Travel & Arrival Information

Academic Year and Fall Participants

September 1 is the official arrival day for academic year and fall-only participants.

Spring Semester Participants

The official arrival day for spring semester participants is January 13.

Logistics For Arrival:

You must be in Madrid by 11:00 a.m. to attend the official WIP program orientation meeting. Place and time will be announced by email later prior to arrival.

You must not enter Spain before your visa validity begins to correctly activate your student visa. You will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to Madrid. Before arrival, we will send you detailed arrival instructions. These instructions will include information about being greeted at the airport by staff, getting into the city and to your lodgings, and welcome day orientation details.

You will also receive important practical information to get you settled upon arrival, orientation activities for the first week and housing options in a separate mailing.

Program staff cannot be available to assist you before the official arrival date. If you arrive early, you must make your own housing arrangements for the interim.

Onsite Orientation:

All WIP students are required to participate in an orientation program that will be given by the staff of the WIP office in Madrid. It includes practical advice for living in Madrid, succeeding in academics, volunteering and other extracurricular activities, and cultural activities such as walking and museum tours.