Enrich the time between high school and college in a gap program, differentiate your resume with an internship, or get class credit while you study abroad. Along the way, you’ll attend prestigious universities, enjoy career-accelerating experiences, and immerse yourself in Spain’s language, lifestyle and culture.

Destination Overview

API offers a variety of programs in Spain six different locations, spanning the country regionally, culturally, and linguistically. If you are coming to Spain for the first time, be warned: this is a country that fast becomes an addiction. You’ll be hooked by the celebration of some local fiesta, or the amazing nightlife in Madrid, by the Moorish monuments of Andalucía, by Basque cooking or the wild landscapes and birds of prey of Extremadura.

And by then, of course, you will have noticed that there is not just one Spain but many. Indeed, Spaniards often speak of Las Españas (the Spains) and they even talk of the capital in the plural – Los Madriles, the Madrids. This regionalism is an obsession, and perhaps the most significant change to the country over recent decades has been the creation of seventeen autonomías – autonomous regions – with their own governments, budgets, and cultural ministries.

Why Barcelona

• Spain’s most visited city for a reason! There’s something for everyone!
• Rich Catalán culture and cuisine
• Very cosmopolitan and trendy city
• Barcelona overlooks the magnificent Mediterranean Sea
• World renowned for it’s incredible Gaudí and Modernist architecture
• Incredible art and museums
• Fabulous outdoor markets and shopping opportunities
• Great jumping off point to explore the rest of Spain and Europe

Why Granada

• Mid-sized town; easy to explore
• Sits at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and only one hour from the beach
• City of the free tapas!
• The Alhambra: the “Pearl of Andalusia” and the most visited monument in Spain
• Granada is a diverse city, with a fascinating mix of cultures and heavy Moorish and Romani influences
• University town that embraces students
• Visits to the “cuevas” for Flamenco
• The unique and picturesque Albaicín and Sacromonte neighborhoods

Why Salamanca

• The oldest university in Spain and the 3rd oldest in the world
• Salamanca’s Plaza Mayor is considered one of Spain’s most beautiful
• Active university town that attracts thousands of students from across the world each year
• A vibrant social scene and cafe culture alongside the traditional slower pace of life
• Known as the “Golden City” due to the exquisite golden glow it exudes from its sandstone buildings
• A compact and extremely walkable city – you can get just about anywhere on foot
• First Spanish grammar published here
• Incredible (and very affordable!) food

Why Valencia

• Miles of glorious sandy beaches and more than 300 sunny days each year
• Unique and interesting architectural styles , from the 13th-century cathedral, La Lonja de la Seda, a Gothic chamber of commerce that is now a Unesco World Heritage site and La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.
• Valencia is the birthplace of paella! Valencian paella is typically made with chicken or rabbit, white beans and snails. If that doesn’t strike a chord with you, there the city also offers spectacular seafood and tapas
• Third largest city in Spain yet posesses a comfortable, laid back feel which lets travelers to discover the city’s unique neighborhoods.
• Art aficionados unite and see why Valencia was named 2022’s World Capital of Design