I'm in the process of enrolling in Complutense's Spanish Literature program (Filologia Hispanica II, as it is called here).
The Spanish academic system is quite different from the US. First you get a 3-year degree (diplomatura), then a 5 year degree (licenciatura), then you can start on a PhD.
With a BA, you probably wouldn't be able to do a PhD program--they require a minimum of a US master's degree and you need to prove that you covered all of the required coursework. But you might be able to get a lot of credit for the work you have done in your BA program and do a year or so to get a Licenciatura and then go on to work on a PhD.
If there is any advice I can give you, it would be to save all syllabi and course descriptions from your literature courses and, if possible, get your teachers to provide them in Spanish. This will make your life a lot easier later on, if you decide to try to get credit for your B.A. (also called convalidacion and homologacion) with a Spanish university.
Posts: 1070 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
also, lena, i was just wondering how you got involved with working in a study abroad program in spain?
Sorry took a long time to answer Kevin, I have been away working (at Midd in Vermont) and then on vacation. Just being at the right place at the right time. I was finishing my MA with Midd here in Madrid when the person who had my job quit. I applied and seeming to have the best qualifications I was offered the job. The job description has changed a great deal since then but for the better, so I'm still around. Saludos, Lena
thanks for the good advice. i am going to try and apply to the middlebury program, but im going to have to look for grants and scholarships like crazy to be able to pay for it. hey lena, do you think maybe you could get me a full scholarship for being awesome? j/k but if anyone knows of any scholarships or grants for study abroad, spain in particular, it would really be appreciated. im going to be writing my BA paper on garcia lorca and have been looking on the web to see if there are any grants/scholarships for students that want to continue studying his work, but i havent found anything yet.
Saludos,
kevin
Posts: 21 | Location: chicago | Registered: 15 August 2005
You all just kill me Hey, I spent years, let me repeat that again in all caps, YEARS, paying off all my student loans, but it was worth it. As Jeremy put it, I'm not cool enough to get you a scholarship but I can give you some pretty good advice. Middlebury offers quite a few scholarships and some nice financial aid packages but they go on the following basis 1) financial need - so if you're independently wealthy, or your dad is and you're still a dependent on his tax returns then forget it, 2) first come first served. So, my wonderful piece of advice is: apply early! Good luck and hope to see you around. Lena
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
