Seville
Seville, Spain

Spanish Language & Culture

Arts & Culture Language & Culture

Dates

-

12 weeks

Costs

$15,000

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Dates

-

13 weeks

Costs

$16,250

Application Deadline

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Dates

-

12 weeks

Costs

$16,250

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

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Dates

-

34 weeks

Costs

$29,300

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

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Program Overview
Perfect your Spanish skills and flamenco dance moves in sunny Seville

What will you find in Seville? The world’s largest Gothic church. The tomb of Christopher Columbus. The oldest bullring in Spain. One of the warmest, sunniest climates in Europe. And more than 1,000 tapas bars. What’s not to love?

Seville is famous for flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and a festive atmosphere year-round. It’s also known for being very friendly and an ideal place for study abroad. Although it’s historic and culturally important, Seville has fewer tourists than you’ll find in most other Spanish cities. Large enough to offer major culture and art, it’s also small enough to easily navigate.

You’ll study Spanish intensively, but your curriculum also incorporates lots of interesting activities and visits to famous cultural sites and monuments. Outside the classroom, you’ll live with a welcoming homestay, practicing your Spanish while shopping at local markets, sharing meals, and living the typical everyday life of the Sevillanos.

In your free time, hang out in neighborhood cafes, stroll along the Guadalquivir river, visit the peacocks at the Alcázar, ride your bike through Parque Maria Luisa, get lost through the old Jewish quarter, and explore historical landmarks like the Seville Cathedral. Make the most of this amazing opportunity!

The Take-Aways

Language Proficiency

15-20 hours per week of Spanish language learning designed to improve real world language skills

Global Perspective

Build a strong foundation in the core components of intercultural learning. Come home with an improved sense of self and awareness of what shapes others

Certificate

Earn a Certificate of Learning in Spanish

96%

of alumni said their language skills improved

94%

said they learned to interact with different cultural backgrounds

89%

said their level of independence increased

The Destination
  • Gap Year Abroad students smiling in Seville by the water
  • Seville Old Quater skyline
  • Student bike riding in a Seville park

The Destination

The beautiful capital of Andalusia boasts amazing Moorish architecture.

The capital of Spain’s beautiful Andalusian region, Seville is a vibrant center of Spanish culture, and home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Surprisingly, it manages to preserve its past while offering all the conveniences of a modern commercial hub.

It’s also famously walkable and easy to navigate. Stroll down cobblestone alleys, poke your head in local shops, and enjoy a slow, laid-back pace during your time here. Seville is known for being livable and fun without feeling overwhelming.

The birthplace of great Renaissance painter Velázquez and the city from which Ferdinand and Isabella ruled Spain in the late 15th century, Seville is also a city with serious roots. The Seville Cathedral, one of the three largest churches in the world, is a major focal point. The 15th-century building, which sits on the former site of a 12th-century mosque, is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus.

Get the royal treatment on a guided visit to the Alcázar of Seville, a 700-year-old royal palace with magnificent grounds that span fancy salons, royal quarters, and formal gardens and pools. It’s okay to dress like your regular self; no crowns or tiaras required!

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Seville.

Daily Life

Daily Life

A successful Gap experience achieves the right balance between structured language instruction, practice in the community and cultural activties to be fully immersed in the local culture.

Here's how a typical week goes on a CIEE Gap Language & Culture program:

  • 15-20 hours of interactive language learning at a language school
  • 2 cultural activities
  • Free time to explore and have fun!

Weekends are for group excursions (1 overnight trip and 2 daytrips per semester) or personal travel and exploration.

Carefully Screened Homestay*

Local Support

Local CIEE Center staff available 24/7

Program Blogs

From CIEE

GAP & HSA: palaces & gastronomy in Écija & Osuna, Sevilla

By Sergio Jimenez at CIEE

Our GAP and HSA students got to visit these wonderful towns before they departed back to the States. Ecija is known as the City of Towers. Located in the centre... keep reading

From CIEE

It´s not goodbye, it´s hasta luego

By Sergio Jimenez at CIEE

Our GAP program ended last week and althought we are sad to see our participants go, we are extremelly happy to have been able to offer a program that offers... keep reading

From CIEE

Exploring medieval castles in Sevilla

By Sergio Jimenez at CIEE

Our GAP students got the opportunity to explore two of the most important towns in the province of Seville: Alcalá de Guadaira and Utrera. Alcalá’s castle is the result of... keep reading

Activities

Sample Activities

Enjoy a guided visit to The Museum of Fine Arts of Seville set in the old Merced Calzada convent, which dates from the beginning of the 17th century. Tour numerous rooms and view brilliant works by artists such as El Greco, Pacheco, Velázquez, and Alonso Cano.

Visit the royal palace – behold the amazing architecture of the Alcázar of Seville, a 700-year-old royal palace and grounds that span multiple buildings, salons, and formal gardens, gates, patios, and pools. This is one of the most iconic compounds in the city, the country, and the Mediterranean culture as a whole.

Take a peaceful kayak tour of the scenic Guadalquivir River.

View striking architecture on a bike tour along the Plaza de España, then pedal around the Maria Luisa Park, a lush area lined with palms and orange trees.

Tower in Cordoba, Spain

Sample Daily Trips

  • Hop on a bus for a day trip to Cádiz, an ancient port in southwest Spain that traces its roots back to 1100 B.C. (many claim it’s the oldest city in Western Europe). You’ll take a walking tour of this seaside destination, visit and climb to the top of the 18th-century CádizCathedral, shop at a traditional market, then hit the beaches for some sun, sand, and relaxation.
  • Join a daytrip to Ronda, one of the oldest cities of Spain.Its origin, according to archaelogical findings in the old city space belongs to the Neolithic age.During the 19th century, the romantic image of the city grows, as well as the legend of its Serrania (mountains), generating the world of the bandits and the art of bullfighting a deep impression between lots of important travellers.
  • Take a private bus to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Córdoba to explore amazing architecture and famous churches. Your walking tour around the Roman Bridge includes a visit to the Mezquita-Catedral, the most famous site in Córdoba. Later, take time to walk around the Jewish quarter to visit the synagogue, built in 1315, and the Alzacár, a medieval palace near the Great Mosque.

Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights. Get ready for maximum fun!

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Eligibility

  • Program open to recent high school graduates (no more that 1 year post-graduation) who:
  • Are at least 18 years old at the time of their departure
  • Are in good academic standing
  • Demonstrate—through the application and interview process—flexibility and maturity.
  • No previous language experience required.
  • Please note Gap participants may volunteer at local organizations with prior authorization from CIEE. Gap participants however, are not authorized to take any job or seek employment during their stay.

For more information, refer to our detailed GAP eligibility criteria.

Fees

$50

Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by June 1 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by October 1 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.

Program fee includes iNext travel insurance. Full inclusions are found online.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Spring 2024 12 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Costs $15,000
Program Fall 2024 13 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $16,250
Program Spring 2025 12 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $16,250
Program Academic Year 2024 34 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $29,300

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