FAQs for Families
Why should my student study in Valencia?
Valencia is an ideal destination for a student to travel and learn abroad; here's why:
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1. Valencia is safe. According to the US State Department, the criminal activity most likely to impact travelers is pick-pocketing. Students who practice common-sense measures, such as awareness of their surroundings and keeping valuables close, should have no problems.
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2. Valencia is well-connected. Walking maps are posted throughout the city; bus and subway systems are clean and climate-controlled; and rail stations and airport terminals are up-to-date, with frequent and reliable service to national and international destinations.
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3. Valencia is accessible. All main sidewalks and tourist routes are wide and well-paved; bus stops and train stations are sheltered; subway stations have elevators and escalators; and all are equipped and staffed to accommodate travelers with mobility issues.
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4. Valencia is friendly. As the city welcomes millions of international travelers per year, historic sites are well-maintained; famous beaches are well-tended; natural attractions are well-conserved; celebrations are open to all; and residents are outgoing and helpful.
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5. Valencia is affordable. USpain's fees are the lowest of all major providers located in Valencia; in addition, the cost of living overall in Valencia is much more affordable than larger cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, or tourist destinations, such as Seville and Granada.
What makes USpain different than other study-abroad programs in Valencia?
USpain is unique among private-provider and university-consortia programs in Valencia for the following reasons:
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1. USpain is academic-led. We are entirely designed and directed by former US university faculty. This means we can communicate personally with your student's home campus to provide proper advising, equivalent coursework and academic tutoring before, during and after his/her term abroad.
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2. USpain is student-centered. We invest all of our resources and design all of our program features to enhance your student's academic and personal development while in Valencia. We teach courses because your student's educational progress is important to us. We lead activities because your student's cultural immersion is important to us. And we serve as mentors and because your student's personal well-being is important to us.
3. USpain are family-budgeted. We know that college is expensive and that sending a student abroad can strain household finances. That's why we work hard to reduce the economic burden of our students, whether by maintaining a low program fee, individual budget options, or arranging for all available low-cost and discount offers.
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How will USpain help my student achieve his/her future goals?
Many families wonder if a study-abroad program is little more than an extended - and very expensive! - vacation for their college students. But USpain offers specific benefits for your student's future plans:
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1. Language fluency. Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the world and an official language of the EU, the UN, NATO, NAFTA and more. Fluency in Spanish will allow your student to pursue even more opportunities post-graduation. For this reason, all USpain courses, events and student activities are conducted solely in Spanish.
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2. Degree advancement. Our academic program is designed to advance students' progress toward their degree goals, whether as a major, a minor or a certificate in Spanish. We consult with home campus departments and advisers to ensure that all courses are appropriate and complementary to their specific degree requirements.
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3. Cultural awareness. In today's globalized world, communicative fluency implies more than language skills. By living in a Spanish-immersive environment, students will acquire personal familiarity with everyday customs and habits that will be useful in a variety of academic, professional and personal interactions.
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How can my student afford to study with USpain in Valencia?
One of USpain's founding principles is the belief that studying abroad ought to be more accessible to all college students. We know this is possible for the following reasons:
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1. A lower cost of living. The cost of living in Valencia is much more affordable in comparison to Spanish cities of similar size and visitor interest, including Madrid and Barcelona. To compare Valencia prices with those in your home city, see Numbeo.com!
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2. A lower tuition rate. The University of Valencia sets low tuition rates, including for international students. In fact, Business Insider recently reported that tuition at a Spanish university costs almost 45% less than tuition at an American public or private institution!
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3. A lower programming fee. USpain invests all fees in the services and instruction we provide to our students, and we constantly seek ways to reduce our own costs so as to keep our fees low. For a comparison of USpain with other Valencia programs, see Compare Savings.
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4. A lower threshold for financial aid students. If your student receives financial aid to help pay for his/her education, s/he may apply that aid to any and all expenses associated with participating in USpain. For details, see USpain's Save as well as FAQs for Students: Can I use my financial aid package to pay for USpain fees and living expenses?
What payment options are available for USpain students?
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Term fee. The term fee will be billed to you at the time of enrollment in USpain and is due in full 30 days thereafter or 60 days prior to the start of the program, whichever comes first. If you enroll less than 60 days prior to the start date of the program, your term fee is due upon enrollment. You may pay your bill by bank wire transfer, MasterCard, Visa or PayPal.
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Enrollment fee. There is a $500 fee collected at the time of your enrollment. You may pay your bill by wire bank transfer, MasterCard, Visa or PayPal. Should you cancel your enrollment in USpain for any reason at any time, the reservation fee will not be refunded. However, the enrollment fee will be paid towards your term fee upon your arrival in Valencia.
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Financial Aid Deferments. If you plan to pay your USpain term fee with a financial aid award that will be paid 60 days or less prior to program's start date, you can request a deferment. We can grant a deferment if the following criteria are met upon enrollment: 1) Your college or university study-abroad and financial aid officers approve in writing the use of your financial aid package to pay any and all expenses incurred from your participation in the USpain program; 2) Your financial aid adviser provides USpain in writing the estimated date of your financial aid disbursement, with your full term fee due within 30 days thereafter; and 3) You assume responsibility in writing for any and all expenses incurred during your term in USpain not paid for by your financial aid package.
How can I be sure of my student's well-being while s/he is in Valencia?
USpain works hard to ensure that every student feels personally supported in Valencia.
1. Program-wide support. We offer individual tutoring to help students succeed in their courses. We visit each housing location to ensure safety, accessibility and convenience. We lead regular extracurricular activities to foster collegiality. And we encourage students to ask us questions, share their concerns or give us suggestions at any time throughout the program.
2. Individual support. We help arrange accommodations for students with individual needs, including instructional flexibility, accessible housing, dietary restrictions or allergies, minor medical conditions and prescriptions.
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3. Student-family support. We encourage students to stay in regular and frequent contact with their loved ones back home by suggesting optimal calling and data plans, inviting posts to our Facebook and Twitter feeds, requesting contributions to our USpain blog and sharing content for students' own personal media accounts.
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4. Family-program support. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to respond personally to any and all questions that you or your student may have about any aspect of his/her experience in Valencia. Our program directors are fluent in the language, culture and nuances of travel, study and life in the States and in Europe. We look forward to placing our expertise and experience at your service.
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What if I have questions?
If you still have questions, we're happy to answer them! Just send an e-mail to info@uspain.com or send us a message using the form below: