Honors Spanish Language & Culture
Why Choose This Program?
Live the Language
Experience authentic immersion in the Spanish language and culture.
Network
Meet new friends with advanced Spanish skills and gain a new family. Make lasting memories and connections.
Get Inspired
Challenge yourself to make greater gains in your Spanish. Shine on college applications.
The Destination
Welcome to Madrid, the bustling cultural capital of Spain with architectural gems, world-renowned art, fútbol fanatics, and exquisite food.
Madrid is a walkable city with eye candy at every turn. In the historic heart of Madrid, a walk through the shop- and café-lined Plaza Mayor always pleases, including a stop for fried squid sandwiches or churros con chocolate. At the nearby Mercado de San Miguel, more good tastes await in this lively tapas market. Just blocks away, Puerta del Sol, site of the 15th century gate to the city and El oso y el madroño sculpture and symbol of the city, offers a bustling slice of modern-day life. To the west is the enormous Palacio Real with its 3,148 rooms, the largest royal residence in Western Europe. To the east is a 300-acre green oasis—Retiro Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is replete with gardens, monuments, fountains, and even a Glass Palace.
Madrid is also home to two of the world’s best soccer clubs and world-famous art museums, such as Museo del Prado and Reina Sofía, both of which you’ll visit, along with excursions outside Madrid to Segovia and the seaside city of Valencia.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Madrid.
Sample Itinerary
Sample Activities
Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!
- Bike on cobblestone walkways along the Manzanares River or row a boat across Retiro Park Lake, public spaces enjoyed by madrileños year-round.
- On excursion to Segovia, explore medieval walls, Romanesque churches, and the iconic Roman aqueduct. Ever wonder what inspired the Disney castle? Look no further than the Alcázar de Segovia!
- Taste the different regions of Spain in fun cooking classes where you’ll make dishes such as tortilla de patatas, gazpacho, and crema catalana.
- On excursion to Valencia, hit the beaches for swimming or volleyball and savor Spanish paella. Relax on a boat tour on L'Albufera Lake, and see the ninots, gigantic “dolls” burned each year in a traditional festival.
- Visit the house-museum of Joaquín Sorolla, the “painter of Mediterranean light,” whose shimmering paintings will transport you to tranquil, seaside escapes.
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors—who have:
- Completed high school Spanish Level 2 or higher by the start of the program, and
- Attained a minimum ACTFL proficiency level of Intermediate-Low on the pre-program STAMP test that determines language proficiency.
Don’t Meet the above Criteria? See our other Spanish Language & Culture programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Palma, Seville, Buenos Aires, and Merida. Pick one as your second-choice program to increase your chances to travel to a Spanish-speaking country next summer. You will be asked to transfer to another program if your STAMP score is too low for the Honors program. Please sign up for the earliest possible STAMP test date. Information about the STAMP administration—including test dates—will be released in the spring.
For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Optional College Credit Fee
$150
Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree.
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,400 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,400 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Eero Jesurun
Center Director
Eero Jesurun, Ph.D. completed his B.S. and M.A degrees from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Eero studied at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid where he obtained a Ph.D...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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