Our College of Engineering, in partnership with CEA CAPA Education Abroad, offers an innovative Engineering First-Year Experience Abroad in Madrid, Spain. This program gives you the chance to begin your college experience in a new and exciting culture, all while having the support you need to succeed. You'll have the opportunity to challenge yourself, grow, and make lasting connections. Through CEA CAPA’s key program pillars, you’ll gain:
- Community Building: creating a sense of belonging both to the local community as well as to your home campus.
- Personal Growth and Development: exploring interests and career goals and developing an understanding of the relationship between education and professional development.
- Health & Wellness: focusing on all aspects of health and wellness including physical, mental, and spiritual health.
- Life Skills: establishing and cultivating lifelong skills such as financial literacy, independence, and flexibility.
- Cultural Exploration: exploring the unique aspects of the host culture as well as your home campus culture within Michigan State University.
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact us at eduabroad@egr.msu.edu.
More Information
MSU and CEA CAPA
CEA CAPA is a study abroad organization that offers academic and internship abroad programs for U.S. college and university students. Earn credits toward your degree while you learn to embrace different cultures, become a better communicator, gain independence, and grow as a person both personally and professionally. In collaboration with the Michigan State University College of Engineering, CEA CAPA facilitates this study abroad program, ensuring a seamless study abroad experience. CEA CAPA takes care of housing, cultural activities, excursions, and guest lectures, while also providing critical services like visa guidance, medical insurance, health, and safety support.
MSU and CEA CAPA will ensure that you are well-prepared for your study abroad experience through comprehensive pre-departure information, assistance with visa support, and onsite orientation.
CEA CAPA’s international staff and faculty come from diverse backgrounds, each with extensive experience in academia and international education. They undergo thorough training in student affairs and use their in-depth local knowledge and contacts to create academically enriching experiences. Equipped to address a wide range of topics, from health and wellness to academic policies, the team ensures that you are supported personally and academically throughout their program.
Pre-Departure Support
- Pre-Departure Advising
- Visa Support
- Housing Placement
- Pre-departure orientation
While Abroad
- Airport Pickup and Drop off
- 24/7 Emergency Support
- Cultural Activities
- Day trip – Toledo, El Escorial, or Segovia
- Welcoming Study Space
- Onsite Orientation which includes:
- Community welcome reception
- Health and safety, housing, and host culture presentations
- Guided city and neighborhood tour
- Community building and cultural activities
Academics
Your time in Madrid is approved by the Michigan State University College of Engineering. The courses offered will be taught by local faculty at the CEA CAPA Madrid Center, located in the heart of the city. Students will enroll in 15 credit hours as part of the program from a combination of CEA CAPA courses. Per-student pricing on this program reflects a 15-credit course load. Students may not enroll for less than 12 credits. When you complete your first semester abroad, your official transcript will be provided to MSU no later than 90 days after the program end date. The cost of the transcript is included in the student program fees.
Student area in the CEA CAPA Study Center
CEA CAPA faculty integrate field-based components into each course to utilize the city of Madrid as part of your classroom experience. These credit-bearing activities vary by location and course, but may include visits to local markets, businesses, museums, NGOs, monuments, and other points of local interest. You will have the opportunity to learn outside the classroom while engaging with local business leaders and community members. Faculty intentionally select activities that enhance and enrich the academic content. You can learn more by checking out our full CEA CAPA Academic and Residential Life Accommodations Policy.
desks and chairs in classroom
Required Courses:
- First Year Seminar (1 credit)
- Madrid: Past and Present (3 credits)
- General education credit
- One math course required unless approved by the institution
- Calculus 1 or Calculus 2
- One science course required
- Biology or Chemistry
- One liberal arts course
- Elective: psychology or communication
Housing and Meals
During your program, you’ll live in a residence hall and share a room with another student. Your housing includes breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, Monday through Sunday. The residence hall has shared gender-neutral bathrooms, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi, central heating, and air conditioning. Bed linens and towels are provided, and laundry facilities are available for a fee. You’ll also have access to common spaces like a gym, terraces, and study areas. Public transportation is easily accessible, and your commute to the CEA CAPA Center could take up to 30 minutes. Keep in mind that, depending on enrollment, you may not be placed in the same residence as other students.
You can learn more by checking out our full CEA CAPA Academic and Residential Life Accommodations Policy.
Health and Safety
Before you depart for your study abroad program, CEA CAPA’s Health, Safety, and Student Affairs Team will provide support to ensure a smooth experience. This includes health and safety advising, international travel insurance, and 24/7 emergency assistance while you’re abroad. We’ll also stay in touch through our communication platform and handle any issues that may arise through our Onsite Support Team. If there's an emergency, our Crisis Management Team will lead the response, and we’ll coordinate with your home institution as needed.
Before you leave, you’ll need to complete a Health Information form, which allows you to share any medical conditions, allergies, medications, or accommodation needs. This information helps us understand how to assist you during your time abroad. If you need specific services, such as mental health support or other accommodations, let us know as early as possible so we can work to arrange them. CEA CAPA will do its best to provide reasonable accommodations based on the information you share in your health form; however, availability may vary, and we can’t guarantee that all accommodations will be possible in every situation.
If you've been hospitalized for physical or mental health reasons within the past year, you'll need to submit a Health Clearance form, and we'll work with your institution to ensure you’re ready for the program. With CEA CAPA’s comprehensive health and safety protocols, we’re here to support you every step of the way, ensuring you have a safe and enriching experience during your time abroad. For more details on your coverage and support, visit CEA CAPA’s Health, Wellness and Safety Abroad page.
Costs
Included in Madrid Semester Fee:
- Tuition
- Housing
- Gym and other
- Three meals a day Monday - Sunday
- Airport transportation
- In-country orientation
- Excursions and other extracurricular activities
- Comprehensive International Health Insurance
Not Included:
- School materials
- Airfare
- Visa
- Personal travel
Extracurricular Opportunities
Welcome Week is designed to help you start your transition to college on a positive note, build community, and introduce you to the local culture for a successful, engaging, and safe semester. During the first week, you'll participate in a range of activities, including a Welcome Reception where you'll meet other students and the community over a shared meal. You'll also enjoy a guided walking tour of Madrid, exploring the city and your new neighborhood.
Orientation sessions will cover important topics like local support resources, emergency procedures, public transport, and ways to engage with your new environment. We'll also review CEA CAPA’s policies and academic guidelines, if applicable, along with housing information. Plus, you'll get a helpful crash course in everyday Spanish with a 60–90-minute SOS language session to get you started!
Throughout the program, you’ll have the chance to participate in a variety of social and cultural activities designed to enhance your experience abroad and help you engage with the local community. You can look forward to community-building events like scavenger hunts with locals or peer mentor activities organized by fellow students. There will also be opportunities for personal growth, such as engaging in community service projects or taking part in health and wellness activities like walking seminars through iconic areas of Madrid. You’ll even get the chance to build life skills, like learning how to cook traditional Spanish dishes. Additionally, you’ll explore the rich culture of your host city through visits to important monuments and museums that showcase Spain’s national identity.
Walking Seminar – examples include:
- Late 19th Century Madrid, including Plaza de Cibeles, Gran Vía, Palacio de Cristal, and Retiro Park
- Puerta del Sol, Buen Retiro, Plaza Payor, or Lavapies Neighborhoods
During your final week onsite, CEA CAPA will host a series of events to help you reflect on your study abroad experience. One key event is the Re-Entry & Career Development Workshop, where you'll be guided to reflect on how you've grown, the new skills you've gained, and how you adapted to life in your host city. You'll also explore how your classroom learning is connected to your experiences outside of class. This workshop will help you create a narrative about your time abroad and teach you how to translate these experiences into valuable skills for your resume or future job interviews. To wrap up the program, we’ll celebrate with a Farewell Reception, giving you the chance to enjoy a final meal together and say goodbye to your fellow students.
CEA CAPA will organize exciting day trips outside Madrid to places like Toledo, El Escorial, or Segovia. You'll get roundtrip transportation, a guided tour, local entrance fees, and a group meal included. A CEA CAPA representative will join you on each excursion, providing a detailed itinerary, historical insights, and suggestions for meals and free time. These trips might also be shared with other CEA CAPA students, giving you a chance to meet even more people.
Student FAQs
An Engineering First-Year Experience Abroad gives you some awesome advantages! This program is designed specifically for first-year students, so you'll be part of a tight-knit cohort, just like at MSU, but with the added excitement of studying abroad. Starting your college journey with an international experience gives you a distinct edge over peers who wait until junior or senior year to study abroad—or those who don’t go abroad at all. The insights you gain in cultural sensitivity and a global perspective will shape and enrich the rest of your education.
Not at all! The Engineering First-Year Experience Abroad program is an officially approved study abroad experience at MSU, and all credits earned in the program will count toward your degree just as if you had taken the courses on Michigan State University's campus.
As an Engineering First-Year Experience Abroad student, your first-year experience will be a bit different from your classmates who start on Michigan State’s campus, but that’s part of what makes it so exciting! This program is exclusively for MSU first-year engineering students, so when you return to campus after your semester in Madrid, you’ll already have strong connections with your fellow Engineering First-Year Experience Abroad classmates and feel a sense of community. Think of your time in Madrid as an extension of your MSU experience—you're just kicking off your college journey in an incredible new place!
For additional FAQs about your study abroad program, check out the CEA CAPA FAQ page.
Program Eligibility
- Must be 18 years old by the start of the on-site orientation (Friday, Aug. 22, 2025)
- Must have a valid passport by the time of application
- Must be an MSU student declared in an engineering major
- No travel to Europe 90 days prior to August 28
Timeline
To participate in your first-year semester abroad, you must be at least 18 years old by the program’s start date (August 21, 2026). MSU will verify that you meet this requirement before you begin the program.
Applications Open: December 2025
Application Closes: April 15, 2026
Applicants Informed of Decision: April 30, 2026
Program Dates: August 21 - November 21, 2026
