12 Awesome Spanish Language Study Abroad Programs

August 23, 2024

These aren’t your grandma’s Spanish language study abroad programs. “Try tango in Buenos Aires, sip sangria in Seville, climb craters in Costa Rica!” the study abroad brochures tease and tempt. But what if you can see yourself living your best life in every place? With so many great options, how do you find the best Spanish study abroad program for you?

Incredible new skills (maybe Spanish language fluency?!) AND the adventure of a lifetime? Yes please!

Luckily, participating in study Spanish abroad programs is one of the smartest choices you can make, regardless of where you end up. With over 400 million speakers worldwide, it’s the second-most widely spoken language, after English. Taking courses at your home university can help, but there’s no substitute for true immersion: living and speaking the language every day, inside and outside the classroom. If you want to study Spanish abroad and knock out some academic credits, here are some of our favorite study abroad programs that focus on Spanish language learning...

12 excellent ways to study Spanish abroad

These Spanish language study abroad programs rarely decepcionar!

1. Valley Spanish School's Face to Face Lessons in Colombia

Perhaps many people look to Spain for their immersive Spanish language experience, but we're here to remind you not to sleep on Central or South America. Medellin, Colombia is a fantastic destination for your language learning goals. You’ll get to bask in the beauty of a unique city but enjoy the bustling energy of modern student life. In addition to classes in Spanish, Valley Spanish School also offers activities for their on-site students, like tours of coffee plantations and even paragliding. Homestay accommodation with a local family will round out your immersion experience.

2. IES Abroad's Language and Area Studies program in Madrid

Go big or go home. What better place to learn Spanish than in the heart of it all, the capital of Spain? Madrileños, Madrid locals, will show you how it’s done: dance the night away and end the night with churros con chocolate, ogle world famous art at the Prado, and spend Sunday siestas on a grassy patch in Parque del Retiro. You’ll take classes at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), and even have the option to complete a part-time internship or volunteer project. If you’re looking for an immersive experience in one of Europe’s most vibrant capital cities, IES’ Madrid program might be para ti!

3. SIT’s programs in Chile

For a truly unique Spanish language study abroad experience, head to South America’s most prosperous country. Along with its hands-on courses, we like SIT’s programs because they offer you a chance to complete an Independent Study Project (ISP) and connect heavily with local community projects. You can choose from 3 programs: “Public Health, Traditional Medicine and Community Empowerment”, in the laid-back surf town, Arica, “Cultural Identity, Social Justice and Community Development,” in the bohemian seaside city, Valparaiso, or “Comparative Education and Social Change”, in the modern capital, Santiago.

But before packing your bags for Spanish study abroad programs in Chile, it’s important to know that Chilean Spanish ain’t your high school Spanish class. The rapid-fire speaking pace and unique vocabulary make it a very distinct Spanish, cachai?. If you’re ready to challenge your Spanish skills and immerse in an extremely beautiful country with endless natural wonders, Chile is for you. (Don’t forget to enjoy its world-famous wine, glaciers, and beaches!)

Where? Arica, Valparaiso, and Santiago, Chile
Language level? 3 recent semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent or the ability to follow coursework in Spanish (assessed by SIT)
Immersion level? High
More Info: Read SIT Chile program reviews

4. CIEE’s Summer Intensive Spanish Language in Buenos Aires

Spend two months in Argentina’s sprawling capital city, and you might walk away with a new love for futbal, asados, and Malbec wine. With 13 million people, bustling Buenos Aires is a fusion of those iconic Argentinian passions, but topped with heavy European influences that gives the cosmopolitan city its nickname, “the Paris of the South.” If you’re looking for an urban experience in one of Latin America’s most exciting cities, this 8-week intensive stint might be your program. CIEE’s faculty teaches the courses on CIEE’s campus, the CIEE Global Institute, located on a university campus.

5. AIFS' Study Abroad in Barcelona, UAB: Semester or Year

If you’ve been to Spain’s second-largest city, you know why Barcelona is truly irresistible. The breezy, Mediterranean beach vibe comes to shore and erupts into the eclectic culture that defines this Catalonian capital. Barcelona is a whirlwind of stunning mosaic architecture (gracias, Gaudi!), creative mediterranean cuisine, dynamic nightlife, and inspiring discoveries around every turn (we’re looking at you, Sagrada Familia!).

While Spanish is an official language, you’ll hear and see Catalan, the region’s other official language, spoken just as much due to the region’s Catalan culture and their citizens’ push for autonominuty from the Spanish government. AIFS' program offers a variety of take classes, in English and Spanish, at one of the city’s largest universities, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). If you’re at the high-intermediate level, all of your classes can be in Spanish in this program.

6. API’s Intensive Language Program in Granada

If you want to quickly advance your Spanish in one of Southern Spain’s most charming and culturally-rich towns, API’s intensive language program in the heart of the Andalucia region could be a great match! Unlike many other Spanish language study abroad programs, the API Granada semester program consists entirely of language learning courses- meaning you will take courses meant to teach Spanish, and not just courses in Spanish about other topics While you advance rapidly in your skills, Granada is a perfect backdrop: with sun-soaked, sleepy plazas, narrow cobblestone streets, and bustling cafes full of students, Granada is the Spain of your Instagram daydreams (no filters needed).

7. ISA’s Summer in Lima

Lima is a must-see. From its bohemian plazas in the Barranco neighborhood, world-famous ceviche cuisine, and serene surf sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean, Peru’s coastal capital is an excellent spot for Spanish study abroad programs. Students in ISA’s Summer program will have the chance to not only perfect their Spanish grammar, but their understanding of important social, political, and cultural issues in Peru through coursework at the Universidad del Pacífico or the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. With Machu Picchu a quick plane ride away, and many other jaw-dropping sites throughout the country, (they don’t call the Cola Canyon “Peru’s Grand Canyon” for nothing.) Lima is an unforgettable location to study Spanish abroad.

8. Semester Study Abroad in Seville, Spain with Adelante Abroad

Flamenco, ferias and fun is one simple way to sum up Seville, the capital city of Andalucia.

If you have a strong grasp of the Spanish language—or a strong interest—and want to dive into courses in business, international relations, Spanish culture, and politics, Adelante Abroad's program at might be for you. Seville is one of Spain’s most picturesque towns, home to the prestigiou Universidad Pablo de Olavide, where you will take your classes.

9. CEA’s Intensive Language Program in San Jose, Costa Rica

A paradise of beaches, rainforests, and endless outdoor adventures, Costa Rica is also a very peaceful and prosperous country. Located in the capital city, San Jose, this program partners with two prestigious universities, Veritas University and the Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT), to provide a variety of studies in Spanish, such as “Medical Spanish and Health Studies, “Spanish Language, Liberal Arts, and Environmental Sciences” and “Intensive Spanish Studies”. Some programs even offer internships, to add to the immersion experience, along with homestays as an accommodations options. If you’re an outdoor lover (or just someone open to tropical beach hikes and adventures), Costa Rica can be an excellent destination for studying Spanish abroad.

10. SIT’s Development, Politics, and Language program in Quito, Ecuador

Cradled high in the Andes Mountains, Quito, the mountainous capital of Ecuador is a unique study abroad experience for those seeking experiential and field-based learning. If you have some background in Spanish, this program will give you a deep understanding of the social and cultural issues within Ecuador, with a focus on power struggles, indigenous populations, and the local community. Like most SIT programs, you will have the chance to connect with local organizations and complete an Independent Study Project. Not to mention, Ecuador’s exceptional outdoor adventures, from hot springs, to volcanos, to the Galapagos Islands, will provide you never-ending opportunities to explore.

11. API’s Society, Development and Spanish Language program in Mendoza, Spain

If your heart is set on Argentina, but you prefer a smaller city instead of bustling Buenos Aires, Mendoza might be your calling. This famous wine region at the foot of the Andes Mountains is also one of Argentina’s most popular student cities. This vibrant student culture combined with the natural beauty of the mountains nearby makes Mendoza an exceptional study abroad destination. Students in this program can choose a wide variety of courses in English and Spanish at the Universidad de Congresso, and if you have a more advanced-level of Spanish, you can take courses with local Argentinians. All students live in a homestay to accelerate the language learning, and you even get a chance to dive into a community service project to really excel.

12. USAC in Santiago, Chile: Spanish Language and Latin American Studies

Nestled in a valley, below the snow-capped Andes Mountains, Santiago is one of South America’s most important business and political hubs, and one of the largest cities in the Americas. As one of the safest and most prosperous countries in South America, Chile is an excellent study abroad destination. Students in this program can study at one of Chile’s most prestigious universities: Universidad Andrés Bello. Along with courses taught in Spanish by local faculty, students have the opportunity to focus solely on language acquisition or to enrich their studies with language and literature electives or focused Latin American, Anthropological, and International Studies.. On the weekends, get out and explore, because Chile has it all: the majestic Atacama desert in the north and towering glaciers in Patagonia, in the south.

Where? Santiago, Chile
Immersion level? High
Language Level: Most program tracks require 2+ semesters of college Spanish
More info: Read USAC program reviews

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Say “SI!” to Spanish language study abroad programs

Take a stance. Study Spanish abroad programs can help!

Since studying Spanish abroad means learning about a whole new culture and community, before you say “si!” to a program, think about what kind of living situation and extracurriculars you’d enjoy most. In addition to classes, maybe you want to intern, and prefer to live in a bustling, urban city, where you can take a metro everyday. Or maybe you’d prefer to study Spanish abroad in a smaller town where community life is slower-paced, and outdoor adventures are just a step away.

Pro tips for deciding on a program:

Reach out to program alumni
Talk with your study abroad office
Read articles and student blogs from cities abroad
Read Spanish study abroad program reviews

Get more tips on choosing a study abroad program that's right for you here. No matter where you choose, remember that true language immersion happens when you step outside your comfort zone, so give yourself a massive pat on the back for taking this first step! You’re not only going to learn the language, but you’ll likely make friends and memories that will last you an entire lifetime. Disfrutala y buen viaje!

Get Matched with 5 Spanish Language Study Abroad Programs for FREE

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