Language & Area Studies

• 18 years of age 
• In good standing at your home school 
• 2.75 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• Sophomore, junior, or senior standing when program begins 
• Some local university courses may not be available to sophomores 
• 2 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent 
• Enrolled in a Spanish course within the year prior to the program start date 

Submit Your Online Application

• Applications may be considered after the published deadline on a space available basis. Please note that late applicants may be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit upon acceptance in order to secure a place in the program. Please contact us with questions about applying after the deadline. 

Submit the following in your MyIESabroad account after your Online Application is processed: 

1. Home School Authorization — Your on-campus study abroad advisor can either complete the Home School Authorization electronically through IES Abroad’s PartnerPortal system, or by filling out the PDF form. 
2. Official Transcript(s) — Submit transcripts from each college/university you have attended since high school. If you have multiple transcripts, IES Abroad will average the GPAs for all colleges/universities you have attended and use that cumulative GPA when reviewing your application. (Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. must obtain a professional course-by-course transcript equivalency report. You may choose any organization that provides professional international transcript equivalencies.)
3. Foreign Language Assessment — Fill out and sign the top portion of the PDF form and give the assessment form to a college-level language professor who has taught you in the target language. 
4. Color Passport Copy — Submit your passport signature page and photo page only. 
5. (If Applicable) English Language Proficiency Exam — Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. may need to submit English language proficiency exam results. Contact your IES Abroad Representative for more information. 

If your cumulative GPA is below 2.75, include the following in your MyIESabroad account: 

1. Professor Recommendation — The recommendation must include a professor's opinion of the applicant's academic ability to pursue university-level coursework in a foreign country and any information that would help IES Abroad gain a better understanding of the applicant. 
2. Personal Academic Essay — Although there is no length requirement, this essay must address your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, reasons you chose this IES Abroad program, and how it fits into your academic career. 

Apply Now

Renew (or Apply for!) Your Passport ASAP 

Passport applications and renewals are taking longer than normal these days. Save yourself from the last-minute stress by making sure: 

1. You have a passport
2. The expiration date is at least one year after your study abroad program ends

Visit  travel.state.gov  to locate U.S. passport agencies in your area. 

Visa Requirements 

Spain requires U.S. citizens to obtain a student visa before studying abroad for a semester or longer.  

Learn more about applying for a student visa for Spain and whether or not you are eligible for Spain ACCeSS. 

Individual appointments at Spanish consulates are very limited! If you are eligible for Spain ACCeSS, we strongly recommend you take advantage of the opportunity for our visa specialists to review your visa application materials and submit them to the Spanish consulate on your behalf. 

Not a U.S. citizen? Consult the consulate website of your passport country and  contact your IES Abroad Advisor.