WHY THIS PROGRAM?
MADRID WOW FACTORS
• HEART OF SPAIN: Program is in center of Madrid, Spain's capital
• INTERNSHIPS: Available in IT, Education and more
• THEME PARK: Home of Spain's version of Disneyworld
THE ATHENA TOUCH
What makes this Athena?
• PERSONAL: Director knows all students
• CULTURE: Small program encourages cultural awareness
• IMMERSION: Internships enhance immersion
ACADEMICS
ACADEMICS in MADRID
WHY WE PARTNER WITH ALA & UNIVERSIDAD NEBRIJA:
Nebrija is a small and highly-respected university (around 3,000 students) with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. This ensures you will be given individual attention throughout your time in Madrid. In addition, Athena has partnered with ALA (a valued and trusted local presence in Spain for many years).
HISTORY:
Founded in 1995, Nebrija offers study abroad students a strong selection of courses.
EXPERIENCE:
You will have a true immersive experience, whether studying Spanish Language, or taking courses alongside local students with course offerings in both English and Spanish.
HIGHLIGHT: Internships in IT, Education & More
You are joining a global workforce, so why not get global work experience? Athena’s Madrid program has several internship options, including interning in IT, Education, Business, Physical Education and more!
MORE INTERNSHIPSCOURSES
Courses have the following % breakdown:
| COURSES | General % Offered |
|---|---|
HUMANITIES | 60% |
BUSINESS | 20% |
ARTS | 10% |
SOCIAL SCIENCES | 10% |
Dr. Arturo Jarque
Overseas Director
Dr. Jarque was born in Alicante where he lived and studied until he moved to the USA. He has a Ph.D. in Contemporary Humanities and was a Fulbright researcher at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Dr. Jarque’s welcoming personality and knowledge of Spain make him a truly amazing resource for students.
STUDENT LIFE
FIELD TRIPS & EXCURSIONS
Madrid is great, and getting to see the rest of Spain is even better! At no additional cost, Athena includes a field trip/excursion pack for Madrid students. You will become familiar with some of the most interesting cities and areas in Spain.
Trips vary each term, but possible trips include:
- Barcelona
- Toledo
- Segovia
- Granada
- Cuenca
- Valencia
- El Escorial
HIGHLIGHT: Spanish Theme Parks
Spain's answer to Disney World is the Warner Brothers Movie World in Madrid, which is open for six months in summer and has five themed areas namely Old West Territory, Hollywood, DC Super Heroes, Cartoon Village, and Warner Bros. Studios.
HOUSING
Housing Type: Student Apartments or Homestay (at an additional cost)
Apartment Inclusions: Shared room, furnished living room, shared bathroom, kitchen
Homestay Inclusions: Private room, shared bathroom, two daily meals
HIGHLIGHT: In the Heart of Madrid
Athena’s Madrid program puts you right in the heart of the city! Program university buildings are located in central Madrid university area (where our programs are taught) and in the outskirts of the city in a natural park area.
FAQS
Will I be able to travel?
Yes! Along with the excursions and field trips included, you are able to independently travel in your off time. Madrid is a European travel hub and allows you access to many other incredible destinations.
What is the food like?
Tasty! Madrid will have many of the traditional Spanish dishes available (meats, cheeses, paella), but since it is cosmopolitan, there are many other options as well.
Vegetarians: Athena’s resident vegetarian gives Madrid a 7 out of 10 for being vegetarian friendly!
Can I request to room with my friend?
Yes! You can certainly request who you would like to have as your roommate. This is done after you are accepted into the program; you will note this in your housing request forms.
How do I get to Madrid?
You will fly into Madrid, Spain. Since it is a European hub, there are many flights that go directly from the U.S. to Madrid.
Do you provide flights?
We have partnered with STA Travel, an incredible student-focused travel agency. The good people there will be able to help all Athena students arrange flights overseas.
``The city of Madrid makes me energetic, with all of the beautiful things to see, I never want to stop exploring. Each new corner has a story to tell.``
KELSEY WALKER
Grand View College
THE CITY
CITY HIGHLIGHTS
What’s Madrid Like?
Madrid is the New York City of Spain. It’s Spain’s city that never sleeps. Actually, a lot of Spanish cities are great for night owls, but the point is, it’s a city with so much to do, whenever you want to do it. It’s also a great place to study abroad because of its incredible history and its pure Spanish dialect. Madrid is a great place to study business, or intern, as the capital city is Spain’s major business and financial center.
CITY PERKS
Being Spain's main hub, there is so much to do in the city, plus easy access to all the other great Spanish cities … Even though it’s a large city, the people of the city have a small-town friendliness
WEATHER
- MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE: Madrid has Mediterranean temperatures through the year, with mild cool winters and hot summers. It is one of the sunniest areas in all of Europe.
- WARMEST MONTH: The warmest month is July, with an average temperature range of 65-88 °F.
- COLDEST MONTH: The coldest month is January, with an average temperature range of 36-50 °F.
MAP
MORE INFO
Contact Information:
For more info, please contact:
Arturo Jarque PhD. – arturo@activelearningabroad.org
