Aerial view of Universidad de León

Photo courtesy of Lauren Hammer '14 - "Newly Leonese, Forever American, Forever Holy Cross" at the León Cathedral

Note:  DO NOT make international travel plans the summer before your semester or year in Spain. See "Visa Process" below for more details.

Summary: It doesn’t get more authentic than León for a true Spanish immersion experience. You won’t find many tourists roaming León’s winding streets, but you will find plenty of Spanish charm and endless opportunities to use (and improve) your Spanish! From the gorgeous plaza mayor to León’s famous cathedral, there is no lack of stunning architecture and typical Spanish charm in León. Visit MUSAC, the contemporary art museum or stroll through the Barrio Húmedo to get a taste Leonese cuisine, and of course wine! Beyond the authentic and charming location, Holy Cross students have the unique experience of living with host families in León. We have been working with our host families for many years, and they love introducing Holy Cross students to all things León.
 
While the University of León has a wide range of academic options, it does not offer political science classes and therefore might not be suitable for Political Science or International Studies majors. Also keep in mind that psychology classes are offered at León, but are limited compared to Holy Cross offerings. With careful academic planning, León 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 León Compass, your comprehensive guide to all things study abroad in León! Continue reading below for a snapshot:

Click here to book an advising appointment
 

UniLeón Web Page: https://fhyc.unileon.es/holycross/index.html

Note:  DO NOT make international travel plans the summer before your semester or year in Spain. See "Visa Process" below for more details.

Note:  León is does not offer Political Science and therefore might not be suitable for POLS majors. Psychology classes are available in León, but limited compared to HC options.
 

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 León for exams, which typically occur in January
Academic Calendar:  https://www.unileon.es/estudiantes/futuros-estudiantes/normativa-calendario (click on grados)
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 Students  
Registration info: 
The required pre-university language program does not count towards the year’s/semester’s course load and will appear as an overload on your transcript.

          Semester 1 (mid-September to mid-January)
          Credit 1: Continuing Spanish for foreigners class in the Centro de Idiomas taught in Spanish
          Credits 2, 3, & 4: Classes in the Facultades at Universidad de León taught in Spanish
          Fall Semester students MUST be physically present during the examination period, which is typically in January

          Semester 2 (mid-February to Late June)
          Credit 1: Continuing Spanish for foreigners class in the Centro de Idiomas taught in Spanish
          Credits 2, 3, & 4: Classes in the Facultades at Universidad de León taught in Spanish

University website: http://www.unileon.es/
Study Abroad website: https://www.unileon.es/internacional/estudiantes
Student life/campus activities: https://actividadesculturales.unileon.es/categoria/6

Visa fees: approximately $160 (for AY there is a $25 background check fee, a translation fee ($50) and apostille of the hague fee (6$),* and 25$ in-country residency 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 León  
 
Course Catalog: https://www.unileon.es/estudiantes/oferta-academica/grados (Click on a “grado” ie major and then click Información Académica>Plan de Estudios to see classes)
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@holycrosse.edu
Phone: 508-793-3090
Office: Smith 213