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:
- The Internship Pathway is designed for those who want maximum hands-on experience and a strong base of hours for future college credit or professional goals. You commit to a full-time internship placement in Barcelona and focus on teamwork, responsibility, and real-world projects.
- The Entrepreneurship Pathway blends a part-time internship in the mornings with entrepreneurship labs, mentorship, and Spanish classes in the afternoons – all leading up to a friendly Shark Tank-style finale where you pitch an impact-focused business or initiative.
- The Special Interest Pathway is ideal if you are passionate and community-minded, but may prefer volunteering and classes over a traditional full-time internship. Depending on your interests, you can combine a part-time internship with volunteering and extra Spanish or creative classes, or focus fully on volunteering plus classes if that is where you will thrive.
If you want to explore Spain, 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 for you.
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Quick Facts
- Dates: Mar 7th - May 30th
- Application Deadline: January 23rd
- 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.
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
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. You gain clarity about your strengths, build confidence in real-world settings, and come home with concrete experiences, stories, and skills that align with your academic, professional, and personal ambitions.
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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:
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Entrepreneurship Pathway
Meet the entrepreneurship 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 traveling across Spain 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, 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.
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 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 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 Barcelona studio accommodation in 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 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, pathway 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.
- Sixty 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
Ready to find out more? Book a chat with us today!
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