Spanish-American Institute of International Education
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Education Abroad office has been helping students from across the United States study at the Spanish-American Institute of International Education (SAIIE) in Seville, Spain since 1984. Students from more than 250 universities nationwide have chosen to study abroad in Seville, Spain through UW-Platteville Education Abroad.
Details
SAIIE hosts American students studying abroad through UW-Platteville Education Abroad and offers an intercultural learning experience through academics, excursions, conversation partnerships with native Spanish speakers, volunteer opportunities, internships and athletics programs.
SAIIE's athletic programs are unique because they offer student athletes the chance to add a sports element to their academic studies at SAIIE and allows them the opportunity to continue to train and practice in their chosen sport while abroad. The athletic programs that are hosted in spring and fall include soccer, volleyball, rugby and water polo. The summer program hosts basketball, swimming, rowing, and rugby.
Occupying a single, self-contained building, SAIIE is just minutes from many of Seville’s famous sights. The surrounding neighborhood offers a range of shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs, and Seville’s museums, galleries, monuments, and nightlife are easily accessed by public transportation, or are within walking distance. With a population of 750,000, Seville has all of the advantages of a big city while still maintaining Spanish charm and culture.
Eligibility
Each applicant to the Spanish-American Institute of International Education (SAIIE) through UW-Platteville Education Abroad must:
- Be a degree-seeking undergraduate student who is currently enrolled at a U.S.-based college or university.
- Have completed at least one full-time semester of college at the time of application and have at least sophomore standing at the time of participation.
- Have a minimum cumulative 2.25 GPA (semester applicants) or 2.0 GPA (Winterim or summer applicants)
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the time of application and participation.
You are not required to have a minimum language proficiency for any program, but courses taught in languages other than English will have specific language proficiency requirements.
Application Requirements
In addition to any application procedures required by students' home institutions, the following must be submitted via the UW-Platteville Education Abroad online application system:
- $75 application fee
- Copy of U.S. passport: If you do not currently hold a U.S. passport, you must apply for one and submit proof of application before the program application deadline.
- Education Abroad Statement of Purpose
- International Study Course Approval Form (UW-Platteville students)
- Official academic transcript
- SAIIE Course Advisement Form
- SAIIE Extracurricular Activities Questionnaire
- Signed statements of responsibility and understanding
- Two letters of recommendation
- UW-Platteville Education Abroad Application
You will also have access to information to assist you throughout the application process. Upon acceptance, additional pre-departure information and requirements will be provided.
Scholarships
SAIIE offers scholarship opportunities to students from any institution as well as UW-Platteville students. Review the SAIIE scholarships available.
Co-curricular Activities
Students studying at the Spanish-American Institute of International Education (SAIIE) have a wide range of opportunities available to them to enhance their experience outside the classroom. Opportunities include:
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Athletics
SAIIE is pleased to be the first study abroad program in Seville to offer college athletes the opportunity to train with and play against local Spanish teams during the spring, fall, or summer term while taking courses at SAIIE and earning college credits. SAIIE offers the following sports programs: basketball, rowing, rugby, soccer, swimming, volleyball, and water polo.
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Daily Socio-Cultural Activities
The SAIIE staff strives to get students connected to the real social and cultural aspects of life in Seville, and one of the highlights of the program for many students are the organized sociocultural activities. Held after classes Monday through Thursday, activities can include going to local art exhibitions, games around the city where students work in groups and interact with local people, going to a La Liga soccer match, and enjoying tapas.
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DELE Examination Center
DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera or "Spanish as a Foreign Language Diploma") is the official accreditation of the degree of fluency of the Spanish language, issued and recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain.
In many respects, it is similar to the TOEFL English-exam. The DELE examinations have been designed following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe. Earning the DELE diploma is of great international value for future studies at a Spanish-speaking university, or if you would like to work, intern, volunteer, or live in a Spanish speaking environment. SAIIE is an officially recognized test center in Seville.
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Excursions
Included in UW-Platteville Education Abroad’s program cost are a number of excursions each term. Excursions are subject to change from term to term, and you will learn more about the excursions available upon acceptance.
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Intercambio Program
An intercambio is a language exchange for two or more people who speak different languages to practice each other's language. In this case, you, the English speaker who is learning Spanish, will do an intercambio with a Spanish speaker who is learning English.
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Internships
You have the option to have an internship at a local Spanish company while also taking courses at SAIIE. You must fill out an online evaluation before arrival to assess your skills to match you with a company. The SAIIE staff will do their best to find an internship based on your interests, field of study, and skills but cannot guarantee internships.
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Volunteer at Padres Blancos
Padres Blancos School is a private catholic institution in Seville, reputed for its education, faculty, facilities, and resources. To learn more about the various co-curricular opportunities, please see the SAIIE website.
Housing
Just as the SAIIE curriculum is specially designed to maximize your experience in Seville, living in a Spanish home is an integral and equally important aspect of your experience in Seville. Living with a host family enables you to improve your Spanish language skills and increase your cultural awareness, two important goals of UW-Platteville Education Abroad and SAIIE. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to live in accommodation that is not under the direct supervision of SAIIE.
Naturally, adjustments with regard to customs, food, and heat must be anticipated.
Students can easily walk from their homestay to SAIIE, with travel times ranging between 15 and 30 minutes. If students would like to rent a bike while in Seville, the city has an excellent bike rental program called Sevici which many past students have used.
Internet may or may not be available in the home, but wi-fi is easily accessible at local cafes and at SAIIE.
In most accommodations, the host family will also do one load of students’ laundry per week.
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Host Families
All students will receive their host family information upon arrival into Seville. Our on-site staff will provide airport pick-up and bring students to the SAIIE campus. From there, students and their roommates will walk together to their host family's location. All host families live close to the university, within walking distance. Some students decide to bike to campus as well. No host family information is released prior to arrival.
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Roommates
All students will receive their roommate information upon arrival into Seville. All students are housed with other students studying abroad at SAIIE through UW-Platteville Education Abroad. Each student will have 1 to 3 roommates. You can list another student on the program you wish to house with on your accommodation questionnaire located in their online application. No roommate information is released prior to arrival.
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Meals
The host family will provide breakfast and midday meals Monday through Friday and evening meals Sunday through Thursday. The remaining meals must be arranged and paid for out of pocket by the student.
Academics
SAIIE has partnered with the Universidad de Sevilla and EUSA (la Escuela Universitaria de Sevilla) to offer more course options to students attending SAIIE. Classes will take place at both SAIIE and the relevant partner institution.
At EUSA, the students will be able to share classes with both Spanish students and students from other European countries, which will help them to achieve an even deeper level of cultural immersion.
You may participate for one semester or an academic year, enrolling in at least 12 U.S. credits per semester and may take up to 18 credits.
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SAIIE-Universidad de Sevilla Programs
Liberal Arts, Business, and Spanish Language and Culture
Offered in the spring and fall, this program is designed for students from beginning to advanced level of Spanish, and for those who want to combine their academic experience with the total cultural immersion through the co-curricular activities offered by our program. Students in this program will take courses at the SAIIE Center and the University of Seville.Language Requirement: No prior knowledge of Spanish required.
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SAIIE-EUSA Programs
The EUSA (la Escuela Universitaria de Sevilla) study center is located a 20-30-minute walk away from the SAIIE facilities. If you cycle it takes 10 minutes.
Communication, New Media, Journalism, and Tourism
Offered in the spring and fall, this program provides you the opportunity to experience international education in two different environments: the SAIIE campus and EUSA (la Escuela Universitaria de Sevilla). At EUSA, the students will be able to share classes with both Spanish students and students from other European countries, which will help them to achieve an even deeper level of cultural immersion.Students at the EUSA Campus will take courses in the following areas:
- Audiovisual Communications: History, Technology, Writing, Culture, Advertising, Publications, Scripting, Film-Making, Spanish for Communications, Media Studies, Art, Cinema, and Business
- Journalism: Creative Writing, Art, Media, Law, Political Science, History, Language, New Reporting, Advertising, Public Relations, Cyber Culture
- Publication: Advertising, Marketing, Social Media, Media Studies, Photography, Sociology, Art, Design, Geography, and Ethics
- Tourism: Operations, Management, Business, Statistics, Law, German for Tourism, French for Tourism, Human Resources, Marketing, Political Science, and Computer Science.
Internship Program
SAIIE is proudly partnered with the EUSA University which is affiliated to the University of Sevilla, to offer an internship program for those who are studying abroad with us. Our students will be completely immersed in a Spanish working environment, which will aid in developing new working skills, cultural intelligence, networking and lastly, improve their Spanish. Through the internship program students will complete a total of 12 credits in a semester.- Option 1: As part of this program as well, our students who choose the 6 credit Internship, will need to take a Business course at EUSA and a Spanish Language course at SAIIE.
- Option 2: For those who choose the 3 credit Internship, will need to take two Business courses at EUSA and a Spanish Language course at SAIIE.
Language Requirement: Must have 5 semesters of Spanish. Internships where they require only English speaking might be available but depends on company and applicant.
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SAIIE Programs
Intensive Spanish Language
Offered in spring and fall, the Intensive Language Track is designed for students at the beginning and intermediate levels who want to focus solely on the acquisition of Spanish.
Language Requirement: 2-3 years of high school Spanish or 1 semester college-level Spanish.Spanish Language, Business, and Liberal Arts
Offered in summer, this program is designed for all students, independent of their specialties and their level of Spanish. We put a particular emphasis on courses related to Spanish history and culture in its various forms with the aim of helping to improve your level of Spanish, as well as facilitating your cultural immersion and knowledge about a city as multicultural and mixed as Seville.
Language Requirement: No prior knowledge of Spanish required.Artistic Monuments in Andalusia
Offered in Winterim, the Artistic Monuments course explores Andalucia´s diverse culture through the monuments of its three main cities: Seville, Córdoba and Granada.The course is designed to enhance your knowledge of the key historical, economic, artistic, social and religious aspects of Seville, Córdoba and Granada, and the cities themselves will be used as the principal “text” of the course. Each day, students will visit various points of interest that have made these cities so important in Spanish art and history, and as a result, students will be able to appreciate the cultural and architectural impact that various cultures have imposed on Andalucía over the centuries.
Business and Commerce in the European Union
In Winterim, you can study the development of the monetary European Union from its beginnings to expansion, and the institutions that played a pivotal role.Language Requirement: No prior knowledge of Spanish required.
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Credit Transfer
Credits are certified by UW-Platteville and will be validated on an official UW-Platteville transcript at the end of the summer program. Credits earned also become part of your official academic record at UW-Platteville.
The credit hours awarded at the Spanish-American Institute of International Education (SAIIE) are equivalent to U.S. credits (e.g. three credits at SAIIE are equivalent to three U.S. credits). Likewise, SAIIE uses the American grading system so an A awarded at SAIIE will be an A on your transcript at the end of the term.
While all credits should be transferable, work with your academic advisor at your home institution to choose appropriate and beneficial courses from the SAIIE curriculum prior to your term abroad. Courses that may fulfill specific requirements for major, minor, general education, or elective requirements towards an American degree must be approved by the appropriate person(s) at the home institution.
Visa Information
A student visa is required for students intending to study in Spain for a semester stay over 90 days or academic year. Students participating on a summer or Winterim program are not required to have a visa.
A visa is an official document affixed in a U.S. Passport by the Consulate General of Spain granting permission to live and study in Spain for the duration that the visa is valid. You need to apply directly to the Consulate General of Spain with jurisdiction over your permanent residence (not their school address) and be aware that each Consulate may differ slightly in its visa application requirements. Consulate Generals of Spain in the United States require that all applicants make an appointment with and travel to the Consulate within their jurisdiction and apply for their visa in person.
Entry into Spain must take place within 45-90 or 60-120 days of obtaining the student visa (depending on the Consulate’s procedures), and visa processing can take up to six weeks, so timing is important. In addition, the student’s U.S. Passport must be valid at least one year beyond the date of visa application, with at least one blank page to affix the visa. As of January 2018, the Consulate General of Spain charges $160 to apply for a Spanish student visa.
Students will be given additional information and instructions upon application, but for the most up-to-date information on the Spanish student visa process and procedures, please visit the Embassy of Spain in Washington's website.