The MIT-Spain Program

Living and working in Spain offers a unique opportunity to explore the country’s diverse regional cultures, varied landscapes, architectural gems and advances in engineering and technology; all while experiencing Spain’s approach to work-life balance. 

MIT-Spain student opportunities include internships at leading companies, universities, and research institutes throughout the year, hands-on STEM teaching at Spanish high schools during IAP or a semester study abroad at the Universidad Carlos III de Marid (UC3M).

The MIT-Spain Seed Funds facilitates dozens of research collaborations between MIT faculty and their Spanish counterparts.

Program Opportunities

Internships

MISTI’s award-winning international internship program provides a one-of-a-kind, world-class experience for MIT students: the opportunity to gain real-life work experience in leading companies and labs around the world.  Best of all, all expenses ae paid, including airfare. 

Opportunities are usually 8-12 weeks for the summer depending on the host and longer placements can be arranged. 

student in front of lab equipment
  • Open to MIT undergrads, graduating seniors and graduate students in all disciplines that meet program requirements
  • GPA 4.0 or better
  • One recommendation letter
  • Relevant experience (UROPs, internships, etc.)
  • Undergraduates:
    • Spanish IV or equivalent proficiency
    • One class on Spanish culture, history or society is recommended
  • Graduate students:
    • No language requirement; basic Spanish strongly recommended
    • Culture class recommended

Check out the MIT Global Languages website for course availability and offerings 

  • Informational meetings are available year-round
  • Complete the MISTI Launchpad Application – December 1st
  • Interview with Country Program Manager – October to February (as soon as MISTI Launchpad Application is complete)
  • Select MIT-Spain as your top choice in the MISTI launchpad Application – By February 1st (rolling thereafter, depending on opportunities)
  • Once approved, complete the County-Specific Application – Deadline set by MIT-Spain Manager, typically within 2 weeks of acceptance. Country Program Manager begins to explore potential hosts once complete.
  • Internship matching process – January to March
  • Mandatory Pre-Departure Sessions – Late March to Early May

How to Apply

Funding: Accepted students will receive a basic living stipend for airfare, food and accommodation.

 

Preparation: Once matched with a host, students must attend MISTI prep & training sessions and a checkout meeting with the program manager. The mandatory training sessions will address topics in Spanish culture and society, as well as practical information about living in Spain, and will be held during the spring semester. There will also be some materials and resources to review on Canvas.

Global Teaching Labs

Learn through teaching. GTL challenges MIT students to synthesize and present what they know, work in a team, and communicate with peers of a different cultural background, all while sharing MIT's unique approach to science and engineering education with high school students around the world.

Tentative dates for IAP 2022: January 10–January 28th.

Please be aware that the GTL 2022 program may be cancelled at any time due to Covid by the MIT-Spain Program or by our partner schools.

  • Open to any MIT student (sophomore and above) willing to fully commit to a challenging teaching project
  • GPA 4.0 or better
  • Must be able to demonstrate practical teaching experience and/or interest in education
  • Enthusiasm, positive attitude and flexibility are a plus!
  • Students will be selected based on the following criteria:
    • Knowledge of subject matter
      • Adaptability
      • Leadership ability
      • Communication skills
      • Interest in/experience with teaching
      • Interest in host country
      • Fit with team/program

~ Priority may be given to students with Spanish language knowledge ~

  • Submit MIST GTL online application
  • The program manager will review applications and hold interviews in the following weeks with a final selection made by the end of October
  • For general deadlines, please refer to the MISTI GTL page.
  • Please note, due to the high number of applications, individual appointments will not be accepted for the GTL Spain program

Sept:  Submit MISTI GTL online application

Oct: Pre-selected students are invited by email to interview shortly after application deadline.

Nov - Dec: Students selected to participate will attend pre-departure trainings.

Jan: Most GTL programs take place during the last three weeks.

Feb: Students attend a mandatory re-entry session upon return.

Students will teach subjects such as biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, math, and robotics. MIT-Spain connects with public, private and semi-private schools in large cities as well as small towns. 

Students are paired with a mentor teacher with whom they will develop a teaching plan to support the current curriculum and teach up to 20 hours/week.  Some schools ask MIT students to create workshops with a final presentation at the end of the teaching period.   All students live with host families associated with the school they are teaching at.

Students are expected to attend November training sessions on teaching skills and Spanish culture and education.

Some of the locations include Madrid and surrounding towns, Barcelona and surrounding towns, the Balearic Island of Mallorca, and the Principality of Andorra.

MIT student with Spanish students

Study Abroad in Madrid

Direct enroll at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) for the fall, spring, or the full academic year. UC3M was established in 1989 with a focus on research. It has a wide diversity of Spanish students and international students.  

To apply online or for more information on funding, requirements and deadlines, please visit the MISTI Study Abroad Page. 

Take a virtual tour online!

students in front of Madrid palace
  • Study Abroad Application
  • Interview
  • Minimum GPA of 4.5
  • Mandatory Pre-departure Preparation
  • Encouraged to attend all MIT-Africa Forum events

Students must majoring in Course 16 and/or Minoring or Majoring in Course 21 must take the "African & African Diaspora Studies" course.

Exchange:

  1. Apply for MIT exchange for the term you wish to study. Go to the MISTI Portal, find your program, and apply before the deadline.
  2. MISTI will be in touch regarding an interview with the applicable MISTI Program Manager and major department.

Direct Enroll:

  1. Apply directly to the host university/program provider by their program deadline. (Their deadline may be earlier than the MISTI deadline.) 
  2. Apply to MISTI for MIT approval to study abroad before the deadline for the term you wish to study. Go to the MISTI Portal, find your program or use the Direct Enroll General Application to apply.
  3. MISTI will be in touch regarding an interview with the applicable Program Manager.

How to Apply

Financial Aid:

Financial aid can be used to study abroad during academic terms. Awards will be adjusted based on expenses such as airfare, living expenses, and local tuition costs. Students should meet with their financial aid counselor and a MISTI Program Manager at least one term before they go abroad to start planning how aid will be affected. MISTI and Student Financial Services will work together to gather and verify cost information . Based on this information, financial aid counselors will advise students on their adjusted financial aid packages and process any refunds accordingly.

Scholarships:

Click here to learn more about external study abroad scholarships.

Spain is the 4th largest Eurozone economy with a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Madrid itself is the capital of Spain and has a rich historic, artistic and cultural heritage; it is home to some of the best art museums in the world. Additionally, the Madrid Community region includes historic municipalities such as Alcala de Henares, Aranjuez, or El Escorial, and it is very near the monumental cities of Segovia and Toledo. As it is located in the center of Spain, traveling to other regions within the country is convenient.

Global Seed Funds for MIT-Spain

The MIT-Spain Seed Funds promote new, cutting-edge research collaborations and help to deepen partnerships between MIT faculty and researchers and their Spanish counterparts.

Spain is fast becoming a leader in innovation and generating advanced solutions in the industries of aerospace, renewable energies, water treatment, rail, biotechnology, industrial machinery and civil engineering.

logo for UAH
Llauset dam in Aragon. Hydroelectric energy power. Trekking route. Spain

MIT-Spain Universidad de Alcalá Seed Fund

The MIT-Spain Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) Seed Fund is a part of MISTI Global Seed Funds. All general MISTI Global Seed Funds criteria, application and evaluation procedures apply.

 

Through an annual call for proposals, the fund primarily supports travel costs for exchange between a team at MIT and colleagues at The Universidad de Alcalá (UAH). The Spanish colleague(s) must be identified in the proposal.

The maximum award is $20,000.

Priority will be given to projects that:

  • propose a balanced exchange between the MIT and Spanish participants
  • demonstrate complementarity between the MIT and Spanish teams
  • involve undergraduate and graduate students
Learn more about this fund
UPM logo

MIT-Spain Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Seed Fund

The MIT-Spain Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Seed Fund is a part of MISTI Global Seed Funds. All general MISTI Global Seed Funds criteria, application and evaluation procedures apply.

Through an annual call for proposals, the fund primarily supports travel costs for exchange between a team at MIT and colleagues at The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

The Spanish colleague(s) must be identified in the proposal. The maximum award is $30,000.

Priority will be given to projects that:

  • propose a balanced exchange between the MIT and Spanish participants
  • demonstrate complementarity between the MIT and Spanish teams
  • involve undergraduate and graduate students
Learn more about this fund
Inditex logo
Bridge in Spain

MIT-Spain INDITEX Circularity Seed Fund

Through an annual call for proposals, the fund primarily supports new collaborations between faculty and students at MIT and their counterparts in universities and research institutions in Spain. The maximum award is $30,000.

Priority will be given to projects that:

  • propose a balanced exchange between the MIT and Spanish participants
  • demonstrate complementarity between the MIT and Spanish teams
  • involve undergraduate and graduate students

Purpose of the proposals should be linked to:

  • Sustainable fabrics & raw materials
  • Textile-to-textile recycling technologies
  • Sustainable logistics
  • Water or energy textile processes optimization
  • Improve textile maintenance
  • Optimize biodegradability
  • Traceability at yarn level

The MIT-Spain INDITEX Circularity Seed Fund is a part of MISTI Global Seed Funds. All general MISTI Global Seed Funds criteria, application and evaluation procedures apply.

Learn more about this fund

Featured Video

 

In July of 2021, MIT-Spain virtually celebrated the Festival of San Fermín - check out the recording!

Meet Your Program Manager

Contact Us
Alicia Goldstein Raun

Get in touch with Alicia Goldstein Raun, Managing Director for MIT-Spain, to get your questions answered.