Gap Year in Madrid, Spain - Parents guide

Information for Parents

What's important while planning your trip?

Taking a gap year abroad requires a good deal of careful planning and organisation. Before you go you need to organise health and travel insurance and in some cases also address passport and visa issues.

See your doctor before you go, make sure you take all necessary medicine with you, and make sure you will have enough money with you.

For many of AIL Madrid’s Spanish gap year students, it is the first time the gap year student has lived away from home or abroad for an extended periodof time. Whilst our Spanish gap year students are adults (and treated as adults), we want to ensure important safety and security features.

Many vital services are already included in the The AIL Madrid Spanish Gap Year Program to facilitate the stay abroad for our gap year students.

How much money will I need?

Students have different spending patterns based on their interests and what they want to do in Madrid. In recent years (with the influx of foreign investment and Madrid´s growing popularity), prices in general have increased a little, but the cost of living in Madrid remains less than most other European capitals. Rents are very high and the most expensive factor during your stay in Madrid; however, accommodation is included in the price for an AIL Madrid Gap Year.

To help you do your budgeting , we have included typical prices for a range of goods.
 
What?
Madrid
€
Munich
€
Paris
€
London
€
Café 0,90-1,20
 		3-4
 		 2-3
 		2-3
Small beer 0,90-1,10
 		2,50-3
 		 2-4
 		2.5-3
Lunchtime 3 course meal 5-8
 		8-14
 		 15-20
8-14
Ticket Disco / Club 10-15
 		15-20
 		 - 15-40
Metro:
single ride
ten
monthly metro pass
1
6,15
42
2,20
9
40
1,40
10,90
55
4
25
120
Bus tickets to other cities:
Toledo
Barcelona
6
50
 		 -  -  -

Do I need a visa to enter Spain?

Study visas are required for all non EU nationals entering Spain for a period of greater than 3 months.

The following documentation is required to be submitted by you in person or by your legal representative:
  • Passport valid for a minimum of six months with three photocopies of the personal information and photo page.
  • 4 recent pictures, passport size.
  • Original certificate of good conduct issued by the police department of the city or cities where the applicant has spent 6 months or more in the last 5 years, with a translation into Spanish.
  • Original medical certificate typed on doctor’s stationary verifying that the applicant is free from the following quarantine diseases: yellow fever, cholera, and the plague. The certificate must also certify that the applicant is free of drug addictions and mental illness, with a translation into Spanish.
  • Original Medical /Accident Insurance policy with international coverage.
  • Schengen Visa Application Form (US-citizens 1 photocopy, Non-US citizens 3 photocopies);
  • Proof of admission to Spanish Academic Center as a full-time student from the Spanish Center
  • Proof of financial means for the period of study in Spain. This could be:
    • Certificate of enrolment from AIL Madrid stating educational and living expenses have been paid for in advance, or
    • Notarized letter of parents/custodians, assuming financial responsibility while student is in Spain, or
    • Current statement of student´s bank account with a minimum balance of $1000 per month of stay in Spain or $1000 worth of travellers checks per month of stay in Spain.
The application should be made at least three months before your departure date

DISCLAIMER: Rules and regulations for Spanish study visas change constantly. Whilst at AIL Madrid we make every effort to keep abreast of changes, we can not guarantee that the information above is accurate or complete. We can not accept any responsibility or be held liable for your Spanish study visa application and we strongly recommend that you contact your local Spanish Embassy or Consulate as early as possible to ensure that you are aware of the requirements for your country and have all necessary documentation.

What travel and medical insurance do I need?

One of the most important points which you should have thought about before studying and travelling abroad is your medical insurance in the foreign country as well as your insurance during your stay overseas. Although it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “This will never happen to me,” numerous cases show that indeed it can and does happen to you, just as it can and does happen to anyone else.

AIL Madrid's Spanish Gap Year program offers a travel and medical insurance to its students so that they may travel around safely. We are happy to answer any questions regarding the terms and conditions of our student travel and medical insurance.

What do I have to check before I go?

  • Make sure you have a valid passport (and visas, if necessary)
  • Leave a copy of all documents at home and also bring a copy of your passport with you (stored in a different place than the original)
  • Take enough money with you to cover both expected expenditures and emergency costs
  • For some South and Central American countries you may require vaccinations; check with your doctor
  • If you take prescription medication make sure to bring a sufficient supply
  • Bring a good guide book and phrase book
  • Make sure you know about local laws and customs – especially with regard to alcohol

What is included in the course price?

Accommodation and Tuition

All AIL Madrid gap year accomodation (i.e. host families, shared flats and university residences) are screened by AIL Madrid's gap year advisors. For us it is important to maintain a trustful and honest relationship with our landlords so as to secure a convient and comfortable living and study atmosphere. In any case, our gap year advisors are always available if you have any questions or problems of any kind.

AIL Madrid´s standard Gap Year price* also includes the 12-week Spanish course.

Airport Pick-up Service

Arriving in a foreign country with all your luggage may seem somewhat frightning. Depending on the language skills the student already has when arriving in the destination country. Depending on that coming to the place and finding a first orientation may be easier or harder. In order to facilitate a first start in Spain, AIL Madrid has arranged a complementary pick-up service for its gap year students. On his arrival we provide for the gap year student collection from Madrid airport by one of our gap year advisors and transfer to the accommodation or to our school.

24-hour emergency phone number

Especially in case of unforeseen occurencies at any time of the day or night AIL Madrid wants to be there and give a helping hand to its gap year students.
In the case of any problem that should occur our gap year students are asked to call AIL Madrid´s 24 hour emergency contact number : 607 959 887

Orientation week

The first week in a foreign country is the hardest. You need to get accostumed to a new culture, a new enviroment, have to find new social contacts, deal with the initial cultural and language problems and find your own the daily-life routine. In order to make that process for you easier AIL Madrid offers to his gap year students an Orientation Week Program.

This includes a welcome dinner together with all newly arrived students which will give you the opportunity to get to know your class mates and talk about your first experiences you made in your new hometown. One of the following days after your arrival AIL Madrid will show the gap year students around Madrid in a guided city tour. This way you will get to know the city and the most important orientation points in the city centre.
We will also have the opportunity to get to know your fellow students in one of our student and teachers evenings where all of the students and teachers are invited to introduce themselves.

Local information

If you decide to go abroad - be it just for a couple of weeks or a longer period of time – it is fundamentally important to have adequate knowledge about the destination and being informed well about the cultural curiosities and differences as well as local laws and costums. Only in this way an enriching and positive experience in the country is being secured.
To ensure this, once our gap year students have arrived in Madrid AIL Madrid provides them with the necessary information about Madrid e.g. the barrios, services (like shopping, eating, sports facilties,…), things to do (like sightseeing, museums, concerts,….), etc. Cultural differences, things to be careful about, tips and useful local information.
We provide our gap year students with an extended package of information so that
they can find whatever information they need on their gap year in Madrid.

Learning Materials

The Spanish grammer books which are forming the base of the Spanish classes and several other learning materials used in class are already being included in our Gap Year standard price.

For further details of typical gap year packages and costs please see our Gap Year Prices page with real case examples to the different gap year options we are offering.

What benefits do you get out of a Gap Year?


Academic Advantage

Many universities consider a gap year abroad as good experience, especially for modern language or international studies students. Universities take into account a period of time abroad in the selection process and a gap year abroad facilitates university entry.

Obtaining the prestigious DELE qualification provides an invaluable additional advantage for individuals planning to study the Spanish language at university. Many universities give academic credit for the DELE and allow such students direct entry into higher level classes.

Better Career and Earnings Prospects

Employers consider a gap year abroad as a valuable asset on your CV; it will give you a competitive advantage, distinguishing you from other applicants. In particular, it is seen as an opportunity to build both soft and life skills – such as communication and process skills, as well as leadership capacities and self-discipline.

Numerous research studies have found that on graduating from university, students who have completed a gap year abroad are more likely to find work faster and at a higher pay rate than those who have not. Your Spanish gap year should be viewed as an investment in your future – this is how we see it.

Personal Benefits

Taking time out to be embedded in a different culture, learn a foreign language and travel presents a multitude of opportunities to develop personality and aids in the formation and refinement of career choices. A gap year abroad has the potential to not only improve your educational performance, but also to acquire valuable life skills, like intercultural understanding and social values.

Should you have any further questions please contact us!

* The standard Gap Year price is calculated on the basis of the 12-week Gap Year Spanish course (140 EUR/week) and accomodation in a single room in a shared flat (125 EUR/week) amounting to 3,180.00 EUR.