Valencia

Since Brexit, UK passport holders are third-country nationals in the Schengen Area. The rules are straightforward but require planning:

Under 90 days: You can enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, working (even unpaid) technically requires authorisation. Short internships in an educational context exist in a grey area - similar to other EU destinations.

Over 90 days: You need a student visa (estancia de estudiante). Apply at your nearest Spanish consulate (London, Manchester, or Edinburgh) at least 4-8 weeks before your start date. You will need: a valid passport, proof of health insurance, proof of funds (minimum EUR 700/month or EUR 8,400/year), and an internship agreement (convenio de practicas) signed by your host company and educational institution.

Important since May 2025: You must apply for your student visa before entering Spain. Applications from within the country are no longer accepted for UK nationals.

What we do: Our team prepares the internship agreement, provides the documentation package, and guides you through the consulate application step by step. The visa itself costs approximately £65-80.

Valencia is one of the safest major cities in southern Europe. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. That said, no city is risk-free:

Pickpocketing: The main risk, concentrated in tourist areas (Central Market, the beach promenade, and crowded buses/metro). Keep valuables in front pockets. Do not leave bags unattended on the beach.

Cycling safety: Valencia is bike-friendly, but watch for cars not respecting bike lanes - especially at roundabouts. Wear a helmet even though it is not legally required in urban areas.

Sun and heat: UV is strong from May to September. Sunburn and dehydration are genuinely common among British arrivals. Factor 30+, a water bottle, and a hat are not optional in summer.

Nightlife: Ruzafa and El Carmen are the main going-out areas. Standard precautions - watch your drink, stay with friends, use licensed taxis or apps (Cabify, Uber) to get home.

Ruzafa: The trendy neighbourhood. Independent cafes, vintage shops, best nightlife. Popular with young professionals and Erasmus students. Room: £300-400/mo. Downside: can be noisy, slightly higher rents.

Benimaclet: The student quarter. Cheapest central option, close to the university campus, with a village-like feel. Room: £250-320/mo. Downside: quieter nightlife, slightly further from the beach.

El Carmen: Historic old town. Beautiful streets, lively bars, central location. Room: £280-380/mo. Downside: tourist-heavy areas, can be loud at weekends.

Poblats Maritims (beach area): Walk to the beach from your door. Popular with surfers and outdoor types. Room: £280-380/mo. Downside: further from city centre workplaces, fewer shops and restaurants.

Eixample: The "Ensanche" - wide avenues, good transport links, residential feel. Room: £270-350/mo. A solid all-rounder if you want calm evenings and easy access to everything.

It depends on your placement. Tech startups and international companies often operate in English. Hospitality, architecture studios, and local businesses typically expect at least basic conversational Spanish (B1 level).

Daily life: Valencia has less English than Barcelona. Supermarkets, landlords, doctors, and public services operate in Spanish (and sometimes Valencian, a Catalan dialect). This is actually an advantage - your Spanish will improve dramatically through necessity.

Our advice: Even if your placement is in English, arrive with at least A2 Spanish. Free resources like Duolingo are fine for basics. We can connect you with affordable language schools in Valencia (group classes from EUR 120/month) for more intensive learning alongside your internship.

If you are in Valencia in March, you will experience Las Fallas - a UNESCO-recognised festival that is genuinely unlike anything else in Europe. From 1-19 March, the city fills with towering sculptures (fallas) up to five storeys tall, built over months and then burned on the final night.

What to expect: Daily firecracker shows (mascleta) at 2PM in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento that you feel in your chest. Firework displays every night. Street parties, parades, traditional dress, and the smell of gunpowder everywhere. Over 200,000 Valencians participate - a quarter of the city's population.

Honest warning: It is loud. Very loud. Firecrackers go off at all hours, including early morning. If you are noise-sensitive, consider staying slightly outside the centre during the main week (15-19 March). Some expats deliberately leave the city. But most interns say it is the highlight of their entire placement.

Cycling the Turia park end-to-end, visiting the City of Arts and Sciences, beach days at Malvarrosa or El Saler, day trips to the Albufera natural park (rice fields and boat rides), wine tasting in Utiel-Requena, hiking in the Sierra Calderona mountains, visiting the medieval town of Xativa (30 minutes by train), or taking the EUR 25 Renfe train to Barcelona for a weekend. Our intern community organises group outings regularly.

Most are unpaid or offer a small stipend (EUR 300-500/month). Spanish labour law requires internships to be formalised through a convenio de practicas linked to an educational institution. Hospitality placements sometimes include meals. Tech startups occasionally offer stipends. Budget assuming no income to be safe - anything you receive is a bonus.

Yes, and EU destinations like Spain tend to have smoother approval processes. The Turing Scheme funds international placements through participating UK universities. You cannot apply directly - check with your university's placement or international office. Confirmed through the 2026-27 academic year. We provide all required documentation.

Almost certainly. Spain is a well-established destination for UK university placements, and EU-based internships generally face fewer approval hurdles. We provide formal documentation including learning agreements, supervisor reports, and internship confirmations. We have experience with placement year, sandwich year, and year in industry formats.

For some placements, yes. Tech and international companies often work in English. Hospitality, architecture, and local businesses usually need at least B1 Spanish. Even for English-language roles, daily life in Valencia runs on Spanish more than in Barcelona. We match placements to your language level and can connect you with affordable language schools.

Valencia is roughly 30% cheaper for day-to-day costs. It has fewer multinational HQs but a growing startup scene. The city is smaller, more walkable, and less touristy. You will need more Spanish. The beach is arguably better (wider, less crowded). Barcelona has more corporate internship options and a larger international community. If budget and immersion matter most, choose Valencia. If big-name companies and English-language ease matter more, choose Barcelona.

Minimum 8-12 weeks for a meaningful experience. The first 2-3 weeks involve settling in, navigating bureaucracy (NIE number, bank account), and adjusting to the pace. For a placement year, 5-6 months is ideal. Longer stays give you deeper projects, better Spanish, and a stronger professional network. Most of our placements run 3-6 months.

Yes. Valencia is considered one of the safest cities in Spain. The streets are busy until late (Spanish dinner is at 9-10PM), public transport runs late, and the city has a strong community feel. Standard precautions apply - be aware in busy nightlife areas, use licensed transport at night, and trust your instincts. Many of our interns are women and consistently report feeling safe.

Valencia has a Mediterranean climate with over 300 days of sunshine per year. Spring (March-June): 18-28C, perfect. Summer (July-August): 30-38C, can be intense. Autumn (September-November): 18-28C, still warm enough for the beach into October. Winter (December-February): 10-17C, mild but you will want a jacket. Rain is rare but when it comes (mainly October-November), it can be heavy - Valencia occasionally gets gota fria (cold drop) storms.