INTRODUCTION

On this website, the Cultural Section of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid wants to offer a complete guide of resources, guidance and information on studies in the United States, American academic institutions in Spain, and requirements to qualify for grants and exchange programs in the United States.

A. STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES

1. University Studies
   
   If you are thinking of undertaking undergraduate or graduate studies in the United States, please read the information below and, in case you still have doubts, please contact the Academic Advisor of the Commission for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Exchange between the United States and Spain.
   
   - Undergraduate Study. This booklet explains how to choose and apply to U.S. bachelor’s and associate degree programs, and provides links to the web pages and e-mail addresses of the more than 3 600 universities and colleges in the United States.
   
   - Graduate Study. This booklet explains how to apply to U.S. master’s, doctoral degree, postdoctoral, and research programs, and provides information on certification and licensing procedures for professionals who wish to further their education or practice in the United States.
   
   - Examinations. To be eligible for admission to most U.S. universities, students have to take one of the following English language proficiency tests:
    

   • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – English test required of foreign students who want to study at a U.S. university. It measures English fluency and knowledge. The test is divided into four sections: listening, writing, reading, and writing a short essay. The test is completed on computer at ETS (Educational Testing Service) centers; it is offered from Monday to Saturday, three weeks per month, and you need from 3 to 4 hours to complete it.
      

   • GRE (Graduate Record Examination) – Test required of both native and foreign applicants to U.S. universities who want to undertake graduate studies. Two GRE are offered:
      

     • GRE General Test: It measures the student’s English, mathematical and logical ability. It is not related to any specific field of study. It is divided into three sections:
        

       • 1) VERBAL: It measures English language ability. Test takers must answer 38 questions in 30 minutes.

       • 2) QUANTITATIVE: It measures mathematical ability. Test takers must answer 30 questions in 30 minutes.

       • 3) ANALYTICAL: It measures logical ability. Test takers must answer 25 questions in 30 minutes.
          

     • GRE Subject Test: Required for admission into some graduate programs. It gauges knowledge in specific fields of study and assumes that the student has extensive background in that specific area. There are specific exams for eight disciplines.
        

     • TOEFL and GRE are the two main tests. Both of them are organized by an agency called Educational Testing Service and can be taken in several Spanish cities (depending on each specific test and date: Barcelona, Bilbao, Las Palmas, Madrid, Mallorca, Oviedo, Pamplona, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Torremolinos, and Valencia). To take either TOEFL or GRE it is necessary to get a copy of the Bulletin of Information, which is available, free of charge, from the Academic Advisor of the Commission for Cultural, Educational and Scientific Exchange between the United States and Spain.
        

   • Other important tests are:
      

     • GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): Required of applicants to business schools and MBA (Masters in Business Administration) programs. It measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical ability related to business.
        

     • LSAT (Law School Admission Test): Required of applicants to law programs in law schools. It is administered by the LSAC (Law School Admission Council).
        

     • USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) – Required of foreign medical graduates who want to take part in a residency at a U.S. hospital.
        

     • CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) – Required of internationally educated nurses seeking to qualify for U.S. practice.
        

   - Test Preparation Centers in Madrid and Barcelona
   
   - Homologation of University Degrees and Validation of University Courses
    

2. Secondary Education

   - High School Studies. This link provides information on the U.S. education system, the different possibilities to access public and private schools in the U.S., etc.
   
   - Youth Exchange Organizations. List of companies that offer Spanish students the possibility to study an academic year at a U.S. high school. Transcripts from these schools can be validated.
   
   - Suggestions to Select a Youth Exchange Organization. Getting information about a company before contracting is the best way to avoid choosing a "pirate company". Once the harm is done, consequences can be unpleasant for the student: the loss of a year of study, unforeseen expenses, or the souvenir of a bad experience. This link suggests several elements to be taken into account when it comes to choosing a youth exchange organization.
   
   - Public and Private Primary and Secondary Schools (High). Links for detailed information on the U.S. education system and public and private schools in the United States.
   
   - Homologation of U.S. High-School Diplomas and Validation of U.S. High-School Courses to Their Spanish Equivalents. Detailed description of the process for the validation/homologation of studies. Validation/Homologation by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science is required only for grades equivalent to 4º de ESO and higher, which means that, in the case of studies done in the U.S., the only grades that have to be validated/homologated are 10, 11 and 12.
   
   - Summer Camps in the United States. This link to the web page of the American Camp Association offers the families the professional advice of camp experts on how to choose the best camp for their children.

B. U.S. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN SPAIN

- American Universities in Spain. Link to a list of U.S. universities in Spain. Most of them are cultural immersion programs for U.S. students who spend a semester or an academic year in Spain and study Spanish language and culture. Others are U.S. universities in Spain that admit Spanish and foreign students who want to study under the U.S. education system.


- American Schools in Spain. Link to a list of schools that operate in Spain under the U.S. system. Transcripts from these schools can be validated.

3. GRANTS AND EXCHANGES

- Fulbright Grants. Since 1958 the Fulbright Commission in Spain has offered grants for Spanish and American citizens financed by Spanish and U.S. governments and private institutions.

- Au-Pair Program. Through this program, foreign young people between the ages of 18 and 26 take direct part in the American way of life by living with a family and taking care of children for a maximum of 12 months. Work is limited to a maximum of 10 hours per day and 45 hours per week.

c. Summer Camp Counselor Program

d. Summer Work/Travel Programs

e. Internship Programs in the U.S.
 

- Bilingual Schools in the Community of Madrid. Public schools where English starts to be taught at the nursery school level.


- Visiting Professors. International cooperation program created by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science to give Spanish primary and secondary school teachers the opportunity to develop their professional skills through teaching practice at U.S. schools.


- Spanish Language and Culture Assistants in the U.S. This program allows Spanish graduates and teachers to complete their training in the U.S. by working as Spanish language and culture assistants at U.S. teaching centers.


- U.S. Teaching Assistants in Spain. The Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), through agreements with the Departments of Education of the autonomous communities, offers U.S. citizens the opportunity to improve their knowledge of Spanish language and culture and take advantage of their experience when they return to the United States, thus promoting intercultural understanding between Spanish and American citizens. At the same time, the program provides Spanish English teachers and students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of English language and U.S. culture through the interaction with native speakers.

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