Description
The Universidad de Granada (UGr) was founded in 1531 and is one of the oldest universities in Spain. Today it is also one of the largest with over 80,000 students, 5,000 of whom are international. The UGr’s Centro de Lenguas Modernas (CLM), founded in 1992, is one of Spain’s premier centers for the teaching of Spanish to international students. It offers Spanish language and culture courses to visiting students and foreign language courses for local Spanish students. Popular areas of study at the CLM include art history, history, literature, political science, and Spanish language and culture.
Students have the opportunity to choose one of two tracks:
Spanish Language, Culture and Electives
Accommodating students of all language levels, this program offers Spanish language and content courses. You will take two required Spanish language courses at your respective language level plus two to three additional content courses taught in either English or Spanish. Classmates are international students, the majority of whom are from the U.S. All courses are taught by Universidad de Granada faculty at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas.
Hispanic Studies
Open to students at a high advanced language level and above, you will refine your Spanish language abilities while learning about the history and culture of the Spanish-speaking world in this immersive program. You will enroll in one Spanish language course of your choosing plus three or four content courses, instructed entirely in Spanish. Classmates are international students, the majority of whom are from the U.S. All courses are taught by Universidad de Granada faculty at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas.
Quick Facts
Partner Program Type – International Studies Abroad (ISA)
ISA by WorldStrides is an organization that UCSC has partnered with to provide students with this opportunity. ISA stands for International Studies Abroad which is an organization that was founded in 1987 to connect US college students to the world. ISA has staff in the United States and abroad in each location to support students with every step of their journey.
Minimum GPA – 2.85
Prerequisites –
- Language requirement for Hispanic Studies Track: Proof that you are fluent/advanced in Spanish. Students must have completed or tested out of Spanish 6 at UCSC, and additionally need to have completed one of the courses listed in item 3 on this website. There is a placement test on-site, and if you don’t test at the High Advanced or Superior level, you will need to move to another program at the same university that offers courses more appropriate to yout level. If you have any questions about this prerequisite, please do not hesitate to let us know.
- No language requirement for the Spanish Language, Culture and Electives Track
Eligibility – Good academic and disciplinary standing, Min Age: 18, Open to All Majors, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior Standing by the time of departure
Term Options
Fall Semester: early September – mid-December
Spring Semester: mid-January – late April
- students must miss both winter and spring quarters at UCSC to participate in this session
Academic Year: early September – late April
Cost
Location
City & University
Granada is a cultural gem in the southern province of Andalusia. Sitting at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it is ruggedly beautiful and overflowing with cultural and architectural remnants of an illustrious past. Granada was the last Moorish stronghold to be recaptured by the Christian monarchs in 1492 and, although never officially Spain’s capital, its symbolic importance in the creation of modern Spain has made it a familiar name to historians and tourists alike. Though historic, Granada is a modern college town filled with a myriad of opportunities to integrate with its community and experience its culture.
Accommodations
Students have two choices for housing. No matter which option you choose it will be coordinated by ISA. Regardless of your housing option, you will have a short commute to your university. Travel times to the various university buildings generally range between 15 and 35 minutes depending on housing and class locations.
Apartment:
Apartments are a great housing option if you are seeking complete independence during your time abroad. Apartments are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is limited. Rent and utilities are included in the program price, and each apartment is fully furnished and centrally located. Meals and laundry service are not included.
Homestay:
Homestays are best if you are seeking full linguistic and cultural immersion during your time abroad. Each host family has been carefully selected by ISA’s resident staff in order to best accommodate your needs and to ensure a comfortable living situation. Homestays will provide two meals a day (except on ISA excursion days) and laundry service, including a change of sheets and towel, once a week. You will typically share a room with another ISA student of the same gender. Single rooms may be available for an additional fee.
Excursions
Included excursions for this program are:
- Madrid
- Las Alpujarras
- Seville and Cordoba
If you would like more detailed information about the excursions, please reach out to globallearning@ucsc.edu.
Student Support
The ISA team works with you from start to finish through the study abroad process. ISA staff will help guide you through the final phases of the application process after you have been nominated by UCSC, then upon arrival in Spain, you will meet the ISA team who will provide assistance during your time in-country. Throughout your semester you will meet with the Granada team for informal discussions and excursions. ISA staff is readily available and able to assist you with any academic, social, or cultural questions or issues that you may face during your time abroad.
Country Information Resources
- U.S. Department of State Country Information Page
- CDC Travelers’ Health
- OSAC Country Security Report
Students with Disabilities
If you need support services abroad, notify your UCSC Disability Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator.
Students can work with their ISA program manager or directly contact accessibilityteam@worldstrides.org once they have narrowed down where they’d like to go.
Identities Abroad and Away
UC Santa Cruz Global Learning is committed to inclusion and equity in our various program options as well as striving to make everyone’s experiences abroad enriching, positive, and safe.
Learn more on our Identities Abroad and Away webpage.
Academics
Host University Courses
As a Universidad de Granada exchange student, enroll full-time in courses alongside other local and international students.
- Language of Instruction: English and Spanish
- Students in the Spanish Language, Culture and Electives track will take two Spanish language courses and two additional courses taught in English.
- Students in the Hispanic Studies track will take one advanced Spanish course and three or four courses taught in Spanish.
- Only students who pass the Spanish placement test upon arrival in Granada will be able to take courses taught in Spanish.
Course Search
- If you have any questions or need to request syllabi please contact us at globallearning@ucsc.edu.
Satisfying Requirements
It may be possible to satisfy major, minor, GE, and/or electives on this program.
Learn more about:
- How to request major or minor credit
- How to request GE credit
Course Load Requirements
You are required to enroll in a full-time course load while abroad as defined by your host institution:
- Students in the Spanish Language, Culture and Electives track will take two Spanish language courses and two additional courses taught in English. Students in the Hispanic Studies track will take one advanced Spanish course and three or four courses taught in Spanish. For both tracks students will earn the equivalent of 26 – 30 quarter credits.
As a UCSC student, you must also continue to meet UCSC Satisfactory Academic Progress, which requires students to enroll in a minimum of 12 UCSC quarter credits per quarter. At Granada, you are required to ensure you meet this requirement by enrolling in the equivalent of at least 12 UCSC quarter credits in fall semester and at least 24 UCSC quarter credits in spring semester after conversion (see below).
If you are not enrolled in the minimum number of quarter credits required, then you will fall out of Satisfactory Academic Progress. This could lead to financial aid and academic repercussions.
If you are unable to enroll in the minimum number of quarter credits through courses at your host university, you may be able to fill in the gap by enrolling in one remote course through UCSC or UC online.
Credit Conversion
Granada uses ECTS credits. These will be converted to UCSC quarter credits when added to your UC transcript.
- 40 Contact Hours = 5 ECTS credits = 4 quarter credits at UCSC
- 45 Contact Hours = 6 ECTS credits = 5 quarter credits at UCSC
- 10 ECTS credits = 8 quarter credits at UCSC
- 15 ECTS credits = 12 quarter credits at UCSC
- 20 ECTS credits = 15 quarter credits at UCSC
Academic Restrictions
Note that some courses may require prerequisites. In rare cases, some courses abroad may have enrollment limitations and/or restrictions, and there may also be courses that are not available for study abroad students. Your ISA program advisor will be able to help you determine whether any such restrictions apply.
If you are unsure about your eligibility to enroll, please contact UCSC Global Learning at globallearning@ucsc.edu before applying to this program.
Academic Differences
Please note that the academic system, such as assignments, exams, course structure, grading system, etc., at your host institution may be different from what you are used to at UCSC. We highly recommend researching the academic system at your host university in advance to best prepare for your experience abroad.
Academic Calendar
We recommend comparing the host university academic calendar to the UCSC academic calendar to see how the academic calendars, holidays, and breaks differ.