Program is closed
AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:
Students with a High Intermediate level of Spanish (B2) and junior or senior standing can participate in this program which combines Spanish language study with an internship. Spanish level B1 will be considered on a case by case basis for students wishing to take an internship in the areas of science and hospitality. Internships have previously been offered in fields including: accounting, architecture, art gallery/ museums, arts, music, performing arts, arts restoration, biology, environment (animal protection), chemical and bio-sectors, education in NGO and schools, engineering, hotels and restaurants, hotel-tourism, human resources, law, marketing, media and journalism, psychology (only in occupational support activities, not psychological) public relations, social work, special education, sports, theater and travel agencies.
The internship carries 3 credits. Students combine their internship with 3 courses from either the Hispanic Studies or Spanish Plus program for a minimum of 12 credits. Students can take a 4th course if the schedule permits. Students wishing to extend their internship beyond the length of their AIFS program can do so by arrangement with Nebrija University. Students would need to arrange their own housing. A résumé and letter of interest (cover letter) both written in Spanish must be submitted to the AIFS Program Advisor for consideration together with an outline of three areas of interest.
As a part of the AIFS application for semester programs, you will complete a Course Approval Form, which will be signed off by your study abroad office staff and/or faculty at your university.
For J Term/Summer programs, no such approval form is needed; however, students are still responsible for ensuring credit can be brought back from their overseas program.
In any case, we recommend getting additional courses approved in case you need to change courses while abroad.
Overseas universities do not use the credit system employed by American institutions. AIFS students must make special arrangements to transfer credits, but since AIFS courses are given at recognized universities or the AIFS Centers (which are transcripted by Fairfield University), there usually is no difficulty in arranging transfer credit toward U.S. degrees provided the proper procedure is followed.
Many of the European institutions that AIFS works with award credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS enables cooperating institutions to measure and compare a student’s performance and facilitates the transfer of credits from the European institution to the U.S institution.
Language levels are defined according to the CEFR and will be listed on your transcript on completion of the program. CEFR organizes language proficiency into six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) which can be regrouped into three broad levels according to the needs of the local institution: Beginner: A1, A2/U.S. Level 100; Intermediate: B1, B2/U.S. Level 200-300; Advanced: C1, C2/U.S. Level 400
When you complete your program, an official transcript is sent to your home institution directly from AIFS Abroad or the host university. Another official transcript may be retained by AIFS Abroad in Stamford, but this is not the case for all programs. Please contact transcripts@aifs.com to find out how to request additional transcripts.
Generally, your school should receive your transcript 60 days after completion of the program. (Cannes Semester programs, Perth, Sydney, Dublin, Limerick, and Wellington Programs exception: Transcripts issued and retained by the host universities. Transcripts for the Cannes Semester programs are issued by Chapman University.)
Transcripts may come without an English-language translation, so participants will need to organize translations with their home university.
Credit assessment methods in overseas universities may not be comparable to those in U.S. universities. Grading may involve exams, papers, individual projects, class discussion or some combination of these. Although academic institutions abroad may grade on a variety of scales, admissions counselors and registrars at U.S. institutions are familiar with international grading systems and can convert grades.
AIFS Program Advisors are available to assist you in the process. The following procedure is recommended:
Read course descriptions for the selected program and select courses. Obtain approval from your academic or study abroad advisor for the preliminary courses selected. Final approval of credit transfer for completed courses is at the discretion of the Registrar or appropriate official at the home institution. Students must ascertain that courses taken meet their individual academic program requirements. Recommended credits in this catalog are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit.