MADRID, SPAIN

Summer Abroad in Universidad Complutense

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Program Description

Experience Spain’s capital city and surrounding areas through tours, museums and cultural activities while learning about the  political and social impact of the Spanish Civil War in a European setting. The Wilkes Honors College summer program makes its home in Spain’s largest and most prestigious university, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Located in Spain’s capital city, the program includes tours, museum visits, and other cultural activities in and around Madrid as well as Toledo, Segovia, Granada and Guadix. It will also include a visit to the Valley of the Fallen, Monasterio del Escorial and many other cultural visits. The program offers an interdisciplinary course based on the political and social impact of the Spanish Civil War in a European setting, and the implications of this tragic event in current Spanish society. National and foreign perceptions of the war by Lorca, Hemingway, Orwell, among others, will be combined with films, documentaries, local guest speakers and visits to sites related to the topic.

APPLY NOW FACULTY-LED APPLICATION
Program Dates and Deadlines:
Term Year Application Deadline
(or as space permits)		 Start Date/Check-in End Date/Check-out
Summer 2025 January 16, 2025 July 1, 2025 July 31, 2025


See program cost details below for fees and payment deadlines.

Information Sheet

Open to All academic disciplines. Priority given to Diplomacy Program students until December 1. After December 1, the program will open to WHC students until January 1. After January 1, all FAU students will be reviewed as space permits. All interested students should apply as soon as possible for the interest list regardless of major/campus. Fees will only be collected if there is a spot available on the program. 
Language of Instruction English for IDS 3932. Spanish for all other course offerings. 
Level of Study Undergraduate 
Credit Offered FAU credits
Program Primary Subject Spanish Language, History, and Culture
Sponsoring College Wilkes Honors College
Education Abroad Advisor Alex Baker 

 

Program Course Offerings:

  • IDS 3932 Honors Spanish Civil War in Retrospect: Loss, Memory and the Past (3 credits) 
  • SPN 1121 Honors Beginning Spanish Language and Culture II (4 credits)
  • SPN 2220 Honors Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture I (4 credits)
  • SPN 2240 Honors Intermediate Spanish Conversation (3 credits)
  • SPW 4957 Honors Spanish Literature and Culture (3 credits)

*Note your courses of interest on your study abroad application in the course section. 
*Additional courses at the host University may be offered on case-by-case basis.

Course Eligibility & Requirements:

Students participating on the program are required to take the IDS 3932 course and one additional course from the offerings listed. Participants will take at least 6 credits. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Students are required to attend 4 in-person classes on the Wilkes Honors College Jupiter Campus the week before arriving to Madrid. No remote option is available for these mandatory classes. Students must make their own arrangements to attend the in-person classes at the Jupiter campus. 

  • Monday, June 23: Pre-departure orientation and class, 9 am - 2 pm
  • Tuesday, June 24: class 9 am - 12 pm
  • Wednesday, June 25: class 9 am - 12 pm
  • Thursday, June 26: class 9 am - 12 pm

Program Eligibility & Requirement

  • Must have a 3.0 overall GPA at the time of application
  • Must be in good academic standing at the time of application
  • Must be eligible to take FAU courses during the study abroad program term
  • See Policies & Procedures page for more information
 

 

Faculty Leader Contact: Carmen Cañete Quesada

Education Abroad Contact: Madison McShane

Professor of Spanish, Wilkes Honor College Director, FAU Education Abroad

Phone number: 561-354-9307

Phone number: 561-297-1080

Email: ccaneteq@fau.edu

Email: mmcshane@fau.edu  

 

Location

Madrid is the capital of Spain. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of Spain and it’s located right at the heart of the country. Madrid is known for its historical buildings, food markets, and the royals. It’s also known for its renaissance and contemporary art museums, and bustling nightlife.

Housing

Students will stay in shared rooms in a centrally located residence hall.

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Program Cost and Funding

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information 

  • Students participating on FAU Faculty-led Programs may use eligible financial aid
  • Program participants may be eligible to apply for the FAU Education Abroad Scholarship
  • See additional scholarship and funding information here.

 

Program Cost

$4,999.00 program fee + tuition for the summer courses/credits required for the program (FAU in-state and out-of-state tuition rates apply)

Program fee payment deadlines: 

1ST PAYMENT:       $2,500.00 due 55 days from application acceptance or by Tuesday, February 4, 2025 (whichever date comes first)
2ND PAYMENT:      $2,490.00 due 75 days from application acceptance or by Thursday, February 27, 2025 (whichever date comes first)

Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email. Payments can't be deferred. Plan accordingly. 

Program Fee Includes:

  • Accommodations from check-in through check-out date 
  • Meals at the residence
  • Airport pick-up upon arrival
  • Group welcome dinner
  • Madrid city tour
  • 1 month metro card
  • Visit to the Valley of the Fallen & Monasterio del Escorial
  • 2 night/3 day excursion to Granada and Guadix including transportation, belly dancing class, guided visit to Alhambra, walking tour around Albaicin, Flamenco show, Guadix Museo de las Cuevas, and Cuevas Refugios.
  • Guest lectures
  • Excursions to Toledo and Segovia 
  • Visit to Conde de Orgaz, Segovia Cathedral, and Alcazar with Torre
  • Visits to Museo del Prado and Reina Sofia
  • International medical insurance

*Activities and excursions are subject to change if needed by the faculty leader or vendor due to weather, safety, or other unexpeted circumstances. Alternative activities would be scheduled as needed. 

Program Fee Does NOT Include :

  • International Flight
  • Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (FAU in-state and out-of-state rates apply). FAU academic calendars and tuition fee deadlines can be found HERE.
  • Some meals on excursions
  • Personal spending money

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY

Passport and Travel Documentation

  • A valid passport is required for all international travel. You need a passport to board an international flight and to enter the country. Passport cards will not be accepted as form of I.D. You may be denied boarding if you travel with a passport that appears damaged or altered.
  • Review up-to-date details HERE. Routine processing times can take 6-8 weeks, and expedited applications in 2-3 weeks. Processing times does not include the time it takes for shipping. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.
  • Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Some airlines will not allow you to board if this requirement is not met. Check the Country Information to learn about entry and exit requirements for the country or countries in which you are traveling.  
  • If you are applying for a passport for the first time, you need to renew your passport, or you have any other passport questions, you can find information on the Travel.State.Gov website. In addition, several U.S. Embassies and Consulates provide information to assist applicants in collecting the documentation needed. For a list of Embassies, please visit U.S. Embassy.gov.
  • Non-U.S. Citizens may need additional travel documentation. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you should research the study abroad program destination and your home country to determine if a visa or additional travel documentation is required. 

International Health Insurance

All FAU students participating on an FAU Faculty-led Program will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost. The 2025 Coverage plan will be available in January 2025. Participants can review the current 2024 plan HERE for reference.

Health and Safety Resources to Explore Prior to Traveling Abroad

Pre-departure Orientation and Meetings

All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program. 

1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips. 
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.