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GAP YEAR / SEMESTER (Women's Volleyball Elite) |
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@saiieathletics
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
ACADEMIC CREDIT
VOLLEYBALL ELITE PROGRAM
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
PROGRAM DATES, COSTS AND DEADLINES
INSURANCE
ACCOMMODATION
JOIN A SPANISH WOMEN'S TEAM AND COMPETE WITH THEM IN SPAIN!
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS
Designed for students (women only) who play volleyball at home at an elite level and who wish to have a GAP YEAR or SEMESTER in Seville with no prior knowledge of Spanish, this program allows high school graduates to have a study abroad experience . ...and continue practicing volleyball weekly at an elite level on a Spanish team.
We offer two academic programs to our students:
University of Seville: Humanities, Business, Spanish Language and Culture Program
SAIIE: Intensive Spanish Language Program
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
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Must be a high school graduate.
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Students must have played volleyball on their local high school team or a club team.
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No prior knowledge of Spanish is required.
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Students participating in the University of Seville program must take a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 subjects per semester. Each subject consists of 45 teaching hours.
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A student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 GPA.
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Complete SAIIE application.
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A letter of recommendation.
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Official transcript, most recent report card, or high school diploma.
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Entry requirements: valid passport with student visa.
*If your GPA is below 2.5, you are not automatically disqualified from studying abroad.
For more information, please contact SAIIE.
To find out more about the city of Seville and why you should choose this destination to spend your GAP YEAR abroad, please visit our website here.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
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 Spanihs and English.
Students can choose from a variety of subjects, including:
- ART
- BUSINESS
- CULTURAL STUDIES
- FILM STUDIES
- HISTORY
- PSYCHOLOGY
- SOCIOLOGY
- SPANISH LANGUAGE
- SPANISH LITERATURE
- WOMEN AND GENDER STUDIES
Please note:
- To participate in the program through the University of Seville, students must be 18 years old at the time of participation or before the end of the semester.
- Classes are held from Monday to Thursday, usually on alternate days (Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday) and last 2 hours per session.
- Classes will be held in the main building of the University of Seville.
At the end of the program, the student will receive an official certificate from the University of Seville with the subjects completed.
SAIIE: Intensive Spanish Language Program
This program is carried out at the SAIIE center.
Weekly hours: 16hrs Classes: Monday - Thursday Language levels: Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes are offered. Upon completion of the course, students will receive an official SAIIE certificate certifying the hours completed.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
It is the student's responsibility to obtain credits for courses taken at SAIIE or the University of Seville.
VOLLEYBALL ELITE PROGRAM
The volleyball program includes:
- Placement in the Spanish team
- Weekly volleyball training sessions for the duration of the program.
- 3 training sessions per week.
- License to play with the Spanish team and compete in Spanish tournaments throughout your stay.
- Playing gear
Please note: Playing on the team will be the coach's decision.
Where will I compete and practice, and at what level?
SAIIE has reach agreements with local women volleyball Spanish teams that compete in the second national Spanish Championship.
When do the training sessions take place?
Trainings will be held in the evenings and usually go for 2 hours.
How many training sessions take place each week?
Teams train 3 days a week. Our students will have the choice of only training twice a week if they have a weekend trip schedule.
Are the trainings held in Spanish?
Yes. You will be training with Spaniards, on a Spanish team, with Spanish coaches. This is an important aspect of the cultural immersion part of the program, as you will be surrounded by native Spanish speakers in a Spanish speaking environment which gives you a great opportunity to practice the language. However, on the team there's always some teammates that can speak some English, if its the case you don't understand an instruction from the coach.
How many American players will there be on a team?
No more than a maximum of 4 players are generally allowed
What age are the players on the team?
The age of the players is between 18 and 25 years old (approx.).
One of the clubs we work with has 2 women teams. One is called junior where all the players range between 18-20 years old and the other one is the senior team where the players that play are older. Students within the junior age will have the option to practice with the junior team or senior team.
How far are the training grounds?
All training facilities are no further than a 20 min. metro ride or 40 min. bus ride.
How much money will I need for transportation to and from trainings throughout the semester?
Approximately $80.
Will I get to play matches?
You will join the team and you will be eligible to play throughout your study abroad experience on the team. Team plays almost every weekend.
Please note: If you have any questions, please contact the Program Manager, Sean Chipres, at seanrc@saiie.com
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Throughout the term, the program will organize 1-2 activities per week for its students. Some examples of these activities are going out for tapas, watching a live football match, planting olive oil, 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: Mid September - Mid December, 2025
Spring Program Dates: End Jan - Mid May, 2026
Program Cost:
INTENSIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM:
$13,500 (Semester) / $26,500 (Academic year)
UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE PROGRAM:
$13,950 (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.
- Volleyball 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 with volleyball Spanish team.
4. Official volleyball competition clothing (t-shirt and shorts) - 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).
- Any costs due to possible quarantine requirements due to COVID-19
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| TERM ABROAD | CYCLE OPENS | DEADLINE |
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Fall 2025 |
October 1 |
April 15 |
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Spring 2026 |
April 1 |
October 15 |
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Academic Year 2025/26 |
October 1 |
April 15 |
Missed the deadline? Please contact 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)
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, at seanrc@saiie.com