Attendance for your financial aid office, or if you simply want an estimate of the not-included costs listed above.