Drexel in Spain: Spanish Language & Culture
The Spanish Language and Culture program takes place at the Center for Hispanic Studies at Universidad Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1985, the Center for Hispanic Studies was created exclusively to help students from all over the world learn the Spanish language and become immersed in academic and social life at a Spanish university. Drexel students from all majors can take this opportunity to learn Spanish or improve their Spanish language skills while becoming immersed in the local culture in Spain’s vibrant capital city.
Nebrija prides itself on giving every student individualized attention, and the program provides interactive and communication-based teaching for effective and enjoyable learning. In addition to quality coursework and an array of extracurricular activities, Nebrija also offers support services such as a library, cafeteria, housing accommodation service, wi-fi access, and more.
The Fall program has a SPAN 101 pre-requisite. The Summer program has no language pre-requisite (though SPAN 101 or more is recommended). Coursework is available for all language levels, and varies according to language level.
Upon arrival, all students will take part in a welcome orientation to facilitate their integration into Nebrija university life and local Madrid culture. The first day of the program, all students will also take a Spanish placement exam to determine their language level.
In addition to academic coursework, this Spanish Language and Culture program gives students the opportunity to participate in many other activities, including sport and leisure activities organized by Nebrija student clubs, and a language exchange program with Spanish students organized by the university’s Club Internacional.
Both the Fall and Summer programs include cultural activities such as guided visits to museums and sites of interest, round tables, multicultural workshops and lectures. Additionally, there are an optional extra-curricular activities students may sign up for (for an additional fee) including excursions, performances and dance classes.
For more information about the Spanish Language and Culture program at the Center for Hispanic Studies, visit the website here, and select either “Autumn Semester” (Fall program) or “July” (Summer program).
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- Prior study of Spanish language
- Sophomore status or higher
All courses on the Spanish Language and Culture program are taught in Spanish. Courses are available at a variety of levels from absolute beginner to advanced Spanish language. While students at lower language levels will focus on Spanish language and grammar coursework, more advanced speakers can choose from coursework in art, history, literature, culture, and language.
A Spanish language placement test will be given to students on the first day of the program to determine their Spanish language level on the European scale (A1-C2). Courses available to each student will depend on their language placement score, as per the course offerings list.
Course Availability
Fall program students will take a full time course load of 3-5 courses (12-20 Drexel credits) from the list below.
Summer program students will take 2 courses in Spain for 4.5 credits each (9 credits) from the list below. In addition, summer program participants are required to take either an online Drexel course or an independent study with a Drexel professor for a minimum of 3 additional credits in order to maintain a full time summer course load.
Course Equivalencies
Nebrija Fall - Course Equivalencies
Nebrija Summer - Course Equivalencies
All courses have been pre-approved for Drexel equivalencies, which are also listed on the course lists above.
Grading
Students are taught and graded by Nebrija faculty. The amount of class content time and work-load required is broadly similar to universities in the US. Grades earned on the Nebrija Language & Culture program will be letter-graded and will factor into your Drexel GPA.
Fall semester students are required to take a full time course load (4-5 courses) during the semester, for a total of the equivalent of 12-20 Drexel credits (full time).
Summer program participants will take 2 classes at Nebrija worth 4.5 Drexel credits each, for a total of 9 credits abroad. In addition to the courses taken in Madrid, all summer students are required to take either an independent study (3 credits minimum) with a Drexel faculty member, or register themselves for an online summer course through Drexel (minimum 3 credits) to maintain a full time summer course load.
The Language & Culture program at Universidad Nebrija is offered during Fall and Summer terms.
FALL TERM: Students who choose to attend during fall term will attend Nebrija’s “autumn semester,” which begins in mid-September and ends in mid-December. Students may need to arrange to leave their spring/summer co-op slightly early in order to arrive in Madrid in early-mid September.
Fall Semester Dates and Itinerary
| Program Start Date |
Mid September |
| Program End Date |
Mid December |
Students who choose to attend during summer term will attend Nebrija’s 4-week “July” summer session. Students must be scheduled for summer class in order to participate.
Summer Dates and Itinerary
| Program Start Date |
Beginning of July |
| Program End Date |
End of July |
Students have 3 housing options: 1) homestay, 2) student residence, or 3) apartment.
Students are encouraged to live in a homestay, which gives them the opportunity to live with a local Madrid family. This is the most immersive option, as students will be able to practice Spanish in the home and experience local Spanish life, while also enjoying home cooked Spanish food! In 2015, homestays arranged through Universidad Nebrija with half board cost 795€/month, and homestays with full board cost 930€/month.
Limited spaces in student residences (similar to dormitories) may also be available, and can be arranged through Nebrija.
Renting a room in a local apartment is also an option, though students will need to arrange this independently. An average rented room in Madrid costs about 450€/month, not including utilities.
Upon acceptance to the program, Universidad Nebrija can provide guidance and support in finding and arranging housing accommodation.
U.S. citizens are required to obtain a student visa for programs lasting longer than 90 days. Non-U.S. citizens should contact the Spanish Consulate to find out if a visa is required for Spain. The process of applying for your Spanish student visa may take 6-8 weeks, so students should plan ahead. Accepted students should contact the Spanish Consulate for further assistance.
Program Costs
This is a Drexel sponsored program, thus all of your Drexel tuition and financial aid remain the same during your term abroad. Students will be billed a program fee by Drexel to cover housing and other miscellaneous costs.
Financial Aid
Financial aid applies for this program. Students who receive Federal Work Study should consider applying for the Study Abroad Online Journalist work study position (after acceptance).
Scholarships
To seek additional funding, review the Scholarship & Funding Opportunities. Remember that scholarship deadlines may be much earlier than study abroad deadlines, so plan accordingly. Students may also want to submit a revised budget to the Financial Aid Office to see if additional funding may be available.
For more information on these and many other scholarship opportunities, visit our Scholarships page.
