Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Madrid Spring 2026 July 18, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/14/2026 to 05/08/2026 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to not always take everything so seriously. You only live once so spend a bit of money and say "yes" even if it's new and scary.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed most of the classes, some felt too easy while others were very difficult, making it difficult to study. Also, having midterms for all classes in the same week (as well as finals) was new to me and brought on a lot of stress.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I really enjoyed the program and met great people and had an incredible experience.

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)

It was difficult to budget for everything and it brought on a lot of stress.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Minimize eating out and find budget friendly airlines and times for travel, even if the flights or trains are at inconvenient times.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Definitely encouragement especially in the Spanish classes, but not much outside of the class.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Level 3 at Brandeis
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Meet people and talk to them on the street, everyone is very friendly

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Travel
  • Things to do
* What could be improved?
  • Courses
  • Integration into city
  • Program trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That you need to integrate yourself into the community on your own more.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.