Spain Madrid Science

• All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
• No prior language study is required
• Students must have completed the prerequisite requirements for CAS CH 203 and CAS BI 203
• Admissions requirements for all programs

All students enroll in four courses for a total of 16 credits during their time in Madrid.

Students must enroll in a required Spanish language or content course, depending on students’ proficiency. Students may then take three science courses at the UAM, all taught in English, or they make take two science courses and one elective course at the Instituto. Electives are taught in both Spanish and English.

Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin. Non-STEM elective course offerings vary and may not be offered every semester.

Required Language Course

All students are required to enroll in one Spanish language course from the list below, based on their proficiency level. Students with prior Spanish Language experience will be placed into a higher-level content course, based on their ability. All language courses are taught at the Instituto Internacional.

STEM Courses

All students must enroll in two or three of the following STEM courses. These courses are all taught in English at the local university, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM).

Additional Electives

If students decide to take only two STEM courses, they must enroll in one of the following electives, for a total of four courses. Electives are taught at the Instituto Internacional in English and Spanish, as indicated.

Local Homestay 

• Individual bedrooms in local family home. Each room has a bed, a desk, and some storage space. Linens are provided and washed regularly. Kitchen access is not guaranteed. Students will have the ability to reheat food.
• Board included: All meals (3 meals per day/ 7 days per week) will be provided by the host family. A packed lunch will be provided by the host family if the student is unable to commute home for lunch.
• Students may eat at the dining hall.
• Host families provide laundry, internet.
• Gyms at the university and in town, but may be expensive.
• Students can study at the Instituto or the Autónoma. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.

• Fall Semester: early September to mid December

This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.

Fall Semester

• Applications Open December 15
• Applications Deadline March 15

This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.

Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.

• 2024/2025 Tuition & Fees: $40,434
  Cost includes tuition, housing, board, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage.
• Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
• Financial aid available.