One Program. Three Pathways.
A Three Month Program of Travel, Adventure, Internship, & Spanish Language.
Spring 2026: Mar 7th – May 30th
Fall 2026: Sep 5th – Nov 28th
One Program. Three Pathways.
This all-in-one semester will begin with one month of traveling Spain by train, followed by two months in Barcelona where you choose your own pathway. Throughout the semester you develop soft skills (communication, confidence, problem-solving), hard skills (Spanish, digital tools, cooking), and leadership skills focused on making a positive contribution to the communities you join.
You can choose between three flexible pathways:
If you want to explore Spain by train, grow your Spanish skills, travel sustainably, and build real-world experience with a clear leadership and impact focus, this unified Spanish Gap Year semester is designed for future leaders like you.
Quick Facts
- Total Cost: €18,400
- Dates: Mar 7th - May 30th
- Application Deadline: January 23rd
- College Credits: Up to 12
- Pay via 529 funds? Yes
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Designing Your Own Path
Choose the pathway that matches who you are now and who you want to become. Whether you are aiming to boost your résumé with a full-time internship, test your ideas in the Part-Time Internship + Entrepreneurship pathway, or lean into your passions through a Special Interest mix of volunteering, classes, and lighter work experience, each route is designed to move you closer to your goals while exploring Spain by train. You gain clarity about your strengths, build confidence in real-world settings, and come home with concrete experiences, stories, and skills that position you as a future leader aligned with your academic, professional, and personal ambitions.
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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.
You can choose an internship placement from a wide range of industries while remaining part of a cohort that includes mentoring, group sessions, and organized social activities. Alongside your placement, you receive practical support with soft-skill development, LinkedIn profile optimization, résumé preparation, and professional networking to help you maximize the value of your work experience in Spain.
Just a Few of the Many Options Available: Advertising, Arts, Biotechnology, Business Development, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Event Planning, Fashion, Finance, Graphic Design, Green Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality & Tourism, Human Resources, Information Technology, Journalism, Life Coaching, Marketing, Non-profit, Pharmaceutical, Publishing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Sailing, Sports Management, Sustainability, Theater, and Video Production.
As a Gap Year Association (GYA) accredited provider, Spanish Gap Year offers participants the opportunity to earn college credit through GYA’s School of Record partnership with the University of Montana (UM). This allows students to receive academic recognition for their internship experience without completing online classes or academic coursework during the program. Spanish Gap Year manages the entire registration process.
- Participants may earn up to 12 university credits.
Internships are either part-time (Monday through Friday, typically 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.) or full-time (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), depending on your placement and pathway. Some Spanish companies follow split schedules, with a longer midday break and later afternoon hours, reflecting local workplace norms. Your exact schedule will depend on your host company and industry.
Spanish lunchtime usually begins at 2:00 p.m., so even part-time interns can join their colleagues for lunch, connect socially, and continue building workplace relationships while completing meaningful tasks.
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Entrepreneurship Pathway
The entrepreneurship teams bring creativity and determination to pitch day, capturing the place, the nerves, and the camaraderie that define the experience. Our entrepreneurship cohorts of future leaders develop three unique business ideas and compete with one another, shark-tank style, in front of a panel of entrepreneurs and investors. Throughout the semester, they travel across Spain by train to refine their projects, and by the end, one team wins an investment.
Special Interest Pathway
You can choose to combine a part-time internship with a special interest, focus on full-time volunteering, or do part-time volunteering alongside a special interest. These examples show what past gappers have done, but the opportunities are endless.
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Month One
TRAVEL AND FOUNDATIONS​
Month Two
PATHWAY AND PRACTICE
Month Three
GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP
Explore Spain by train while building confidence, cultural awareness, and Spanish skills through immersive travel, homestays, and shared adventures.
- Internship Pathway
- Entrepreneurship Pathway
- Special Interest Pathway
In months two and three you will settle into life in Barcelona as you dive into your chosen pathway while finishing the semester with confidence, independence, and impact.
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:
Everyday Adventures in Spain
Life as a gapper blends structure, freedom and shared adventure, with around four activities a week in month one as you travel across Spain with your cohort. During months two and three in Barcelona, you join two to three weekly activities that fit around your internship, classes and weekend trips, and below you can see some examples of the kinds of activities you will participate in.
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Accommodation
During your time traveling across Spain by train you will live with Spanish host families with all meals included, being immersed in Spanish life, language and culture. For months two and three, you will be staying in a modern studio dormitory with breakfast and dinner included in Barcelona (or self catering options), experiencing independent living with a small group of your fellow gappers.
In Barcelona, 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.
Life On The Move
During month one, weekdays are for learning Spanish, exploring each city, and diving into cultural activities like cooking classes, outdoor adventures, and more – all with your group by your side. Weekends are when the adventure levels up, with day trips and train journeys to new destinations that keep you constantly discovering new corners of Spain.
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Spanish Language Learning
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The Internship Experience
Finding Your Rhythm
In months two and three, you will settile into life in Barcelona with your chosen pathway. Monday to Friday, you follow a consistent routine: internship or volunteering hours and/or classes during the day, with Spanish lessons, entrepreneurship labs, or creative courses built into specific afternoons depending on your pathway. Evenings and weekends bring group activities, cultural visits, and free time to explore with friends, giving you space to deepen your independence while still having a supportive structure around you.
Eligibility
- Candidates must be over 18
- Participants must be in good health
- High school degree with at least a 2.8 GPA
- Participants with interest in their chosen pathway
- Participants must be passionate about gaining work experience
- Participants must agree to our program terms and abide by the program handbook
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What's included?
Our total program fee is €18,400. 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
- Internship or volunteer placement and mentoring in Spain
- Full-board homestay accommodations in month one (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Half-board or self catering in a Barcelona studio accommodation for months two & three (breakfast & dinner)
- All transport between locations*
- All classes, workshops and activities
- * Does not include travel insurance and airfare
Your Application Timeline
Once you’ve had an online meeting with our team, here’s what the next steps look like as you move forward with your application:
- Submit your online application.
Complete our application form. - Application review.
We review your application within three working days. - Program offer.
If your application meets our standards, we offer you a place in your selected program. - Secure your spot.
We contact you with booking details and request a 20% program deposit to formally confirm your place. - One-on-one interview.
We schedule a personalized interview to review your health form, assess your Spanish level, and discuss your pathway and homestay preferences. - Pre-departure preparation.
You’ll receive flight recommendations, your onboarding meeting schedule, and login details for your online culture course and Spanish language resources.
Placement & Program Timeline
We recommend applying at least two months before your intended start date to allow for a smooth placement process. Applications are accepted year-round, and those submitted less than two months before the start date are still welcome. These applications will follow a condensed timeline, and will be accepted if spots are still available.
- 2 months before your start date
Submit your CV, cover letter, passport copy, and professional photo. - 1–2 weeks after submission
First-round interviews with our placement partners. - 4–6 weeks later
Interviews with host companies begin. - 4 weeks before program start
You are placed with your host company. - 60 days before the program begins
Submit the paper health form signed by your doctor and pay the remaining program balance. - Before departure
Attend onboarding meetings and receive your program handbook, packing list, and internship proposal. - Arrival in Spain
Travel to Spain and we’ll be there to welcome you at the Madrid airport.
Pay for Your Spanish Gap Year Program with a 529 Plan
Did you know you can use your 529 College Savings Plan to fund your Spanish Gap Year program and earn up to 12 college credits along the way? Our accredited programs allow you to combine an unforgettable gap year experience with academic progress. Please note that credit transfer policies vary, so we recommend confirming eligibility with both your college and 529 plan provider. Click here to learn more about using your 529 Plan for our programs, including available courses and next steps.
Ready to find out more? Book a chat with us today!
Spanish Gap Year
Program Features
Ready to find out more? Book a chat with us today!
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