Past Review

By (International Business., International Students on Abroad101) for

Complutense University of Madrid: Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, my studies in Madrid was worthwhile! I feel more comfortable with my spoken Spanish that is to say that I definitely improve my Spanish's skills. Moreover it was the first time that I live my home and now, I'm more independent.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The "Universidad Villanueva" is located in the center of the beautiful city, Madrid. It was easier for students looking for a place. Moreover, in this school, we were supervised and the teachers are very caring. It organized a lot of activities to let us meet Spanish students and let us practice our Spanish.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The teachers and the Administration know our names by heart. If we have a problem, they resolve with us. They are very accessible. Moreover, we only have class in the morning, then we can work in the afternoon.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My house was very close to the metro station (5min by foot) and only 15 minutes to go to school. In general, the city of Madrid is very safe, I hadn't got any trouble. Moreover, I lived with another exchange student, and we were visited Madrid very easily because we were in the center of Madrid. I found my housing throught Internet, it was easy and the Spanish people answer you with clarity and quickly.

* Food:

The food is very good. However, you have to be prepare because in the Spanish culture, they eat very late, that is to say, for lunch it's at 2:00PM and for dinner, it's at 9:00 PM! If you go at the restaurant at 6:00 PM, it's closed....

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The two first weeks of the beggining of the program, the school organized visits in museums to discover the city of Madrid and we also had a trip to Toledo (former copital of Spain).

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I was very sick for two days, and the program helped us to give the number of the nearest doctor. It was easily accessible and the program was always here to assit us.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

Thanks to this program, I improve my written and comprehension as well as my spoken skills because, we were in small group (not more than 20 per class) and we were confortable to ask something that we didn't understand.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't be worry about leaving your home to an unknow place because Madrid and more especially the Universidad Villanueva will help you if you have trouble and you will meet a lot of international students. It's a great experience!!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Legal environment

Course Department:
Instructor: Mrs Miriam Ruiz Jiménez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: We learnt Spanish's laws and more especially the process of how to open a company and employees' rights.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Marketing Management

Course Department:
Instructor: Mr Alfredo Rodríguez Fuertes
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Within a semester, we will able with his classes to do the project which is creating our own company. Each class, we had a test which oblige us to study steadily.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Finance

Course Department:
Instructor: Mr Jorge Morán Santor
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: There wer always assignments for praticing the class.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Economic environment

Course Department:
Instructor: Mr Jorge Juan Moya Velasco
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The teacher was very well-prepared and his class was very interesting. We learnt the culture of Spanish people and how is the economy in Spain since the crisis.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Communication

Course Department:
Instructor: Mrs Susana Albert Bernal; Mrs Ana Cuquerella Jiménez-Díaz ; Mrs Charo Cuadrado de Blas ; Mrs Ana del Moral Fernández
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: These classes were very useful for us, exchange students because there were four teachers for four different classes of Spanish: Oral Communication, Written Communication, Grammar/Conjugaison and Company's communication.
Credit Transfer Issues: