My Study Abroad in Alicante, Spain

Hi! I’m Jess and I’m about to finish my third year studying MLang French and Spanish. This year I have attended the Universidad de Alicante (UA) in southeastern Spain, immersing myself in the Mediterranean way of life and working hard in my classes, of course! Studying abroad has been an incredible opportunity that I am very grateful for, not only in terms of my academic journey but also in terms of personal growth. It goes without saying that the memories I have made and the people I have met in the past ten months will truly stick with me, so I hope that sharing my experience can give some insight into navigating studying abroad for future students.

I initially arrived in Alicante a bundle of nerves. For me, the stress of the study visa process (thanking my lucky stars that I will never have to do that again) meant that I could only really expect the unexpected back in September. Nevertheless, maybe the most important lesson I have learnt in the past year is to only focus on what you are in control of – in Spain, selecting classes and forming your timetable is a completely individual task and I am thankful, in hindsight, that I took the time last summer figuring out what modules I wanted to take before I started studying. This definitely saved a lot of stress! Doing the MLang, I needed to take seven classes across the academic year and decided to split these into four classes for the first semester, and three classes for the second and, from these, I did a near equal number of French as to Spanish ones. Continuing to learn French in a class of Spanish students and led by Spanish teacher was definitely a challenge, but it has made me feel a lot more secure heading back to Southampton knowing that I have carried on improving both of my languages throughout this year. 

To me, living in Alicante offers the perfect balance between the bustle of city life, whilst also being a stone’s throw away from the peace of quieter coastal towns and villages. It is well-connected enough that there is always more to explore, but is small enough to feel like home for someone who is from a small town like myself. Both Spanish and Valencian are spoken throughout the region, and there is never a dull moment in the city square (Plaça de l’Ajuntament) on the weekends – with local festivals, markets and parties taking place throughout the year.

Living with one of my closest friends and course mate meant that a problem shared was a problem halved, and joining the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in Alicante is an absolute must – I have met so many lovely people from all over the world and have visited some beautiful places, including the Fonts de l’Algar, the island of Tabarca and the historical village of Guadalest in amazing company. Even if I was feeling particularly homesick, I always had someone to meet up with for a coffee and a walk along the beach, and more often than not found that I was not the only one missing home. My time abroad has taught me that comparison is very much the thief of joy sometimes. It is almost too easy to be constantly comparing your own experience against what you see others around you doing. There is no one size fits all way of spending your study abroad, and I made sure that when I felt I needed some time to myself, that I gave myself the grace to do so. 

Aside from the pains of Spanish bureaucracy (the process of getting my resident card felt like it took years off of my life), my study abroad has been an unforgettable ten months that have taught me so much about myself and what I’m capable of – as someone who can be quite introverted, I can safely say that my confidence has come on leaps and bounds, with a special shout out to my language exchange partner Soni who I owe so much of this to! Studying abroad has been such a special time for me, and I’m looking forward to coming back to Southampton and catching up with everyone for fourth year.