Universidade da Coruña
Photo courtesy of Meghan Miles '14 - "El pulpo y la torre de Hercules de la Coruña" (The Octopus and the Tower of Hercules in Coruña)
Note: DO NOT make international travel plans the summer before your semester or year in Spain. See "Visa Process" below for more details.
Summary: A Coruña is a stunning seaside town located in Galicia, an autonomous community on Spain’s northwest Atlantic coast. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from Santiago de Compostela, you’ll likely see some “pilgrims” walking the northern route of the famous ‘Camino de Santiago.’ Another unique aspect of Coruña: while you’ll hear and use plenty of Spanish, you may also pick up some “Gallego”, an ancient dialect still spoken in some parts of Galicia and the border regions of Castilla y León and Asturias. In your free time, explore A Coruña’s rocky beaches, busy port, or bustling commercial center. You’ll probably be eating plenty of seafood, including “pulpo” (octopus), one of the region’s many specialties. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it! Beyond the authentic and charming location, Holy Cross students have the unique experience of living with host families in A Coruña. While all of our host families across Spain and beyond are top-notch, we are consistently blown away by the feedback we get about the families in A Coruña. The host family experience at this site is second to none. Be prepared to try lots of new Galician food!
At University of Coruña, our partners design and teach a continuing “Spanish for Foreigners” class exclusively for Holy Cross students. This is a fabulous opportunity to continue developing your language skills throughout each semester while also taking three classes of your choice. While the University of Coruña has a wide range of academic options, it does not offer political science classes and or history classes and therefore might not be suitable for Political Science, International Studies, or History majors. With careful academic planning, however, Coruña can work for most majors. This site works very well for students wishing to complete common area requirements or Spanish major/minor requirements abroad.
Check out the Coruña Compass, your comprehensive guide to all things study abroad in La Coruña! Continue reading below for a snapshot:
Click here to book an advising appointment
Note: DO NOT make international travel plans the summer before your semester or year in Spain. See "Visa Process" below for more details.
Note: Coruña does not offer History Classes or Political Science Classes and therefore might not be suitable for POLS or HIST majors. This site can sometimes work for International Studies students because of the interdisciplinary aspect of the INST major
Terms available: Academic Year or Fall only
Dates: mid-August to Late June (academic year)*, mid-August to mid-January**
*Start and end dates noted are subject to change
**Fall semester participants MUST be physically present in Coruña for exams, which typically occur in January
Academic Calendar: https://www.udc.es/en/ensino/calendario_academico/
Pre-university program: Yes, usually runs during the 4 weeks prior to the start of the fall semester (usually mid-August to mid-September*) This program will appear on your transcript as an overload, and will not count towards your classes for the semester.
*dates noted are subject to change
ICIP required: Yes for academic-year students
Maximum capacity: 15
Registration info:
Fall Single Semester Students
Credits 1& 2: Two Spanish for Foreigners classes exclusively designed for Holy Cross students (one is Grammar, one is Cultural) taught in Spanish
Credits 3 & 4: Two content courses in the Facultades taught in Spanish
Academic year Students
Semester One:
Credit 1: Spanish for Foreigners class exclusively designed for Holy Cross students taught in Spanish
Credits 2, 3 & 4: Three content courses in the Facultades taught in Spanish
Semester 2:
Credit 1: Spanish for Foreigners class exclusively designed for Holy Cross students taught in Spanish
Credits 2, 3, & 4: Three content courses in the Facultades taught in Spanish
University website: https://www.udc.es/
Study Abroad website: http://holycross.udc.es/
Student life/campus activities: http://holycross.udc.es/aspectos_practicos/actividades_eng.htm
Visa fees: approximately $160 (for AY there is a $25 background check fee, a translation fee, ($50) apostille of the hague fee (6$), and a 25$ in-country residence fee (TIE)*
*these fees are approximate and always subject to change
Visa Process: The office of study abroad will work with you to obtain your Spanish student visa starting approximately 100 days before your departure. We will drop your passport off at the Spanish Consulate in Boston, and they will take anywhere from 6-12 weeks to process your visa. During this time, you CANNOT LEAVE THE UNITED STATES since you will not have your passport. DO NOT make international travel plans the summer before your semester or year in Spain.
Housing: Students live with host families in Coruña
Course Catalog: https://holycross.udc.es/aspectos_academicos/seleccion_asignaturas_eng.htm
Courses previously taken by Holy Cross students: https://sa.holycross.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Abroad.Home
On left-side menu, click on "Courses Taken Abroad for Holy Cross Credit" then select program. Please be aware this list is meant to give you an idea of the types of courses available to you in León based on what past students have taken. This is NOT a list of classes that are guaranteed to be available to you and you are not limited to the classes on this list. Class offerings change each semester and you can certainly register for classes that you do not see on this list.
Grade equivalency sheet: Available on the Holy Cross Registrar’s website: https://www.holycross.edu/support-and-resources/office-registrar/study-abroad-equivalencies
All information listed above is subject to change.
For more information, please contact:
Emma Meade - Assistant Director
Email: emeade@holycross.edu
Phone: 508-793-3090
Office: Smith 213
