Wake Forest’s Department of Spanish offers a summer program to complete the College language requirement in Salamanca, Spain. This is an ideal program for students who have completed SPA 153 or 154 on campus and are interested in achieving a higher degree of language proficiency and cultural knowledge. 

Students live with Spanish families selected by Cursos Internacionales of the University of Salamanca.

Salamanca is a beautiful, historic university city approximately two hours from Madrid. Students are drawn to it not only for its stunning architecture, but also for its lively social atmosphere. Designated a University of Excellence for the Teaching of Spanish in 2017 by the European Union, the University of Salamanca is a summer destination for students from all over the world. Other cities in Spain are easily accessible from Salamanca. Madrid, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, and Barcelona are a few of the cities that students enjoy visiting.

Students on the program take SPA 212, which fulfills the university language requirement. A prerequisite of three semesters of Spanish or the equivalent (SPA 153 or 154) is required.

Encarna Turner
Associate Professor of Spanish 
turnermm@wfu.edu
336-758-5540
Greene 531

Students may live with a Spanish family or stay in a university residence hall.

The homestay allows for full cultural and language immersion. Families are selected by Cursos Internacionales of the University of Salamanca. Homestays include 3 meals/day and weekly laundry.  

The residence hall includes 3 meals/day and costs an additional fee of $1000

NOTE: All students participating in the WFU Salamanca: SPA 212 program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available.

Program excursions include two day trips. The first will be to the city of Segovia, where students will visit the Royal Fortress that inspired Walt Disney´s castle, a Roman aqueduct, the gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja, and sample local cuisine.

The second day trip will be to the region of Arribes del Duero on the border of Spain and Portugal, where students will take a boat trip through a nature preserve, visit a winery, and sample local wines and ports.

Throughout the stay in Salamanca, students will tour sites around the city, including the 800-year-old University, the Old and New Cathedrals, a Jesuit Park, the Casa Lis Decorative Arts Museum and local hot chocolate shops. 

The day trips to Segovia and the Arribes del Duero are a required academic component integral and mandatory part of the 212 program. Consult this calendar for the dates of these trips before making plans for personal travel.

Students must be in good academic standing and have earned a grade of P (in pass/fail mode) or C (in grade mode) in SPA 153/154 to be eligible for the program. Students from all career paths are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to those with a serious commitment to language immersion.

Application Deadline: February 15
Early application is recommended. The program fills quickly and is limited to 18 students.

The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:

Program Fee – Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.

Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2025 summer rate was $950/per credit hour.

Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.

Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students’ spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.

Program Fee – TBD
Tuition (3hrs) – $2,850
Airfare (estimated) – TBD
Personal Expenses (estimated) – TBD
Estimated total cost – TBD

Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies.

Scholarship application deadline for the Center for Global Programs and Studies is February 1st.

Passport Information
Students need to check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.

Students going on a summer program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-February of the following year.

US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.

Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country’s passport office.

Visa Information
If you are a US citizen, you most likely will not require a visa for your summer abroad program. If you do, details will be shared with you by GPS. Non-US passport holders should check with their host country’s embassy or consulate to find out if a visa is required for their program or not.

Salamanca programs Application Officer:
Rebekah Morris
morrisrl@wfu.edu
336-758-4943
Greene 515

Salamanca Resident Professor Summer 2025:
Encarna Turner
Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish 
turnermm@wfu.edu
336-758-5540
Greene 531

Kathryn Mayers 
Associate Professor of Spanish
Director, Salamanca Programs
525 Greene Hall
mayerskm@wfu.edu
336-758-4739

Amanda Batten
Study Abroad Advisor
336-758-3194
battena@wfu.edu

Full Website with more FAQ can be found here