Housing: Undergraduate Students

Middlebury has a unique policy regarding student housing. It is based on a student’s personal choice as well as the belief that by assuming responsibility for making appropriate decisions regarding their own accommodations, students learn life skills and important information about language and culture. The School in Spain will assist students in this process. 

Options available at each site: 

  • Madrid: Homestays & shared apartments. Some residence halls may be available for semester students. 
  • Córdoba: Homestays, residence halls and host families are all readily available in Córdoba. Each option has advantages and disadvantages which will be explained during a zoom session with the onsite director. 
  • Residence halls at all sites: Spots are initially reserved for academic year students. Any left-over spots are usually opened up to semester students shortly before the start of the semester. 

Please note that it is the School in Spain and Language Pledge policy that students must live in a Spanish-only environment. Failure to adhere to this policy can result in students being required to change their residence, even when it means that students will lose rental deposits or payments. In addition, undergraduates are not permitted to live in independent housing, nor are they permitted to live with other students of the program. Students that wish to live in a shared apartment or a residence hall must obtain approval from the School in Spain before committing to a housing arrangement. It is also very important to always keep the School in Spain staff informed of changes in housing situation and telephone numbers so that students can be easily contacted in case of an emergency. 

If students have questions, they are encouraged to reach out to the Housing Coordinator, Sophia Iglesias (siglesias@middlebury.edu). 

MIDDLEBURY SCHOOL IN SPAIN HOUSING OPTIONS AND HOW TO RESERVE 

Finding housing to fit personal preferences is time consuming and requires perseverance and patience. Students should begin this process early. The semester prior to students’ arrival in Spain the Housing Coordinator will reach out to admitted students with additional housing information. This email will include the link to the Middlebury in Spain Housing website that contains more site-specific information. 

Once students have decided which housing option they prefer, all students should complete the housing questionnaire that can be found in the post-decision section of the study abroad application portal. Students applying for the fall semester should submit the form by mid-April and those applying for the spring semester should submit the form by mid-October. Students should not delay in confirming their housing as the office in Spain is closed for part of the summer and the December-January holidays. 

HOMESTAYS (Madrid & Córdoba) 

We have found that living with a Spanish family can be a very valuable experience. This “total immersion” can offer the student insight into Spanish culture, providing a richer vision of traditions, customs, and day-to-day life. Students should understand that Spanish homes may be smaller than students are used to, utilities are expensive, and lifestyles, such as mealtimes, are different than in the United States. Also, not all housing arrangements offer a lock on the bedroom door. Courteous gestures, such as respecting quiet hours, economizing on hot water and electricity, informing the family if a student won´t be home for a meal, and keeping the bedroom neat and clean will help students tremendously with their relationship with their host. The family may also impose rules regarding the use of appliances, meals, laundry, showers, etc. Students should be aware that in order to have a close relationship with their family, it will greatly depend on the effort the student makes to get to know the family. 

Regarding meals, it is important to note that students that select “media pension” or pension complete” do not have kitchen privileges (unless permitted by a specific family). Students with “media pension” are responsible for their snacks and third meal. and those with “pension complete” are responsible for their snacks. Students with special dietary needs that wish to live with a host family should contact the Housing Coordinator early in the housing selection process as there are limited families that are able to accommodate special diets. 

Once the program has started, housing change requests will only be considered when it is determined that the current housing assignment represents a demonstrable risk to the students’ well-being. Only circumstances that the program determines may have a negative impact on the student’s health or safety will be considered. In the case a student is approved a change in their housing, there may be a fee of one month’s rent to compensate the family. 

All homestay options have been visited by the Middlebury School in Spain staff. 

Madrid Homestay Options: 
The listed prices are for the 2026-2027 academic year. Prices for the following year are reviewed and updated in the spring.    

  • Pensión completa (room and three meals): 1310€/month 
  • Media pensión (room, breakfast & dinner): 1125€/month 
  • Con derecho a cocina (room & kitchen privileges): 700€/month 

Córdoba Homestay Options: 

  • Pensión completa (room and three meals): 800€/month 
  • Media pensión y derecho a cocina may be available. Consult with the onsite director (kgriffin@middlebury.edu)  

How to reserve? For students who wish to live in a homestay, should make the request prior to leaving for Spain. The only requirement in making a reservation in advance is to complete the housing questionnaire on-line by the deadline.  

SHARED APARTMENTS (Madrid & Córdoba) 

Finding an apartment, particularly in Madrid, can be a stressful process. (Students studying in Madrid should be aware there is a housing shortage in the city and there are limited options available). In addition, there may also be fewer options available in the spring semester. 

Apartments in Spain may be smaller and not as modern as students are used to. When looking for an apartment, students should consider various options and locations before deciding where to live. Public transportation in Madrid is very good and Córdoba is a relatively small city where one can walk most places in fewer than 30 minutes. 

Shared apartment requirements: 
-Students may not live with other members of the program. 
-In keeping with the language pledge, students should look for shared apartments that are at least half full and have no roommates that are native English speakers. 
-In Madrid it is also a requirement that several of the roommates be native Spanish speakers. 

While it is the student’s responsibility to read all contracts carefully and understand what they say, they should not hesitate to ask for assistance from the Housing Coordinator if the wording in a contract is unclear. The contract is a private matter between the renter and the owner and Middlebury is not responsible for conflicts or litigation that may arise. 

Prior to reserving a shared apartment, all students must obtain program approval. Madrid students should contact the Housing Coordinator (siglesias@middlebury.edu). Córdoba students should contact the Program Director (kgriffin@middlebury.edu). 

SHARED APARTMENT OPTIONS 

Reserve in Advance (Madrid and Córdoba) 

Students may reserve a shared apartment in advance with the student housing organizations Aluni.net (Madrid), Vanguard Student Housing (Madrid), JOIVY (Madrid, shared apartments and co-living spaces), or Interasmundo (Córdoba). Students studying in Spain in the Spring semester should be aware that both organizations may require students to pay the full month of June, even if a student plans to leave earlier. This is a very common policy in student apartments. 

The semester prior to arrival in Spain the Housing Coordinator will reach out to students with more details regarding how reservation can be made on both platforms. 

Arrive in advance and search for housing in person (Madrid) 

One week before on-site orientation begins, students who plan to live in apartments, and have not reserved in advance through Aluni.net will be assisted by Spanish university students (ayudantes) who will help them in their “piso” search. Students should keep in mind that the process for searching for an apartment in person is time-consuming and can be frustrating due to limited housing options for students in Madrid. On average finding an apartment can take one week, but at times can take longer. A room can average between €500 –€900 per month, not including utilities. In addition, there can be hidden and extra monthly costs like building community fees. Utilities like water, electricity are also more expensive in Spain than in the U.S. and often are not included in the rent. 

The following websites have been the most used by past students when participating in the in-person search. They should not be used for booking housing prior to arrival. 

Search for housing in person (Córdoba) 

Upon arrival, if possible, they will be met by the Spanish university student (ayudante) hired to coordinate the orientation activities and assist in the “piso” search if needed. A room can average between 275€ –400€ per month, not including utilities. Utilities like water, electricity are also more expensive in Spain than in the U.S. and often are not included in the rent. 

Many of the websites listed above in the Madrid section have been helpful to past students looking for housing in Córdoba, although shared apartments through Interasmundo and host families through the onsite director are usually the best options to find housing. 

RESIDENCE HALLS (Madrid & Córdoba) 

Accommodation in residence halls is primarily reserved for academic year students. While most semester students find it challenging to find available spots in residence halls, this is particularly true for Fall semester students. 

Residence halls where students have resided in the past: 

Madrid 

  • Residencia El Faro*: https://yugo.com/es-es/global/spain/madrid/el-faro  (fills very quickly) 

Córdoba 

There are a couple of recommended residence halls, but they are difficult to book as they fill quickly with academic year students. If an academic year or second semester student is interested in living in a residence hall, they should contact the Director in Córdoba early to consult options. 

How to reserve? All students wishing to stay in a residence hall should request a reservation directly through the web page or contact information of the Residence Hall. This way students can inquire about prices, availability, and conditions of the residence hall directly and make a final decision. Madrid students – It is important that the Middlebury Housing Coordinator is aware of all communication between the student and the Residence (cc: Sophia Iglesias: siglesias@middlebury.edu on all email correspondence). Córdoba students – include the Director in Córdoba on correspondence with residence halls (kgriffin@middlebury.edu). 

For those students registered at the Universidad Carlos III or Universidad Autónoma de Madrid we recommend looking for housing near a “Cercanías” train station. 

Most residence halls require students to pay their deposit by wire transfer (see Money & Banking section).