Intern Abroad

• Medicine
• Spain, Granada
• Universidad de Granada
• 11/2025 – 01/2026

1. Finding an Internship

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Organising clinical rotations as a medical student in Spain can be quite challenging, as most Spanish hospitals only accept foreign students during the summer months, when Spanish students are on break. I tried to obtain a placement in Madrid and Valencia without success but eventually secured an internship in the Department of General Surgery at Hospital Clínico San Cecilio through a personal connection via my Spanish teacher in Germany. It can be difficult to reach the department secretary; however, if you are interested, you are welcome to contact me for the email address of the Head of General Surgery (louisa.wolters@gmail.com).

I would recommend organising the internship several months in advance, as Spanish hospital administration tends to respond more slowly, for example when it comes to signing the Learning Agreement for Traineeships. In addition, I had to register on an online platform (r0) of the University of Granada, for which an erweitertes Führungszeugnis (extended police clearance certificate) is required. Obtaining this document can take several weeks. Apart from that, the application for the Erasmus scholarship is very straightforward and quick. Since I split my practical year tertial and only completed a two-month internship, I did not have to enrol at the Spanish university.

2. Accommodation & Living Expenses

Generally speaking, accommodation in Spain is cheaper than in Germany. I paid €290 per month for a small but beautiful room in a shared house in the Albaicín, with a rooftop terrace and a view of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada. There were 18 international students living in the house, which may sound a bit overwhelming at first. For me, however, it was ideal, as I assumed it might be difficult to meet many people during such a short stay. My roommates were incredibly kind and quickly felt like a small family. Since some of them were Latin American and most had a good level of Spanish, we mainly spoke Spanish at home.

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I personally really enjoyed living in the Albaicín, as it is a very quiet neighbourhood with hardly any cars. However, you do have to walk up a fairly steep hill every day, which can be somewhat exhausting. On the other hand, this also allows you to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the rooftops of Granada every morning on your way to the bus stop. Many Erasmus students also live in the city centre around the cathedral or near Camino de Ronda, where most bars and clubs are located.

Accommodation can mainly be found via Idealista. Many listings specify minimum rental periods, but I would still recommend asking, especially if you start your internship in the middle of the semester, as many rooms may still be available. Since contact is usually directly with the landlord (even for shared apartments) and scams are relatively common, I strongly recommend arranging at least a video call before making any payments—ideally also getting in touch with someone currently living in the apartment. The lead time before the start of the rental period is usually quite short; for example, I found my room just one week before my flight. Many people also choose to rent an Airbnb or stay in a hostel for the first week and look for accommodation after they arrive in Granada. During the winter months, I would definitely recommend renting a room with heating, as it can get quite cold in Granada and Spanish houses are generally not as well insulated as German ones. Supermarket and public transport prices are slightly cheaper than in Germany.

3. Everyday Life

Cycling in the city is not very common and seems rather dangerous, which is why I used the bus to get to the hospital. Since Granada is a very small city, most distances are walkable, and even the longest bus rides take no more than 20–30 minutes. As I was not enrolled at the University of Granada, I was not eligible for the student bus ticket, but a regular monthly ticket is available for around €30.

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As a medical student, you should be aware that in Spain it is very uncommon for students to be actively involved in clinical work, and internships are generally considered observational. In my case, the doctors were very friendly and eager to explain things, but I still missed being able to participate more actively and feeling like a real part of the team, as is often the case in Germany. During my two-month internship, I did not receive an access card to open doors (such as the entrance to the surgical area) or a code for the scrubs dispenser, which meant that I had to wait for and ask doctors every day to enter restricted areas and obtain my work clothes. Nevertheless, especially the residents treated me very kindly and included me in team activities, such as having a beer with the head of department after work, visiting the Alhambra, or attending their Christmas dinner.

Moreover, students are not really expected to stay at the hospital in the afternoons, and on most days, I was able to leave between 12 and 2 p.m. This left me with plenty of free time to explore Granada and work on my doctoral thesis. I would definitely recommend having a good level of Spanish. Even though some doctors speak English, most prefer Spanish and are clearly relieved when they realise that you speak it as well.

4. Free Time

Granada is an ideal city for anyone interested in history, architecture, and culture. It represents a true melting pot of Arabic, North African, Spanish, and Gitano culture. Even though the city is not very large, it offers countless restaurants, clubs, and, of course, tapas bars, where drinks are still traditionally served with a free tapa. There are many remarkable places to visit, such as the Alhambra, but also the numerous cármenes and viewpoints in the Albaicín.

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Depending on the season, hiking, climbing (including via ferratas), and skiing are possible in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which can easily be reached by bus. I personally enjoy dancing salsa and was very happy to discover that Granada offers several dance schools and a number of social dance events each week. This is also a great way to connect with locals; for example, my class would often go out for drinks together after the lessons. Running and cycling can be somewhat challenging due to the city’s many hills and the lack of proper cycling lanes. Andalucía also offers many stunning cities that are well worth visiting, such as Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Cádiz. In summer, there are also several beach towns nearby that are ideal for short trips.

5. Conclusion

I would definitely recommend completing part of your practical year abroad, and especially in Granada. For me, it was the perfect city: small enough to quickly feel like home yet offering a great variety of activities and an incredible richness of culture and history. I had already completed an Erasmus semester in Málaga two years earlier and had fallen in love with Spanish culture, particularly Andalucía. But even if you are simply looking to escape the grey German winter, Granada is an ideal place to enjoy the afternoon sun on a rooftop terrace.

From a career perspective, however, the experience can be somewhat frustrating. Therefore, I would not recommend choosing a specialty you are seriously interested in or staying for longer than two months, unless you know in advance that the department allows students to actively participate. Since I did not have particularly high expectations and needed to work extensively on my doctoral thesis anyway, this did not bother me too much. Moreover, I am extremely grateful for this special time and for the friendships I made in Granada, and I would choose to do it the exact same way again.