DU Spain: Drake Semester in Seville
with Academic Programs International
Application Deadline: Sept 1st!
$2000 Scholarships Available!
JOIN DRAKE IN SPAIN FOR SPRING 2025
Students will travel with a Drake cohort and gain a broad education and understanding of the Spanish culture while studying at a university, exploring winding streets, visiting museums, and living like a local in this beautiful southern city.
Program Details
Where: Seville, Spain
Program Dates: Jan 29th 2025 – May 10th 2025
Program Cost: Drake tuition + Fees [More Info]
Academic Credit: Earn 15-18 credits [More Info]
Application Deadline: Sept 1st, 2024 [How to Apply]
Why DU Spain?
This program offers the best of both worlds: the support of your Drake cohort, Drake faculty member, and our partner API, as well as the independence of taking classes with locals and other international students.
- Earn Drake AOI(s) while abroad
- Study tours and cultural activities included
- Volunteering opportunities
- Rigorous academics & cultural immersion
ABOUT SEVILLe, SPAIN
The capital of Andalusia and Spain’s fourth largest city, Seville is located between the Sierra Morena mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Seville is rich in history and tradition and served as the focal point of the Spanish Renaissance.
When visiting Seville, one can experience the city as it was centuries ago. The lovely winding streets and active public squares of the Barrio Santa Cruz allow the visitor insight into the oldest portion of the city, and the list of monuments and historic sites is seemingly endless.
Experience Seville’s…
- Rich Spanish traditions, like flamenco and tapas, kept alive by welcoming locals
- World-famous festivals, including Feria
- Lovely winding streets and active public squares of the Barrio Santa Cruz offer insight into the past
- Beautiful sunsets over the Guadalquivir River
- Breathtaking architecture, iconic monuments, and magnificent plazas
What’s Included in the Program
As much as possible is included in the program cost to make sure you have a full and rewarding experience abroad.
Transportation & Travel Documents
- Group airport pick-up and drop-off
- Ground transportation on all program activities, as necessary
- Metro card
Not Included:
- International airfare from and to the United States
- Passport processing fees
- Group student visa service
- Luggage fees
Room & Board
Choice between:
Homestay:
- Double room (Single rooms available for an additional fee and pending availability)
- Three meals a day
- Laundry
- Live like a local and soak up the language and culture with a Spanish family!
Residencia:
- Double room (Single rooms available for an additional fee and pending availability)
- Three meals a day
- Residencias are small student residences with 2-30 students, similar to an apartment.
Drake Faculty Member
Drake Associate Professor of Economics and Research Coordinator Brian Vander Naald, Ph.D. will teach a required course for all DU Spain students.
Excursions & Activities
- Put your coursework in context with visits to museums and cultural sites
- Drake exclusive cultural activities and excursions tied to Drake faculty-taught course
- Explore beyond the city with day trips to regional highlights like Grazalema, Madrid, Toledo, Cadiz, and Granada
- Take your pick of activities offered by both API and the local universities – hiking, sports, cinema, cooking workshops, dance classes, theater, guided tours – boredom is not an option!
Please note Cultural Activities and Excursions are subject to change depending on availability, weather, and other factors.
Learning & Volunteer Opportunities
These types of opportunites are optional!
Learning Opportunities:
- Make new friends as you practice your Spanish language skills with Spanish students during linguistic activities
- Play sports (soccer, basketball, etc.), go hiking, and take part in fun activities around the city – all while you speak Spanish!
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Volunteer opportunities to apply Spanish language skills in a local context
- Certain level of Spanish proficiency may be required
Health & Safety
- On-site health and safety orientation
- Full-time program leadership and support in your host city
- Insurance and other travel benefits
- 24/7 emergency on-site support
HOW TO APPLY
Application Deadline: Sept 1st, 2024
DU allows students to use loan, grants, and scholarships on this program. For more information, click here.
You can schedule an advising appointment by emailing [email protected].
Academics in Spain
Learn alongside peers from Spain and other countries at the Universidad de Seville (US) or Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO). Take coursework in English, in Spanish, or a combination of English and Spanish, depending on the program you select.
Curriculum Overview:
All students are required to take one 3-credit course with the accompanying Drake faculty member (Brian Vander Naald, Ph.D.), along with 3-4 courses taught at the University of Seville.
- Host university courses available in both English and Spanish
- Students will earn 15-18 credits during the semester
University of Seville
In addition to the required Drake course, students will take 4-5 courses at the University of Seville, choosing from one of the following academic tracks:
Track 1: Spanish Culture Studies in English
- Designed for students with no previous knowledge of Spanish
- Students take 4-5 courses from the Department of Philology or the Department of Geography & History
- Beginning level Spanish language courses also available
Track 2: Spanish Language and Humanities for Advanced Speakers
Requirements: Students must have completed at 3-4 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent for admission
- Designed for advanced and superior level Spanish speakers
- Students at all levels may take courses in English with Spaniards
- Students with more advanced study in Spanish can also choose from a variety of classes in Spanish culture and civilization, either with Spanish or other international students.
Note: All University of Seville students will start their program with a 2-week (20-hour) intensive Spanish language course at a local language school.
Program Expenses & Financing
Program Expenses
Students are billed Drake tuition, so the cost of tuition is the same whether the student is in Des Moines or abroad. The variation in billing occurs based on on-site expenses. For example, students pay the cost of housing and on-site programming fees of the university abroad.
Remember: API has $2,000 scholarships available, so this can be even less expensive than a semester at Drake!
Program Cost: Drake Tuition
Housing & Fees: TBD
Affiliate Study Abroad Fee: TBD
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid is available for study abroad, and the Student Financial Planning office reviews each student’s package individually. Drake University typically allows students to take 100% of their loans, grants, and scholarships on the DU Spain program.
Drake Global Engagement awards more than $100,000 a year in scholarships to Drake students for international experiences. Additionally, students are encouraged to apply to study abroad scholarships from outside sources.
Group Student Visa Services
Students are required to obtain a student visa to participate in a program in Spain that is longer than 90 days.
API can secure group visa appointments for students that fall within the jurisdiction of the Chicago consulate. An API representative will appear in person at the consulate on your behalf to submit your application.
Without a visa service option, students would have to travel to Chicago and appear in person at the consulate to submit their application. We are excited to have this service available for our program for $185.
Interested in Learning More?
Complete the form to get in touch, and we’ll follow up to answer any questions you may have!
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to the Global Engagement Office located within Cowles Library.
Call 515-271-2084 or email [email protected]
The API Advantage
API offers best-in-class programming, with student well-being a high priority.
Our mission is to create better global citizens through international experiential learning. API programs are developed to be transformative, career-boosting experiences that include:
- Community involvement through optional volunteer programs with API Gives Back
- Cultural awareness through relevant coursework and time spent in multicultural student groups
- High-touch student support throughout the program
About API
Academic Programs International (API) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable experiential learning programs. Their extensive pre-departure preparation, coupled with strong support services on-site, facilitates academic, cultural and linguistic learning. Within the supportive environment of the API programs, API participants are encouraged to explore their host communities and become increasingly independent and confident in their own abilities. They strive to make international educational experiences accessible to as many participants as possible, and, as such, works to provide multiple program components at a low program cost.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
API is committed to providing enriching international experiences to its participants. We believe in the importance of promoting acceptance, dignity, and respect among people of all backgrounds. No matter who you are or where you come from, API will support you during your journey abroad.