DO NOT MAKE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PLANS the 100 days before study abroad. DO NOT plan independent travel before arrival. CLM trips are mandatory
Located in the Andalusia region of Spain, our language immersion program in Granada does not disappoint as far as location is concerned. The mighty Alhambra will be the backdrop to your daily life- your struggles, triumphs, studies-all of it! The winding streets of Granada are filled with bars, traditional tabernas, music, and so much more. On top of the beautiful location and excellent academic offerings, you’ll have the unique experience of living with a host family who will help orient you to the city and immerse you in all things Granada. Get ready to try lots of new food!
Students who select this program will take a combination of classes in the Centro de Lenguas Modernas (CLM) and the University of Granada. ¡Cuidado! The classes that will be offered to you in the CLM depend on how you perform on their placement test, which is administered in the months before you embark on your journey! Granada is an excellent location for students who can approach the semester or year with a healthy dose of academic flexibility. If you save some common area requirement for Granada, you’ll likely be pleased with the History, Art, and Social Science classes you have access to that focus on Spanish and European culture! Granada is offered as an academic year program (the best choice for linguistic growth) or as a Fall semester only (recommended only for students who have legitimate academic constraints that prevent them from participating in the year-long program).
Arrival Day in Granada: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
Official Program Start Day in Granada: January 7th, 2026
Official End Date: Wednesday, June 24th, 2026
Last day of exams*: TBA, depends on date of your last exam in Universidad de Granada. See academic calendar here.
*All study abroad students must plan to stay until the end of the exam period, as they cannot arrange to take exams at a time other than the one assigned for the class. See the Student Contract for the policy.
Before the spring semester starts in Granada, all students will participate in a pre-university language intensive program designed to help students "level-up" their Spanish skills. This program starts on Tuesday, January 7th and takes place at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas (CLM) in Granada.
Arrival Day in Santander: Sunday, August 3rd, 2025
Official End Date Santander: Saturday, August 30th, 2025
Move-in Day Granada: Saturday, August 30th, 2025
Last day of exams*: TBA, depends on date of your last exam in Universidad de Granada. See academic calendar here.
*All study abroad students must plan to stay until the end of the exam period, as they cannot arrange to take exams at a time other than the one assigned for the class. See the Student Contract for the policy.
Before the fall semester starts in Granada, all students will participate in month-long pre-university language intensive program at Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP) in Santander, Spain. This intensive program is designed to help students "level-up" their Spanish skills in preparation for the semester in Granada.
You will purchase a flight arriving to Madrid Airport from your 'home airport'- wherever that may be! Once you land in Madrid, you will take a connecting flight, train, or bus either to Granada (spring semester) or Santander (fall semester).
In any language-immersion program, the goal is just that: immersion. We encourage students to limit travel outside of Spain. There is so much to see in Spain! If you get the 'travel bug', we encourage you to explore different regions of Spain before venturing further afield. !Ojo! We highly discourage booking personal travel before you arrive in Spain. During orientation, you'll find out about trips and excursions offered through your program, some of which are mandatory. Wait until you are on the ground and have your schedule before booking personal travel.
Granada has an unmistakably Moorish flavour given that it was the last city to be reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. The gastronomy, craftwork and urban planning are influenced by its glorious past. Fountains, viewpoints and "Cármenes", houses surrounded by typical gardens, create unforgettable corners in the city. It is no surprise that one of its historic districts, Albaicín, is a World Heritage Site, along with the Alhambra and Generalife. It was an important cultural centre for many centuries, under both Islamic and Christian rulers, and still boasts an admirable array of culture and leisure activities. From film, musicm and theatre festivals to flamenco dancing and tappas, Granada really does have something for everyone!
I loved study abroad because it reminded me that my life isn't the only one I could live. The chance to step out and explore and experience elsewhere gives us perspective and often provides new lenses with which we can see and think about who we are, what we are doing with our lives and what we care about. I love that a totally new perspective makes me reconsider my priorities and allows me to recenter myself.
Melanie Beato, class of 2023