Apply for the Spanish Overseas Experience

To be eligible to go on this programme, you must:

• Be a student in a bachelor’s degree or taught postgraduate programme at AUT
• Be a native English speaker
• Be a citizen of New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga or Vanuatu
• Be younger than 60 years old
• Have completed at least one full-time year of study before you apply
• Be a good ambassador for AUT and New Zealand
• Be committed to making the most of the exchange opportunity
• Ideally have some Spanish knowledge (not compulsory)

Timing for the teaching programme and for SPAN700

You’ll be living, studying and working in Spain from January to June.

SPAN700 Spanish Overseas Experience is a 30-point course that will run during AUT’s Summer School and Semester 1.

If you’d like to go in your final year at AUT, discuss this with your programme leader as soon as possible to ensure that you can still meet all the requirements of your degree and graduate as planned.

If this programme doesn’t fit with your semester timetable you can always plan to do it at the end of your degree and add an extra semester to your studies. The experience will be worth doing it.

If you don’t want to add an extra semester and your AUT programme includes elective courses, find suitable online ones (30 points in total), and save them for when you’re in Spain.

Taking on the Spanish Overseas Experience for a semester is exciting, and we want to make sure that you’re well prepared so you can enjoy it. There are some key things you should consider.

Your responsibilities

AUT will work with you to support the application process and the logistics of securing a placement, but it’s your responsibility to:

• Research the options available
• Research the practicalities of the programme
• Organise your study plan

Money matters

While you’re in Spain, you’ll continue to pay your normal tuition fees to AUT as you’ll be studying the course SPAN700 Spanish Overseas Experience online while working at a Spanish school.

The English Language & Culture Assistants Programme in Spain will offer you

• A minimum monthly allowance of 800 Euros per month for 14 hours teaching per week (4 days per week)*
• Health insurance for the whole time that you will be teaching (January to June)

_{*1,000 Euros per month for 16 hours teaching per week (4 days per week) in some regions}

You need to pay for

• Academic transcript release cost
• Flights
• Visa
• Living costs including your accommodation, food, transport etc.

You’ll need to have enough money for the first month of expenses as it may take a bit of time to get all the paperwork sorted for your first payment when you get there.

Your passport

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the end of your semester abroad. Most countries’ immigration departments require this to process your visa. If your passport expires in the next 12 months, you should renew it as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

Once you have been accepted to the English Language & Culture Assistants Programme in Spain, you’ll need to apply for the visa through the Spanish embassy in Wellington.

How long should your passport be valid: dates example

For 2025 (January to June 2025) your passport must be valid until at least December 2025.

Visas and permits

You're responsible for getting the necessary visas and/or permits to be able to work in Spain.

Be an ambassador for AUT

Being an advocate for AUT and the programme is a key component to going on this programme – it helps us grow our student overseas experience and build strong relationships with schools in Spain.

You can do this by:

• Chatting to students and teachers about AUT or living in New Zealand
• Sharing your experiences with other AUT students by attending information events and helping us spread the word about the programme
• Taking lots of pictures to help promote the opportunity

Applications normally open from February to early April.

You need to apply a year in advance to go to Spain for a semester. For example, you’ll apply in Semester 1, 2024 to go to start the programme in Summer School and Semester 1, 2025.

Applications after the deadline won’t be considered. If you’re thinking about it, you should send your application by the deadline. You can easily withdraw later on if your circumstances change.

As part of your application to go on this programme, you’ll need to provide some supporting documents.

What you’ll need to provide with your application

1. Current passport
2. Passport size photo
3. Original degree certificates, diplomas or official academic record
4. One copy of a valid passport (valid to at least September 2024) showing the photograph page. You’ll need your valid passport number to set your username (usuario) and log onto the PROFEX system, and for the acceptance letter from the school that you have to submit to apply for the visa
5. A letter of recommendation or reference letter, written in Spanish or English, from a teacher or employer, with letterhead, signed and dated, a general greeting and containing the contact details of the person who writes it
6. A police clearance certificate once you’ve been accepted into the programme

Writing a motivation cover letter

This should be a 300-word essay or statement of purpose, signed and dated, with a general greeting, in English or Spanish, explaining the reasons why you want to participate in the programme, your expectations about it and what you can offer to the programme.

Before you start your application

• Read all the information on the Language and Culture Assistants Programme website
• Prepare all your supporting documentation to attach to the application
• Follow all instructions and steps carefully

Any questions?

For any queries contact the Education Advisor in New Zealand: asesoria.nz@educacion.gob.es

If your application to the teaching programme is successful

• You’ll receive the contact details of the school in Spain where you’ll be working
• You’ll be given a deadline to respond and accept

If you’ve been accepted into the English Language & Culture Assistants Programme, you need to:

• Attend a pre-departure session (details will be sent to students directly)
• Contact the AUT Spanish department to enrol in the course SPAN700 Spanish Overseas Experience by September