What Our Students Say
Whether you need travel tips, are curious about housing or classes, or simply want a student's perspective, read on for some insights from experts who are excited to share their experiences with you!
"As someone who has absolutely no navigational skills whatsoever, it can be extremely challenging to find my way around an unknown area, especially one in a foreign country. When I first got to Suffolk University Madrid Campus, I remember thinking that getting around the city would take me the entire semester. Much to my surprise, it only took me about a week and a half to figure out how to use public transportation, and now I go everywhere by metro or bus. This past semester I had one morning class and one afternoon class every day. During the time between my classes, I’d get coffee and do my homework. For the most part the cafés are fairly quiet, which make them a good place to get homework done or study."
"When going to Spain and across Europe, I recommend that you get out of your comfort zone, talk to as many people you can and make new friends. These memories you are going to have will be amazing and even better if you can share them with others."
"During my time at SUMC I have had the chance to take a lot of interesting classes that were directly focused on my business major. The professors who teach at Suffolk University Spain all have incredible backgrounds in their fields and have been some of the best professors that I’ve ever had. It’s hard to choose a favorite class or professor that I’ve had during my year in Spain, but I can honestly say that I have never felt so much respect in a classroom or genuinely enjoyed my classes as I have here. I am excited to come back next year to continue learning from all my favorite professors even more."
"Before coming to Madrid, I had already decided that living with a host family would be the only way I could take full advantage of the opportunity that awaited me. As soon as I arrived in Suffolk University Madrid, a family was ready to open their doors to me not only for the semester, or the year, but for a lifetime. My host mom welcomed my roommate and me home every night with a traditional, home-cooked Spanish meal and would enjoy conversations with us in Spanish (accompanied by the occasional English translation). My host mom was always there to help with anything from caring for me when I was sick to mastering conversational phrases and terms that Spaniards use daily. For me, living in a host family was the best decision I have made thus far. It allowed me to overcome the challenge of immersing myself in a new culture and gave me the confidence and comfort to be able to stay in Madrid for two years. For those two years, and many to come, I will always have family in Spain."
"Madrid is a city full of incredibly fun things to do and see; there is never a dull moment. Each week Student Activities sends a list of interesting things to do in Spain, like intercambios, where you can go meet people from all over the world to practice your Spanish, tapas tours, for trying out different restaurants and traditional Spanish food, Suffolk Cine Club, where you can go to the movies and see new films in Spanish, and a list of festivals and events going on in the city. On top of all these great suggestions, you can always go out on your own to visit the beautiful parks, plazas, and museums that the Suffolk Madrid Campus has to offer. And nothing beats Madrid’s nightlife."
"I always knew that I wanted to travel abroad for a semester when I went to college, so when I found out that Suffolk University had a program letting incoming students complete their first two years at its Madrid Campus, I jumped at the chance! The thought of studying abroad as a freshman was enticing and exciting. Once I committed to Suffolk Madrid, I immediately became nervous and started having lots of doubts, but after attending orientation in the summer, all those worries washed away. I became excited after hearing previous students’ experiences and meeting some of my future classmates. With those nerves out of my system, I began to prepare for my time abroad, and when the time came to leave the house I'd called home for 17 years, I had zero doubts in my mind that the Suffolk study abroad campus was the right choice. With the amount of memories and number of friends that I have made because of Suffolk Madrid, I could not be more excited to return for my second year!"
