Spain: Universidad Politecnica de Valencia

Valencia, Spain

University: Universidad Politecnica de Valencia

Exchange Program: Magellan Exchange

Application Deadline: March 10 for Fall Semester & October 10 for Spring Semester

 VISA Application Information: Embassy of Spain

General Information:

 Location: Spain is located on the Iberian peninsula, which it shares with Portugal. To the north, across the Pyrenees Mountains, are France and Andorra.  To the west is Portugal and to the south, across the Strait of Gibraltar, is Morocco.   Universidad Politecnica de Valencia is located in Valencia, a major city on the Mediterranean (eastern) coast, located about even with the Balearic Islands.  Valencia has a population of about 750,000 with twice that in its metro area.  The primary language spoken is Castilian Spanish (common Spanish), but Valencian, a variant of Catalan Spanish is a close second, and even predominant in some areas of Valencia.
   
Climate: Spain has a very Mediterranean climate with mild weather and generally sunny days, with minimal precipitation throughout the year.  The average temperature in January is about 51 degrees Fahrenheit, and in August it is about 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
Currency: The basic unit of currency in Spain is the Euro.

Transportation: The public transportation company in Valencia is reliable and extensive.  The public buses have over 50 routes, with tickets priced about $1.25, and the metro has five lines with tickets about $1.35.  Taxis are metered and regulated, and used bicycles for purchase are abundant.  Valencia has an airport for access to other parts of Spain and even other countries.  Most flights go to either Madrid or Barcelona.  There is also a large train station in Valencia, which provides cheap connections to other nearby Spanish cities, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Toledo.  Valencia is also a port, with many ferries connecting the Balearic Islands, famous all over Europe as the party capital of Europe, with the city.
   
Living Arrangements: Living in a flat in Valencia can cut costs by over half, considering the high price of dorm rooms on campus.  Expect to pay around $225 to $375 if sharing a flat.  Dorm rooms with a meal plan range from $450 to $675 a month, and living with a Spanish host family is around $400 to $550 with meals.

Food: The Valencia region of Spain is famous for their own, unique cuisine.  Rice and fresh fruit (especially oranges) are common ingredients.  There is also a wide production of white and red wines.  Be prepared to eat late.  Dinner is sometimes not served until 10pm.

Social Activities: Valencia has quite a night life.  Foreign students have a tradition of going out together at least one night every  week.  People normally go out around midnight and come home at dawn.  There are several outdoor cafés, discos, dance halls, pubs, night clubs and restaurants to go to.  The night life is year-round, due to pleasant evening temperatures all year long.  There are also numerous theaters, a film festival in October, classical music festivals, a dance festival in February, a number of art galleries and a host of cultural centers and sporting complexes.  There are over 14 museums, a large outdoor market and some of the best beaches in Europe.

Student Services: The Vice-Rectorate of Academic Exchange will organize orientation sessions to help incoming students adjust to the university, the Spanish language and the city of Valencia.  This office can be relied on to help students when they require it.