Seville, Spain
IFSA Seville Universities Program: UPO
Program Overview
A YOUNG, DYNAMIC UNIVERSITY CLOSE TO THE HEART OF SEVILLE
Whether Spanish rolls off your tongue or you’re new to the language, you’ll feel at home in Seville, known for its welcoming, small-town atmosphere and authentic character. From the world’s largest gothic cathedral to the Plaza de España with its balustraded balconies, there’s always a beautiful building in sight. And though the city inspired a slew of operas and the birth of flamenco, it also looks forward, with a ground-breaking solar power tower and Jurgen Mayer’s modern Metropol Parasol.
Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO) boasts a 300+ acre campus with an array of great sports facilities, just 15 to 20 minutes by subway from downtown Seville. Noted for economics, environmental science, and social science, UPO offers a variety of classes in English and Spanish.
With IFSA, your Seville experience also includes eye-opening excursions to places such as Granada (home of the breathtaking Alhambra palace and fortress), Cadiz (the oldest city in Western Europe, surrounded by incredible beaches), and Cordoba (noted for its historic center, a World Heritage Site).
Seville’s sunny climate makes it tempting to stay put. But if wanderlust strikes, it’s easy to explore much of Europe from here.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
2.75
Credit load
12–16
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option, Homestay
Instruction language
English, Spanish
Language prerequisites
None. Four semesters of university-level Spanish or equivalent for some classes, internship, or directed research
Visa required?
Yes. Learn More.
Academics
With the IFSA Seville Universities Program: UPO, build your own semester featuring Universidad Pablo de Olavide classes taken in Spanish and English alongside Spanish and international students, along with IFSA classes. You may select up to five classes.
IFSA CLASSES
All IFSA classes are taught in English. Classes may vary by term based on faculty availability and student interest.
Directed Research
Language of Instruction: English
This class offers a unique opportunity for students to delve deeply into host context research projects. Students will be guided through projects that are both feasible in the study abroad context and relevant to their broader intellectual interests. The class is structured through regular individual meetings with a faculty mentor to discuss the formation and execution of a research plan and, depending on the specific project, the possibility to conduct field- or internet-based research. At the end of the semester, students present a formal research paper. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
Essential Spanish
Language of Instruction: English and Spanish
If you’ve never studied Spanish before, you can take this optional, introductory class in Spanish language and Catalan culture. By introducing key words and phrases and venturing out into the city to practice them, you’ll gain essential skills to communicate effectively and navigate in a new culture. (1 U.S. semester credit hour)
International Internship Seminar
Language of Instruction: English
All internships include participation in the International Internship Seminar, which covers 15 hours of online asynchronous Canvas modules to provide structured opportunities to reflect on the practical experience of the internship, learn more about your host country’s business culture, and further develop the professional skills needed for a successful transition from undergraduate coursework into a career or graduate school. Plus, you will engage with an online global cohort of IFSA internship participants, gaining exposure to business cultures around the world. Seminar is taught in English. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.
UNIVERSIDAD PABLO DE OLAVIDE CLASSES
A young and dynamic institution, the Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO) is located on a beautiful 345-acre campus just outside Seville’s city center, easily accessible by metro. It has a unique dedication to Latin American studies through its School of Hispano-American Studies and its special agreement with the General Archive of the Indies, one of Seville’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
You may enroll in up to five classes for which you are qualified and for which space is available at UPO. Many classes are taught in English; some classes can be taken in Spanish for students with four semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent. A wide range of Spanish language levels for international students is also available.
Multidisciplinary Studies Program
In this program, you will take specially designed classes for international students studying at UPO for a semester or a year. Classes are offered in English and Spanish.
Business
- The European Union
- The Global Economy
- International Finance
- International Management
- International Marketing
Spanish Language and Literature
• Spanish language (all levels)
• The Mediterranean Diet: from Fiction to Facts
• Spanish Identity: Film, Advertising and Pop Music
• Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the Spanish Context
• Nobel Prizes in Spanish and Latin America Literature
• Relations between the U.S. and the Latin World
STEM
- Anatomy and Physiology II (spring)
- Applied Microbiology (fall)
- Database Systems Technology
- Organic Chemistry I with lab (fall)
- Organic Chemistry II with lab (spring)
- Introduction to Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
For a complete list of classes, please see the Multidisciplinary Studies Program.
University Integration Program
In this program, you will take classes alongside Spanish students studying at UPO for their undergraduate degrees. Classes are taught in Spanish and in English in a wide range of disciplines.
- Advanced Financial Accounting
- Enterprising Initiative and Family Business
- Genetics
- International Trade Law
- Operations Management
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
- Thermodynamics and Kinetics
For a complete list of classes, please see University Integration Program.
Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
Language Requirement
To enroll in Spanish-taught classes, an internship, or directed research, you must have a specific language level. Please visit our Language Requirements page for more details. If you have questions about whether you qualify, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.
Final Exams Schedules
Some degree-seeking classes at UPO may have final exams scheduled outside IFSA’s published program dates. Students are responsible for speaking with their instructors prior to the on-site class registration deadline about whether alternate arrangements are possible.
Program End Date
Students who, in addition to their classes at UPO, take classes with locals may have a different program end date to be determined upon program start.
DIRECTED RESEARCH
Engage in individualized field research with faculty experts on a contemporary issue of interest. Regular meetings with faculty will assist in the formation and execution of research plans, and they will guide you on how to thoughtfully and critically integrate academic research with experiential learning. You will sharpen your written and oral communication skills through the development of articulate and comprehensive research that is respectful to the sensitivities of the local culture.
If you chose to research live human subjects, live animals or another topic that is deemed by IFSA to be required to be reviewed by the Institutional Research Board (IRB) at your home institution, then you will have to file your project with your home institution’s IRB board and submit your result to IFSA. Your IFSA Enrollment Counselor will review your application materials to help determine if you must file with IRB.
For more detailed information and examples of previous student placements, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.
VOLUNTEERING
IFSA organizes non-credit bearing volunteer opportunities throughout your semester abroad, usually as one-time events. IFSA works with organizations such as Cruz Roja, a voluntary humanitarian institution that serves as the Spanish affiliate of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Students may have opportunities to assist in local food banks, help refugees seek gainful employment, and tutor immigrant children as they enter the educational system.
The University of Sevilla runs a University Community Service Office where those students who are interested in volunteering will be provided with practical help, information, and guidance about how to collaborate with local humanitarian and non-governmental organizations.
INTERNSHIPS
IFSA internships include real-world work experience, along with developing intercultural skills and experiences that are key to personal, academic, and professional success. Expect to devote a total of 120 hours working with your host organization, with supervision from your seminar instructor, coordinated by on-site IFSA team members. In addition, interns complete the International Internship Seminar for 3 U.S. semester credit hours. Internships are not remunerated.
Students have interned at family businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in Seville.
Your goals are carefully considered, tailoring the placement process to ensure the best possible fit. Keep in mind that final placements depend on your skills, prior experience, and availability. Although every effort is made to match your placement with your preferred field or area of business, it can’t be guaranteed. Internships are conducted in Spanish.
Application. After you submit your application, resume, and IFSA Internship Interest Form, an IFSA Enrollment Counselor and an on-site IFSA Team member will work with you to identify your professional strengths, review your goals, and refine your internship interests to establish a match. From there, you’ll have an interview with your potential internship host. You will be provided with tips and resources to prepare for your interview.
Sample Placements. The following are examples of internships IFSA students have recently completed. Placement options vary from term to term.
Organization: This international company delivers multidisciplinary engineering and consulting services in a wide variety of sectors.
Potential Projects: You will be involved in projects such as data research to expand its operations outside Spain. This includes marketing campaigns, business development, and regulatory affairs.
Organization: This educational institution offers courses across disciplines and levels from elementary through high school and even community college.
Potential Projects: You will support teachers in their courses assisting them in the preparation of lesson models and teaching materials.
Organization: This multinational hotel group based in Palma de Mallorca operates in more than 20 countries across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Potential Projects: You will do different task in within the hotel such as answering clients request and prepare guest’s stay, assist in reception or in the marketing department, and/or help the sales department and manager.
Organization: This local law firm focuses on international immigration rights, civil law, and international commerce.
Potential Projects: You would help on administrative and accounting tasks and help on law tasks when needed.
Organization: This eLearning platform produces a wide variety of courses most in demand by industry programmers and system administrators.
Potential Projects: You will assist the marketing team in areas such as website development, market research to inform new courses, and data analysis to contribute strategic insights.
Organization: Family-owned business focus in the ceramic making in Triana neighborhood. They do all type of ceramics and facilitate workshops to learn about the making and history of it in Seville.
Potential Projects: You will assist them in the Workshop facilitating some translation and helping with the marketing for their family business.
New country, new way of learning!
Here’s what to expect at Universidad Pablo de Olavide:
- Liberal arts classes like history and philosophy are typically lecture-style. Classes in other areas of study—like economy, geography, tourism, communication, finance, sociology, and sciences—are more interactive, with opportunities to put material into practice.
- Smaller class assignments carry some weight; final assignments determine less of your final grade than at other European schools.
- For each class, the syllabus shows the evaluation system and indicates how much weight the final exam carries.
- Professors often respond slowly to email, but are generally available to speak with before or after class.
- Toward the end of the semester, you can join a tutoring program in which local Spanish students help international students finalize assignments and prepare for exams.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility
- You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
- You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
- You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
- Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.
GPA
At UPO direct enroll classes require a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students with a lower GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with a supporting letter from the applicant and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
Recommendation Letter
Not required. A directed research or internship site may request a reference letter before placement is finalized.
TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.
Excursions
Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.
Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.
Activities
- City-as-Text: A city with impressive buildings in every corner that tell you the history of the multiple civilizations that lived and shaped the city, from the Tartessians, Romans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Visigoths, to the Arabs, Almoravids, Mudejar, Hebrews, and Christians. Seville played an important role as the administrative and economic center for many centuries and the remains left by those civilizations made the city what it is today—one of the most stunning places to live.
- Architecture Experience: Seville celebrates the old and embraces the new, and its architecture is no exception. You will visit its three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Cathedral, the third largest in the world; the Archive of the Indies, one of the most important archives in the world; and the Alcázar Palace and Gardens, the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Then you will admire the contemporary Metropol Parasolis (locally referred to as the “Setas” or “Mushrooms”) designed by Jurgen Mayer—the largest wooden structure in the world.
- Food and Culture Experience: Sevillian food preserves centuries-old traditions and techniques while also opening to new flavors coming from numerous corners of the world. Part of the culture is going for tapas, a way to socialize and immerse into the culture to learn about not just the food, but also the Sevillian way of life. Through the program you will be able to experience all of it to understand why life in Andalusia is just different.
- Folklore Experience: Seville is the birthplace of flamenco—music, dance, and poetry at its best, in a creative fusion of “cante gitano” and Andalusian folk music dating back to the 18th century. Influenced by Moorish, Jewish, and Gypsy cultures, Flamenco is considered one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You will be able to experience the passion and power of the Andalusia’s folklore through lessons and performances.
- Music Experience: In 2006 Seville was appointed by the UNESCO as the first Creative City of Music. Seville reflects centuries of musical traditions and has been the inspiration for many famous operas: Bizet’s Carmen, Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, and Beethoven’s Fidelio – among many! Music in Seville is everywhere, in every corner. Seville is also home to the biggest African Music Museum in the World.
- Italica: The Roman city of Italica was founded in 206 BCE. With remarkable mosaics and impressive amphitheater, it was the birthplace of three Roman emperors and most recently featured in the show Game of Thrones.
- Cordoba: As capital of the former Muslim caliphates in modern-day Spain, Cordoba is a fascinating multicultural city that was once considered one of the most powerful and important cities all of Europe. You will visit the Mezquita Catedral, one of the best examples of Islamic Architecture in Spain. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cordoba’s historic quarter and Jewish Quarter, La Juderia, will leave you speechless.
- Granada: Home to the glittering Alhambra, Granada is a city with a stunning interplay of different architectural styles, beautiful natural landscapes and a rich a distinctive culture and Moorish heritage dating back more than 700 years. You will be able to admire this city as it was in Medieval times and enter the cave dwelling of the historic Romani neighborhood while experiencing amazing views of the city.
- Cádiz: Founded 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians, Cádiz is the oldest city in Western Europe. The different peoples who settled here left an important cultural imprint, whose influence remains in the character of the city’s people. This peninsula, right on the Andalusian Atlantic coast, has been able to preserve an important historical legacy together with excellent beaches and an exquisite regional cuisine.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option, HomestayMeals
All Included;Self-CateringDetails
Seville students can choose to live with a local host family in a homestay or in shared student residencias. Homestays are a fabulous way to soak up as much culture as you can and provide plenty of opportunity to make language gains. Residencias are great for students who want to live more independently.
Homestays: Who’s at home?
We place students with carefully screened families—many of whom have been hosting IFSA students for years—with one IFSA student per family. Your hosts might be a retired couple who enjoy having young people around, a family with teenagers, or a single mom whose children are now adults themselves. Most live in apartments.
- Location. Students typically live in the Nervion, Triana-Los Remedios, and Centro Histórico districts.
- Commute. No more than 20 minutes by public transport from homestay to Universidad Pablo de Olavide and IFSA Program Center.
- Living space. Students have their own bedroom and share a bathroom with other members of the family. Hosts provide a desk or other suitable place to study.
- Meals. Three meals a day are included. Homestay students occasionally eat out with friends and buy snacks independently. Hosts appreciate a heads up when you plan to eat out.
- Other details. Internet included. Hosts do your laundry once a week.
Student residencia
Students stay in large, modern buildings designed for student living. Configurations vary. Often, spaces are arranged in clusters for groups of five or six students, with single bedrooms and private bathrooms for each student, plus shared living space and a kitchen. Some are designed for two students to share a bedroom and bathroom. There may be an option to choose a single, private room by paying an additional fee to cover the higher cost.
Students typically share rooms with other IFSA students, occasionally sharing with peers from Spain or other countries.
Sample housing
Explore LIV Student Seville to see what your home in Seville might be like:
- Location: Close to many city highlights, walking distance from Seville’s historic city center.
- Commute: No more than 20 minutes by public transport from student residencias to Universidad Pablo de Olavide and IFSA Program Center.
- Living space: Residencias include single and shared bedrooms with single beds and storage, living space, a kitchen and eating area, and a bathroom. Bathrooms are shared by no more than two. Two students share each desk. Complete bedding and towels provided. Kitchens are equipped with oven, refrigerator, and basic dishes and kitchenware for all apartment mates.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals, and often tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of the day.
- Other details: Internet included. Common areas include dining room, lounge space, study rooms, rooftop pool, gym, game rooms, cinema, community kitchen, private outdoor patio, laundry facilities, and weekly cleaning. 24-hour surveillance.
- Nearby: Plaza de España. Seville Cathedral. Real Alcázar. Barrio Santa Cruz. Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), Triana Neighborhood. Markets, galleries, public transportation.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Eleni Katsarelas
Enrollment Counselor