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Spain Semester Program in Alcalá de Henares
GENERAL INFORMATIONAuburn University offers an intensive academic program for undergraduate and graduate students in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Students will spend the entire semester in Spain, from January to May. The program is located in central Spain only 20 minutes from the great cosmopolitan capital, Madrid, which is readily accessible by bus and train. This central location along with the flexible class schedule will allow students to travel extensively through Spain and Europe. LOCATION: Alcalá de Henares, SpainAlcalá de Henares, declared in 1998 as a World Heritage Site, has played a crucial role in the artistic, intellectual and political development of humanity. It is a warm and welcoming college town located just 32 km (about 20 miles) from downtown Madrid, the capital and heart of Spain. Buses and trains run every 10-15 minutes, thus allowing students to take advantage of everything the great cosmopolitan capital has to offer. Museums, concert halls, nightclubs, bullfights, parks, cafés, trendy shops and lively restaurants are never far away. While Madrid offers students a unique opportunity to experience the excitement and diversity of Spanish culture, Alcalá provides a comfortable and easily navigable home base for their semester abroad. The modern Alcalá de Henares dates back to the Roman metropolis of Complutum. The Moors renamed the city Al-Kala-en-el-Uhar, meaning "fortress," and the city walls bears witness even today of that Arab presence. Since its founding, Alcalá de Henares has attracted celebrated scholars and Spanish monarchs. Queen Isabella met Columbus in Alcalá prior to his departure for the Americas. Alcalá also boasts fame as the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of El Ingenioso Don Quixote de la Mancha, the epitome of Spanish literature and the first modern novel. Today tourists flock to the city known also for its ubiquitous storks and rich cultural heritage. Each year the city hosts an international audience to witness His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I confer upon one deserving Hispanic writer the esteemed Cervantes Prize, an honor equivalent to the Nobel Prize of Spanish Letters. Not only is Alcalá a prime tourist destination, but it is ideally situated as a starting point for day trips to fascinating Spanish destinations such as Segovia, Toledo, Avila, and El Escorial. Students also can easily travel to farther Spanish regions such as Andalucía and Cataluña as well as to most any popular European destination. HOST UNIVERSITY: Universidad de Alcalá de HenaresThe Spanish Studies Program at the Instituto Universitario de Investigación de Estudios Norteamericanos offers a unique opportunity for students to improve their language skills in a distinctive and historical setting. The IUIEN anchors its academic curriculum in the same philosophy shared by its parent institute the Universidad de Alcalá and is located in the exquisite setting of a fully renovated 17th century convent. Dating back to 1630, the Colegio de Trinitarios is home to the IUIEN, two libraries, a state-of-the-art computer lab, and six classrooms all equipped with the latest in educational technology. Students can take pride in knowing that such notable Spanish scholars as Antonio Nebrija, San Juan de la Cruz, Lope de Vega, and Francisco de Quevedo also graced the hallowed halls of this prestigious institution. PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTSStudents will be required to obtain a student VISA for entry into Spain due to the duration of this program and according to the regulations of the Spanish Government. Your VISA paperwork is due to the AU Office of International Education (OIE), 243 Foy Hall by OCTOBER 22 in order to get your VISA prepared by the Spanish consulate in the US. This means you will need to have a passport in your hands to give to OIE by October 22. If you do not have a PASSPORT: Please check http://travel.state.gov for the nearest local passport office and forms. Application for a United States passport should be made at least 120 days in advance of your departure date. |
After four months in Spain I realized that I could speak Spanish and that all my hard work over the years had paid off in a concrete way. I feel that each of the students that went for the study abroad came away with a stronger sense of their own culture as well as a sense and understanding of the Spanish culture. 
Pedro Cebollero |
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