• Placement with a host family
• Enrollment in a local Spanish high school
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international-travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a YFU Spain Area Representative while on program
• Comprehensive insurance

Spanish schools are academically challenging. You’ll find yourself taking courses with students preparing for university education. Exchange students are usually placed in an “Instituto” and will have eight compulsory subjects, four of which are common to all students, while the rest are specific to the learning track you choose. You can choose from five tracks: art, natural science and health, humanities, social studies, or technology. Most schools offer sciences, humanities, and social sciences, while very few have the art and technology path (there are usually special schools for Art or Technology). Most exchange students choose the social sciences track, as it is the most interesting for them and has the greatest variety of subjects. You’ll learn about Spanish history and literature, have the chance to work on language fluency, and maybe even study one of the regional languages (if your host family lives in an area where there is a co-official language)— Basque, Catalan, Galician, or Valencian.

Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools can issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.

All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (for Spring programs). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

• 2025 Fall Departures: Students born September 1, 2007 – March 1, 2010
• Due to visa regulations, students who have graduated prior to the start of their exchange will not be considered for admission
• Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis

Spanish. No previous language study is required.

Host family placement is throughout the country in both cities and rural areas.

Most family members share the responsibility for household tasks like keeping the house clean and preparing dinner. Your new family would love for you to ask how you can help. They look forward to dinnertime with you so they can ask how your day was.

• Placement with a host family
• Enrollment in a local Spanish high school
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a YFU Spain Area Representative while on program
• Comprehensive insurance

Spanish schools are academically challenging. You’ll find yourself taking courses with students preparing for university education. Exchange students are usually placed in an “Instituto” and will have eight compulsory subjects, four of which are common to all students, while the rest are specific to the learning track you choose. You can choose from five tracks: art, natural science and health, humanities, social studies, or technology. Most schools offer sciences, humanities, and social sciences, while very few have the art and technology path (there are usually special schools for Art or Technology). Most exchange students choose the social sciences track, as it is the most interesting for them and has the greatest variety of subjects. You’ll learn about Spanish history and literature, have the chance to work on language fluency, and maybe even study one of the regional languages (if your host family lives in an area where there is a co-official language)— Basque, Catalan, Galician, or Valencian.

Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools are able to issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.

All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early to mid-December (for Spring programs). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

• 2025 Fall Departures: Students born September 1, 2007 – March 1, 2010
• 2025 Spring Departures: Students born December 31, 2006 – December 31, 2009
• Due to visa regulations, students who have graduated prior to the start of their exchange will not be considered for admission.
• Students who do not meet this age requirement will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Spanish. No previous language study is required.

Host family placement is throughout the country in both cities and rural areas.

Most family members share the responsibility for household tasks like keeping the house clean and preparing dinner. Your new family would love for you to ask how you can help. They look forward to dinnertime with you, so they can ask how your day was.

• Placement with a host family
• Enrollment in a local Spanish high school
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a YFU Spain Area Representative while on program
• Comprehensive insurance

Spanish schools are academically challenging. You’ll find yourself taking courses with students who are preparing themselves for university education. Exchange students are usually placed in an “Instituto” and will have eight compulsory subjects, four of which are common to all students, while the rest are specific to the learning track you choose. You can choose from five tracks: art, natural science and health, humanities, social studies, or technology. Most schools offer sciences, humanities, and social sciences, while very few have the art and technology path (there are usually special schools for Art or Technology). Most exchange students choose the social sciences track, as it is the most interesting for them and has the greatest variety of subjects. You’ll learn about Spanish history and literature, have the chance to work on language fluency, and maybe even study one of the regional languages (if your host family lives in an area where there is a co-official language)— Basque, Catalan, Galician, or Valencian.

Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools are able to issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.

All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in mid-July or early-mid December (for Spring programs). This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online, dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

• 2025 Spring Departures: Students born December 31, 2006 – December 31, 2009
• 2025 Fall Departures: Students born September 1, 2007 – March 1, 2010
• Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of their program will not be considered for admission.

Spanish. No previous language study is required.

Host family placement is throughout the country in both cities and rural areas.

Most family members share the responsibility for household tasks like keeping the house clean and preparing dinner. Your new family would love for you to ask how you can help. They look forward to dinnertime with you so they can ask how your day was.

• Placement with a host family
• Enrollment in Spanish classes
• Airport transfers
• Domestic and international travel
• All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
• Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
• Support from a representative in Spain while on the program
• Comprehensive insurance

• Summer 2025 Departures: Students born December 31, 2007 – September 29, 2010
• Students who do not meet this age requirement or will graduate from high school before the start of the summer program will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Spanish. No previous language study is required. Students will have Spanish language classes throughout their summer exchange.

All host families are located in Santander for the Summer Language and Culture Program.

Most family members share the responsibility for household tasks like keeping the house clean and preparing dinner. Your new family would love for you to ask how you can help. They look forward to dinnertime with you so they can ask how your day was.

Subject to change

Day 1: Arrive in Spain and transfer to Santander. Meet your host family.
Days 2-3: Spend the weekend getting to know your host family and the local area.
Day 4: Welcome orientation and afternoon at the beach.
Day 5: Spanish classes and city tour.
Day 6: Visit and tour of local historic sites and afternoon at the beach.
Day 7: Art workshop and afternoon at the beach.
Day 8: Day trip to Bilbao, including Guggenheim Museum and shopping.
Days 9-10: Free weekend with your host family.
Day 11: Spanish classes and optional Spanish dance class in the evening.
Day 12: Spanish classes and afternoon at the beach.
Day 13: Tour the Maritime Museum and Aquarium and attend a special oceanography class. See the opening celebrations of the local summer festival.
Day 14: Spanish class at the local market. Hands-on marine biology workshop and night safari.
Day 15: Day trip hiking on the Roman Route.
Days 16-17: Free weekend with your host family. Go to the local festival and parade.
Day 18: Festival mass and parade followed by a free afternoon with host families. Optional Spanish dance class at night.
Day 19: Spanish classes and afternoon free at the beach.
Day 20: Day trip to the botanical gardens, prehistoric caves, and medieval village.
Day 21: Boating excursion on the bay and pottery workshop.
Day 22: Spanish classes and free afternoon with host families at the beach.
Day 23: Free day with your host family. Check out the local street theater, concerts, and dances.
Day 24: Optional bullfight and flamenco dancing.
Day 25: Farewell ceremony and chocolate con churros tasting.
Day 26: Final free day with your host family, last chance for souvenir shopping and packing. Fireworks and a concert in the evening. Depart for home the next morning.

Summer students will participate in an online, mandatory virtual pre-departure orientation in late May/ early June. This orientation is a required part of the program and prepares students for their experience overseas.