Student exchange spain – costs, deadlines and more (2023)

Spain is one of the 10 most popular destinations for a student exchange according to a recent Weltweiser study. Spain offers not only beautiful beaches and sunshine, but also the best conditions to learn one of the 5 world languages directly on site.

How such a student exchange in Spain runs, with which costs you must count and what you otherwise need for a student exchange in Spain, we explain to you in the following article.

Table of contents

How does a student exchange in Spain work??

Generally, in a student exchange in Spain, an exchange student is taken in by a Spanish host family, where he or she then attends a local school (Weltweiser study). The goal is to get to know the culture of another country and to improve your own language skills (see also).

In this sense, the exchange student attends cultural events, travels around the country and participates in local recreational activities.

Before the exchange, the student and the host family get to know each other during an interview to make sure that the chemistry is right.

What are the advantages of a student exchange in Spain?

• Improvement of language skills
• Gain cultural experience
• Personal development
• Acquisition of intercultural skills
• Educational opportunities
• Building a network
• Making new friends

Student exchange in Spain – Dates and application deadlines

The application for a student exchange in Spain should be connected at least 4 to 6 weeks before the start of school. However, it is advisable to start planning one year in advance in order to be able to organize all documents in time.

What do you need for a student exchange in Spain?

To participate in a student exchange in Spain, the following documents must not be missing:

• Invitation from an exchange organization or school that organizes the exchange.
• Valid passport or identity card
• Health insurance abroad
• Consent of the legal guardian (for minors)
• Proof of knowledge of Spanish
• Pocket money for travel, accommodation and other expenses
• Knowledge of the host country (culture, traditions, etiquette, dress code at school, etc).)

How old do you have to be to go on a student exchange in Spain??

As a rule, you must be between 15 and 18 years old to participate in a student exchange in Spain. But there are also isolated programs that accept students as young as 13 years old. Most participants are between 15 and 16 years old.

How good must your Spanish be to participate in a student exchange in Spain?

In most cases, at least a basic knowledge of the Spanish language is required to participate in a student exchange in Spain.

But your Spanish doesn’t have to be perfect at all; after all, the student exchange is a way to improve your language skills. There are also organizations that do not require any language skills.

What kind of visa is needed for a student exchange in Spain?

With a German citizenship you do not need a visa to enter Spain. The identity card or passport is sufficient.

What does a student exchange in Spain cost??

Exactly how much a student exchange in Spain costs depends on the scope of the program, the exchange organization, the destination, and the length of the trip (read more about costs abroad).

So a student exchange for a whole school year costs between ca. 6.000 and 11.000 euros. On the other hand, one semester costs about.500 and 8300 euros. If the student exchange lasts only 2 to 4 months, the year abroad costs between approx. 4200 and 7500 Euro.

You can count on the following cost points:

• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Pre- and post-departure seminars
• Expense allowance for the host families
• Service fee for the exchange organization
• Pocket money

How to finance your student exchange in Spain

You can finance your student exchange in Spain in the following ways:

• Savings
• Vacation jobs
• Support group
• Sponsors
• Scholarship (Comparison calculator for student exchange scholarships)
• Foreign BAfoG (max. 504 euros a month)
• Child benefit (allowance of 200 euros per month)

Is Spain the right choice for your student exchange?

Whether Spain is the right choice for a student exchange depends on your personal reasons for participating in a year abroad. So before you go, ask yourself if there is something that fascinates you personally about Spain. Is it the cultural diversity? Or do you simply want to improve your Spanish?

Living with a host family

Conviviality has a special status in Spain. This is how Spanish families spend a lot of time together as well as with friends.

Dinner in particular is important for Spaniards, because often family members are busy during the day, so that the whole family can only get together for dinner in the evening. Accordingly, such a dinner can take up to 2 hours.

The eating habits often take some getting used to for German exchange students. In Spain, the meal is usually eaten later. So it can also sometimes be that dinner does not start until 10 p.m.

Weekend excursions to the mountains, the sea or the metropolises of Spain are also popular. Holidays have a completely different significance here, especially Christmas and the national holiday All Saints’ Day are celebrated extensively. In addition, the whole thing is accompanied by street parades.

On average, Spaniards are a little more conservative than Germans and so the Catholic faith also has a comparatively high importance in Spain. So it may be that you will visit a church with your host family one or two times.

All in all, Spain is extraordinarily varied. Spain has a total of 17 autonomous communities, such as Catalonia, Andalusia or the Basque Country. Meanwhile, each of the regions has its own culture, traditions and attractions.

It is therefore a good idea to explore these special features during your time in Spain (see also).

How does the Spanish school system work?

A school year in Spain is divided into trimesters or quarters. Each trimester ends with the awarding of a school report. Middle school starts from grade 7. and ends with the 10. Class. The upper school includes the 11. and 12. Class.

The choice of subjects is similar to that of a German upper secondary school. The usual school subjects such as mathematics, history and foreign languages are taught here. In addition, major subjects can be taken (more about school).

However, there are differences in grading. For example, there is no oral grade in Spain, instead listening and taking notes are assessed.

Classes usually continue into the afternoon. Classes only end at noon if temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

Sports activities in Spain, similar to Germany, are bound to the local sports clubs.

The culture of Spain – What you should know before the student exchange

Spain is both traditional and modern. Nothing illustrates this more than Spain’s traditional festivals and parades, which are held in the country’s world-famous metropolises. The most important festival in Spain is Semana Santa (German: Karwoche).

When moving across the major cities, the so-called Pasos are set up here. These are huge, table-shaped constructions on which biblical scenes and statutes are set up.

Outside of the festivities, however, Spain is rather quiet during the day. Spaniards like to spend their time here in cafes, restaurants or bars.

However, the best insights into Spanish culture are gained in the evening on the streets. People like to celebrate and of course dance here. The Spanish flamenco dance is now even recognized as a world cultural heritage site.

You will have to get used to the daily routine, because Spaniards start the day later, but go to bed later. In addition, there is the siesta (midday rest) to consider, which is observed in the afternoon due to the high temperatures. For students a good opportunity to work on their homework.

The people of Spain

Basically, Spaniards are very warm, open and sociable. So you will surely make new contacts and friendships quickly.

A small culture shock, however, is the handling of time. How punctuality is not necessarily taken seriously in Spain. For example, it is completely normal to be late for appointments. Furthermore, it is even considered impolite to arrive on time at a party.

The linguistic diversity of Spain

In addition to the national language Spanish, also called Castellano, several other languages are spoken in Spain. Among them, the Basque dialect, which stands out as one of the oldest languages in the world, and Catalan, located in Catalonia.

How to find the right student exchange organization for your year abroad in Spain?

A student exchange organization is responsible for the planning of the student exchange. Among other things, it takes care of the following matters:

• Booking flights (outbound and return)
• Contacting a host family
• Placement at partner schools
• Function as a contact person for local problems

In any case, it is essential to compare the offers of different exchange organizations. Information about exchange organizations can be found here:

• Recommendations from teachers, school administrators, students or friends
• Online research via a comparison calculator
• Websites, of the exchange organizations for the student exchange in Spain (z.B. Travel Works, language travel.de, Stepin, GLS Language Center, Aifs)
• Direct contact with exchange organizations, for example through an information event
• Inquiry at the Spanish embassy

What to consider when applying to an exchange organization?

The requirements for an application to an exchange organization are different. However, the following documents are usually required:

• Application form
• Resume
• Letter of motivation
• Letter of recommendation
• Language certificates (z.B. TOEFL or DELE)
• School reports
• Passport photo

How does the selection interview with an exchange organization to Spain proceed?

The selection interview for a student exchange serves to determine during the application process whether a student is suitable for the exchange program. Usually a selection interview proceeds as follows:

• Greeting the interviewers and round of introductions
• Presentation of the exchange program
• Questions about yourself
• Checking language skills
• Questions about Spain and the culture
• Conclusion and information about the selection process

Can you choose the region or. Select city for student exchange in Spain?

Whether you are the region or. The choice of the city in Spain depends on your exchange organization. Some organizations categorically refuse. With others this is possible free of charge. In most cases, however, you can only choose the region for an additional fee.

What happens if there are problems with the host family?

The first step is always to approach the problem personally. If this is not possible for you, you can contact your organization. The host family will then act as a neutral party and try to mediate the conflict. If this also fails, you can change the host family. The organization will then find a new host family for you.

Can you organize a student exchange in Spain also privately?

Alternatively, you can organize the student exchange privately. To apply for an exchange organization for the student exchange to Spain is not mandatory. Without organization, by the way, you can also save quite a bit on finances.

The disadvantage, however, is that the organizational effort is a lot higher. You have to find and contact a host family on your own, enroll in a suitable school and take care of the formalities.

In addition, you still have to procure the flights and insurances. In the end, the local contact person is also omitted (see also).

Tips for the student exchange in Spain

• Bring a gift to your host family, this not only shows that you care, but is also a good opportunity to share something from the German culture with the host family
• Communicate a lot and without shyness. After all, the student exchange is the best opportunity to improve your language skills
• Student exchange also means cultural exchange, tell your host family also something about the life in your home country
• The student exchange is not a vacation, but an educational trip. Accordingly, you should be aware that you will have to comply with domestic and school obligations in the same way as in Germany

Experience reports from Spain

Experience reports to the pupil exchange in Spain find them at the following starting points:

• Forums
• Social Media
• On the pages of the exchange organizations
• Travel blogs
• Comparison sites

Our insurances for a student exchange

• Single rate from 0,23 € per person per day
• Group rate from 0,99 € per person and day
• Individual insurance services
• Online travel management
• Worldwide scope