Spanish LSA | Santander, Spain

To qualify for an LSA program, a student must have achieved a minimum grade of B- in SPAN 2, or the equivalent preparation, and be accepted into the program.

If you have taken SPAN 3 on campus or placed out of SPAN 3 on the online placement exam, if you score a 4 or 5 on either AP exam, or if you score 690 or better on the SAT II exam, you are overqualified and thus not eligible to apply for the LSA program. Please check out our LSA+ and FSP programs instead!

The LSA program in Santander, Spain is led by a faculty member of the Spanish and Portuguese Department. Students live with Spanish-speaking families for the entire term. The program offers SPAN 3 (Advanced language instruction), SPAN 5 (Introduction to History and Culture), and SPAN 6 (Introduction to Hispanic Literatures).

*Students who successfully complete an LSA program may skip Spanish 9 and enroll directly in Spanish 20.

For more information please contact specific directors for each program.

DIRECTORS**

LSA Santander Summer 2025: Annabel Martín and Txetxu Aguado

**Per 2025-2026 Academic Year Application Cycle**

This LSA will be based at the Universidad Internacional "Menéndez Pelayo" (UIMP). It will involve two days of extensive, on-site orientation, nine weeks of academic coursework, and a total of six to seven days of cultural excursions as a group.

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 to 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.