Program Description
In this 6-week, 6-credit program, you’ll study and live at Polytechnic University of Valencia in the hilltop university town of Alcoy, Spain. You’ll take day trips to Valencia, Bocairent, and Xativa; enjoy a 3-day weekend in Granada; and spend the final day of the program in Madrid.
The 2026 program will be led by Professor Jay Brockman.
This summer experience is open to all engineering students.
Courses
All students enroll in both of the following courses for a total of 6 engineering credits.
- EGxxxxx: Making Waves: Engineering, Artistic, and Cultural Factors in Creating Music
This course explores the deep connection between music and engineering, a relationship that includes the physics of sound, the mathematics of scales and rhythm, and the technology of instrument design. While engineering is often seen as analytical and music as creative, both fields rely heavily on a combination of these two modes of thinking. The course is based on the “Making Waves” educational program, which has been developed over ten years in collaboration with the Grammy-winning ensemble, Third Coast Percussion. This program has been used in workshops at venues across the US, including the Smithsonian Museum of American History and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. This “Making Waves” course willI combine rigorous engineering analysis and design with music composition, performance, and cultural exploration.
- EG 34440: Probability and Statistics
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of probability and statistics, with a focus on applications in computer science and engineering. Key topics include discrete and continuous random variables, joint probability distributions, the central limit theorem, point and interval estimation, and hypothesis testing. The course emphasizes both the theoretical foundations and practical applications, equipping students with essential tools for analyzing and interpreting data in technical fields.
Dates
May 18 – June 27, 2026
Housing
Savoy Hostel is an iconic hostel located in Alcoy, specifically in the city’s old quarter. It is very close to Universitat Politècnica de València where classes will take place.
Program Fee
The cost for the 2026 Summer Study Abroad Program is $9,500, plus a $200 University Study Abroad Administration Fee.
The program fee includes the cost of 6 Notre Dame engineering credits; accommodations for six weeks; meals in the dining hall on program days during the week and weekend; roundtrip transportation from Madrid to Alcoy; GeoBlue international health insurance; all program academic outings and field trips; and on-site program support from Notre Dame faculty.
It does not include the cost of airfare; passport/visa fees; international cell phone/plan; or personal spending money.
All students are considered for need-based engineering scholarships to help underwrite program costs.
Apply
Applications will be accepted between October 1 – and November 3, 2025.
Program assignments and waitlist notifications occur before Christmas break.
Questions?
Feel free to contact:
Michael Kitz
Executive Director, Summer Engineering International Programs
mkitz@nd.edu
Todd Taylor
Director, Summer Engineering International Programs
ttaylo24@nd.edu