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Summer School
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Arts & Culture

Expand your perspective through arts and culture in Madrid
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duration
language
location
intake
Format
For Who
2 weeks
English
Madrid
15th - 26th of June, 2026
In-person
Undergraduate students & young professionals

Make Madrid Your Classroom and Unlock the Potential of Arts

Over ten transformative days, this immersive Arts & Culture Summer Program takes you beyond the classroom into Madrid’s living culture. You’ll engage directly with Spain’s rich heritage and dynamic contemporary scene through curated visits, insider conversations and hands-on workshops led by experts, artists and local cultural leaders. Expect fresh perspectives, practical skills and a deeper creative confidence.

This is a hands-on experience that encourages you to see how arts and culture not only reflect our world, but shape the way we engage with it—academically, professionally, and personally.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

days to start your best summer

55days
:
07hours
:
15minutes

Focus Areas

Throughout the two-week program, students explore how arts and culture offer new ways to interpret and influence the world.

  • 01.

    Arts, Culture & Creative Thinking

    Engage in masterclasses and interactive sessions to explore how visual arts, literature, and philosophy help interpret complex social and personal realities.

  • 02.

    Heritage, Diversity & Inclusion

    Examine Spain’s Greco-Roman legacy and medieval coexistence in Toledo to understand past plural societies and apply those lessons to building more equitable futures.

  • 03.

     Urban Literacy & Visual Power

    Learn to “read” Madrid like a text and analyze how images, from Renaissance patronage to museum masterpieces, shape public imagination and influence behavior.

  • 04.

    Innovation, Sustainability & Real-World Impact

    Connect Enlightenment ideas, contemporary art and design thinking to prototype solutions for today’s challenges through the program’s hands-on “Madrid Through my Eyes" Project

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?

  • This program is right for you if…

    … you want to experience Madrid’s arts and culture firsthand, explore how the past and present shape society, and build critical and creative thinking through immersive visits, conversations, and hands-on activities.

  • Participant profile

    Undergraduate students or recent graduates from any academic background who are curious, culturally engaged, and eager to learn through experiential activities across museums, historic sites, neighborhoods, and contemporary art spaces in Madrid.

Study Plan

Program Structure

This agenda is subject to change.

What You're going to do
2 Weeks | 40 Hours | 3 ECTS
Week 1
    Week 2
      Final Project
        What You're going to do
        2 Weeks | 40 Hours | 3 ECTS
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        CREDIT RECOGNITION

        If you join IE University’s Summer Program for a two week module and opt in to the additional academic deliverable, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement indicating an academic workload equivalence of 3 ECTS credits.

        Completing two modules with the deliverable corresponds to 6 ECTS, and three modules to 9 ECTS.

        To qualify for credit recognition, you must fulfill all course requirements and submit the additional deliverable within two weeks of finishing your last module. Recognition of credits is always determined by your home institution.

        Your First Look at the Program

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        Unique Value

        A rare immersion in a European capital that blends curated cultural encounters with hands-on learning, open to students from any discipline and university.

        Learning Outcome

        Students will gain cultural fluency in Madrid, apply visual analysis, strengthen critical thinking, and practice conscious leadership through experiential outdoor activities.

        Course Overview  

        Typical Day in the Arts & Culture

        The course will follow an experiential learning approach where students will make Madrid their classroom through a diverse array of learning experiences:

        • Grounding Sessions: masterclasses on major arts and culture topics will take place in the space of the classroom at the IE Tower.
        • Museum Visits: the Prado Museum and the National Archeological Museum will be some of the museums visited throughout the duration of the course.
        • Historical Sites Day Trips: two excursions to Toledo and San Lorenzo de El Escorial will take place.
        • Outdoors Experiences: sessions will also take the form of city tours and excursions to experience arts and culture.
        • "Madrid Through My Eyes” Project: In groups, students will create a visual narrative combining photos collected during the two weeks in Madrid with written reflections to reflect on how the program has shaped their perspectives.

        Week 1:

        Monday to Friday: 

        • 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | Classes.
        • Afternoon: Optional cultural activities. 
        • Tuesday and Friday: excursions to iconic destinations like Toledo and El Escorial—don’t miss this incredible opportunity to explore history and culture!
        A statue of a notable figure stands in front of a grand building featuring classical architecture and a Spanish flag.

        Week 2

        Monday to Thursday:

        • 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | Classes.
        • Afternoon: Optional cultural activities
        • Friday: Dedicated to Group Project presentations and later, a fun graduation ceremony.
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        Discover the summer calendar

        Explore the full Univeristy Summer Programs calendar to discover all available courses and dates.

        See the calendar

        Student Experience

        Program Highlights: Madrid’s Cultural Icons


        This two-week Arts & Culture immersion goes beyond the classroom with expert-led access to Madrid’s landmark collections, historic sites, and creative hubs.

        • NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

          Spain’s ancient civilizations come alive through artifacts that connect the past with the questions of today.

        • TOLEDO HISTORIC CITY

          A medieval crossroads to reflect on coexistence, conflict, and collaboration among diverse communities.

        • MUSEO DEL PRADO

          Masterpieces that shaped ideas of power, beauty, and truth across centuries.

        • ROYAL SITE OF SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL

          Philip II’s monumental complex where religion, philosophy, and empire converge.

        • ROYAL COLLECTIONS GALLERY

          A new museum revealing how monarchy and politics used art and objects to craft Spain’s visual imagination.

        • MUSEO REINA SOFÍA

          From Picasso’s Guernica to contemporary innovators that challenge how we define art.

        • CARABANCHEL ARTIST STUDIOS

          Inside Madrid’s avant-garde scene, meet emerging creators pushing the boundaries of artistic practice.

        Our Faculty

        Daniel Valtueña Martínez - Faculty | IE

        Our program lead faculty

        Daniel Valtueña - Adjunct Professor at IE University

        • He received his PhD in Cultural Studies from The Graduate Center | City University of New York in 2022. His research focuses on contemporary performing arts, queer theories, critical theory, and environmental humanities.
        meet your professor. It will open in a new tabmeet your professor

        Admissions

        Our admissions process is simple and designed to understand your motivation and goals. Apply online and receive a decision within approximately two weeks.
        We recommend applying early, as places are limited.

        Abstract for Tuition | IE

        TUITION

        2 week program

        • 3,500 €
        • 5,900€ Bundle Price (2 weeks + 2 weeks)

        THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

        1
        Online Application
        2
        Submit your Application
        3
        Admissions Final Decision

        Online Application

        You will need to complete the online application with the following documents:

        1. Academic transcripts.
        2. CV (cv template).
        3. Video Assessment: in this section you will complete two live video questions on general knowledge topics.

        *You must complete all sections of the application in order to submit it.

        1/3
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        Combine Programs to Build Your Ideal Summer 


        With flexible programs, you can mix and match the topics that interest you the most, giving you a taste of your future degree or career. Each program lasts two weeks and you can combine up to three programs to create a very personal learning journey.​

          From Summer to Your Future at IE. Step Into Your Master’s Journey  

            FAQ's

            • No prior experience is required. The program is designed to be accessible to students from diverse academic backgrounds who are curious about the cultural and creative landscape.

            • The program combines academic insights with hands-on learning, including case studies, discussions, and real-world examples from the creative industries, allowing you to apply concepts in a practical context.

            • You will develop key skills such as critical thinking, cultural awareness, and creative problem-solving, which are highly valued in fields like media, marketing, cultural management, and other creative industries.

            • Unlike traditional programs, this course explores the connection between arts, culture, and industry—focusing on how creativity drives innovation, storytelling, and global trends.

            • Very international—both in terms of classmates and content—providing a global perspective on arts, culture, and creative industries.