Orientation Information

Students fly into Madrid where they will meet the Resident Director and the other ISA Bilbao participants. Students will participate in an orientation and several cultural activities during the two day/two night excursion in Madrid. The ISA Bilbao Resident Director will provide students with an introduction to Spain's history and culture while also letting students know what to expect regarding living with a homestay or in a Spanish residencia, taking classes at a Spanish university, and adjusting to life in Spain. After the initial excursions in Madrid and Toledo, students depart for Bilbao where they will meet their homestay or be acquainted with their residencia. Students will then be given time to orient themselves with the city. They will also take a placement exam and register for courses at the University of Deusto during their first few days in Bilbao.Prior to their departure and on-site orientation, students will receive a lengthy and detailed pre-departure orientation handbook which serves as a primer for their study abroad experience in Spain. This handbook is designed to be used in conjunction with the Online Orientation in the Student Portal. Although the on-site orientation will cover the nitty-gritty of life in Spain, the handbook allows students to read up on pertinent information before their arrival in Bilbao. The handbook covers academics, culture, gender relations, useful phrases, food, housing, the university, ISA facilities, money matters, visas, and numerous other details that students also learn about during their on-site orientation. Of course, students are always welcome to contact the Bilbao Site Specialist with any questions.