Can you imagine having churros with chocolate for breakfast while practicing Spanish with your host family? Or debating about soccer in a tapas bar with your new local friends? If you are eager to live these kinds of experiences, studying Spanish abroad is the adventure you need.
Although you can choose among many fascinating Spanish-speaking countries, Spain will conquer you from the first day. Here you will find exceptional gastronomy, a safe and reliable environment, a millenary cultural heritage, and people so welcoming that they will make you feel at home.
Specifically, Valencia with its urban beaches, student atmosphere, and more than 300 days of sun a year, has become one of the most chosen destinations by international students.
In this article, we give you some recommendations to squeeze the most out of your stay in Spain and manage to master the language spoken by more than 500 million people in the world.
Tips for studying abroad in Spain as a international student
1. Surround yourself with natives and avoid English
Linguistic immersion is essential to achieve real fluency. Practice constantly outside the classroom: go to the local market, order in Spanish in restaurants, or chat with neighbors. These natural interactions where Spanish is your only tool are pure gold for your learning.
Opting to stay with host families or share a flat with Spaniards is also a very good alternative. Living with natives will force you to use the language in informal contexts and you will learn colloquial expressions that you will never find in books.
2. Do not isolate yourself from the local culture
Mastering a language is not only about memorizing grammar and vocabulary. To really understand Spanish, you need to live its culture: from flamenco music to Almodóvar’s cinema, passing through festive traditions like Christmas in Spain. Introducing yourself to local customs will give you a complete perspective of learning.
This cultural immersion will enrich your vocabulary naturally and will help you to understand the context behind many idiomatic expressions that make Spanish such a colorful and expressive language.
3. Select an experienced Spanish school
The choice of your study center will directly influence your results. Investigate official certifications, years of experience, quality of the faculty, strategic location, and complementary activities.
An experienced school will offer you proven methodologies, qualified native teachers, and Spanish programs for foreigners designed to maximize your progress.
You may be interested in: Why study Spanish at Españolé School, in Valencia, a comprehensive educational proposal backed by years of experience.
4. Set clear objectives
Define precisely what you want to achieve: passing an official exam like the DELE?, improving your professional communication?, preparing for a trip? The more specific your objectives are, the better you will focus your energy.
Set short, medium, and long-term goals: “In a month, I want to be able to maintain basic conversations.” “In three months, I want to watch movies without subtitles.” “At the end of the stay, I want to reach level B2.”
5. Do not forget to enjoy free time
Free time is a unique opportunity to meet people and explore beyond the classrooms. Do not focus exclusively on formal studies.
Traveling through Spain, trying local cuisine, visiting museums, and participating in nightlife will provide you with contextual vocabulary and memorable experiences. Each leisure activity is a practical class disguised as fun.
Keep learning: Discover a total immersive experience at Españolé School, Valencia, where we combine academic training with authentic cultural experiences.
6. Make native friends
Establishing genuine friendships with Spaniards is crucial to face real everyday situations. Native friends will become your best informal teachers.
Participate in activities organized by your school, local events, cultural exchanges, or dance, cooking, and sports classes. In this sense, a calendar of scheduled activities can help you structure your free time and guarantee regular social interactions.
Want ideas? Hosting or attending a Spanish-themed party can be a perfect way to practice your Spanish while bonding with locals in a relaxed setting.
Discover our activities calendar designed to facilitate important social connections for your learning.
7. Take care of the chosen destination
To make the most of your experience, it is essential that your destination makes it easy for you. Spain, and in particular Valencia, is an ideal destination to study Spanish abroad for multiple reasons.
Valencia combines the authenticity of a historic city with the comfort of a modern metropolis. Its Mediterranean location, its exceptional climate, its security, its rich cultural offer, and its excellent quality of life create the perfect environment to concentrate on your learning. In addition, its size facilitates social integration, unlike some megacities where you can feel lost or overwhelmed during your first weeks.
You may be interested in: Advantages of studying Spanish in Valencia, Spain
8. Do not stop doing an activity that you are passionate about
Maintaining an activity that you are really passionate about will be essential to break the social ice, gain confidence with locals, and learn specific vocabulary with surprising speed.
Dance, cooking, sports… These activities provide relaxed contexts to practice Spanish and connect with people of similar interests, facilitating natural and lasting conversations.
9. Bet on a technological immersion
You are in a Spanish-speaking country, so take advantage that your entire digital environment can work in Spanish. This technological immersion will accelerate your learning passively but constantly.
Listen to Spanish radio stations, watch national television programs, read local digital press, and definitively change the language of your smartphone, social media, and applications to Spanish.
This strategy will expose you constantly to the language in different registers and contexts, from formal news to informal entertainment, enriching your listening comprehension and your vocabulary progressively and naturally.
10. Follow a daily routine of learning and activities
Maintain a structured plan that combines academic training with cultural leisure to achieve maximum progress in the shortest possible time during your experience studying Spanish abroad.
Design a balanced routine: morning classes, cultural activities in the afternoon, nighttime socialization, and moments of personal study. This structure will guarantee constant progress and a comprehensive memorable experience.
Also, don’t forget the practical side of living abroad. You’ll likely need to deal with administrative tasks, such as applying for your TIE, which will test your Spanish comprehension in real-world scenarios.
How can I study in Spain?: Requirements for students
If you’re wondering “how can I study in Spain as an international student?”, it’s important to understand the necessary requirements. These requirements vary depending on your country of origin and what you plan to study.
Which is the best place to learn Spanish in Spain? Get to know it!
What I need to study abroad in Spain?
Depending on the level of education, international students must meet certain academic requirements, such as having completed secondary education to enter a university degree program, or holding an undergraduate degree if they wish to pursue a master’s degree.
Additionally, some universities may require an entrance exam, such as the “Selectividad” exam (check out our preparation courses in Spain). However, beyond academic qualifications, there are other important requirements:
- Admission to an academic institution: You must secure a spot at an academic institution (school, university, Spanish language course in Spain, etc.) in Spain.
- Health insurance: This type of insurance is mandatory for all foreign students. You should compare different policies, but we recommend choosing one without reimbursements, covering medical and repatriation expenses, with a minimum coverage of €30,000 and no copayments or waiting periods.
- Accommodation: You need to prove you have a place to live in Spain during your studies. This can be shown through a rental contract, a property deed (for example, if you own a flat or house), a reservation at a student residence, or an invitation letter from a relative or Spanish citizen.
- Local registration (“Empadronamiento”): This is a registration with the local City Hall where you’ll be living, which lists you as a temporary resident. This administrative step is also required for other processes, such as enrolling at your university.
- Travel insurance: While not mandatory, it’s highly recommended.
Required documentation to study in Spain
In addition to the previously mentioned requirements, to study in Spain, you will need the following documents:
- Valid passport.
- Foreigner Identification Number (NIE) and Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). You can apply for the NIE at a Foreigners’ Office and the TIE at either the Foreigners’ Office or a nearby police station.
> If you need more information on this process, check out our article on “How to apply for the TIE in Spain.” - Student visa for Spain. This is generally only required if you are enrolling in a program lasting more than three months. You must apply for the visa at the Spanish embassy in your home country.
- Proof of financial means. You’ll need to provide documentation showing that you have sufficient economic resources to cover your stay. Typically, this means presenting proof of at least €600 per month. You can also submit evidence of a student loan or a scholarship for international students studying in Spain.
- Criminal record certificate and a medical certificate issued in your home country.
- Letter of admission from the educational institution.
- Proof of local registration (“empadronamiento”).
How to study in Spain? Application process
If you want to obtain all the relevant information about how to study in Spain, you must know that a student stay application in Spain is an authorization that allows you to stay in the country for more than ninety days to pursue or extend studies at an authorized educational institution.
This must be a full-time program that leads to the attainment of a degree or certificate.
If you are a non-EU foreign citizen, you are required to complete this process.
Requirements to apply for a student stay in Spain
The main requirements you must meet are:
- Not being a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, nor a family member of one.
- Not being banned from entering countries with entry agreements with Spain.
- If applying from within Spain, you must be in regular status and submit your application at least one month before your current permit expires.
- Having sufficient financial means to cover your stay and return.
- Having health insurance in Spain.
- Paying the processing fees.
- If you are a minor, having parental authorization.
- Being admitted to a Spanish educational institution for a full-time program.
- If the stay exceeds six months, you must have no criminal record in the past five years and not suffer from any public health risk diseases.
Necessary procedures for a student stay in Spain
The application process for a student stay authorization depends on your location:
- Outside of Spain, you will submit the application form to the Spanish consulate corresponding to your place of residence.
- Within Spain, you will submit the official application form (EX00) to the Foreigners’ Office in your city, according to your local registration (empadronamiento).
In addition to this, you will need to:
- Gather the required documentation proving you meet all the previously mentioned requirements.
- Pay the processing fees.
Working and studying in Spain as an international student
Is it possible to work and study in Spain? The answer is yes. Obtaining a student visa in Spain allows you to work up to 30 hours per week (previously 20 hours).
Requirements for working while studying in Spain
There are two legal options for working:
- With your student visa, although if it was issued before August 16, 2022, you must request permission to work.
- Through curricular or extracurricular internships.
However, the following requirements must be met:
- The ability to balance the job with your studies.
- It must be higher education, regulated training for employment or aimed at obtaining a professional certification, or training leading to a technical qualification or professional authorization.
- The employer must submit the work authorization request.
Remember that at Españolé, we offer a wide variety of intensive Spanish courses in Valencia, Spain, which will help you improve your communication with your coworkers and supervisors.
FAQs about how to study abroad in Spain
What do I need to study in Spain as an international student?
To study abroad in Spain, you need to be accepted into a university or educational institution, have a student visa, gather all the necessary documents to study in Spain, and meet the academic and financial requirements.
How can I move to Spain to study?
The main steps to study in Spain are obtaining an acceptance letter from an educational institution and applying for a student visa.
Is it possible to work while studying in Spain?
Yes, it is currently possible to work up to 30 hours per week with a student visa.
How much does it cost to study in Spain for a foreign student?
It depends on several factors. For example, studying at public universities in Spain can cost between €1,200 and €3,500 per year. Additionally, the cost of living (accommodation, food, transport, etc.) can range from €700 to €1,200 per month, depending on the city and lifestyle.
Can I study in Spain without a Visa?
Make sure to check with your consulate or embassy before your trip! In some cases, if your studies are shorter than 90 days, certain documents, like a stay authorization, may not be required. For longer-term studies, these documents will be necessary. It’s always better to double-check!
Spanish courses abroad at Españolé School
Ready for your adventure in Spain? At Españolé School, we are waiting for you to live a complete linguistic immersion experience. Our wide range of Spanish courses combine academic excellence with authentic cultural experiences.
Here some of our most popular cpourses
Contact us and discover how to make your stay in Valencia a transformative experience that you will remember for a lifetime.
