Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain

It was a very fun experience traveling, meeting new people, and learning about other cultures. The ISA Madrid staff were all so nice and helpful and fun to be around. I enjoyed every aspect of studying abroad except for the school part. The commute to UC3M was a drag and I never got used to it. There came a point where I just gave up on going to my classes that didn't take attendance. I also don't like the website they use for school, which was called aulaglobal. I think canvas is set up more organized and they should switch to that. UC3M engineering is very difficult, and those classes definitely require too much effort for a study abroad student to be able to balance the fun study abroad aspects and school at the same time. I also think the professor for the class called "Measuring Instrumentation" is a terrible professor who doesn't care about his students learning or success. His name is Pedro Martin Mateos and everyone should avoid him and his measuring instrumentation class. I also think the security guard in the La Latina Mi Casa Inn needs to mind his business. He loved to order us around and tell us we couldn't be downstairs or we were being too loud when we weren't. I also didn't really like the shared kitchen aspect. But my overall experience was really amazing and I loved it a lot, I'm just going into detail on the downsides because if I went into detail on the positives this would be exponentially longer lol.

I was so incredibly nervous to try something new, and studying in a foreign country is about as "new" as you can get. I worked so hard to be able to enjoy my time in Madrid, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I got to travel to a different country or city in Spain every weekend because of my class schedule. My classes weren't incredibly stressful and the professors were lovely. It was so interesting to be taught by a person from outside of the US and to learn outside perspectives as well. I had a lovely apartment in the center of Madrid. I had 10 roommates, some from America, some from Spain, and even from Puerto Rico, but they were all students and it was so much fun living with other young people from different places. The food was remarkable and I would honestly chop off my right arm in order to have some again right now. The support I got from ISA was unbelievable. I had to go to the hospital once for a general problem/sickness and ask for the address from ISA, but Carlos from the ISA Madrid office followed up with me for a few days following my visit and truly cared about how I was doing. It made my experience that much more wonderful and made me feel so much more safe than I already had. I have made lifelong friends and memories that I will never forget. ISA is the program you should go with if you are deciding between two different programs, they'll take care of you.

This was genuinely one of the best decisions I’ve made during my years in university. Madrid in my opinion was one of the best choices in terms of cities to study in while in Spain, and the host university I was in was extremely warm and welcoming. ISA was very helpful in regards to how the program was structured, and it was so comforting to know that the staff was focused entirely on our well-being while we were there. I never felt alone while I was there, even though it was my first time studying abroad. We were given countless opportunities to explore, whether it was through guided excursions, tours, or with the freetime that we had. I would recommend this program to anyone who is contemplating going, because if I were able to I would do it all over again!

I've studied abroad 4 different times, but Madrid with ISA was probably my most favorite experience. I got to practice my spanish in and out of class, experience the night life of Madrid, and connect with other abroad students and create some of my strongest friendships. My apartment stay allowed me to grow so close with the other girls I was living with and my next door neighbors. We had a built in family that laughed, cried, and traveled all around Europe together. I'd do it all over again if I could .

To say that the ISA Abroad experience changed my life is an understatement. I came to Madrid in the spring of 2022 hoping for an immersive experience in Spanish to culminate my Spanish Minor from the University of Colorado. This program certainly exceeded my expectations. From the renowned education and hands-on coursework to the opportunities to bond, travel, and experience Madrid with my classmates, I couldn't have asked for anything better. With the flexibility of the course schedules, I was able to visit 11 different countries during my time abroad, my particular favorite being a week in the Sahara Desert in Africa (Morocco). This experience allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. I became more comfortable being independent in a (large) new city, went out of my comfort zone to experience new food and culture, and worked hard in school to complete my Spanish minor. I wouldn't change a thing about the program: The housing and activities are well-established and organized. Study abroad.... It will change your life and perspective!

Culture is Spain is amazing, especially for young students in the capital city! Great museums, excursions, clubs, and food. Weekend travel is also very easy. Studying in the morning, going to a museum or shop during the day, tapas for dinner, then clubbing til the next day. Trips to cultural sites and communities in Spain was very interesting and gave a lot of insight into the culture and history. Connecting with locals gave me lifelong friends and even deeper connection to Spain. The program overall was set up very well and organized. Felt like staff was just a message away and super nice!

ISA offered the perfect balance of guidance and freedom in my study abroad experience, making their resources for student success crystal clear. I absolutely loved attending excursions as the ISA staff were very knowledgeable about the history and amenities of Madrid and each city we traveled to. Outside of these events, the staff and my host family gave great tips and tricks for exploring independently and on a budget. One of my favorite parts of going to Madrid with ISA is that they have students in two different universities and a wide range of majors, allowing me to interact with students I wouldn’t have met in class. If you love a new adventure every day, I highly recommend heading to a big city like Madrid and taking the metro to wherever the map calls you!

I would not change anything about my abroad experience. ISA was such an all inclusive program in which I felt fully immersed and had plenty of freedom while also having continuous support and guidance. I learned so much through the included excursions and cultural experiences offered frequently and when deciding to travel and explore on my own, was given plenty of recommendations and advice upon asking. Not to mention, Madrid is the most beautiful, incredible city ever full of so much diversity.