Spanish LSA Santander

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers an advanced language study abroad program in Santander, Spain. The program is led by a faculty member of the Department and based at the Universidad Internacional "Menéndez Pelayo" (UIMP). 

Santander hosts the oldest and most prestigious International Summer Program in Spain, created in August 1932. The UIMP has two sites: the "Campus de Las Llamas", where classes are taught, and the "Palacio de la Magdalena". The UIMP accommodates a wide range of cultural activities: theater, dance, films, concerts, lectures, meetings with writers, and academic excursions around Cantabria. Our students will be able to attend all events organized by the UIMP.

Santander is located on the Atlantic coast in the region of Cantabria in Northern Spain. It combines its proximity to Bilbao and other historical cities in the regions of Asturias, Basque Country, and Castile, with the flavor and friendliness of a middle-size city (population of about 200,000 people). Its public transportation system is excellent, with easy access to and from university facilities and family housing. The city is pedestrian-friendly with numerous bike paths along the coastline; its renowned beaches, as well as its downtown and cultural offerings, are within walking distance from the University.

Students live with Spanish-speaking homestay hosts for the full duration of the program. The homestay living arrangement is an integral and required component of this program. The homestay experience often offers several benefits, including improved language skills (especially in foreign language environments), deep cultural insights, integration into the local community, the opportunity to experience daily life like a local, and the chance to build meaningful relationships.  

For more information, please see the Spanish & Portuguese Department website.

We encourage students to engage with their SAS advisors and program faculty/staff during the exploratory, pre-application phase to discuss how disability-related accommodations and access needs can be supported in an off-campus environment. If you currently have approved accommodations at Hanover, SAS will review them to determine which can be provided at your off-campus location and what alternatives may be needed. On-campus and off-campus accommodations may differ depending on each program location's resources and accessibility features. We recommend beginning this discussion with SAS as soon as you are accepted and no later than at least one whole quarter before your program start date.

For next steps, review the Off-Campus Program Accommodations page on the SAS website. 

Budget Sheet for Spanish LSA Santander

The fees charged by the College for a Dartmouth-sponsored off-campus term of study include regular tuition charges for a term at Dartmouth, service fees, as well as the specific costs established for each off-campus study locale. In many programs, the room and board costs tend to be higher than for a term in Hanover. You can view a budget sheet for each program by clicking on the appropriate term under "Financing Your Program". The cost of transportation to and from the site is the responsibility of the student.

In order that all qualified Dartmouth undergraduate students may have the opportunity to take part in off-campus programs, the College endeavors to adjust its normal financial aid awards for students already receiving aid. Tuition and expected family contribution for Dartmouth's off-campus programs are the same as for an on-campus term.

All costs, including airfare and spending money, are considered when determining the cost of an off-campus program. Any costs more than a typical term in Hanover are met with additional Dartmouth Scholarship Funds.  If you have a work expectation for the term, this will be replaced by scholarship funding for programs that span the entire term.

Students are responsible for purchasing their own plane tickets and, in many cases, meals. Often, families find that they owe less for billable items for study away terms but will instead use more of their expected family contribution towards indirect costs such as the flight and meals. For help sorting out who pays what and how, contacting the Financial Aid office is often advisable.  

Financing your program | Financial Aid | Scholarships | Budgeting & Costs