Spain: Bilbao & Getxo - International Business and Spanish Studies

Name: Spain: Bilbao & Getxo - International Business and Spanish Studies
Brand: USAC
SKU: 19301
Rating: 4.92 (48 reviews)

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4.92 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Bilbao

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Business Communications Cultural Studies Finance History International Business Political Science Sociology Women's Studies

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Housing

Apartment Host Family

Language

English

Last Updated: Sep 23, 2024

Last Reviewed: Apr 17, 2025

Wish List

21 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

USAC welcomes students to come study abroad in Bilbao/Getxo, Spain at the University of the Basque Country! Located to the north of Spain, Bilbao is nothing short of a modern city labeled a cutting edge banking and service center, with attractions including world class museums, galleries, music halls, and not to mention its first rate public transportation. San Sebastian offers a unique view into the diversity of Spain and a truly multicultural experience with over a third of the city speaking both Spanish and Basque.

Coursework at the University of the Basque Country includes Engineering, International Business, Spanish/Culture studies and Spanish/Basque language. The Bilbao/Getxo program is geared towards those looking to pursue a bilingual and/or an international business career.

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

LGBTQIA+ Support

There are LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and allies throughout the world. However, cultural understanding of gender identity and sexuality does vary from country to country. USAC has compiled a lot of resources to help you through that learning process.

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Accessibility Support

USAC is dedicated to working closely with students with disabilities to ensure the best study abroad experience possible. You may request reasonable accommodations after your initial application is complete. We routinely receive requests for scheduling, material, and environmental accommodations for the classroom setting, which may include assistive technology, scribes and readers, printed material, and interpretation.

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Impact 🌎

Sustainability

Environmentally-conscious students choose USAC because many of our programs are held in some of the most sustainable countries in the world. There are options to take coursework in sustainability and the environment, as well as field trips and studies where students can leave a lasting impact on their host country.

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Program Highlights

Live in a dynamic, cosmopolitan city on Spain’s northern coast, one hour from the border with France and with connections to major European cities
Enjoy many opportunities for inexpensive outdoor activities such as surfing, horseback riding, hiking, and cycling
Intern in management consulting firms, publishing companies, NGOs, the Guggenheim Museum, and more
Join our teaching assistantship program to gain work experience at local schools while earning money
Study International Business, which may be taken separately or in conjunction with language studies

Program Reviews

4.92 Rating

based on 48 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Study

5 rating 91.67%
4 rating 8.33%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.5
Support 5
Fun 4.7
Housing 4.7
Safety 5

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Building your resume

Showing 9 - 16 of 48 reviews

My four months in Bilbao/Getxo were the best four months of my life. The people in my program became my family there and honestly some of them are now my best friends for life. My host family situation was also a dream. I will be going back to Bilbao just to visit them. Every time I came back to Bilbao after traveling, I was so happy to be there. It is the perfect blend of the city with true Spanish and Basque life. The best part of the program is the surfing class. It was such a memorable experience being able to learn how to surf with everyone else. We could not get enough of it. Every chance we had to surf or be at the beach, we were there. The other students in the area are also super welcoming and the people within the community are the same as well. Because I loved my time in Bilbao so much, I am studying abroad with USAC again in Spring 2024. Truly, the only bad part about studying abroad is leaving. It was the saddest moment ever but it also showed how grateful we all were for everything that happened.

Pros

Close to beaches
Clean, fun and alive city
Little English in some places

Cons

Little English in some places
Some rain

My experience was very unique because it was my first real semester of college. I had graduated high school and the next year, I was gone to Spain. It was a great choice. I learned more about myself and the Spanish language in those for 4 months than I ever did in high school or community college. If anyone is considering it, they should 100% do it! The USAC staff in Bilbao were absolutely fantastic and so kind. I learned so much and would love to chat with anyone who wants to go! I liked Spain.

Pros

You learn so much language!
The food is amazing.
You gain a lot of confidence by being away and talking to people.

Cons

The staff in the US from USAC were a little hard to deal with.
The housing I lived in was not very good.
You spend a lot of time alone.

Before coming to Bilbao, I knew basically nothing about it or the Basque region that it is in. It definitely has a different feel than most Spanish cities people know like Madrid or Barcelona. Bilbao has things for everyone with great mountain hikes and tons of beaches to surf on and just lay out when it gets warmer. Most of the social scene is going out to a bar/cafe and getting a drink and a bite to eat most pintxos (which is the Basque version of tapas). I went somewhere almost every weekend and even though Bilbao is a smaller airport I was still able to fly to most major cities direct besides Milan!

Pros

Most Things are Pretty Cheap
Great Transportation System
Lots of Outdoor Things to Do

Cons

Spanish Classes are Very Fast-Paced
Hard to Immerse Yourself Since All The Other Students Speak English
Hard to Find a Variety of Food that is Not Pintxos

Legit everything i needed and more!! The staff and program was perfect!! I loved where I lived and made so many new friends!! We had so many activities that were pre planned… including a cooking class which was AMAZING!! Spending my afternoons surfing the beaches of Sopela was another one of my favs!! Our program director Iban was great! He made me feel like Bilbao was home!! Would 100% go back if I could!! I had the time of my life!! If you need a sign… DO IT!! Seriously so much fun!! You must go!!

Pros

Staff
Education
Friendships

Cons

Nothing:)

Bilbao was cool! I wish I knew before hand how hard it would be to travel to other countries/destinations from Bilbao as there were no trains and flights were pricy but I still went somewhere every weekend! It was a great time. The spanish courses were much more intense though than the USAC language courses in Italy when I went in 2019 and other USAC Spain programs as we had friends studying in Valencia and they hardly had to study so that was rough as a ton of time was dedicated to that class. But I do miss Spain so much now.

Pros

Good food
wonderful staff
easy to get around the city

Cons

didn't feel like I was very culturally emmersed as when I visited other paces
no trains, expensive flights
sourses were way too intense for study abroad

I wasn't sure if I would study abroad for a semester or graduate early. I assumed I wouldn't regret going abroad and I was right! I had the most fun semester in Bilbao; it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everything about the city and the program is perfect. I learned so much about Basque culture while having the opportunity to travel to six different countries. If you are on the fence about studying abroad - do it! You will not regret it. Bilbao is a unique destination and you will fall in love with the city before you know it. There are so many types of food to try, places to visit, and more.

Pros

Big city (but not too big)
Clean
Amazing Food

Amazing, Ibon was a great professor! Would recommend to everyone, I went for business and didn’t know any Spanish and it went well!! If your hesitant about going, take a leap of faith and trust that everything is going to be ok! I didn’t know anyone going and I met so many people that I am thankful to call lifelong friends. Going over seas changes your perspective for the better, I realized how much I truly enjoy traveling and that it is a passion of mine! If you have any questions reach out to my instagram @ jackson_andersson

Going abroad has been my dream since I started going to school. It impacted which college I chose; I went to UWEC which has a solid study abroad program. I found this experience to be enlightening and fun. I would also say that it wasn’t without it’s stresses. The Bilbao program was amazing and getting us to do things in the community including a cooking class and a kayaking journey. The teachers were great and very understanding (I got covid my first week there). I felt supported by the program leaders and they helped me through the tough experience of being sick while abroad. The best advice I can offer is to be prepared, make friends when you arrive (friends form fast, something I missed out on from being sick), plan your trips out before leaving, be courteous of the locals, and enjoy as much as you can while there. Also bring a great pair of walking shoes as that is the main mode of transport (although there is a train system and bus system that aren't too difficult to operate). Places to visit and things to try: Guggenheim, Kalimotxo (drink native to Basque country), anything involving baked goods

Pros

Super safe
Amazing food
Nice and helpful people

Cons

Being alone (especially when got Covid-19)
Adjusting to having less support (mental health wise)

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Lindsey Forbes

Program

Spain: Bilbao & Getxo - International Business and Spanish Studies

Lindsey is a mathematics major from the University of Nevada. She currently serves as president of her professional fraternity and is a volunteer with her university’s international students’ office. Lindsey studied Spanish in the beautiful Basque Country where she enjoyed hiking, surfing, and inhaling all of the delicious food. Her only regret with studying abroad was not staying longer.

female headshot

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Lindsey: Nothing beats the meal I had at a Sidería. The first course was a traditional Spanish tortilla which is similar to an omelet for American students. The second course was Bacalao al Pil Pil which is a codfish dish served in an olive oil and garlic sauce. This is such a simple dish and one that I ended up missing the most when I returned home.

The third course was a “chuletón” or a ridiculously rich steak about two inches thick. The entire meal was accompanied by all-you-can-drink “sidra” which is a hard cider that you must catch out of a barrel. The experience was awesome but the food was unbeatable.

What was the best place you visited outside of your study abroad city?

Lindsey: As an avid hiker, I couldn’t get enough of the scenery in the area I was studying. One day I took city busses to other neighboring towns and it was the best day ever. I got to do some mild hiking overlooking the sea and visiting old buildings. However, my favorite part about this visit was the community I experienced; nothing compares to the people I met and the hospitality they showed me.

I found this was especially true in the small Basque towns of Ea and Lekeitio. They were so incredibly nice and there wasn’t a tourist shop in sight. It was so authentic and relaxing. One of my only regrets is not getting out and doing daytrips like these earlier because they ended up being the best learning opportunities. You became totally immersed in the language and you didn’t have the conveniences of Wi-Fi or translated signs, it was a test of self-reliance for me.

teaching class

What did USAC do for you and what did you need to do on your own?

Lindsey: USAC really took care of all of the basic needs. They do a group submission with a lot of visas which is super nice because you don’t need to make an appointment with the consulate. They also find housing (with Wi-Fi) for students who request it and assist with metro passes and other forms of transportation.

The staff even accompanied us to the doctor’s office and pharmacy when needed. The staff gives advice on cell phones but that was something we had to take care of on our own. USAC also offers a group flight option so you can fly over with other USAC students and be met at the airport by a faculty member which was awesome especially when my luggage got lost for six days by the airline.

What made this study abroad unique and special?

Lindsey: In Bilbao, I was able to take classes that otherwise wouldn’t be offered at my home university. For example I’m from Nevada, the desert, and I was able to take a surfing class while abroad which was such an awesome experience. Surfing is a very popular pastime of many Basques so it helped integrate students into the culture.

I also had the opportunity to teach English while abroad which was not only a great way to earn a little extra money but was a learning experience and actually catapulted me into a career focus. In addition to those classes, students could take a field trip class that dealt with Basque history and culture as well as a cooking class which I know was a huge hit. The culture in the Basque country is unlike anything I’ve experienced and it made my time there impossible to beat.

two girls hiking

Do you think the program changed you as a person?

Lindsey: Absolutely. I’m a control freak and when you’re studying abroad, guess what, there are just some things you can’t control like your luggage getting lost for six days, or missing the last bus back to the city and that’s okay. I am better at handling stressful situations now because I have the confidence I lacked before.

Living in a country where you don’t speak the language fluently is hard and at times frustrating but I gained such gratitude for where I live and how I was raised and the opportunities I have. I finally feel like I can see the big picture; I finally know how I want to spend my time and the kind of people I want to spend it with.

Brian Lester

Brent Kirkland

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Did you study abroad? If so, where?

I studied on an exchange program through my home university, San Jose State University, at the University College Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland.

I chose Ireland because my favorite book is Gone With The Wind so studying abroad in Ireland was a dream turned reality. I studied for the full academic year, and I’m so glad I did! During my second semester I went from being a ‘tourist’ to a ‘local’, I did better academically, and I was able to travel more. A win-win!

What is your favorite travel memory?

My senior year of high school I was really close friends with a German exchange student.

When I went to Ireland, I spent my Christmas break in Germany with her and her family. It was so amazing because I was able to spend two weeks with them, and it felt like a mini-host family. I got to experience their family’s German Christmas traditions, which was great because I was a little sad about spending Christmas away from my own family.

Her family was the absolute sweetest and even bought me some Christmas presents. We are still in touch to this day, and my friend and her family have visited me in the U.S. multiple times since then.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Before I studied abroad, I had never thought of working in international education as a career - I was a fine arts major.

I love hearing about students that come back from their study abroad with a passion for helping others that have the same life-changing experience and get involved in international education as a career.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

There’s no way I could pick just one! I’d start with doing our summer I&II terms in Havana, Cuba, then the year at our Vaxjo, Sweden program. I’d break up the year by doing our January term in Alicante, Spain.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

There are so many people at USAC that have a hand in making our programs great. Each person that contributes solidly believes in the power of studying abroad and is working at USAC to genuinely make a difference.

A vibe like that makes it easy to get out of bed and go to work each morning. Our team also likes to have fun at work and our monthly birthday potlucks or annual Halloween contest can’t be beat!

About USAC

USAC is a non-profit consortium of U.S. universities that collaborates to offer affordable, academic and authentic study abroad programs. There are abundant opportunities to immerse in the culture, history, and academics of other countries providing an unforgettable experience. Each program is designed to help you grow into an engaged citizen of...