GAP YEAR / SEMESTER (Rowing Elite)
| FALL: Sept. 18 - Dec. 12, 2025 |
| SPRING: Jan. 29 - May 8, 2026 |
| GAP YEAR: Sept. 18, 2025 - May 8, 2026 |
| ELG: High School Graduate |
| ROWING REQS.: Please see below >> |
| LANG. REQS: No Prior Knowledge of Spanish is required |
$13,500* See full breakdown >>
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
ACADEMIC CREDIT
ROWING ELITE PROGRAM
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
PROGRAM DATES, COSTS AND DEADLINES
INSURANCE
ACCOMMODATION
PARENTS TESTIMONIALS
STUDENTS TESTIMONIALS
@saiieathletics
JOIN A SPANISH ROWING TEAM FOR THE GAP YEAR AND COMPETE IN 1-2 REGATTAS
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS
Designed for students who are rowing back home at an elite level and who wish to have a GAP YEAR or SEMESTER in Seville with no previous knowledge of Spanish. This program allows high school graduates to take a year or semester abroad taking an intensive Spanish language course (beginning, intermediate or advanced levels) at SAIIE or taking a serious of courses at the University of Sevilla, and continue to row weekly on a Spanish team under the guidance of a Spanish Olympic Rowing Coach.
Students studying for the entire gap year will have the opportunity to participate in regattas.
We offer two programs to our students:
University of Seville: Liberal Arts, Business, Spanish Lang. & Culture Program
SAIIE: Intensive Spanish Language Program
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a high school graduate or at least 17 years old the first day of the program.
- Students must meet the rowing requirements below
- No previous knowledge of Spanish required
- A student must be in good academic standing at the time of participation.
- A student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 GPA*
- Completed SAIIE application
- Official transcript, most recent grade report, or high school diploma
- Entry requirements: valid passport with student visa
*If your GPA is below 2.5, you are not automatically disqualified from studying abroad.
Please contact SAIIE for more information.
To learn more about the city of Seville and why chose this destination to do your GAP YEAR abroad please visit our website at: http://www.saiie.com/the-school/seville-capital
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
University of Seville: Liberal Arts, Business, Spanish Lang. & Culture Program
This program is designed for students from beginner to advanced level of Spanish.
Students will take classes at the University of Seville. Classes are offered in Spanish and English.
Students can choose from a variety of subjects, including:
Please note:
- To participate in the program through the University of Seville students must be 18 years old before the semester is over.
- Must take between a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 courses per semester. Each course consists of 45 class hours.
- Classes are taught from Monday to Thursday, usually on alternating days (Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday) and 2 hours per session.
- Classes will be taught at the University of Seville's main building.
At the end of the program the student will receive an official certification from the University of Seville with the courses taken.
SAIIE: Intensive Spanish Language Program
This program takes place at the SAIIE center.
Hours per week: 16hrs
Classes: Monday - Thursday
Language levels: Classes are offered at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels
Courses: Morning: Spanish classes (4 hrs/day)
At the end of the course, the student will receive an official certification from SAIIE acknowledging the hours taken
ACADEMIC CREDIT
It is the students responsibility to obtain credit for the course taken at SAIIE and the University of Seville.
ROWING ELITE PROGRAM
Rowing program Includes:
- Placement on Spanish rowing team
- Weekly rowing training sessions throughout the duration of the program
- 5 water sessions per week mixed with gym work - Coach will plan this.
- Gym membership throughout the duration of the program at the rowing club.
- Access to rowing machines (ergometer) and weight room.
- Option to participate in a regatta. Rowing coach will decide (Only for year long students).
Please note: students will have the option to practice six days with the team if they want.
Rowing requirements:
- Students must be a high school graduate at the time of the start of the program.
- Students must have been rowing on their varsity team back at their school or a rowing club before the start of the program.
- Students must have their last head rowing coach complete the Coach form
- In the 2k Concept Rowing Ergometer test female student-athletes cannot exceed 7:30 and male student-athletes 6:30.
Please note: If you exceed these times, please contact the Program Manager, Sean Chipres, at seanrc@saiie.com
Rowing typical practice:
- Starts with dynamic stretching and warm up.
- Coach will explain practice and athletes will go out to the water.
- Start up with some warm up exercises on the water.
- Continue with steady state, drills, and fartlek intervals
Please note: Only students who study for the year will be able to participate in regattas with the team
Where will you row?
At SAIIE, we work with the well-renowned local rowing club at Club Naútico Sevilla to help student rowers perfect their skills.
SAIIE students on our Rowing program will be surrounded and integrated in a group of roughly 60 Spanish rowers from juniors to professionals and veterans. They form a varied and extensive network of athletes, making every training session and event a new and exciting learning experience. This has been the basis of the Rowing section's successful growth within the Club over the 57 years since it was founded.
In its list of sporting achievements is the distinguished Stadium Cup (Copa Stadium), and the 1985 National Sports Award (Premio Nacional de Deportes), which was awarded to the Club for its special contribution to the development of its club sports.
Many rowers from the Club have participated in the Olympics.
Meet the Head Coach
David Cifuentes is the head rowing coach for the senior team at Club Nautico. Not only is he the coach of the senior team but he oversees all other rowing teams in the club as well. In addition to his crucial role at Club Nautico, Cifuentes coaches Spain's National Under 23 Rowing team. Previously an international rower himself, he rowed 25 times for Spain on the national team and his history of accomplishments showcase a bronze metal from the world cup in the under 23 level. He has vast experience in the rowing world. He started rowing at the age of 13 until 34 during which time he has competed in several world championships and Spanish national championships. Many rowers under his swing have competed in world and national championships. Ex. Álvaro Romero was second in the world junior championship or Javier García and Jaime Canalejo who ended up 5th in the under 23 world championship.
PHOTO GALLERY
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Throughout the term, the program will organize 1-2 activities per week for its students. Example of some of these activities are going for tapas, watching a live soccer match, olive oil farm, etc.
TRIPS
We are very flexible with all the activities and will change them to meet the needs of our students.
Some of these trips could include the following:
Day trips:
In Roman times, Córdoba had more cultural buildings than Rome. It was the capital of the province of Hispania Baetica. Remains of the Roman Temple built by Claudius Marcellus, the Roman Bridge and other Roman remains can still be seen around the city.
Córdoba was conquered by the Moors in 711, and Moorish influence can still be felt in the city.
The most important monument in the city is the former Mosque (the 3rd largest mosque in the world).
Founded by General Publius Cornelius Scipio (he was later known as Scipio Africanus) in 206 BC next to a Turdentian settlement, 7 kilometers from Seville, It demonstrates wonderful examples of Roman architecture, mosaic work and city layouts. Italica was one of the first Roman towns in Spain.
As one of the oldest towns in Spain you'll find history around every corner in Ronda. There are traces of Ronda's origins from the Neolithic age, through the era of the Romans, the Arab age and the conquest of the ancient city by the Catholic Monarchs in 1485 through to the 19th century when Ronda was best known for the banditry in the surrounding hills and the origins of bullfighting in the Ronda bullring which still stands.
Weekend Trips:
Granada is situated in the eastern part of the region of Andalusia. Its unique history has bestowed it with an artistic grandeur embracing Moorish palaces and Christian Renaissance treasures. As the last Moorish capital on the Iberian Peninsula, it also holds great symbolic value.
The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, is in Granada. It is the most renowned building of the Andalusian Islamic historical legacy with its many cultural attractions that make Granada a popular destination among the touristic cities of Spain.
The Almohad influence on architecture is preserved in the area of the city called the Albaicin with its fine examples of Moorish and Morisco construction.
Granada is also well known for the Sierra Nevada Mountains where you can ski. This is Europe’s most southerly ski resort and it is small in comparison to other European resorts.
Lagos is located in Southern Portugal in the region of Algarve and has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. This will be a great ooprtunitty to spend a relaxing weekend on the beach. The area offers many exciting activities such as surfing, biking, sailing, etc…
In Morocco, we visit the cities of Tangier, Asilah, and Chefchaouen.
Tangier is a city in northern Morocco. It lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean of Cape Spartel.
Asilah is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact. Its history dates back to 1500 B.C., when the Phoenicians used it as a base for trade. This town has been occupied since than by the Portuguese (1471), the Spaniards (1912), and now the Morrocans.
Chefchaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief twon of the province of the same name, and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue. The city was founded in 1471, as a small fortress which still exists to this day, by Moorish exiles from Spain to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956
PROGRAM DATES, COSTS AND DEADLINES
Fall Program Dates: Sept. 18 - Dec. 12, 2025
Spring Program Dates: Jan 29 - May 8, 2026
Program Cost
INTENSIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM:
$13,500 (Semester) / $26,500 (Academic year)
UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE PROGRAM:
$14,000 (Semester) / $27,500 (Academic year)
Fall 2025/Spring 2026 program costs includes:
- SAIIE full-time fees and support services before, during, and after the program
- Airport reception and transfer to Spanish home on arrival date
- On-site orientation
- On site bilingual staff on call 24/7 throughout the program
- Accommodation in a Spanish home with most meals (breakfast and mid-day meals Monday through Friday and evening meals Sunday through Thursday) and one load of laundry per week throughout the program.
- Program excursions and activities (Weekend excursion, as well as, Cordoba, Ronda, and Italica day excursion).
- Welcome and Farewell meals.
- Spanish Language program fees that includes classes from Mo-Thur (16hrs per week) or University of Seville program fees.
- Rowing program which includes:
- Practices from Mo-Fri (2hrs per day) throughout the year/term. Saturday practices ar optional.
- Gym (includes erg and bike machines)
- Regatta (Only for year long students who come with a TIE Card) - SAIIE Transcript at the end of the course certifying the Spanish language course taken. University of Seville will issue an official certification with the courses taken if participating in their program.
Fall 2025/Spring 2026 Out-of-Pocket Costs Include:
- U.S. Passport ($135).
- Mandatory CISI health and medical evacuation insurance.
- Spanish Visa (estimated at $160).
- Airfare (estimated at $1,200 - $1600).
- Meals not included with accommodation (estimated at $1200 per sesmester).
- Mandatory International Student Identification Card (ISIC) ($25) – (https://www.isic.org/).
- Transportation to practice (estimated at $200 per semester).
- Personal Expenses (estimated at $1200 per semester)
- Trips not included (estimated at $800 per semester) / An optional weekend trip to Morocco will be offered, as well as, a weekend trip to Portugal.
- Optional cocurricular activities (estimated at $800 per semester).
- Any costs due to possible quarantine requirements due to COVID-19
| TERM ABROAD | APPLICATION CYCLE OPENS | APPLICATION DEADLINE |
| Fall 2025 | October 1 | June 1 |
| Spring 2026 | April 1 | October 15 |
| Academic year 2025/26 | October 1 | June 1 |
Missed the deadline? Please contact the program manager, Sean Chipres, to enquire about late application options.
INSURANCE
Students have to get a health and medical evacuation insurance and we recommend all of our students this company (CISI): https://www.culturalinsurance.com/#cultural-insurance
ACCOMMODATION
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PARENTS TESTIMONIALS
"I could not be more pleased with the experience my son had with SAIIE in Sevilla. Sean and Stuart and team were on every detail, and communicated well with us throughout the three months. Even when my son fell ill for a few days, Sean reached out to let me know that he was in touch with him and his host mother, and that he would be looked after in case he needed anything including a trip to the drug store! My son met and socialized with other students in the program that were studying at the University, while he focused on intensive Spanish language learning and rowing with a local club. The combination of high-level sports training and learning Spanish was an amazing fit for us, and very unique. The family homestay was also a great balance for him, with just enough attention from the host family to let him know he had support, without being at all intrusive. Many, many thanks to the Chipres and SAIIE families!"
Her son Finn Balbach studied at SAIIE fall 2024
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
"My experience with SAIIE was fantastic. I came to Spain without knowing any Spanish and I am now leaving as a very proficient Spanish speaker. I loved my host family and all the food. The rowing team was so much fun and I became good friends with many of my teammates. The coach, David, was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience!"
Nichols School Graduate Student
Student at SAIIE fall 2024
Georgetown University student fall 2025.
APPLY NOW
To start your application to our program please complete the student form. For more information on the program please contact the Program Manager, Mr. Sean Chipres, at seanrc@saiie.com