Liberal Arts
New for Spring 2024!
Unique Experiences
Travel to Another Amazing Spanish City
such as Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Murcia, or Granada
Learn Alongside Peers From Spain
and other countries at Universidad de Alicante, one of Spain’s newest universities with a modern campus and an international vibe
Communicate With Spanish Students Through Intercambios
a linguistic exchange program with Universidad de Alicante students that makes it easy to practice what you are learning and become a part of Spanish student life
330
Days of Sunshine per Year
90
Cities Reached From the Alicante International Airport
32,000
Students at Universidad de Alicante
Your Destination
With a historic cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, Alicante is one of Spain’s booming port cities best known for its miles-long beaches, award-winning museums, and beautiful year-round weather. The city’s most iconic landmark, the medieval Castle of Santa Barbara, keeps watch over all of Alicante from its central location atop Mount Benacantil.
Considered one of the safest cities in Europe, Alicante is an excellent place to take your studies. From its large student population to its reliable public transportation network, first-class educational opportunities, green parks, and café culture, this budget-friendly city is the perfect place to live and learn abroad.
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 Alicante.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Tour Santa Bárbara Castle and the Archaeological Museum of Alicante
- Visit important cultural and historical landmarks in Granada, Madrid, Seville, or Valencia
- Explore sites like Guadalest Castle, the Canelobre Caves, the Algar Waterfalls, or Altea on the Mediterranean coast
- Go on walking tours of the different neighborhoods of Alicante and its surrounding villages and towns
- Play soccer and watch the local team (Hercules) win
- Try your hand at cooking tapas to partake in Alicante’s traditions with local peers
Language Immersion
- Increase fluency faster with the CIEE Community Language Commitment – a promise that keeps you speaking nothing but Spanish in order to perfect your skills
- Take it a step further with new Spanish friends in linguistic activities, where you’ll practice your Spanish language skills
- Participate in a for-credit internship to gain practical work experience and sharpen your Spanish skills abroad
Projects
- Internship. Prepare for life after college with a for-credit internship at a national company, a nonprofit, or an NGO; learn more about the local culture as you gain real-world global work experience.
- Volunteer. Get to know the people of Alicante better and say gracias for your stay by volunteering in the local community.
Program Blogs
A different Valentine's Day
Last week, we wanted our students to get to know this party more in depth, so all the teachers at the centre wanted to participate in the activity and organized... keep reading
First days in Spain
The students of the new course arrived two weeks ago and are still adapting to the change and living with the new families. During these days they have had an... keep reading
EAT, DRINK, EXPLORE: ALICANTE
EAT Any city that sits as close to the Mediterranean as Alicante does is bound to have a culinary traditional built upon gifts from the sea. Enter Arròs a banda... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Alicante offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to shared apartments or dorms, your accommodation preferences will be met. Additionally, all housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.
Standard Housing: Includes a room at a homestay or a shared apartment. In homestays, students live with a Spanish-speaking family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse themselves in the city’s language and culture. Homestays boast a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family, but each student has an individual room and three meals a day are provided. Host families are located in the city center, under 30 minutes commute from CIEE Alicante and the University Campus. In shared apartments, students share a double room with other CIEE students with access to the kitchen, laundry, and shared common spaces. Apartments are located within 20 minutes of the city center and 30 minutes of CIEE Alicante and the University Campus. Meals are not included.
Select Housing: Includes a single room in a residence hall nearby CIEE Alicante and the University Campus, and about 30 minutes from the city center. Students living in dorms have kitchen access, and meals are not included. Dorms also boast common areas and laundry facilities. Select housing requires an additional fee.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a single room in a shared apartment with other CIEE students with access to a kitchen, laundry facilities, and shared common spaces. Shared apartments are located in the city center, roughly 30 minutes from CIEE Alicante and the University Campus. Meals are not included. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
A note: Housing is on a first-come, first-served basis. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.
Meals
Homestays: Three meals per day are provided by your host
Apartments: Meals are not included
Residence Hall: Meals are not included
Academics
The Liberal Arts program is designed for students who seek to increase their language skills while taking courses in Spanish across academic areas from both CIEE Alicante and Universidad de Alicante. These courses can be a combination of CIEE and host institution courses at Universidad de Alicante. A Spanish language-learning course is recommended.
Universidad de Alicante was founded in 1979 and offers more than 50 degrees. It is located just three miles north of the city in San Vincente and hosts more than 35,000 students. It offers a rich array of opportunities for students to get involved on campus.
CIEE Alicante is conveniently located on the campus of Universidad de Alicante.
Course Information
All host institution courses are offered in Spanish for 4 credits (unless otherwise noted).
For students taking regular Universidad de Alicante classes, official final exams take place in early January (fall term) and June (spring term). However, students can generally arrange their final exams for late December/May, respectively. Otherwise, proctored exams are facilitated by Universidad de Alicante.
Course offerings may vary from semester to semester. Courses are 4 U.S. credits unless otherwise noted.
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Centro Superior de Idiomas (CSI) language courses
- Upper Intermediate B1
- Advanced B2
- Higher Advanced C1
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Centro Superior de Idiomas (CSI) Spanish culture courses in Spanish
- Español de los negocios (in Spanish) (Spanish for business). Pre-requisite: Intermediate 1 (A2).
- Turismo y cultura gastronómica española (in Spanish) (Spanish tourism and gastronomy). Pre-requisite: Intermediate 1 (A2).
- Género, lengua y poder (in Spanish) (Gender, language, and power). Pre-requisite: Upper Intermediate (B1).
- La sociedad española del siglo XX a través de la literatura (in Spanish) (The Spanish society of the 20th century through literature). Pre-requisite: Upper Intermediate (B1).
- Enseñanza del español como L2/LE (in Spanish) (Teaching Spanish as a foreign language). Pre-requisite: Advanced 1 (B2).
UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE regular courses in Spanish (number of credits vary depending on contact hours)
Language pre-requisite: It is recommended that students have a minimum of four (preferably five) previous semesters of college-level Spanish).
Students can explore the Universidad de Alicante course offerings at www.ua.es. Please note that Universidad de Alicante offers semester and year-long courses. The following is a selection of subject areas.
- Arts and Humanities: Arabic and Islamic Studies, English, French, History, Humanities, Spanish, Translation/Interpretation
- Engineering and Architecture: Architecture, Building Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Multimedia Engineering, Sound and Image Engineering
- Health Sciences: Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Optics and Optometry
- Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Marine Studies, Mathematics
- Social Sciences and Law Studies: Business Administration and Management, Criminology, Economics, Geography and Territory Organization, Labor Relations and Human Resources, Law, Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Pre-school Specialty, Primary School Specialty, Public Management and Administration, Publicity and Public Relations, Social Work, Sociology, Tourism
Academic Projects
Languages and Cultural Studies
Literature, Linguistics, and Writing
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $13,956**
Housing = $4,500
Insurance = $194
Total Fees = $18,950Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $0†
International Airfare = $1,250††
Local Transportation = $150
Books & Supplies = $60
Visa Fees = $160
Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500
Personal expenses = $260†††
Total Costs = $2,380Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee:
Select Housing Fee = $750^
Select Plus Housing Fee = $1,500^^
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
†For students in homestays, families provide all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). For students in residence halls/apartments, you should budget approx. $260 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
^first-come, first serve, based on availability
^^first-come, first serve, based on availability
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $13,956**
Housing = $4,500
Insurance = $194
Total Fees = $18,950Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $0†
International Airfare = $1,250††
Local Transportation = $150
Books & Supplies = $60
Visa Fees = $160
Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500
Personal expenses = $260†††
Total Costs = $2,380Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
†For students in homestays, families provide all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). For students in residence halls/apartments, you should budget approx. $260 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Get Started
1
Start an Application
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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