First Year Abroad in Madrid
Unique Experiences
Cheer on Real Madrid
at the Santiago Bernabéu
Explore modern and medieval architecture
in nearby cities like Valencia and Segovia
Wander renowned museums
like the Prado and Reina Sofía
Your Destination
Madrid is Spain’s cultural capital, beaming with energy and creativity – the perfect backdrop for students with any interests. Spend 12 weeks exploring the gardens of El Retiro Park, catching live music in Malasaña, and wandering through the colorful stalls of El Rastro market. Whether you’re studying business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Madrid is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Tutoring + Academic Support: Receive personalized one-on-one tutoring to help you excel in your courses and stay on track with your studies.
- First Year Workshops: Participate in a life skills workshop led by experienced on-site staff to develop your communication, self-management, and personal skills. (Required; non-credit bearing; 1.5 hours/week, including dinner.)
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic interests.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Madrid will open doors for you to explore Spain’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad. Each semester typically includes two day-trips and one overnight trip.
Samples of excursions and activities:
- Join a Spanish cooking class, preparing classic dishes like tortilla española and paella while exploring the flavors and traditions behind Madrid’s cuisine
- Try a Spanish cajón percussion workshop, where you’ll learn basic rhythms and discover how this wooden drum shapes the sound of flamenco music
- Tour the Royal Palace of Madrid, wandering through opulent halls and learning stories that reveal the city’s royal past and cultural heritage
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Madrid offers diverse housing options to maximize your study abroad experience, including homestays, student residence halls, or shared apartments in several city districts. All housing options are located near supermarkets, restaurants, gyms, and public transport and provide the convenience of urban living in one of Europe’s largest cosmopolitan city settings.
Student housing in Madrid typically looks different than what you may be used to in the U.S. Unlike most college campuses, CIEE does not own or manage student housing in Madrid. We work within local housing networks to carefully identify housing partners, vendors, and homestay hosts that can offer students a safe and culturally active living experience. All Madrid housing sizes, layouts, room designs, and amenities will vary and will have their own distinct features. Living in Madrid may mean downsizing for the duration of your stay as student housing space and location are at a premium (for example, living space, kitchen, washing machines or bedroom size may be smaller than what you're used to at home).
Due to high demand for housing, most Spanish students live at home with their families, as affordable rental options in the city center are extremely limited. The majority of CIEE student housing is located in well-connected residential neighborhoods outside the historic city center, offering convenient access to Madrid’s metro, bus, and commuter train networks. Whether you live with a host family, student dorm or in a shared apartment, you should expect to commute like a local.
Standard Housing: Includes a single room in a homestay within 30-45 minutes from Puerta de Sol train station; or double room in a student dorm or a shared apartment, distances to Puerta de Sol train station may vary from 40-70 minutes.
- Homestays: Homestays offer socially active hosts and a cultural resource who allow for a lot of student independence, no curfew, kitchen access for food storage, a living room, Wi-Fi, weekly laundry, and a bathroom shared with the host. Hosts provide two meals a day during the week.
- Shared Apartments: Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring fewer amenities with basic furniture, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen.
- Student Dorms: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have an individual or shared kitchen.
Select Housing: Includes single accommodation in a shared apartment or residence hall, within 45-55 minutes from Sol train station OR Double accommodation in shared apartment or residence hall within 30-40 minutes from Sol station. Select housing requires an additional fee.
- Shared Apartments: Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring a few amenities with basic furniture, a laundry machine, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen.
- Student Dorms: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically house students in single bedrooms with an individual or shared kitchen.
Select Plus Housing: Includes a room in a shared apartment or student dorm. Limited option located within 30-40 minutes via public transport to/from Puerta de Sol train station. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
- Shared Apartments: Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring a few amenities with basic furniture, a laundry machine, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen.
- Student Dorms: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have an individual or shared kitchen.
Please note: You may be placed in housing where you will share common spaces in your accommodations with other CIEE students who opted for a different housing category. The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families, and they are responsible for lunch. Students do not typically have access to use the kitchen at the host family home.
Residence Halls/Shared Apartments: Meals are not included. Residence halls and apartments have direct access to supermarkets, restaurants, public transport, and independent dining halls. Students can purchase dining hall meal plans on their own if offered by the residence hall management.
Academics
CIEE Madrid: Study in the historic center of Spain’s capital near Puerta de Sol, conveniently located near shops, cafés, tapas bars, theaters, museums, copy centers, and metro stations. CIEE Madrid features five classrooms, a student lounge, an academic advising office, and a student life office.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Transcripts: Tulane University is CIEE’s School of Record for First Year Abroad. Tulane ensures that our academic programs meet the highest standards of quality and, upon completing your program, they will issue you an official U.S. transcript for any First Year Abroad courses you've successfully completed abroad (with the exception of CIEE x ASU online courses;). Students taking ASU courses online will receive an Arizona State University transcript.
Course Information
Course Notes
Block Numbers
During the Fall semester, the courses below will be listed as available in Blocks II & III, rather than Blocks I & II. This is because the First Year Abroad program runs during the final two blocks of the Fall semester which is otherwise split into three blocks on CIEE’s Academic Calendar.
Language Classes
During course selection, students interested in a non-introductory language course will be instructed to take an online language assessment to determine their proficiency level. Enrollment will be finalized on site and is based on assessment outcomes.
You have the flexibility to choose from a selection of in-person courses taught by CIEE instructors and from over 3,000 asynchronous undergraduate ASU Online courses.
In the table below, you can explore some of the exciting courses we offer. On the left are examples of the in-person First Year Abroad classes you can take with CIEE. On the right are just a few examples of the thousands of ASU Online courses available to you while you're abroad.
| Sample CIEE Courses (in-person) | Sample ASU Courses (online) |
|
|
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework at no additional charge.
Check the CIEE program dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program.
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
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.
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.
Interested in an academic year program? CIEE offers exciting customizable First Year Abroad programs in select locations. Talk to your Enrollment Coordinator if you're interested in any of these combinations, and please note that visa and departure requirements may vary depending on your chosen program combination.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Fall 2026 12 weeks | Start Date | End Date | ||
| Program Spring 2027 12 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*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, your college may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
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.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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
Our Staff
Eero Jesurun
Center Director
Eero Jesurun, Ph.D. completed his B.S. and M.A degrees from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Eero studied at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid where he obtained a Ph.D...