Study Abroad in Spain Housing Information
Absolutely Essential Information
As a participant on an Arcadia University program, you are guaranteed housing. Your program fee includes accommodation, however, the cost for meals and meal plans varies depending on location and placement.
Arcadia University's priority is to provide accommodation that supports your studies and enables you to experience the local culture. Accommodation is selected by Arcadia University based on these factors, in addition to considering safety, security and cost. For these reasons, Arcadia reserves the right to alter or change accommodation options at any time.
To indicate your housing preferences, submit them using your Arcadia Passport. Before completing this form, you should review the information below as well as the Arcadia University Housing Policy located in the Student Handbook. Students are welcome to submit one roommate request (except for Barcelona); however, requests must be mutually submitted on your housing form. While we will work to honor your housing preferences and roommate requests, specific assignments cannot be guaranteed.
In order to consider your preferences, Arcadia must receive your Housing Preferences by the housing deadline. If they are not received before the housing deadline, you will automatically be assigned to available program accommodation.
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Housing Deadlines:
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Fall Semester: May 15
- All Year Programs: May 15
- Summer Programs: April 15
If you require accommodations for any special needs—including dietary, medical or physical—you should indicate this in your Housing Preferences. Any information will be treated as confidential and will only be shared with those individuals involved in your housing placement.
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Living in Spain: Options
Arcadia offers several housing options in Spain. Depending on your specific program choice, you may have the option of living in a shared apartment, a residence hall, or in a carefully selected Spanish household (please see details below). Just as it is the case in the U.S., what constitutes a Spanish household varies from city to city and from home to home. There is no singular definition for what constitutes a family or home. In some cases, you may be living with other international and Spanish students in a Spanish home or with a host señora, whereas other placements may be in more traditional home settings where mother, father, siblings (and oftentimes, extended family) are living.
Independent Living
Although housing is guaranteed for students participating on Arcadia programs in Spain, you have the option to decline this service and find your own independent accommodation (note: independent accommodation is not an option in Toledo). If you decide to opt out of Arcadia-arranged program housing, please notify your program manager. You will also need to indicate this on your Housing Preference Form. In fairness to other applicants, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible so that any designated accommodation can be reallocated. If Arcadia does not receive notification before the housing deadline listed above, you will be subject to the fees as described in the Arcadia University Housing Policy.
Language and Cultural Immersion
Language and cultural immersion is an integral component to studying overseas. Your housing arrangement – although important – should not be the sole measure that determines your academic and personal success overseas.
From city to city, there are varying opportunities to living in a home-stay, residence hall, or apartment. For example, apartment and residence life may accommodate Spanish, international, or program students in either a single, double, or triple room. And, home-stay life may include variations between nuclear and extended-family living.
Regardless, observing and participating in the day-to-day activities of a Spanish living arrangement is one of the best ways to be completely engaged with Spanish language and culture. If you are living in a home-stay, residence hall, or apartment, the greatest opportunity to meet Spaniards, develop your language skills, and become culturally immersed is to get involved in extracurricular activities.
Choose something that you already have an interest in, such as a sport or volunteer activity or branch out and try something entirely new. As an Arcadia program student, you will have access to the host university's student unions and university-subsidized cultural centers.
Each student union sponsors a wide variety of clubs, associations, cultural events and mini-courses that cater to virtually every interest from chess to mountaineering. In some cases, the town hall (ayuntamiento) may even organize and sponsor some of the teams and clubs to which students belong. Our staff can offer you insider's advice about finding out about these clubs and other extracurricular opportunities available in your host city.
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Very Important Additional Points:
- The housing options below are offered for the Fall, Spring, All Year and Summer programs (*one exception: the Student Residence at the University of Granada is not available during the Summer).
- Every room is different and unique and while Arcadia ensures that all rooms satisfy general standards, there is no way to guarantee uniformity of apartment and room sizes, distance from your university, furnishings or facilities.
- Spain is an environmentally friendly country and air-conditioning and central heating are not standard in a typical residence. If your housing does not feature these amenities, remember that it will take some time to adjust to the climate.
- Internet access will vary depending upon your housing venue. Regardless, internet access is available through Arcadia study centers, host-institution libraries and study centers, and internet cafés.
- As an Arcadia program participant, housing will remain available to you during the semester, including breaks within the semester. However, accommodation is not available before the program start date, once the program has ended, or for All Year students, the break between each semester.
- Most housing venues provide bed linens, blankets and pillows. If not, the Arcadia staff will be able to direct you accordingly after you arrive. As packing space is limited, bringing these materials is not recommended.>
- Please note that housing is for Arcadia students only; no overnight guests are permitted in Arcadia housing.
- Arcadia reserves the right to alter or change accommodation options at any time should circumstances warrant.
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Program Specific Housing:
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