LBAT Smart Cities: San Sebastián

San Sebastian aerial view

Spend five weeks in San Sebastián, a vibrant coastal city in the Basque Country known for its culinary tradition, progressive urban planning, and cultural richness. The LBAT Smart Cities Spain: San Sebastián program introduces students to debates on sustainability, innovation, and intercultural dialogue in one of the most livable cities in Europe.

Through coursework, fieldwork, and site visits, students explore how Basque communities balance tradition and modernization, and how regional approaches to transportation, energy, and civic design shape the global Smart Cities conversation.

Highlights include:

  • Industry + Innovation: Visits to CAF Transportation Systems and the Mondragon Corporation to study urban and technological infrastructure.
  • Excursions: Trips to France (Biarritz and San Juan de Luz), Bilbao, and Pamplona.
  • Outdoor activities: Boat tour of the Albufera, kayaking on the Oria River, surfing, and walking tours along the Camino de Santiago and Basque coast.
  • Cultural immersion: Cooking workshops in Basque gastronomic societies, pintxopote evenings, and dance classes.

The program is designed to immerse students in both academic and everyday contexts where Spanish and Basque cultural practices intersect. Final projects encourage students to reflect on urban space, technology, sustainability, and community identity.

Students enroll in two 3-credit Spanish courses, which may count toward the Spanish minor, certificate, or ALIS, IAML, or GEML majors, and may also fulfill International Plan requirements. Homestays provide full immersion in Spanish language and culture. Instruction and activities are conducted in Spanish. Students may also combine this program with other Spanish-language LBATs, such as Cádiz–Málaga–Barcelona or Madrid, for a total of 12 credits.

Location

San Sebastián, Spain

Dates

June 26 – August 1, 2026

Host Institution

Lacunza International House San Sebastián

Accommodations

Students live with host families, offering both a welcoming home environment and a direct connection to Basque culture. Housing is arranged with local families in apartments within walking distance of the school.

All homestays include breakfast and dinner daily, Wi-Fi, and laundry access.

Courses

  • SPAN 4062 (3 credits): Spanish for Science and Technology: Applications – Instructor: Osvaldo Cleger
  • SPAN 4690 (3 credits): Intercultural Dialogue – Instructor: Miguel Rosas Buendía

Total credits: 6

Note: Students may participate in both LBAT Smart Cities: San Sebastián and LBAT Smart Cities: Cadiz-Málaga-Barcelona during the same summer for a total of 12 credits.

Prerequisites

SPAN 2002 or equivalent and good academic standing (this program is conducted entirely in Spanish).

The program director makes decisions on acceptance after reviewing all applications. Acceptance is based on academic standing, language background, and reasons for overseas study.

Cost

  • The program fee is TBA. This includes ground transportation for excursions, transfers and company visits, housing with host families in Cádiz, Málaga, and Barcelona, two meals per day (breakfast and dinner), guided tours of cities and cultural sites, professional visits, and health, evacuation, and repatriation insurance.
  • The program fee does not include the $500 non-refundable application deposit, 6 credit hours of tuition, international airline tickets, or the Georgia Tech technology fee.

Scholarships

Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. Georgia Tech students may apply to the School of Modern Languages' Campoamor scholarship (approximately $400). HOPE scholarship does apply.

Application and Payment Deadlines

  • Apply via Atlas by Feb. 1. Apply by Nov. 15 for early decision.
    • If you are a non-Georgia Tech (transient/special) student, you are required to submit TWO separate applications to the Office of International Education.
  • A $500 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of application and is applied to the overall program fee.
  • The first half of the program fee is due Feb. 15 and the balance is due March 15. Payments are withdrawn directly from the student's OSCAR accounts on the deadline.

Fee Payment Information: Please adhere to the deadlines stated for the program. Please observe the information in Payment Options to ensure that your payments are processed at the Bursar’s Office on time. Fees will be charged to your Oscar account on the due dates. Make sure you make all necessary payments on time in order to avoid a hold on your account. Students expecting financial aid must submit a letter from the Financial Aid Office stating the allocation and date of payments expected. Tuition and student fees are due according to the Registrar’s schedule for summer tuition.

Cancellation Policy

Students who cancel their participation in the program after being accepted will be subject to the following non-negotiable fee schedule:

  • Students canceling before Jan. 15 will lose their $500 deposit.
  • Students canceling after Jan. 15 must pay 25% of the program fee.
  • Students canceling after Feb. 15 must pay 50% of the program fee.
  • Students canceling after March 15 must pay 100% of the program fee.

Program descriptions and fees are subject to final approval by educational units and the Office of International Education. Georgia Tech reserves the right to alter or cancel this program due to low enrollment, unavailability of a professor to teach a planned course or other unforeseen circumstances. Once Georgia Tech has made payments to service providers, or if Georgia Tech cancels the program before departure or while the program is in progress for reasons beyond its control, such as political unrest or danger to participants' safety, only those fees that Georgia Tech is able to have refunded by service providers will be returned to participants.

Informational Meetings

There will be at least two informational meetings in October and November and two orientation meetings for participants in February and March. Dates will be advertised at a later date. 

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