Universidad de León is one of Europe's most esteemed public institutions, with a long and distinguished history that began in 1852. Its vast campus provides numerous opportunities to connect with locals and other students, learn Spanish, explore the city's museums and historical sites, participate in extracurricular activities like dance and hiking, and receive an outstanding, world-class education.
Academics
Outstanding academic possibilities, particularly in the area of language, are one of the most significant selling points of the Universidad de León Spanish Language Standalone Program. A total of around twenty hours of instruction will cover topics such as grammar, writing, culture, and speaking throughout four-morning sessions Monday through Friday, with the exact amount of hours spent in class depending on your language level placement.
Learning Spanish at León opens you to a world of opportunities, free from the influence of other languages. For fifty years, students have been learning Spanish at this language school, which offers small class sizes, experienced teachers, personalized lessons, and organized field trips across León.
Living Arrangements
Many students participating on the SAF Universidad de León program are placed in homestays. These are homes opened to temporary visitors, providing a true "home away from home" experience during their study abroad program. A welcoming home located within fifty minutes or less from the school offers students a room and a shared bathroom.
Studying abroad with a homestay family presents numerous benefits. It is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, meet friendly locals, and possibly form lasting bonds. Not only can you make lifelong friends, but your host family can also help you navigate day-to-day challenges and provide valuable advice on exploring the local area. Living with a host family also offers great opportunities to practice the local language.
SAF Global Ambassador Perspective
In early 2025, Shinpei Natsume, a student from Japan, completed a term at the Universidad de León and reported that the experience was very successful. During his free time, he loved visiting neighboring countries and mingling with other international students from Europe at the program's events. The opportunity to speak Spanish with natives and learn about regional winemaking differences was another major highlight of the trip. He could also participate in other cultural activities, such as watching football matches from his favorite Spanish league.
Though Natsume's stay in Spain turned out to be magical, his beginning was turbulent. He also had to deal with a medical problem that required a trip to the hospital. SAF provided Natsume with excellent care despite this unfortunate event. Every student in a program has access to an on-call student health professional, crisis and emergency response services, a 24/7 student hotline, and industry-leading safety standards.
SAF Global Ambassador
Pre-departure
