No. We welcome students of all language levels, and our core classes are taught in English. However, if you choose to take electives at the Universidad de Sevilla, an advanced level of Spanish is required.

In most cases, yes. Because we provide official U.S. transcripts, students can easily transfer their existing financial aid. Speak with your home university’s advisor to pre-approve your courses and funding before you travel.

It depends on your specific course load, but you can typically expect to be in class for about six hours a day (usually split across three classes). Just keep in mind that if you are taking beginning or intermediate Spanish, those classes have a set schedule and meet Monday through Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

ICS coordinates with your home university to manage your credit transfer in advance. If you need information on your institution’s specific guidelines, please reach out to admissions@ics.org.

Yes. We offer internships in Marketing, Tourism, and Education, as well as our Social Media Brand Ambassador program. We also offer great service-learning opportunities, like volunteering at local animal shelters.

Yes. ICS offers the most extensive cultural itinerary fully included in tuition, ensuring you experience the best of Spain. Fall and Spring semester students enjoy fully covered gastronomy workshops, Flamenco classes, and guided trips to the Cathedral of Seville, the Alcázar, Maria Luisa Park, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, Itálica, and Morocco. Summer term students receive a packed, fully funded itinerary that includes gastronomy workshops and trips to Córdoba, Morocco, the Cathedral of Seville, and the Alcázar.

Yes! The day after you arrive, we hold an onsite orientation to get you settled. Beyond that, we host a full welcome week of activities designed to help you navigate Seville and instantly build a community with your fellow students.

We offer two choices. The primary option is a local homestay, which includes three meals a day and weekly laundry. During the Summer program only, we also offer a student residency (an independent living setup without meals or laundry included, but with facilities onsite).

Yes. Homestays feature fully furnished single and double rooms. Single rooms are limited and cannot be guaranteed, so please email our Housing Director (housing@ics.org) with your preference as early as possible.

Yes, we do our best to accommodate early roommate requests. Just note that co-ed housing, couples housing, and large groups (four or more) are highly limited.

Yes. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or have specific food allergies, your host family will prepare meals that safely fit your needs. For dietary requirements that involve purchasing specific alternative products—such as gluten-free or lactose-free items—students must buy those specialty groceries out of pocket. Please detail all allergies and restrictions on your housing application early so our Housing Director can match you with the perfect host family.

The weather in Seville shifts quickly, both throughout the day and across the semester. The best way to prepare is to pack layers you can easily add or remove. It is also incredibly important to know that most traditional Spanish homes do not have central heating. If you are joining us for the cooler winter months, be sure to pack thick socks and warm loungewear to stay cozy indoors.

Lunch is the main, heaviest meal of the day, eaten between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Breakfast is very light (usually coffee and toast), and dinner is small and rarely served before 9:00 PM. If your classes conflict with your host family’s lunch hour, simply ask them for a packed meal. You can bring it straight to the campus and use our student refrigerator and microwave.

Bring comfortable, supportive walking sneakers for the historic cobblestone streets. It is also customary to wear shoes inside Spanish homes, so pack a lightweight pair of slippers or flip-flops for your homestay.

Very easy. Seville’s international airport, reliable bus networks, and high-speed trains make weekend trips across Spain and Europe highly accessible.

If you are on the group flight, our staff will meet you at arrivals and put you directly into a taxi. If flying independently, just use the official taxi line outside the terminal. Taxis offer a flat fare to the city center (usually €26 to €29), payable by cash or card. Always let our Housing Director and your homestay mother know of your arrival time.

Seville is incredibly walkable and bike-friendly. We highly recommend downloading the Sevici App for city bikes (€33/year). For the bus or tram, buy a rechargeable red bus card at any tobacco shop to drop your fare to under €0.44 a ride.

Most communication in Spain happens via WhatsApp. Contact your U.S. carrier to «unlock» your phone before departure. Once here, you can easily download an eSIM (like Airalo or Holafly) or buy a physical Spanish SIM card (bring your passport to the store).

Spain uses 220-240V electricity. Check your phone and laptop chargers—if they say «Dual Voltage,» you only need standard European plug adapters (Type C). Leave single-voltage items like U.S. hair dryers at home, or they will overheat and break.

U.S. citizens do not need a visa for programs under 90 days (like the Summer session). In order to obtain a Student Visa, you must apply at the Spanish consulate that oversees your home state.

Your passport needs a physical stamp when you enter Europe to prove when your 90-day or visa period started. If you connect through another European country and miss the stamp, you have 72 hours to declare your entry at a local police station in Seville.

All ICS students are automatically covered by the DKV Health Plan for medical and accident costs in the EU. You will use excellent private hospitals (like Clinica de Fátima). Our Student Affairs Office is always happy to help you book appointments.

Bring enough of your prescribed medications in their original, labeled bottles to last your entire stay. Spanish pharmacies are excellent, but they do not carry U.S. brands (like NyQuil or Pepto-Bismol), so bring those basics from home.

While Spanish law requires you to carry ID, we strongly recommend locking your physical passport in your room. Just carry a color copy of your passport and visa, plus your U.S. driver’s license.