Do your exchange year in Spain

It may be because of the warm weather, the talkative Spaniards, the siesta, or the late-night tapas meals with your host family – Spain will charm you and make you happy! The love of food, sports, and social life are other important elements of the passionate Spanish lifestyle. So, join us and experience a modern country with a vibrant history and rich culture!

No matter how much Spanish you know today, an exchange year will improve your language skills, expand your vocabulary, and boost your confidence. Moreover, with almost 500 million people worldwide speaking Spanish, a good knowledge of this language can give you great advantages in the future.

Our Exchange Program in Spain

High School Classic is the traditional high school exchange program chosen by most of our students. You may be placed anywhere in Spain, from the lively and exciting cities to the unbeatable Mediterranean coast or one of the small and very picturesque villages! If you are open-minded and looking for an adventure, this program is perfect for you!

This is what is included in our Classic program for Spain:

• Departure month: September or January
• Placement in a carefully selected host family with full board
  School placement in a local high school
• Materials and departure meetings to prepare you and your parents
• Free interview
• Round-trip travel
• STS Welcome Camp
• STS backpack
• STS diploma
• 24/7 on-call service via phone
• Personal service and contact person in both your home and host country

Read more about Classic

How do I become an exchange student in Spain?

To become a high school exchange student with STS in Spain, you must be between 14-18 years old at the start of your exchange year and go through the application process below. No previous knowledge of Spanish is required, but some basic skills are recommended.

1. Submit your initial application on the STS website. The application is not binding.
2. Schedule a free and non-binding interview with us. You are also welcome to attend an information meeting, where we will explain more about going on an exchange year.
3. When accepted to the program by STS, you will be offered a preliminary place in the program, receive our agreement, and pay the application fee. You then pay the full program fee according to a predetermined payment plan.
4. The full application process to your host country and school begins. You provide us with school grades, signatures from your current school, do a medical exam, write a personal letter to your future host family, and more. We are here to offer tips and advice!
5. When accepted by your receiving country, we will begin to look for a suitable host family and await final approval from local school authorities.
6. A few months before your departure, you will be invited to a Pre-Departure meeting, where you will receive details on everything you need to know for your exchange year.
7. Time to go!

Throughout your stay, we are always available for you – 24/7! Detailed information on the application process can be found here.

The school in Spain

School in Spain, up to year 10, is called Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, ESO. Years 11 and 12 are called Bachillerato. These two years are more university-oriented and not mandatory for Spanish teenagers.

Your placement as an exchange student will be decided by the school and depends on your previous grades and Spanish skills. Spanish, literature, English, maths, and sports are often compulsory subjects. Physics, chemistry, biology, crafts, and music are examples of other subjects that may appear on your schedule.

School hours vary between schools, but you should expect around 30 hours per week. One type of schedule would be classes from 9 am to 5 pm including a two-hour lunch break. Another typical schedule would be classes from 9 am to 2 pm, with no lunch break. You will be in the same classroom all day, but the teachers will vary depending on the subject.

Being an exchange student in Spain

The wonderful weather in Spain makes outdoor activities inviting. Many host families live near the ocean, where water sports are great alternatives. But there are also plenty of other options, such as football, handball, or basketball. Another popular sport is golf; golf courses can be found pretty much everywhere in Spain. When summer ends, there are some parts of the country where you can go skiing!

Your local coordinator and host family will help you find a sports team or other club to join, depending on where in Spain you are studying and what suits you the best. Want to try something typically Spanish? If you like dancing, you should definitely sign up for a flamenco course!

In general, social life takes place outside the home and you will soon learn from your new Spanish friends how to be spontaneous. Look forward to lots of fun times just hanging out on the square or at a café. This is arguably the best way to improve your Spanish!

Get the true story! Read the real-life stories from our students who have spent their exchange in Spain

Additional travel during your time in Spain

Take some time to travel. During your year in Spain, we will offer additional trips within the country to all our STS students. These are usually weekend trips, which is a perfect break from school. Join us to the capital Madrid, Seville, or Malaga. Please note that trips may vary from year to year and is not included in the program fee. You will get more information about prices and travel dates from your local coordinator in Spain. 

How much does it cost to be an exchange student in Spain?

In addition to the program fee, there are certain costs that you and your family need to cover. These include for example insurance costs, toiletries, any extra trips you want to make, leisure activities, and pocket money. See the full list of what is included and additional costs here.

The amount of money needed per month is individual, depending on what you want to do and your lifestyle. We recommend having at least 400€ per month and a buffer of around 800€ in case of unexpected expenses.

Your Spanish host family

Your host family will be an important part of your exchange year in Spain, and if you are open, social, and talkative, you will have a great time. Even if that’s not really who you are today, that’s who you will become after living a year in a Spanish family!

Through your host family, you will get an interesting inside view of Spanish daily life, traditions, and culture. Long dinners are common, starting late, often at nine or ten in the evening. Spaniards love to tell stories, and meals tend to be loud, passionate, and often straight to the point. You'll soon get used to it!

Spanish families have a typical Mediterranean lifestyle, but there will be differences across the country, and the different regions all have their unique traditions. Our host families are carefully chosen. They open their home to you because they are curious about people from other cultures.

The cost of an exchange year in Spain varies depending on how long you choose to be away and any optional add-ons. See the table below for the starting prices of our Classic program.

Feel free to reach out if you are interested in a shorter program than 5 months; in most cases, it can be arranged.

See what is included in our prices here.