Overview
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is located on a plateau in the middle of the country. Historically and culturally rich, Madrid boasts world-class art museums, parks and gardens, as well as incredible architecture like the impressive Plaza Mayor. Stunning sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences await those who come to the city. In addition to beautiful buildings and art, Madrid boasts a thriving fútbol culture with nearby stadiums. The third-largest city in the European Union after London and Berlin, Madrid is a bustling metropolis with plenty to enjoy and a metro system to facilitate exploration. This city offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable medical understanding through shadowing while affording them an experience of a vibrant city that will enrich their appreciation for the world.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
2:12pm
Official Languages:
Spanish
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
The Madrid of the Austrians (the old center of Madrid) was built during the reign of the Habsburg Dynasty (1516–1700). The most notable feature of the area is the Plaza Mayor, constructed in 1619. Other unique tourist attractions in the city of Madrid are the Royal Palace, the Retiro Park, and the Temple of Debod, a true Egyptian funerary monument transported and rebuilt stone by stone.
The Region of Madrid is home to three urban enclaves included in the World Heritage List: Alcalá de Henares, with a beautiful historic center and one of the oldest universities in Europe; Aranjuez, with its royal palace and famous gardens; and San Lorenzo de El Escorial, with its Palace and Monastery, where the kings of the houses of Austria and Bourbon are buried. To the north of Madrid, the Sierra de Guadarrama offers numerous opportunities for nature lovers.
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2023
Dates
Price
Availability
May 13, 2023 - June 2, 2023 3 weeks
$8,999 from $455/month
closed
June 3, 2023 - June 23, 2023 3 weeks
$8,999 from $455/month
closed
June 24, 2023 - July 14, 2023 3 weeks
$7,999 from $399/month
closed
July 15, 2023 - August 4, 2023 3 weeks
$7,999 from $399/month
closed
You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. See more on the financing and aid page.
Dates may be subject to change, in rare cases, depending on hospital availability. Students may transfer to another program or receive a refund up until a pre-defined amount of before the start date. All fees include an initial $900 deposit, which is non-refundable. Accepted students or their parents are welcome to apply for financing through Uplift (up to 24-month terms, with a 4% to 36% fixed APR based on creditworthiness). Monthly payment amounts are for those paying via Uplift and are for illustration purposes only.
What’s Included
Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, health insurance if traveling abroad, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Hospital Overview
Opened in 2007, the Infanta Elena University Hospital is a public hospital situated south of Madrid that is able to provide quality healthcare services to a population of more than 110,000 people. This small-sized hospital (around 150 beds) is a teaching hospital, meaning that students will be in contact not only with physicians and nurses but also with Spanish medical students and residents. Both its size and the presence of residents make this hospital a perfect environment for students to shadow and familiarize themselves with the operation of a Spanish public hospital.
Oldest Restaurant in the World
Do you know where the world’s oldest restaurant is located? According to the Guinness World Records, it is in the center of Madrid, and it’s called Restaurante Botín. Founded in 1725, here you can eat some of the most traditional dishes in Spain, such as the roasted lamb or the roasted suckling pig.


Excursions
Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the pure enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. If you happen to make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend, and thus your travel plans conflict with the events your Site Manager has planned, we ask that you notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they’re able to plan the excursion accordingly. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations. Your Site Manager will inform you of the different excursions they have planned during your program orientation.

Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools
Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.


Watch the Atlantis Experience
Funding Your Future
The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

Hear More Directly From Our Alumni
Hear more from them on their experiences during and after Atlantis.

Bring a Friend
Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.


Gain the Exposure, Stats, and Competencies that Med Schools Want
- The vast majority of alumni accepted into med/PA school said Atlantis “strongly” or “very strongly” impacted their admittance
- 81% of alumni accepted into med/PA school said Atlantis impacted their passion for medicine
- 93% of our pre-health alumni progressed on the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students