Loyola University Chicago

Submit an application before the Application Deadline.

University Affiliation - The University of the Basque Country (enrollment 25,000)

Consortium offices, classrooms, and dining facilities are located at the Bizkaia campus at the University of the Basque Country. The university is located 3 miles from Getxo and 5 miles from Bilbao. While enrolled, USAC students enjoy the privileges accorded local students at the University. A university student will be available to become your conversation partner.

USAC Enrollment Limit - 120

GPA Requirement - 2.5 (USAC), 2.75 (Loyola)

Bilbao/Getxo and Spain - Bilbao, founded in the year 1300, is the capital city of the province of Bizkaia, and is located in the heart of the Basque country. Most of Bilbao is situated in the valley formed by the union of the Nervion River with an estuary. It is only about an hour and a half from France. Ancient Bilbao was a crossing point for many roads and provided the area's primary outlet to the sea. The Old Quarter is a web of narrow, intertwined streets bordering the right bank of the river. The modern part of Bilbao has been built on the left bank of the Nervion and is characterized by wide streets and modern buildings. The city has 400,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by other towns, which combined gives the area a total population of about a million. Once an important center of heavy industry, Bilbao is being retooled as an international center of culture and finance and has built a new international airport and subway system. Today, the city has an infectious case of urban architecture. The inauguration of the Guggenheim Museum of Art ushered in an era of international tourism to the area. A new music hall is also in progress.

Modern day Getxo has a population of 85,000 and is an affluent community popular for its beaches, lively nightlife and diverse cultural activities. It is well connected by bus to the University of Basque Country campus in Lejona and to downtown Bilbao by subway and bus service. Consortium students can live in Getxo or Bilbao.

Courses -

Intensive Period - During the first three weeks of the semester, all students are required to take the appropriate intensive Spanish language course below, unless you have already completed 8 semesters of college Spanish.

Elementary Spanish
Intermediate Spanish
Spanish Composition
Advanced Spanish

Intensive Language Studies - Intensive Language Studies- The intensive approach allows students to fulfill two years of university foreign language coursework in only one semester. Qualified student may meet Spanish minor or major requirements.

Track I - Elementary/Intermediate Spanish
Track II - Intermediate Spanish and Spanish Composition
Track III - Advanced Spanish and Spanish Composition
Track IV - Advance Spanish, Literature Courses, Stylistics, Conversation, Business Spanish

Business and Area Courses - Business students may fulfill primary business degree requirements and/or courses with an international scope, with the following courses. All students may take courses taught in English. Courses taught in Spanish are appropriate for Track III students and above.

Business (in English):

Business and Economic Studies
Economic Development and Non-Governmental Organizations
Economic Integration of Common Markets
International Finance
Money and Banking
Operations Management

Area Studies:

Art History (ART, in Spanish)
Basque Cuisine (NUTR, in English and Spanish)
Folkdance (In Spanish)
International Affairs since 1945 (PSC, in English)
Internship
Spanish Conversation
Spanish Culture and Civilization (FLL, in Spanish)
20th Century Spain (History, in Spanish)

Types of Accommodation

Home Stay - Students have the option of having the housing coordinator find them a private home with a Spanish family to live with during their time in Bilbao/Getxo. Living in a private home costs between $450 to $525/month, which includes full board.

Shared Apartments - Students can choose to either share an apartment with other USAC students or with local university students. On past programs, most students shared apartments with local university students. The average cost of an apartment shared by five students in 2002-2003 was $210/month per student. Inexpensive dining halls are available for lunch. Rental apartments provide everything except for sheets and towels.

Program Fees

2008-2009 - $5,780 per semester, $11,060 per year

*Does not include room and board, personal expenses, textbooks and supplies, housing deposit, transportation and airfare

Loyola Fees - $1000 for semester and year- long programs, $500 for summer programs

Aid Transfer - Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loans, Alternative Loans, Federal Pell Grant, IL Monetary Award Program Grant (MAP)