The Universidad de Alcalá (www.uah.es) was founded in 1499. In 1836, the University transferred to the nearby capital of Madrid, leaving its historic facilities in Alcalá unused until 1977 when the University was re-established. The Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Estudios Norteamericanos de la Universidad de Alcalá (the Institute) offers academic programs in Hispanic Studies for U.S. students. CIEE students can also take courses in three schools at the Universidad de Alcalá: Philosophy and Letters, Economics and Business, and Law.

Established in 1999, the CIEE Study Center at the Universidad de Alcalá provides an academic program for students with a high intermediate to advanced level of Spanish. The academic offering consists of a combination of CIEE Study Center language courses and courses offered through the Institute (Hispanic studies for U.S. students). Students with the necessary prerequisites are encouraged to enroll in one or two courses at the Universidad de Alcalá with Spanish students. The Institute (IUIEN. www.iuien-uah.net/) is housed in a 17th century convent, which has been renovated to preserve the building’s beauty and charm while providing modern office and classroom space. Class size varies between ten and twenty students. Instruction is in Spanish. Classes at the Institute meet Monday–Thursday for 90 minutes twice a week. Fridays are reserved for class-related activities, weekend excursions, and field trips to Madrid and surrounding areas. In the Fall semester, Institute courses start the first week in September and end in mid-December. Regular university courses run from late September through mid- February. Fall semester students interested in enrolling in regular university courses must be prepared to stay until the end of the examination period in mid-February. In the Spring semester, Institute courses begin in early January and run through the first week of May. Regular university courses begin in mid-February with exams usually scheduled in late June/early July; tutors will be available for additional help in order to enable students to benefit fully from this opportunity.

CIEE language courses are with CIEE students only. Area studies courses through the Institute (IUIEN) are with CIEE and other american students. Regular university courses, an option if you have advanced language skills and are willing to stay until mid-February for fall and late June/early July for spring, are with Spanish and ERASMUS (European) students. In Summer we have: session I: 4.5 weeks: late May - late June and session II: 4.5 weeks: late June - late July or sessions I + II: 9 weeks: late May - late July.