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Study Abroad | Salamanca
Spring 2027: Academics

Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain.
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Select Your Program Option:

  • Fall 2025

  • Spring 2026

  • Fall 2026

  • Spring 2027

AcadEmics Overview

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

Program Options

Program Name Early Start Available Credits Notes
Contemporary International Studies and Spanish with Early Start
Early Start Available: Yes Credits: Up to 18

Early start: Earn 3 credits taking an intensive Spanish language program focusing on grammar and conversation. All levels of Spanish are available from Elementary through Advanced. Although all levels are taught in Spanish, no previous knowledge of Spanish is required. 

Semester: No previous knowledge of Spanish is required. Language level is determined by a placement test taken online before arrival. Three courses are taught in Spanish: Spanish Grammar (required course), Spanish Culture, and Conversation and Composition. These courses meet for 45 hours and carry 3 recommended credits. All additional courses offered are taught in English at the university and credits are listed in ECTS. Students can take a maximum of 15 credits during the semester.

ECTS Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) awards ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits. The number of class hours and ECTS credits will be shown on the transcript to allow each student’s home institution the ultimate decision in the awarding of U.S. credit. Recommended U.S. semester credits next to each course are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit and are not a conversion of ECTS credits. Students should consult with their university advisors prior to participating in the program to have course credit pre-approved and ensure that they are taking the appropriate amount of credits. 

Since scheduling conflicts are common, it is recommended that students choose several alternative courses to put together a viable schedule once on campus. 

Eligibility Notes To take Spanish Conversation and Composition and/or Spanish Culture (both taught in Spanish) students must have a minimum of an intermediate level (B1) in Spanish proficiency. 

No AIFS Abroad participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a grade. Pass/Fail options are not available. 

Anthropology

Business

Communications

Criminal Justice

Economics

Law

Literature

Marketing

Political Science

Sociology

Spanish Language

Academic Credit & Transcripts

Credit Transfer

As a part of the AIFS Abroad application for semester programs, you will complete a Course Approval Form, which will be signed off by your study abroad office staff and/or faculty at your university.

For J Term/Summer programs, no such approval form is needed; however, students are still responsible for ensuring credit can be brought back from their overseas program.
In any case, we recommend getting additional courses approved in case you need to change courses while abroad.

Overseas universities do not use the credit system employed by American institutions. AIFS Abroad students must make special arrangements to transfer credits, but since AIFS Abroad courses are given at recognized universities or the AIFS Abroad Centers (which are transcripted by Fairfield University), there usually is no difficulty in arranging transfer credit toward U.S. degrees provided the proper procedure is followed.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

Many of the European institutions that AIFS Abroad works with award credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS enables cooperating institutions to measure and compare a student’s performance and facilitates the transfer of credits from the European institution to the U.S institution.

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Language levels are defined according to the CEFR and will be listed on your transcript on completion of the program. CEFR organizes language proficiency into six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) which can be regrouped into three broad levels according to the needs of the local institution: Beginner: A1, A2/U.S. Level 100; Intermediate: B1, B2/U.S. Level 200-300; Advanced: C1, C2/U.S. Level 400

Transcripts

When you complete your program, an official transcript is sent to your home institution directly from AIFS Abroad or the host university. Another official transcript may be retained by AIFS Abroad in Stamford, but this is not the case for all programs. Please contact transcripts@aifs.com to find out how to request additional transcripts. 
 
Generally, your school should receive your transcript 60 days after completion of the program. (Cannes Semester programs, Perth, Sydney, Dublin, Limerick, and Wellington Programs exception: Transcripts issued and retained by the host universities. Transcripts for the Cannes Semester programs are issued by Chapman University.)
 
Transcripts may come without an English-language translation, so participants will need to organize translations with their home university.

Academic Records

Credit assessment methods in overseas universities may not be comparable to those in U.S. universities. Grading may involve exams, papers, individual projects, class discussion or some combination of these. Although academic institutions abroad may grade on a variety of scales, admissions counselors and registrars at U.S. institutions are familiar with international grading systems and can convert grades.

Course Selection

AIFS Abroad Program Advisors are available to assist you in the process. The following procedure is recommended:

Read course descriptions for the selected program and select courses. Obtain approval from your academic or study abroad advisor for the preliminary courses selected. Final approval of credit transfer for completed courses is at the discretion of the Registrar or appropriate official at the home institution. Students must ascertain that courses taken meet their individual academic program requirements. Recommended credits in this catalog are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit.

I would absolutely recommend this program. The trip has been such a positive experience. Wonderful program!

AIFS has a lot to offer. The more I talked to American students from other programs, the more I realized that AIFS was clearly the best choice

This program opened my eyes to a culture and society I knew very little about. I made great friends and had a fabulous time during the process. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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