In 2018, almost 110,000 students flocked
to Spain to embark on an academic journey of a lifetime. With the number of
international students studying in Spain rising year on year, it begs the question, what is it that
makes the country such an attractive study destination?
Hint: it’s not just its Mediterranean
climate, outstanding cuisine, or friendly locals either.
Spain’s long-standing reputation for
offering some of the best education in the world dates back to 1218. Since
then, it’s continued to strive and make waves in the world of academia,
producing world-class research and some of the best business schools not just
in Europe, but around the globe.
One
in particular is IE
Business School, which
is renowned for employing a ‘technology-based learning eco-system’, as it
continuously adapts and evolves its curriculum to reflect the current trends
and realities of the business world.
Having landed a spot in the world’s top
ten universities for its innovation in technology and teaching, IE Business School also continues to
dominate university rankings and receive accolades for its undergraduate and
graduate business degrees, including its International MBA, Master in
Finance, and Master in Management programs.
Although this point is relevant to
basically any country you can study abroad in, it’s particularly worth
highlighting here.
Studying in Spain exposes you to elements
and experiences you wouldn’t usually encounter if you were to study in your
home country. Having to immerse yourself in a new culture, acclimatizing to a
new way of studying and working, and in some circumstances, learning a new
language, can have a significant impact on any future job applications you
make, and Spain opens you up to career possibilities in not just Europe but
Latin America too.
Despite many Spanish institutions offering
English-taught degree programs, Spanish is the second most widely spoken
language in the world. Not only is it an extremely useful language to have when
it comes to ordering food in a local restaurant, or asking for directions,
you’ll be able to get to know your classmates better too.
Oh, and employers consider being
multilingual a valuable skill as well. After all, the Spanish language
dominates global business communications, from Latin America to Europe, and
everywhere in between.
Don’t panic if you can only master the
basics (for the time being, anyway). A large number of institutions in Spain,
including IE Business School, offer English-taught degree programs.
Barcelona may take the crown as Spain’s
answer to Silicon Valley, but Madrid’s tech startup scene is starting to take
off as well. Over the last five years, the sunny Spanish capital has grown
rapidly, become home to over 1,200 tech startups, and has come to be considered
one of the EU’s “fastest
growing economies.”
If you’re looking for a place where you
can turn your ideas into a genuine reality, Spain is the place to do it. In
fact, IE Business School has developed its own Venture Lab which fosters fresh
entrepreneurial talent that comes through its doors.
Students are assigned their very own
mentor, who has a wealth of sector-specific knowledge and experience, in order
to help students prepare their projects to present to potential investors and
fellow entrepreneurs.
From tapas to sangria, football to the
flamenco, there’s no denying there’s an abundance of rich history, art, and
culture around every corner.
Despite the clichés, Spain is able to
offer a quality of life like no other. The second most-visited country in the
world in 2017, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization,
Spain’s ability to entice and excite is hard to rival.
In between lectures and studying,
students can bask in the warm sunshine, take in the magic of local fiestas,
wander the welcoming streets, tickle their taste-buds with the sweet taste of
sangria or spicy tones of tapas, as well as discover the country’s miles of
golden beaches and picture-perfect landscapes.
Plus, with a cost of living that’s
relatively low compared to its European counterparts, softer visa restrictions,
and a reputation as a safe and secure country, it’s no wonder Spain is
extremely appealing to students from all over the world.
