Founded in 1932, the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) offers a complete program of courses and seminars conducted by prestigious specialists from Spanish and foreign universities. This characteristic has given the UIMP a reputation as being one of the most outstanding institutions of higher education in Spain. More than 5,000 students pass through the university's classrooms throughout the summer. In addition to the academic program, the UIMP also offers a wide variety of cultural activities such as concerts, theater performances, art exhibits, and poetry readings. The Spanish language and culture courses are held at the UIMP's Las Llamas Campus. This campus is equipped with all the facilities the students might need: a complete library geared towards foreign students, a video library with Spanish films and documentaries, a language lab, as well as various athletic facilities such as basketball and tennis courts.

Academics vary by program and may be comprised of one or more of the following:

• A U.S. university-taught course
• Guest lectures by local experts
• Visits to local companies or organizations
• Enrolling in a course at the host university in Santander
• Service-learning and/or internships