Learning Spanish

Students from all over the planet come to Madrid, the world capital of Spanish, to learn a language already spoken by 591 million people, including 493 million native Spanish speakers, which makes Spanish the second biggest mother tongue in the world by number of speakers and the third most important language based on the total number of speakers. It is studied by 24 million people (figures taken from El español en el mundo 2021 survey by the Instituto Cervantes). Exhibitions, shows, and countless artistic and leisure initiatives (shopping, gastronomy, clubbing) help students to broaden their knowledge and explore our culture.

Madrid is the economic and financial capital of Spain and, as such, it offers a wealth of in-company training opportunities to international students. Moreover, the city is home to major institutions dedicated to guarding and teaching the Spanish language, like the National Library or Instituto Cervantes, named after the author of Don Quixote, who lived and wrote his best known work in Madrid. Miguel de Cervantes was born in a city a few kilometres away from Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, which is on the World Heritage list. Will you miss it?

Madrid has been a source of inspiration for numerous generations of writers, which is the reason why it’s the main character of so many novels, short stories and plays. One of the city’s most valuable assets is the language; conversely, you could safely say that Madrid is a jewel in the Spanish linguistic casket. In sum, there’s no better place to learn Spanish than Madrid.

There’s a huge choice of publicly and privately-run language schools in Madrid. You can take university courses (Autónoma, Complutense, Carlos III, Rey Juan Carlos, Alcalá), go to a language school, resort to the international organisations promoting the learning of Spanish like Instituto Cervantes, or register in one of the many accredited private learning centres.

The best way to learn a language is experiencing the culture it’s associated with. A good option is to join a chat group in a coffeehouse, to have a nice talk over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. There are gatherings and lectures, chats around the table, and bars to listen to other people as they speak in a language different than their mother tongue. The activity is fun and free.

If you’re a non-EU citizen and are planning to stay in Spain for longer than three months, you’ll need to apply for a student visa at the Spanish Consulate in your country. You’ll be asked to show an admission letter or certificate from the educational centre where you’ll take the course. Bear in mind that you should submit your visa application two or three months before your trip.

For stays longer than six months, you should apply for a student residence card, issued by the National Police at their Offices for Foreign Citizens. You should begin the procedures within 30 days of arrival, unless you hold a 180-day student visa.

Other required documents are a valid passport; study, training or research plan to be developed in Spain; medical insurance; medical certificate; proof of financial resources to cover your expenses during your stay in Spain; and lack of criminal record report.

The so-called colegios mayores and the student residences are probably the most interesting places for foreign students to stay in Madrid. All of them are associated with a local university or college. Also, they offer extracurricular activities that invite students to get deep into the city’s life and culture.

Hostels are a good choice for students who don’t want to break the piggy bank. There are plenty of them in Madrid, and they feature all types of facilities and amenities. Learn more about them in the Guide of Small Hotels of Madrid.

For more freedom you can rent an apartment. Your college or university will recommend one of the companies offering rooms in flatshares. This type of accommodation gives students the chance to share time with young people from different countries and backgrounds. You can also find a place that meets your needs on dedicated websites.

Students can work during their Spanish-learning stay in Madrid. This way, they can take in other aspects of Spanish culture and earn money to cover their expenses.

Your student visa allows you to work in Spain up to 20 hours a week, provided that your working hours can be squeezed into your study or research schedule. The company you work for must apply for a work permit at the Office for Foreign Citizens.

Universities usually provide information on part-time jobs so that you don’t spend too much time working. You can find a job matching your background and skills at one of the many dedicated websites.

At the branches of the Official Language School they have boards advertising private language lessons or chat groups.