Is airfare included?
No - You are responsible for your own airfare. We recommend www.travelocity.com or www.studentuniverse.com.

Is housing included in the price of the program?
Yes - For the Marbella tourism, you can live in the same Hotel where you are doing your internship -you will most likely share a room with another international intern, girls placed with girls and boys placed with boys. Other housing is always your own room in a shared apartment, either with other Adelante or international students, or with a Spaniards. There is also an option to stay with a Spanish family -  this homestay will includes meals and laundry - please inquire for the price difference.

When does my actual internship work assignment begin?
Program start dates are the first Monday of each month. For the first two weeks you are enrolled in intensive Spanish language classes for about 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. After this intensive course, you will start your internship the third Monday of the month. Plan on arriving in Spain the weekend just prior to the first Monday of the month, and plan on leaving the weekend after the last Friday of the month.

(Note:Some apartments require a $100 deposit to be made upon your arrival. This will be returned to you when you turn in your keys on the day of your departure from the program, assuming you have left the apartment in the same condition that it was in when you moved in.)

All apartments are fully furnished, with most having washing machine, microwave, radio, etc. Sheets, towels, pots, pans are also included.

Do I have to have insurance?
YES - It is strongly recommended that you have insurance. More and more participating companies and institutions abroad are asking for proof of medical and accident insurance and our various Directors in-country also may ask you for proof of insurance (usually a copy of your insurance card showing dates and coverage is valid). You can use coverage you already have or coverage that someone else carries for you, or you can purchase coverage just for our program. You can also buy insurance online once you arrive in Spain. In the past, we have referred people to Arizona-based ASA, Inc. - they can customize a plan for you based on details you provide. (see our 'Links' page for more information). Tell them that Adelante sent you for a small discount 888-272-8288. Another carrier is Insurance Services of America also based in Arizona. They can be reached at 800-647-4589.

Another possibility is purchasing insurance once in Spain. Two companies are Mapfre Insurance Co. and Sanitas www.sanitas.es. The cost is about $45 - $50US per month. Basic medical and accident insurance is all you need. You may have to take out a year policy, pay month by month and stop when you are ready to go home.

Are any of the internships paid internships?
All internship positions are unpaid. On a case by case basis, some positions may offer a small weekly stipend, however there is no guarantee. If you do receive a small amount it will be an added bonus to an already great program, and if you don't, it will be what you expected and budgeted for upon applying for the program.

Is placement guaranteed?
Yes, assuming we have a "Plan A" and a "Plan B" - in other words, we ask all candidates to select TWO sectors / work assignments and with these parameters we absolutely guarantee your placement. Adelante strives hard and has about a 90% success rate in placing in candidates first choice, their "Plan A"". Language level, as well as program length, past experiences, personality all come into play when securing your international internship. NOTE: There are a limited number of spots for some work assignments

Do I need a work visa or a student visa?
Work visas are never required for any of our programs. These are academic, apprenticeship programs. Student visas are required for programs longer than 3 months. Click here for more information on visas.

Can I stay longer than 3 months?
Yes! - We encourage all candidates to stay as long as possible for the most in-depth cultural immersion and language acquisition. Click here for more information on visas.

When does the program begin and when can I plan on arriving?
We place year round and programs start the first Monday of each month. We like candidates to arrive the weekend prior to the first Monday of their program. Saturday is preferable to allow yourself time to unpack, get over jet lag and acquaint yourself a little with the neighborhood, eg. finding the nearest ATM, grocery stores, cafes, post office, etc. (NOTE: In SEVILLE candidates should arrive the FRIDAY BEFORE the first Monday of the month their program starts).

How much should I budget for living expenses per month, above and beyond what is included in the program fee?
$300 - $400 per month should cover food, weekend or day trips, going to the movies or theater and some fun nights out. You can go shoestring & make it less, or go bigger travel and shopping-spree-happy & make it more.

Is there an Adelante contact in Spain?
Yes - There are two people who will be handling your file from the Spain side: Esther Rodriquez will be your Adelante Director. She is from Madrid and has over 20 years in the tourism and education industry, in multiple cities throughout Spain. Esther is a consultant who places interns for Adelante as well as for various other American and European Universities. Maria Isabel Liñan is your Adelante Intern Advisor, based in the Marbella and San Pedro areas. She is a "local" and a huge resource for you in your new home, with entrepreneurial and international education experience.

Can I contact a past or existing Adelante candidate as a reference?
Yes - Please take a look at our Online Community site to see entries from our candidates past and present. This site is a live resource Adelante created based on requests from our candidates.  It is a useful tool for anyone looking to participate in our program or any other trip abroad.

Is Adelante an employment agency?
No - We are a company that offers, among other things, a fee-based internship placement services program that works with people who are 1) seeking to massively upgrade their resumes, 2) wish to become bilingual and, 3) are quite independent and have a desire to live and learn the Spanish culture.

What is the deadline for Application packet submissions?
60 days prior to your desired start date is the ideal. However we may be able, on a case-by-case basis, to place candidates who submit their applications later than that.

When will I know if I am accepted into the program or not?
Once you have submitted a completed Application Packet, someone from the main office will contact you to set up a phone interview. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes and is conducted in English.  This is not a competitive program whereby candidates compete against each other or compete for a limited number of spots. Rather, during the interview process a mutual decision is made to determine that you are the right candidate profile for what you want to do for your internship program in Spain (see the "Is placement guaranteed" question above). After the phone interview, your references are checked and usually then we can accept you into the program.

Are only Americans admitted to this program?
No - our only requirement is that you speak English, to be able to communicate with both Adelante Headquarters and our in-country staff who are required to speak both their native language and English. We have placed candidates from all over the world, including Britain, Japan, Australia,  India, Canada and more. Please check any visa requirements for your nationality.  

Is there a refund policy?
If you cancel your participation in the program 45 days prior to your start date or earlier, you will receive a 100% refund of the program fee. If you cancel 30 - 45 days prior to your start date, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel 0 - 30 days prior to your start date, there will be 0% refund as well as if you cancel at any time following your arrival in Spain. The $150 application fee is non-refundable.

When is payment for the program due?
Payment in full is due no later than 45 days prior to your desired start date in the program. Invoices are sent via email about 7-10 days before payment is due.

Can I be placed if I speak no Spanish at all?
Ideally our candidates have some Spanish language capabilities, the more the better. For candidates who are truly beginner level, the only options available are some of the Teaching English work assignments in other cities. Inquire for more details.

Do candidates receive any kind of certificate, letter of recommendation or 'proof of internship'?
While this is not included in the program fee, both the participating companies and the language schools in all countries are willing to create these for successful candidates. You must secure these PRIOR to your return home, as once you are gone it is quite difficult to get these letters. Please request in advance any letters needed and remind as necessary in order to have these documents in order before you leave your intern position.

Can I receive academic credit for participating in this program?
Yes – many candidates choose to receive credit for participating in an Adelante internship program. Credit is issued from the candidate’s own university. Every university or school has different requirements to receive accreditation for a program abroad, so candidates must contact the appropriate person or department (eg. Study Abroad Office, Career Services, Department Chair), to find out what is needed for them to receive credit. For the International Internship Program usually a minimum number of hours must be completed in order to receive credit. In some cases a course number is given to the internship program and credit is issued that way. Adelante will assist with and complete any extra required paperwork or evaluations prior to, during and at the end of the international program, so long as all documentation is received in a timely manner.

What should I pack?
Once you are accepted into the program we send out a comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation Packet that will include information on what to pack and much more. It is required reading! Some initial tips on what to take are as follows: both your room in the hotel and / or your own room in a shared apartment is fully equipped, so no need to worry about sheets, towels, pots, pans etc. For your internship, pack casual clothes such as capris, skirts, collared shirts, both closed toed shoes and some sandals (comfortable as you will walk and use public transport often) No jeans or tennis shoes during any interaction with your Spanish company. For your own travel and leisure time, wear what you want and you can visit any number of websites to check on weather for any given month. Bring beach and pool gear, you are in the COSTA DEL SOL!