Study abroad in Spain with IFSA

IFSA Seville Universities Program

Program Overview

OPTIONS GALORE AND A SMALL-TOWN FEEL IN THE ANDALUSIAN CAPITAL

With two universities offering classes taught in English or Spanish plus amazing excursions and options for homestays, research, volunteering, and internships, this program is all about flexibility. Choose from a wide variety of classes at young, dynamic Universidad Pablo de Olavide on a 300+ acre campus beyond the city center, or in town at the larger, more traditional Universidad de Sevilla.

Whether Spanish rolls off your tongue or you’re new to the language, you’ll feel at home in Seville, known for its small-town atmosphere and authentic character. From the world’s largest gothic cathedral to the balustraded balconies of the Plaza de España, 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 Parosolis.

Some 3,000 hours of sun per year, makes it tempting to stay put. Still, if wanderlust strikes, it’s easy to get most anywhere in Europe from Seville.

Details in a Glance

Application deadline

October 1

Minimum GPA

2.50

Credit load

12-16

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory

Instruction language

English;Spanish

Prerequisites

None

gallery-imagegallery-image

Academics

Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the IFSA Seville Universities Program is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.

With the IFSA Seville Universities Program, build your own semester featuring local university classes taken in Spanish and English alongside Spanish and international students. You may select an IFSA class and combine it with direct-enroll classes to meet your academic needs and goals.

In addition to your classes, if you’ve never studied Spanish before, you’ll take Essential Spanish, a 1 U.S. semester credit hour course in contemporary Spanish language and culture taught intensively during the first weeks of the program. By introducing key words and phrases in the classroom—and venturing out into the city to practice them—this class also provides insights into local customs and daily life. Right from the start, you’ll gain essential skills to communicate effectively and navigate in a new culture.

IFSA CLASSES

All IFSA classes are taught in English and are worth 3 U.S. semester credits hours. Classes may vary by term based on faculty availability and student interest. Due to the significant time dedicated to community engagement in these classes, you may not take both in the same semester.

Directed Research 

This course offers a unique opportunity for undergraduates to delve deeply into meaningful research of their own design. The process of research and discovery is supported by IFSA Seville’s network of local experts, including social entrepreneurs, academics, artists, journalist, business leaders, and policymakers who serve as our team of faculty guides. Students conducting independent research projects meet with faculty guides regularly to discuss the formation and execution of their research plans. At the end of the semester, students present a formal research paper and may have the opportunity of publication in a peer-reviewed journals.

International Internship Seminar 

Students are placed in individual internships but collectively take part in the seminar to prepare for the experience, understand expectations, set personal objectives, identify, and strengthen specific skills, critically reflect on their progress, share experiences, and learn from each other throughout their term. Students develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their professional areas, and Spanish work culture. In this seminar, which is focused on application of theory to practice, students gain real world work experience while developing intercultural agility—skills and experiences that are critically important to personal, academic, and professional success.

DIRECT-ENROLL CLASSES

As our student, you may enroll in up to five classes for which you are qualified and for which space is available at either of our Seville partner universities: Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO) and Universidad de Sevilla (USevilla). Admissions requirements vary by institution and sometimes by program.

Many classes are taught in English; some classes can be taken in Spanish for students with level B2 language proficiency. A wide range of Spanish language levels for international students is also available at both partner institutions. See the specific class catalogs for up-to-date offerings.

UNIVERSIDAD PABLO DE OLAVIDE (UPO) 

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.

At UPO direct enroll classes require a minimum 2.75 and international student classes require a minimum 2.9. Students with as low as a 2.5 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.

Hispanic Studies Program  

  • The Mediterranean Diet: from Fiction to Facts
  • Spanish Identity: Film, Advertising and Pop Music
  • Applied Microbiology
  • Organic Chemistry I
  • Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the Spanish Context
  • Nobel Prizes in Spanish and Latin America Literature
  • International Marketing
  • Relations between the U.S. and the Latin World

University Integration Program 

  • Operations Management
  • Advanced Financial Accounting
  • Enterprising Initiative and Family Business
  • International Trade Law
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • Genetics
  • Thermodynamics and Kinetics
  • Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA (USevilla) 

The Universidad de Sevilla (USevilla) is a large, comprehensive public institution with a rich legacy going back more than 500 years. Today two core social science faculties are located near the Guadalquivir River in Seville’s historic center, with many others—including business, health sciences, and engineering faculties—expanded onto new campuses throughout Seville and its surroundings.

At USevilla degree classes and international student classes require a minimum 2.5. Students with as low as a 2.0 GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis for enrollment in degree classes.

Bachelor’s Degree Classes 

  • Financial Systems and Markets
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management and Organization of Tourism Companies
  • Developmental Psychology in Childhood
  • Quantum Physics
  • Electrical Circuits: Theory and Instrumentation
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Soil Mechanics and Foundations

International Student Program 

If you choose to enroll in the International Student Program, you must take a total of four classes offered within this cluster that have been specially designed for international students by the Faculty of Philology and the Faculty of Geography and History. You may choose to take your fifth class outside the International Program.

  • Contemporary Arab World
  • Don Quixote in Hispanic Culture
  • Teaching English to Spanish Students
  • Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso
  • Psychology of Persuasion in the Mass Media
  • The Political Construction of the European Union
  • Flamenco: Cultural Expression of Andalusia
  • Contemporary Women Writers

CLASSES TAUGHT IN SPANISH

Classes taught in Spanish at UPO or USevilla are available for students who have at least four semesters of Spanish language background or the equivalent.

CLASSES IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Classes at the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy are not open to IFSA students at the Universidad de Sevilla. Many degree requirements for premed and pre-health majors are available in both English and Spanish through other departments.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULES

Some degree-seeking classes at UPO and USevilla may have final exams scheduled outside IFSA’s published program dates. Students are responsible for speaking with their instructors prior to the on-site course registration deadline about whether alternate arrangements are possible.

DIRECTED RESEARCH

Engage in individualized field research with faculty experts in Seville 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. For more detailed information and examples, contact your IFSA Admissions 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

In Seville, IFSA students may choose to participate in a part-time, credit-bearing internship at placements that may include Spanish family businesses, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. Students undergo an individually tailored placement process and collectively take part in a methodology seminar that culminates in a final paper and presentation. Throughout the semester, students acquire real world work experience while developing intercultural skills and experiences which are critically important to personal, academic, and professional success.

Placement Highlights

The following list showcases the variety of potential internship opportunities. While some of these internship opportunities may be available for upcoming terms, internship placements do vary from term to term. We will work with you individually to identify a placement that meets your unique personal, academic, and professional goals.

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.

Language: English and/or Spanish

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.

Language: English and/or Spanish

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.

Language: English and/or Spanish

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.

Language: Intermediate Level Spanish

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.

Language: Intermediate to Advanced Level Spanish

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.

Language: Intermediate to Advanced Level Spanish

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) semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter

Not required.

Visa Requirement

This program requires a visa for all students.

Start your application now by clicking the Apply Now button.

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 courses 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 examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t our control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.

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.
Excursions
  • 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.
  • Niebla: This village near Seville was the stopover point for the majority of enslaved persons from Sub-Saharan Africa who were brought to Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries. You will be able to learn about the forgotten African Diaspora in Andalusia and explore about the mix of cultures who coexisted here together—the Romans, Muslims, and Christians.
  • Weekend Trip to Morocco: Given Seville’s history and the close relationship between the three religions that coexist in it—Judaism, Islam, and Christianity—a trip to Morocco will allow you to engage and experience cultural diversity through the intersection of Islamic, African, Indigenous, and Western Cultures in Morocco. Exploring the vibrant street life of historic medinas while enjoying the rich variety of Moroccan landscapes will give you a better understanding of life here.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

RESIDENCIAS A residencia is like a U.S. campus dormitory or off-campus living that may have apartment or suite options, as well as communal areas with kitchen facilities and organized social/cultural activities. All residencias are centrally located within a reasonable commute of the IFSA program center and host institution campuses. Some may have gyms, cafeterias, and study rooms. Students can choose between single and shared bedrooms, and supplemental housing fees may be associated with final housing placements. No meal plan is included. You will purchase your meals or cook for yourself. Coming Fall 2023 - HOMESTAY Beginning in Fall 2023, you will have the choice between a residencia and a homestay. A limited number of homestays may be available upon request for Spring 2023. Talk with you IFSA Admissions Counselor for more information. A homestay entails living with a local Sevillana family. Only one IFSA student is placed with each family. You will have a single bedroom, shared bathroom, and desk or other designated place to study. Laundry is included. Students who choose to live with host families will have all meals included—an important factor to reduce total out of pocket costs for students seeking affordable options in Spain. You may occasionally buy snacks and eat at restaurants beyond what is provided by homestay families.

Dates and Fees

Term

Term begins

Term ends

Program costs

Application deadline

Spring 2024

Late January 2024

Late May 2024

$16,950 (estimated)

October 1

Fall 2023

Late August 2023

Mid-December 2023

$16,950

May 1

Term

Spring 2024

Term begins

Late January 2024

Term ends

Late May 2024

Program costs

$16,950 (estimated)

Application deadline

October 1

Term

Fall 2023

Term begins

Late August 2023

Term ends

Mid-December 2023

Program costs

$16,950

Application deadline

May 1

Program Counselors

IFSA Student Stories

study abroad in Barcelona with IFSA

June 7, 2022

The First of Firsts

Learn more