Madrid, Spain

Tufts in Madrid, run in conjunction with Skidmore College, is designed to increase intercultural agency and understanding, and to achieve inclusive excellence. As a global leader in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, the program offers courses designed to foster critical thinking, active learning, and the development of intercultural skills and knowledge. All of this is done within the framework of diversity, justice, and human rights. The program also offers a rigorous Global Internship Program with flexible credit options in the fields of community health, women’s advocacy, refugee and immigrant advocacy, international relations, human rights, journalism, diplomacy, education, environmental studies, scientific research, marketing, finance, and more. Additionally, the program offers education, mentoring and training in intercultural competency development. Tufts in Madrid was selected by Diversity Abroad as the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education Award (EDIIE) for the category of Student Engagement & Support.

The overall design of the program promotes academic and intellectual achievement at the highest level within the framework of diversity, justice, and human rights, and seeks to inspire in students an awareness of and a concern for the experience and well-being of human beings across the globe. 

Terms  

Fall, Spring, Full Year

Prerequisites  

Successful completion or testing out of Spanish 4 or the equivalent of four semesters of college-level Spanish.

Host University

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Language of Instruction 

Spanish, some university classes offered in English

Internship Option

Yes, for-credit and non-credit options available

Housing  

Homestay, student residence

Academics

Students have the flexibility to choose from a variety of courses offered through the program, taught at our Madrid campus, as well as courses available at our partner institution, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Most students enroll in at least one course at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. A typical academic schedule includes one or two university courses and two to three program courses per semester. All program courses are conducted in Spanish, whereas some university courses are taught in English.

Additionally, students have the option to take courses at private academies, with or without credit, in areas such as studio art, dance, music, or martial arts. Students can also choose to participate in the Global Internship Program, with options for full credit, half credit, or no credit.

Be sure to review our academic policies for education abroad and plan accordingly with your academic advisor(s).  

Review TGE Academic Policies 

Prerequisites

This program is open to Tufts and non-Tufts undergraduate juniors and seniors who meet the general eligibility requirements. In addition, applicants must have successfully completed at least Spanish 4 or the equivalent of four semesters of college-level Spanish. Students from all academic majors are encouraged to apply.

Program Courses

Courses at the Madrid campus focus on critical studies, examining the intersectionality of underrepresented identities (gender, race, sexual orientation, migratory status, socioeconomic status), and their expression in art, literature, architecture, politics, and social institutions. Program courses and faculty provide critical peninsular and transatlantic studies that allow students to situate and understand Spain as a complex, dynamic, heterogeneous society and culture in constant transition.

All program courses have coordinated activities outside of class, such as selected events, films, lectures, and exhibits currently available in Madrid.

A note about language courses:

  • Advanced Spanish Language Studies, equivalent to Spanish 121, is required for students who have completed SPN 21, 22 or higher. The program offers the equivalent of SPN 21 for students who have completed Spn 4. These courses are offered at the program center and include a special focus on pronunciation, phonetics, and grammatical precision. Students’ language level will be assessed before arrival, upon arrival, and at the end of the semester.
  • Advanced Spanish Language Studies for Heritage Learners is required for Heritage students and modeled on the assumption that heritage learners bring unique resources to language learning that should be incorporated into the classroom. Course includes a focus on the sociocultural context of heritage speaking in the U.S. and in Spain.

View Program Courses

Direct Enrollment Courses at Universidad Complutense de Madrid

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), a top-ranked public university founded in 1822, is a one of the largest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in Spain and the Spanish speaking world. The university’s notable alumni include seven Nobel Prize recipients, several Prime Ministers of Spain, European Commissioners, Presidents of the EU Parliament, European Council Secretary General, Spanish royalty, and Heads of State. For more than 700 years, the University Complutense of Madrid has provided notable contributions in political leadership, arts, literature, and the sciences.

UCM has two campuses: the Moncloa and Somosaguas campus. The Moncloa campus is the main campus of the university and is located in the heart of the city, in close proximity to the Tufts in Madrid program center.

Students choose from two academic options at UCM: 

  1. Students may take classes from the UCM general curriculum in the department or school of their choice—Art History, Fine Arts, Languages and Literatures, History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Mathematics, Law, Electrical Engineering, Music, Media Studies, Business, Education, Information Technology, Psychology, Social Work, and more.

    UCM General Curriculum Courses

     
  2. Students may also choose courses offered through the Reunidas Program, designed for international students, and supported by the Consortium of North American University Programs. These courses are taken with other students from U.S. programs in Madrid and taught by UCM faculty. Reunidas operates within three Humanities schools at UCM: Philosophy, Language and Literature, Geography and History, and offers classes in various disciplines such as Spanish Language and Literature, Geography, History, Art History, Philosophy, Sociology, International Relations, and Economics. All courses are taught in Spanish.

    Reunidas Program Courses

 

Global Internship Program

The Global Internship Program provides a unique opportunity that complements the curriculum, enhances your resume, and enriches your personal experience in Spain. Previous internship placements have included roles in Diplomacy, International Relations, Human Rights, Education, Sports, Art, Public Health, Environmental Studies, Sociology and Finance. Internships may be taken for full, half, or no credit.

 

Student Life

Orientation

Beginning the day after arrival, you will participate in a 10-day orientation designed to help you begin to adapt to Spanish culture and society, to inform you about policies and procedures including safety and security measures, and to prepare you for student life at a Spanish university. During orientation, you will be introduced to your Spanish peer mentors, who will help guide and inform you throughout the semester.

Housing and Meals

Homestays

You will be individually placed with a host family based on your preferences, as specified in a comprehensive housing questionnaire and discussed in an interview with the program director. Host families are carefully selected and monitored to ensure they meet program standards. You will have breakfast and either lunch or dinner with your host family, and you will also receive a monthly meal stipend for a daily meal you eat outside the home.

Student Residence

You will be assigned an individual room in a student residence equipped with a private bathroom, a small refrigerator, and a microwave. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the student dining hall. To-go meals are available with advance notice. A monthly meal stipend is not provided.

Co-Curricular Activities

Students are highly encouraged to be active in Madrid’s vibrant cultural scene, and our program staff offer abundant informational resources and support for student activities and wellbeing. The program also offers unlimited cultural reimbursement, allowing you to attend plays, films, art exhibits, and other cultural events, as well as set stipends for activities and travel within Spain. The program organizes three all-expenses-paid excursions each semester. 

Student Perspectives

This program was amazing. The staff were very well-organized and caring. The classes were great and I'm very thankful to have taken two classes at the University of Madrid as well. I had a lot of fun and would recommend this program to anyone!

Spring 2022 Participant

Program Staff

The on-site staff advises students on academics, intercultural practices, and co-curricular activities; staff organizes study tours, events, and cultural excursions. 

Headshot of Tufts in Madrid Director Susan Sanchez Casal wearing white shirt and glasses

Susan Sánchez Casal (she/her/hers)

Director, Tufts in Madrid

I am a dual citizen of the U.S. and Spain, born of Spanish and Puerto Rican parents in Los Angeles, California, who fell in love with Madrid and adopted it as my home twenty years ago (or Madrid adopted me!). Before transitioning to lead the Tufts in Madrid program in 2009, I spent many years as an Associate Professor of Hispanic & Women’s Studies and antiracist thought leader at Hamilton College in central New York. I’ve been extremely lucky to be able to bring my experience and scholarship in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice to global education, and to work alongside my exemplary team in Madrid to center the values and practices of inclusive academic excellence in the Tufts in Madrid program. My team and I are committed heart and soul to the holistic development and well-being of our students, and we look forward to continuing and refining our work in justice and intercultural education for generations to come.

headshot of Tufts in Madrid Deputy Director Mayte de las Heras wearing red shirt

Mayte de las Heras (she/her/hers)

Deputy Director, Tufts in Madrid

I was born and raised in Madrid where I earned a B.A. in Hispanic Philology, and two Masters’ degrees, one in Pedagogical Adaptation and another in Literary and Theatrical Formation and Invention. I love reading, writing, teaching, and learning new things every day. I believe we can change the world by promoting social justice and I am very committed to equality, ecology, and the environment. I have been working for Tufts for over 30 years and I am passionate about having the opportunity each year to engage and support a new generation of students, and to share my love of education and the wonderful possibilities that studying abroad offers.

Headshot of Luis Castilla of Tufts in Madrid wearing light purple shirt

Luis Castilla (he/him/his)

Internship and Alumni Coordinator, Tufts in Madrid

I was born and raised in Madrid. I graduated from the Complutense University in Madrid with a degree in Statistics, but in my first years of my professional career I earned a master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a second language. After that, I had a very enriching and truly unforgettable experience teaching Spanish for three years at a private school in Sudbury, MA. In 2005 I returned to Madrid and started working at Tufts in Madrid. During all these years at Tufts, my duties have grown and developed in very interesting ways; I am currently the coordinator of internships and alumni relations. In my role, I love designing activities, researching new learning paths and especially leading projects to create a transformative global experience for our students. I have been able to bring my experience at Tufts in Madrid to the graduate program at the Franklin Institute of the University of Alcalá, where I teach the class Education Abroad: Principles, Policies & Practice.

Headshot of Miguel Lera of Tufts in Madrid wearing white shirt

Miguel Ángel Lera Rodríguez-Morón (he/him/his)

Student Care Coordinator and Faculty Coordinator, Tufts in Madrid

I hold a Ph.D. in Theater and Hispanic Philology from the University of Alcalá. I have worked as a Spanish language teacher in different educational centers in Spain and Italy, and I have worked for Tufts in Madrid for more than twenty years. Currently, I combine my work as a teacher of the Spanish for Heritage Learners program course with my position as Student Care Coordinator and Faculty Coordinator. I believe in pedagogical activism and participation as tools for social transformation and to achieve equitable social justice. I love my job for the opportunity it gives me to guide and support generations of students, and for giving me the opportunity to pursue my goals as a social activist.

Headshot of Guille Cámara of Tufts in Madrid wearing a blue, button-down shirt

Guillermo Cámara (he/him/his)

Academic Coordinator, Tufts in Madrid

I was born in Madrid in 1988 and have lived here all my life. I received a B.A. in History and two Masters’ degrees at the Autonomous University of Madrid (one in Contemporary History and another in Teaching). I am the academic coordinator of the program, and I provide advising and academic support for our students for program classes and those at the university. I enjoy working with students and getting to know them throughout the semester. My favorite hobbies are comics and sports. I play Flag Football on Spain’s national team.

Dates and Fees

2023-2024 Program Fees

Semester: $42,752 ($33,179 tuition plus $9,573 program fee)
Full Year: $85,504 ($66,358 tuition plus $19,146 program fee) 

What's included:

Orientation and Support

  • Orientation program
  • Intercultural training and mentoring
  • In-house language tutor
  • Peer tutor program with local students
  • Spanish peer mentors

Academics and Tuition

  • Full tuition and fees at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
  • Use of UCM facilities, including library, sports, computers, email, and activities
  • A selection of in-house/program courses each semester
  • Global Internship Program

Housing and Daily Life

  • Full food and housing with one of the following options:
    • Homestay: An individual room with a host family, including two meals per day with the host family, plus a monthly meal stipend to cover a third meal each day. Note: this excludes winter and spring breaks.
    • Student residence hall: An individual room, including three meals per day in the student dining hall. Note: this includes winter and spring breaks, but there is no monthly meal stipend.
  • Laundry facilities
  • WiFi access
  • Monthly transportation pass

 

 

 


Health and Wellbeing

  • Spanish medical insurance with full coverage and no co-pays, including mental health coverage
  • Off-site counseling services

Financial Support

  • Stipend for students to use towards sports/fitness, music, dance, and art classes
  • Stipend for travel within Spain
  • Three expenses-paid excursions to different regions of Spain each semester
  • Unlimited reimbursement for cultural events such as plays, films, cultural exhibits, and museums
  • European Youth Card

What's not included:

  • Airfare and other travel costs (visas, etc.) are not included in the program fee; student is responsible for these charges.  
  • Students living with host families must leave the homestay during winter and spring breaks, and the meal stipend is not included during those times.

For more details on Tufts University's Cost of Attendance, please consult Financial Services' Direct and Indirect Costs for Undergraduate Students.

Review TGE Financial Considerations

Academic Calendar  

Fall: early September to late December
Spring: late January to late May

Dates are approximate and subject to change.

Additional Resources