ISA Study Abroad in Malaga, Spain

Malaga is the perfect city to study abroad! The size is just about right; it's big enough for you to explore the different neighborhoods and keep discovering new things, yet it's not too big to be overwhelming. Malaga has an authentic Andalusian feel and the BEST weather. Although it has a well-connected airport and miles of Mediterranean beaches, it is not touristy so you will barely hear English - if at all!

The school is 3-minute walk from El Palo beach. The campus is exclusively for international students, but you are likely to have classes with fellow ISA students. The workload is doable. I barely had homework and found that my language class was not that challenging. The other class that I had was interesting, but I did not expect to write a long paper at the end so it made the end of my program a bit stressful.

The ISA staff in Malaga is so welcoming and helpful. They respect your decisions and understand that the students are adults, but they are always there if we would ever need help. If there are questions that they could not answer right away (very few existed), they will not stop until they find the answers! I owe much of my "independent" post-study abroad travel planning to the staff!

As for the housing, I am glad I chose to do a home stay. My host mom picked me up from the Malaga Maria Zombrano train station and made me feel at home since day 1. She and my host dad are very understanding, especially when it comes to my countless changes of plans. They also listen to my food preferences and I am very satisfied with the meals. Another plus is that my laundry was done more frequently than it was expected!

Compared to the other students, I lived the furthest from the city center, even though it was only three blocks from the main shopping street. Inevitably, I had to walk home alone after a night out, but I generally feel very safe. I've heard people say that the Spaniards stay late out at night, but I found that this was not always the case. Oftentimes, I would be the only one in the street at night. It is also said that cat-calling is an issue, especially in Andalusia, but I think it has been blown out of proportion. It does not happen as much as people seem to say. Yes, some men will utter "guapa" or "morena" as you walk by, but as long as you ignore them, they would not advance.

Overall, I would recommend ISA Malaga to a friend. Amazing city right on the beach, lovely weather, doable school work, vibrant nightlife, and great staff!

Over

The time I spent in Málaga was great, I can't help but look back on my adventures in Spain and smile. I got to explore a different country, as well as learn about the history (including things that aren't in the books). The professors at the University of Málaga- Cursos para extranjeros were all incredible people, and made learning fun and interesting. My homestay was a wonderful family, with a great location in regards to the city and only 20-25 minutes by bus from my campus.

Some of the best things about living in Malaga specifically are the fact that you have the beach readily available and if you're an active person, you won't be alone. Many Malageunos run, skate, skateboard, and do yoga on or along the beach everyday.
The people in Malaga are also very open and fun to get to know. My host family was amazing, I lived with a young mother and her eight year old son. I even got to take her son to the park one day so she could have some time to herself!! They really began to feel like family and I consider her my Spanish Mom.
Maybe most importantly for those who are planning to learn the language while in Malaga, the learning program is intense and really forces the students to learn. I can't say I had too much homework. But because of the interaction that was basically required each class period, I really learned to speak and understand much more than I thought possible in only a three month period.

Malaga is a city full of great people, incredible food, and will hands down be the best experience of your life. The daily schedule, including a 3:00 PM siesta, was relaxed and gives you plenty of time to meet the locals, go to the beach, and enjoy the infamous Spanish nightlife. Living off the coast of Spain is a must!