Duke in Alicante
A 6-WEEK INTENSIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE SUMMER PROGRAM
EARN CREDIT FOR TWO SEMESTERS OF LANGUAGE STUDY IN ONE SUMMER SESSION
Apply NowDuke’s intensive language institute for elementary and intermediate level Spanish provides you the opportunity to combine two semesters of study into one summer session. The program has a course designed to meet the needs of both beginners (with no prior Spanish experience) and another for intermediate students (who have completed two semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent).
The program is taught in Alicante, Spain, a city whose rich culture is attributable to the historical importance of its seaport. Alicante's picturesque Mediterranean architecture is complemented by Roman and Arabic influences. Today it is the eleventh most populous city in Spain and a popular area for tourism.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Alicante, Spain
Term: Summer 1
Dates: May 7, 2025 - June 19, 2025
Application Deadline: December 15, by noon
Academic Theme(s): Spanish Language
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: Elementary level: Applicants with no or minimal exposure to Spanish. Intermediate level: Applicants must have completed two semesters of college-level Spanish (Spanish 102, 111, or 112) or have an equivalent proficiency based on an oral interview and/or a placement exam. Please see the Academics sections below for more information on language level placement. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Co-sponsored by Duke’s Department of Romance Studies
Housing: Homestay
Primary Contact: Melissa Simmermeyer
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Alicante is a small city on the Spanish coast, south of Valencia
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Excursion to Guadalest
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Overlooking Alicante during the program Orientation
ACADEMICS
Students who place in the intensive elementary course receive 4 hours of daily instruction, 2 from a University of Alicante professor and 2 from a Duke instructor. Likewise, students in the intensive intermediate course receive 4 hours of daily instruction, 2 from a University of Alicante professor and 2 from a Duke instructor. Required afternoon workshops highlight Spanish culture and history and help students get to know the city. Required weekend excursions allow participants to learn about other cities in Spain. Both the intensive elementary and the intensive intermediate courses receive 2 Duke course credits each.
You’ll enroll in one of the following courses:
SPANISH 140A
Intensive Elementary Spanish
FL, 2.0 Credits
A combination of Duke’s SPANISH 101 and 102.
Prerequisite: Students in this course should have had no or minimal exposure to Spanish. If you have had one semester or more of high school or college Spanish, please contact the director to determine your eligibility before applying to the program.
SPANISH 240A
Intensive Intermediate Spanish
FL, CZ 2.0 Credits
A combination of Duke’s SPANISH 203 and 204.
Prerequisite: Completion of the equivalent of 2nd semester of college Spanish before the start of the program or any of the following:
- Duke courses: SPANISH 102, SPANISH 112 or Spanish 111
- An AP Spanish score of 3 (language or literature)
- At least 2 years in high school in which material pertaining to Spanish 102 was covered
For more information on Spanish placement at Duke, please review the Spanish Language Placement guidelines.
ACTIVITIES
In addition to coursework, past activities have included:
- a cooking class
- a dance class
- a day trip to Valencia
- two long-weekend trips
HOUSING & MEALS
You will stay with carefully selected local homestays, which will help enrich your linguistic and cultural experience. Most students will be placed with one other student from the program. You will have your own bedroom with a bed, desk, closet, and share a bathroom with the other student. Homestays will provide access to wi-fi, three meals per day, and wash laundry once per week.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
The Duke Intensive Spanish in Alicante academic director can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the Global Education Office.
COSTS
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Summer 2025: TBD
Summer 2024
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,680 | $5,680 |
| Program Fee | $3,800 | $3,800 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $120.00 |
| Other Costs | Other Costs | Other Costs |
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $13,030 | $13,150 |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- 3 meals a day with home stay family
- Group meals or stipend during excursion
- International SOS Coverage
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Internet usage
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Some local transportation
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from host site
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Visa and/or residency permit (if needed)
- Passport
- Textbooks and class materials
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. However, you must have proof of a return ticket in order to enter Spain.
Non-U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for your specific citizenship by contacting the Spanish embassy. GEO can provide a letter that may be required as part of the visa application process. Please begin the visa process as soon as you have been admitted to the program to ensure you receive your visa in time for the program start date.
If you receive financial aid, and need assistance with travel costs associated with applying for a visa, please contact your financial aid counselor.
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $2,000-3,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
Scholarships
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
Dates
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
- Arrival: Students must arrive by 6pm (Spanish time) on Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Departure: Students must leave homestays the morning of Thursday, June 19, 2025
Detailed Itinerary: A detailed program handbook including the program itinerary will be provided during the Pre-Departure Orientation meeting held at Duke in April.
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. Once you have a flight itinerary, log in to MyGloballEd to update your travel registry.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
VISA & PASSPORT
VISA
No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. Non-U.S. citizens should special attention to the visa requirements for your specific citizenship by contacting the Spanish embassy. GEO can provide a letter that may be required as part of the visa application process. Please begin the visa process as soon as you have been admitted to the program to ensure you receive your visa in time for the program start date.
PASSPORT
All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTITY CARD
An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is optional. ISIC is the only internationally recognized form of student ID, endorsed by UNESCO. If purchased in the U.S., the card also carries with it a supplemental insurance policy, which can prove to be very helpful in the event of serious injury. You may purchase this card through www.myisic.com. Processing of the card takes between 4-15 days.
ADMISSIONS
Deadline: December 15, by noon
This program does NOT have rolling admission. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered.
Decision: You will receive an admission decision on or before January 21, 2025, the day before the end of Duke’s add/drop period
Eligibility: See the Academics section above to determine which track is best based on your previous experience learning Spanish.
Physical Demands: The program includes at least two multi-hour bus trips to large cities. During these trips, students will walk for some extended distances, in which the terrain can be hilly. Apart from some moderate climbing in cities such as Toledo and the Castle of Santa Bárbara in Alicante, there is no strenuous physical exertion required during the program. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the program director. Please also be aware that summer weather in Alicante can be hot. Be mindful of and employ heat-related stress precautions.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who meet the language prerequisite.
Non-Duke students: This program is open to all majors and applicants from accredited colleges and universities. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
APPLY
Please start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
To apply to this program, please submit the following items using MyGlobalEd:
- Online application
- Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended.*
- One language recommendation. Recommendations from high school teachers will not be accepted (for intermediate applicants).
- Duke in Alicante Questionnaire
- GEO Language Questionnaire (for intermediate applicants)
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, describing why you want to study on this program, what you hope to gain from it, and how the program will complement your studies and future career plans.
*First-Year Students: You must wait until Fall grades are posted to request your transcript be sent to GEO. Please be sure to submit your transcript as soon as they are posted. All other components of the application must be complete by the deadline.
STUDENT STORIES
"...although truthfully, abroad can be difficult, what I found most centering was climbing the castle almost every evening at sunset."
GEO ADVISING IS HERE FOR YOU
Get advice on choosing a program, exploring courses and credits, and covering the costs of study away when you engage the Global Education Office's advising network.