Study in Spain. Study in Alcalá. Study in Spanish
Alcalá de Henares is one of the best places of Spain to learn the Spanish language, customs and gastronomy. Its proximity to Madrid (only 30 minutes by public transport), makes it very simple to visit one of the main Europe’s cultural capitals. Notwithstanding, Alcalá de Henares’s nearness to the Spanish capital is just one of the many things the city can offer.
University Campus
The Alcalá de Henares’ university campus, set up in 1499, was pioneering and revolutionary in many points since its foundation. Today, the bases of Alcalá’s university are still present in several of the world’s best universities. Since its beginning, the active participation in society and different power structures was promoted. The prestige of its studies and professors quickly became a model upon which new universities of Latin America were constituted.
Cardinal Cisneros, its founder, wanted this university to be an example to the modern Spain to be followed during the period of Renaissance and Humanistic trends in Europe. At that time, he achieved not only to educate the clergy, intended for dealing with the ecclesiastical reform, but also the new competent civil servants that Spanish reigns needed. The fulfillment of his wishes turned Alcalá into the core of a university aristocracy that makes the Spanish Golden Age possible.
According to the “Ranking QS World University Ranking”, the University of Alcalá is, compared with its size, the first Spanish University regarding international students’ enrollments—and one of the first 200 of the entire world, as the indicator claims. During the year 2011-2012, 5500 international students from 130 different countries studied within the UAH.
Historical city
Alcalá de Henares, with its more than two hundred years of history, owes its origin to Celtiberians; and later to Romans who named the city after Complutum. Arabians came after them and turned it into: Al-kala Nahar. Once the city was reconquered by the Christian troops, it finally became Alcalá de Henares.
The historical city center of Alcalá de Henares was proclaimed as World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1998. Wondering around its streets is like coming to life during the Spanish Renaissance and the city cultural richness that gathered all Christians, Jews and Muslims during great part of the Middle Ages, when the three groups were able to live together in peace and harmony. As an example, the Alcalá’s calle Mayor was the central axis of the Jewish quarter—the commercial core and nerve center of the city whose legacy is still present today. Even in the present, a nice walk by calle Mayor—a place that, by the way, also holds the record of being the longest street of Europe full of arcades—where you can visit its countless shops where almost everything can be bought can be enjoyed.
A modern city
Alcalá de Henares is much more than only its history. Alcalá is a modern city with a very rich social and cultural life, and whose inhabitants are willing to enjoy the leisure and cultural offers the city constantly offers. We have already mentioned the importance of calle Mayor, but not less important is Plaza de Cervantes, where the old market, fairs and popular festivities where the Miguel de Cervantes statue stands out—famous novelist author of Don Quixote—are hold. The authentic nerve center of the city, a boundary between the Mediaeval city and the University Campus founded in the sixteenth century. If weather allows, Plaza de Cervantes is the location where Alcalá inhabitants go to have a walk, an ice-cream or a nice chat with friends and, of course, to enjoy one of their favorite activities: to go round tapas bars.
The ideal city for students
Spain has wonderful cities for foreign students: Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, for instance, are common destinies to train Spanish language and culture. However, Alcalá offers indisputable advantages over all of them. The first unquestionable benefit is its nearness to Madrid. This condition allows the student to enjoy the capital, its great leisure and cultural offers in more or less 30 minutes journey. However, at the same time, being Alcalá a smaller city, it is also warmer than a huge city and the foreign student would feel comfortable as soon as he arrives.
Alcalá, unlike large cities, is a very safe urban. Alcalá’s population is characterized by being nice and positive, always willing to offer help and advice in return for a smile.
If you are planning to study in Alcalá, we recommend you to ask in some of the specialized institutions for international exchanges programs or foreign studies such as CIEE, the Instituto Franklin or Alcalingua. There, you will have the opportunity of learning the language, study whatever you are most interested in and live without any effort in a city with more than 2000 years of history.
Video produced in 2013 by Lily B. Aduana. Indiana University. Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Need an advice?
In Alcalá, you can accommodate in a student’s center or even apartments with other students of your same nationality. But it is pretty clear that learning a foreign language surrounded of people from your own country is very difficult.
If you want to live an absolutely different and enriching experience, we advise you to choose a foster family for foreign students. CIEE or Alcalingua, for example, have fantastic accommodation programs for students in which you will be able to dip into a Spanish day-to-day real life.
There is an infinite difference in doing so, you will not only notice that your improving with the language is exponential, but also you can experiment at first-hand the Spanish costumes, and the excellences of homemade Spanish food and Mediterranean diet worldwide known. You will share experiences with your Spanish “parents”, participate in activities together, and everything without losing your independence… what else do you need?
If you still not being sure, or if you prefer to know more in depth those programs, click the former links and come visit us.