The Madrid Internship Program, offered in the spring semester, allows students with advanced Spanish to enhance their language skills through direct enrollment at a Spanish university while interning in one of Europe’s most vibrant commercial centers.
Students take a required course in an advanced-level seminar on contemporary Spain at the Instituto Internacional and directly enroll at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid for two elective courses, chosen from a variety of topics.
All students have the unique opportunity to experience life in a Spanish homestay.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Minimum of sixth-semester college-level Spanish language or the equivalent
- Admission requirements for all programs
Curriculum
All students are also enrolled in a four-credit internship course and a non-credit Hub co-curricular.
Required Course
Students enroll in the following course:
Required Course
- CAS PO 249 Contemporary Spain: Political and Social Movements in the 21st Century (4 credits)Effective
Spring '25- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Critical Thinking
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Writing-Intensive Course
- The course examines the Spanish Political System and takes a comparative approach while also focusing on current political reality and its influence on the daily life of Spaniards and vice versa. The course will look at Spanish political institutions in the context of Spain’s membership in the European Union and will also examine social movements and current challenges: unemployment, public policies, migration, historical memory, etc.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Note: Syllabus is for course approval and reference only. Students will receive an up-to-date syllabus when their course begins.
Elective Courses
At the UAM, students enroll in two elective courses. Courses are offered in a wide variety of subjects, including:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Courses
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Cinema
- Economics
- History of Philosophy
- Latin American Literature
- Politics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Spanish Language
- Spanish Literature
- Spanish Philosophy
For a complete list of courses, visit the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid website.
Please note: Students are required to submit additional application materials for the UAM following admission to the Boston University program. Admission to the UAM is not guaranteed.
Internship Placement
The internship placement runs the duration of the program. Students intern between 15 and 20 hours per week with organizations and companies in the greater Madrid area. Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and a four-credit internship course, which includes a classroom component. Placements are contingent upon the student’s past experience, professional interest, and available opportunities in any given semester; flexibility is essential. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
Below is a list of internship areas where students have been placed. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Internship Areas
Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Study marketing techniques, media, and consumer behavior while working in the marketing/PR department of a Spanish company, multinational firm, or advertising agency. Previous internship placements have included OM Premium, Procter & Gamble, Elipse Iniciativas, IFEMA (convention center), and JBan.
Arts/Arts Administration
- Study the current art market in Madrid. Learn about the funding bodies that support the arts and work in one of Madrid’s art galleries, museums, preservation projects, or local arts centers. Past internship placements have included Galería Durán, Museo de Artes Decorativas, and Sotheby’s.
Business/Economics
- Study the current economic, political, and social issues affecting Madrid and work in an organization with an economic dimension. Internship placements have included American Express, AFI, Marsh & McLennan, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Vista Capital.
Film, Radio & Television
- Study communications and society in Madrid and work for one of the radio and television stations or film production companies. Internship placements have included Boca a Boca Films, CNN, Eco Casting, Madrid Film, Lua, Dos Mundos TV, and Rioja Films.
Health & Human Services
- Study health care and human services issues and participate in the daily work life of hospital rehabilitation, therapy, or education programs; health center administration; social service departments; community care centers; or social activist organizations. Internship placements have included Centro de Mujeres Progresistas, Hospital de la Zarsuela, Interlab, Centro Dato, and PharmaGen.
Hospitality & Tourism
- Study Spanish culture and learn how the tourism industry works in Madrid. Students intern in placement areas such as travel agencies, hotels, and restaurants. Past internships have included Groupo Zena, Hotel Ritz, and Travel Leader.
Journalism
- Study news media in the context of the political, cultural, and social life of Madrid by participating in the daily life of a newspaper, magazine, publishing house, or broadcast news organization. Past internship placements have included The Broadsheet, Rolling Stone, InMadrid, LIPS, and The New York Times.
International Organizations & NGOs
- Work in social activist organizations, environmental organizations, human rights organizations, and associated government departments. Internship placements have included Amigos de la Tierra and Casa de América.
Politics & International Relations
- Study the issues and institutions of Madrid's culture and work in a political setting, including Parliament, party organizations, lobbying groups, or political public relations agencies. Internship placements have included Embassy of México (commercial office), Embassy of the United States (commercial office), Office of European Commission, INCIPE, and UNICEF.
Pre-law
- Study the history and practice of the law in Madrid and participate in the daily life of an NGO working in human rights and immigration law. Internship placements have included Bufete J. Ruiz and Hombre y Tierra.
Internship Course List
Internship Course
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising/Public Relations (4 credits)
- CAS AH 505 Internship in the Arts/Architecture (4)
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics (4)
- COM FT 493 Internship in Film/TV (4)
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration (4)
- COM JO 412 Internship in Journalism (4)
- CAS PO 401 Internship in Politics (4)
- CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law (4)
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations (4)
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health/Human Services (4)
Internship Components:
- The internship itself, including supervisor’s evaluation
- Participation in the internship seminar
- A highly structured, mid-term oral briefing
- Assigned readings
- A final research paper relating to the professional field of the internship placement
Housing & Student Services
- 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.
- Host families provide laundry, internet.
- Gyms at the university and in town but may be expensive.
- Students can study at the Instituto or the Autonoma. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.
Program Dates
- Spring Semester: Late-January to late-May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1
- Applications Deadline September 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.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2024/2025 Tuition and 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.
- Grants and Scholarships available
