Future Leaders Program
A Three Month Program of Internship, Entrepreneurship & Spanish Language
Fall 2025: Sep 6th – Nov 29th
Spring 2026: Mar 7th – May 30th
Future Leaders updated for Fall 2025!
Join us in Spain from September 6th to November 29th, 2025. Your gap semester will commence with 4 weeks in Madrid, followed by 8 weeks in Barcelona.
The Future Leaders program is designed to help you develop your teamwork and entrepreneurial skills, as well as building your resume. This gap experience combines Spanish language, a work placement in Barcelona, and the creation of a sustainable business model in our Entrepreneurship Edition.Â
New for Future Leaders in Fall 2025, we’re introducing two flexible options for months 2 & 3 in Barcelona.
The Entrepreneurship Edition includes a part-time internship in the mornings, followed by entrepreneurship, mentorship, and Spanish classes in the afternoons – all leading up to our exciting Shark Tank-style finale.
The Internship Edition is designed for those who want to gain extra college credit or more hands-on experience through a full-time internship placement instead.
If you want to explore Spain, grow your Spanish skills, and build real-world experience, this all-in-one semester is for you
Helpful links
Quick Facts
- Entrepreneurship Edition: €17,400
- Internship Edition: €15,000
- Dates: Sep 6th - Nov 29th
- Application Deadline: July 25th
- College Credits: Up to 12
- Pay via 529 funds? Yes
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Internships
Our program is different from other internship programs in that you will always be part of a cohort, you will never be the only student starting your internship at a certain time of year: you all go together and that way you always have friends around. We have partnered with Absolute Internships in Barcelona, to offer you a wide range of options:
You can choose a placement from a variety of industries:
Advertising, Business Development, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Event Planning, Fashion, Finance, Graphic Design, Green Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality & Tourism, Human Resources, Information Technology, Journalism, Marketing, Non-profit, Pharmaceutical, Publishing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Sports Management, Sustainability, Video Production.
As a Gap Year Association (GYA) accredited provider, Spanish Gap Year offers participants the opportunity to earn college credits through GYA’s School of Record relationship with the University of Montana (UM). This collaboration allows students to gain academic recognition for their immersive experiences in Spain. This means you can enjoy your gap year while also earning credits without the need for online classes or other academic interruptions during the program. The registration process for college credits is handled entirely through our team, ensuring a seamless experience.
- Â You could potentially earn up to 12 University credits whilst taking SGY programs!
You will be working either part-time: Monday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm, or full-time 9am to 5pm.
Spanish lunchtime is from 2pm, so even if you choose the part-time option, you can still go to lunch with your colleaguesÂ
Fulfill your goals
We asked our Spring 2024 cohort to tell us their goals for their entrepreneurship and internship experience in Spain.
If you have similar dreams and ambitions, Future Leaders is for you.
Keep scrolling to find out how these gappers gained entrepreneurial skills in Madrid, worked with experienced mentors, developed business ideas and pitched to a panel Shark Tank style!
Entrepreneurship Program Stages
We have teamed up with highly experienced business professors and successful entrepreneurs to deliver a comprehensive business incubator experience. Our aim is to help you create a sustainable business model that is built around S.M.A.R.T goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. The program is divided in five phases:
Teams and Pitches
Meet the Future Leaders' teams and see what pitch day was like: the place, the nerves, the camaraderie...
Our Spring 2024 cohort worked on three separate business ideas and competed with each other, in front of a panel of entrepreneurs, shark-tank style.
One of the teams won an investment and all three teams worked together on the winning project until the final stage, when they pitched their business plan to a team of investors.
Accommodation
During your time in Madrid you will live with a Spanish host family, being immersed in Spanish life, language and culture. For months two and three, you will be staying in either half-board or shared kitchen student dorms in Barcelona, experiencing independent living with a small group of your fellow gappers.
If you choose half-board, you can decide what to do for lunch: buy it at the supermarket and prepare it at home (you can take it to work with you, many people bring lunch boxes to the workplace) or you can eat out.
Meet the team We are ready to guide you
Meet the team
Your Mentors
Meet part of our entrepreneurship team: mentors Maryam, Thomas, Killian and Mikel, along with director Arantxa, who guide our gappers through the entrepreneurship modules.
These industry experts will provide invaluable insights and support as you develop your business ideas and perfect your pitches. Join us as a Future Leader to meet the inspiring mentors who will help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey and turn your vision into reality.
A typical week in Madrid
Weekdays will be dedicated to preparing for your internship, workshopping the key concepts of creating a business and learning Spanish.
Weekends will be free for rest, play or exploration. We can guide and advise you on independent travel, activities and adventures.
A typical week in Barcelona
You will intern 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. Through your internship, you will engage with the local community and local businesses to learn about corporate, environmental & social responsibility. Alongside your internship, you will work on designing a sustainable business plan with your peers. Each gapper will have the chance to pitch their plan to a panel, smart-tank style. The panel will choose a winning pitch and the team will work to bring the project to fruition.
Eligibility
You can read our criteria via the link below, but to summarize:
- Candidates must be over 18
- Participants must be in good health
- High school degree with at least a 2.8 GPA
- Participants must have an interest in entrepreneurship
- Participants must be passionate about gaining work experience
- Participants must agree to our program terms and abide by the program handbook
What's included?
Our Future Leaders Entrepreneurship program fee is €17,400. This includes:
- Pre-travel preparation: online individual interviews and group meetings
- Onboarding resources: Spanish culture course and language learning subscription
- Access to our online learning & support program and course materials
- Work placement and mentoring in Spain
- Half-board homestay accommodation in Madrid (breakfast & dinner) & half-board or shared kitchen residential accommodation in Barcelona
- All transport between locations*
- All classes, workshops and activities
- * Does not include travel insurance and airfare
Your Application Timeline
Once you have had an online meeting with us, here is the timeline to expect if you move forward with your application.
- You complete our online application form.
- We review your application within three working days.
- We offer you a place in the program.
- We contact you with booking details and request 20% of the program fee in order to formalize your booking.
- We arrange a one-on-one interview for health form review, Spanish assessment, internship and homestay preferences.
- We send you the flight recommendations, along with the onboarding meeting schedule and the login details for your online culture course and language learning resources.
- Placement and Application Timeline
- 3 months prior to start date – CV, cover letter, passport and professional photo submission deadline.
- 1-2 weeks after material submission – first round of interviews with placement partners.
- 4-6 weeks after the interview with our placement partners, interviews with host companies begin.
- Students can expect to be placed with their host company 4 weeks prior to their program start date.
- Thirty days before the start of the program, we require the paper health form signed by your doctor, along with the balance of the program fee.
- You attend the onboarding meetings and receive the program handbook, packing list and internship proposal.
- You get ready for travel, you travel and we meet you at Madrid airport.
Pay for Your Spanish Gap Year Program with a 529 Plan
Did you know that you can use your 529 College Savings Plan to fund your Spanish Gap Year program and earn up to 12 college credits in the process? Our accredited programs allow you to combine an unforgettable gap year experience with academic advancement. Please note that credit transfer policies vary, so it’s important to confirm with your college and plan provider. Click here to learn more about how to use your 529 Plan for our programs, including the steps involved and available courses.
Ready to find out more? Book a chat with us today!
Spanish Gap Year
Program Features
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