GAP YEAR / SEMESTER (Water Polo Elite)
| FALL: Sept. 18, 2025 - Dec. 12, 2025 |
| SPRING: Jan. 29 - May 8, 2026 |
| GAP YEAR: Sept. 18, 2025 - May 8, 2026 |
| ELG: High School Graduate |
| PROGRAM REQS.: Please see below >> |
| LANG. REQS: No Prior Knowledge of Spanish is required |
$13,500* See full breakdown >>
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
ACADEMIC CREDIT
WATER POLO ELITE PROGRAM
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
PROGRAM DATES, COSTS AND DEADLINES
INSURANCE
ACCOMMODATION
@saiieathletics
JOIN A SPANISH TEAM AND COMPETE WITH THEM IN SPAIN!
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS
Designed for students who are playing water polo (boys and girls) 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 series of courses at the University of Sevilla, and continue to play water polo at an elite level.
We offer two academic 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 have played water polo on their varsity team back home or a club team.
- No previous knowledge of Spanish required.
- Students participating in the University of Seville program must take between a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 courses per semester. Each course consists of 45 class hours.
- A student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 GPA.*
- Complete the SAIIE application.
- One letter of recommendation (Coach).
- 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.
To learn more about the city of Seville and why choose 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 student's responsibility to obtain credit for the course taken at SAIIE and the University of Seville.
WATER POLO ELITE PROGRAM
Water Polo Program Includes:
- Spanish placement on Spanish elite waterpolo team.
- Spanish licence to be able to compete in the Spanish National league.
- Highly qualified staff. Includes coach, fitness trainer, psychologist, physiotherapist.
- 5 water sessions per week. Please note: depending on competitions athletes might have 2 sessions per day
- 3-4 days of gym work weekly (Coach will plan this).
- Programs (Trainings) tailored to each players position.
Water Polo Program Requirements:
- Student must be playing back home at their varsity school or club.
- Your current head coach must complete the Coach form.
Where will you play
At SAIIE, we partner with the renowned Club Waterpolo Sevilla, where high school graduate swimmers train alongside the Sevillian swim team. You’ll balance your training with either Spanish language courses at SAIIE or academic classes at the University of Sevilla.
The Club Waterpolo Sevilla is one of the top waterpolo teams in Andalusia. Founded in 1993, the club has grown gradually to become, despite its youth, among the elite of Spanish waterpolo teams. The team competes in the "Liga territorial Andaluza" throughout the year from Spetember to July
PHOTO GALLERY
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Throughout the term, the program will organize 1-2 activities per week for its students. Examples 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.
- Airport transportation to Spanish home on arrival date.
- On-site orientation.
- On site bilingual staff on call 24/7 throughout the term.
- 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.
- Water polo program fees which include:
1. Team Placement.
2. Practices 3 times per week (2hrs long practice) throughout the program.
3. Spanish License to be able to compete in the Spanish water polo competition.
4. Official water polo competition clothing (swimsuit and hat) - 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)
- Transportation to practice (estimated at $200 per semester).
- Personal Expenses (estimated at $1500 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).
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| TERM ABROAD | CYCLE OPENS | 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 Sean Chipres, Program Manager, to enquire about late application options.
INSURANCE
Students have to get a health and medical evacuation insurance for this program, and we always recommend all of our students: CISI
ACCOMMODATION
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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, Sean Chipres, atseanrc@saiie.com