alicante postiguet beach dusk
Alicante, Spain

Summer Language + Culture

New for Summer 2024!

Study Program

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

Credit

3 - 4 per session semester hours

4.5 - 6 per session quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

Credit

3 - 4 per session semester hours

4.5 - 6 per session quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

8 weeks

Costs

Credit

3 - 4 per session semester hours

4.5 - 6 per session quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Spend your summer living and learning in the coastal, vibrant Spanish port city of Alicante! During this exciting four-week program, you’ll explore this stunning Mediterranean region while gaining insight into Spanish culture through the lens of contemporary Spanish society.  

When class is in session, you’ll take courses in English or Spanish at CIEE Alicante where you’ll learn all about Spain and the local culture. Outside the classroom, your coursework will be supplemented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of attractions and institutions to facilitate academic and cultural immersion. Start packing for the best summer ever! 
 

Unique Experiences

LIVE WITH A SPANISH FAMILY

and speak in the language of this festive city

\

ENJOY ALL ALICANTE HAS TO OFFER

including its delicious food, amazing museums, and beautiful port

BROADEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF SPAIN

with an overnight excursion beyond Alicante

3008

HOURS OF SUN PER YEAR

6.6 M

TILES PAVING THE PROMENADE EXPLANADA DE ESPAÑA

42

NEIGHBORHOODS

Experience
  • Alicante harbor at night
  • Group of students hiking in the mountains of Alicante

Your Destination

With a historic cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, Alicante is a booming Spanish port city best known for its miles-long beaches, award-winning museums, and beautiful weather year-round. 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 study. 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

side street alicante spain sunny day

Excursions & Activities

  • Tour Santa Bárbara Castle, the Old Quarter, and the Archaeological Museum of Alicante  
  • Visit important cultural and historical landmarks in an overnight trip to Valencia, Granada, or Madrid  
  • 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 

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Your Guide to CIEE Semester In Programs: Everything You Need to Know

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

If you’re looking for a study abroad program that’s flexible, aligns with the U.S. academic calendar, offers courses across a wide range of subjects , and has no language requirements... keep reading

From CIEE

The Ultimate Guide to Studying Abroad in Alicante

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Alicante is the Spanish city you never knew you needed to see. But you so do . And you can get there with CIEE! In this guide to study ing... keep reading

A different Valentine's Day

By Verónica P.

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

Housing
Academics

Academics

This summer program is designed for students to learn about Spain and Spanish culture, with a choice of one or two four-week sessions. Students can also opt to take an  0ptional Communicative Spanish course (1 credit) during a single session. All courses are taught by faculty from a range of local institutions who are specialists in their respective fields.  

In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.

CIEE Alicante is located on the campus of Universidad de Alicante. 

GPA

2.5 

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

Students enroll in one 3 or 4credit course per session  

Optional: Communicative Spanish course (1 credit)  

Students studying with CIEE for multiple sessions may only take Communicative Spanish once.  

Students taking the language course won’t be able to take the Communicative Spanish course. 

Program Credit

Total credit: 3-4 U.S. semester/4.5-6 quarter credits per session  

Course Credit

CIEE Courses: 3-4 U.S. semester/4.5-6 quarter credits; 45-60 contact hours per session.  

CIEE Communicative Language Course: 1 U.S. semester/1.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Academic Culture

Each course is a full semester in content, so the pace is accelerated and the workload is demanding. CIEE courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel out of the city when classes are in session and plan trips for the weekends. 

Class Format

Classes are open only to CIEE students and meet Monday through Friday. CIEE courses combine lectures, readings, films, active participation, group discussions, class-related visits, and study trips. Additional activities may be scheduled in the afternoon. While extracurricular activities and personal travel contribute greatly to the student’s overall experience, attendance is mandatory for both classes and co-curricular events. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported online with our learning management system, Canvas. 

Grading

The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used. Students are graded on the basis of attendance, participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi.  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Language of Instruction

English and/or Spanish 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Courses

Course Information

Course Notes:
Students studying with CIEE for multiple sessions may only take Communicative Spanish once.  

Summer Session I 2024

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Summer Session II 2024

Course
Language
Semester Credit

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

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
  • CIEE Stem Scholarship
  • Trailblazer Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

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.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Summer Session I 2024 4 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $4,650
Program Summer Session II 2024 4 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $4,650
Program Summer Session I and II 2024 8 weeks Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $8,370

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 = $2,853**

Housing = $1,300

Insurance = $197

Total Fees = $4,650

Estimated 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 = $42†††

Books & Supplies = $30

Personal expenses = $140††††

Total Costs = $1,462

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.

See Scholarships

*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

†††Transportation card for 4 weeks.

††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

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 = $2,853**

Housing = $1,300

Insurance = $197

Total Fees = $4,650

Estimated 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 = $42†††

Books & Supplies = $30

Personal expenses = $140††††

Total Costs = $1,462

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.

See Scholarships

*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

†††Transportation card for 4 weeks.

††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

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 = $5,273**

Housing = $2,600

Insurance = $197

Total Fees = $8,370

Estimated 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 = $84†††

Books & Supplies = $60

Personal expenses = $280††††

Total Costs = $1,674

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.

See Scholarships

*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

†††Transportation card for 8 weeks.

††††$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

Staff

Our Staff

Rocío Díez

Center Director

Rocío oversees all semester and summer programs. Rocio, who joined CIEE in 2015, has extensive working experience in the fields of communication and cultural management. She holds a B.A. in...

Vanesa Ruiz

Program Manager

Vanesa was born and raised in Alicante and earned her BA in English Studies from Universidad de Alicante and a MA in Teaching. She has been working in the field...

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