Study abroad in Spain through your home university or a provider

Key rules

• Credit transfer: Get your home university's study abroad office to confirm in writing that the provider is approved and the credit will transfer.
• Price: Provider programmes usually cost more than direct enrolment or exchange, so compare the total including what is excluded.
• Contract: Read the refund, cancellation, insurance and emergency support terms before you pay.
• Inclusions: What a package covers varies by provider, so get the list in writing.

What a provider programme is

A provider programme is a package run by an organisation that works with your home university and a Spanish university or language institute. You pay the provider, and it arranges your classes, housing and support. Exchange and direct enrolment work differently. The comparison below sets the three routes side by side.

What a package usually includes

Most packages cover:

• Tuition and enrolment
• Housing: a host family, a residence or a shared flat
• Orientation when you arrive
• Excursions
• An on-site support team
• Often health or emergency insurance

Some also include meals and a transcript service. What is included varies by provider, so ask for the list in writing.

What is usually not included

Expect to pay separately for flights, visa fees, personal spending, some meals, local transport and any extra insurance. Add these to the price before you compare programmes.

What it costs

Each provider sets its own price. It varies with the city, the housing type, the courses and what is included. Provider programmes usually cost more than direct enrolment or exchange. Ask each provider for its current price list and compare the total, not just the headline fee.

Who issues your credits

There are two common models. Ask which one your programme uses.

• School of record. A university linked to the provider issues the credits and transcript. You ask for the transcript to be sent to your home university.
• Host university. The Spanish university or institute issues its own transcript. You send it to your home university, and its study abroad office evaluates the credits and converts them.

Either way, agree the transfer terms with your home university before you pay.

How to vet a provider before paying

Do these in order:

1. Ask your home university's study abroad office whether it approves the provider and whether the credit will transfer.
2. Check the provider's accreditation, or the school of record it uses.
3. Check whether it belongs to the Forum on Education Abroad and meets the Forum's standards.
4. Confirm that the Spanish partner university or institute is recognised.
5. Read independent student reviews, and ask the provider for alumni you can contact.
6. Read the contract for refund and cancellation terms, insurance and emergency support.

Pay only after the credit and refund questions have clear written answers. The checklist and warnings below repeat these points in short form.

Erasmus, provider programme and direct enrolment compared

Erasmus is usually the cheapest route, a provider programme usually costs the most, and direct enrolment sits in between. Support and credit recognition work differently on each route.

How to choose

• Ask your home university first. If it has an Erasmus agreement with a Spanish university that offers your subject, start there. Ask for the current grant amount at the same time.
• Choose a provider if you want housing and organisation handled for you and can pay more. Get the current price list and a written statement of which credit model applies.
• Choose direct enrolment if your home university has no suitable partner. Check the host university's current fee list and get your home university's approval of the courses before you pay.

Check current grant amounts, provider prices and visiting-student fees with your home university's international office and each provider or host university.

Checklist

• Get the current price list and compare it with direct enrolment or exchange.

What to watch out for

• Credits may not transfer: You can pay for a programme and then find your home university will not accept the credits. Get written confirmation from your study abroad office that the provider is approved and the credits will transfer before you pay.

• Unclear refund and cancellation terms: Contracts can limit refunds if you cancel, and may say little about insurance or emergency support. Read the refund, cancellation, insurance and emergency support terms before paying a deposit.

• Unrecognised provider or partner: A provider without clear accreditation, or with an unrecognised Spanish partner, may offer weaker courses and credit. Check accreditation, the Forum on Education Abroad standards and student reviews, and ask for alumni contacts.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues my credits and transcript on a provider programme?

Either a university linked to the provider or the Spanish university itself issues them, depending on the provider's model. With a school of record, a US or other affiliated university issues the transcript and you ask for it to be sent to your home university. With the host model, the Spanish university or institute issues its own transcript, and you send it to your study abroad office to convert the credits.

Is a provider programme more expensive than going direct or on exchange?

Yes, provider programmes are usually more expensive than direct enrolment or exchange, because the price bundles housing, support and excursions. The price depends on the city, housing type and courses. Compare each provider's current price list line by line.

What is usually not included in a provider package?

Flights, visa fees and personal spending are usually not included in a provider package. Some meals, local transport and extra insurance are also commonly left to you. Ask the provider for a written list of inclusions before you pay.