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Welcome!

SLU-Madrid's Student Life team and campus ambassadors are ready to help you adjust to your new life as a Billikeño. 

Two campus ambassadors pose for a photo outdoors on the SLU Madrid campus.

Our orientation activities help you make friends and learn about our campus and Madrid.

Our Office of Student Life team organizes orientation, but everyone on campus ensures it's a valuable experience. This includes our Campus Ambassadors: upperclassmen who guide you through orientation and are always available to answer questions you might have from them — a fellow student — versus our staff. You can't miss the Campus Ambassadors — they wear bright orange!  

Spring 2026

First-year and transfer students

The Office of Student Life, Campus Ambassadors and the entire SLU-Madrid community are excited to welcome you this fall with orientation events! Orientation is not required, however, it is strongly encouraged. Check your email for further information about event schedules and how to participate.

  • Tuesday, Sept. 1: Orientation Day! Save this day for us. We will host all first-year and transfer students for welcome sessions where you can learn more about life at SLU-Madrid, what services are available to you, and you will learn more about your academic life from a professor.
  • Thursday, Sept. 3: First day of classes.
  • Saturday, Sept. 5: Optional day trip TBD. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 6: Optional day trip TBD.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12: Optional day trip TBD. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 13: Optional day trip TBD. 

Events to be scheduled: 

    • Student Life will host walking tours, a tapas tour and more. Watch for more information via email and Raftr on how to sign up.
    • The U.S. Embassy visits SLU-Madrid during the first few weeks of the semester to do a safety briefing that is required for all students who are U.S. citizens. 
    • Student Life will also host at least one residency card (TIE) workshop where students can learn about the process of getting their first card. 

Host family move-in: Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1 students living with host families can move in. Contact housing-madrid@slu.edu if you have any concerns about timing. If you arrive after move-in day, do not stress. Just be sure to communicate with the housing coordinator and your host family so they know when to expect you.

Raftr: The Admissions team and Student Life will inform you through email and Raftr about things you need to know before starting the semester. Join the Raftr community if you haven't already. Contact admissions-madrid@slu.edu for your code.

Study abroad students

We are so excited to welcome you to your study abroad experience at SLU-Madrid! To make your time abroad a little easier, we host a series of welcome events. Check your email for further information about event schedules and how to participate.

  • Tuesday, Sept. 1: Host family move in. Students who are living with host families can move in! Please contact housing-madrid@slu.edu if you have any concerns about timing. If you arrive after move-in day, do not stress. Just be sure you communicate with the housing coordinator and your host family so they know when to expect you.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 2: Orientation day! Save this day for us. We will host welcome sessions where you can learn about life at SLU-Madrid, what services are here for you, and academic expectations while you're abroad from one of our professors.
  • Saturday, Sept. 5: Optional day trip TBD. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 6: Optional day trip TBD.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12: Optional day trip TBD. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 13: Optional day trip TBD. 
  • Events to be scheduled:
    • Student Life will host walking tours, a tapas tour and more. Watch for more information via email and Raftr on how to sign up.
    • The U.S. Embassy visits SLU-Madrid during the first few weeks of the semester to do a safety briefing that is required for all students who are U.S. citizens.
Parents and families

We love hosting families who are eager to learn more about their student's life at SLU-Madrid

Please encourage your student to share orientation emails with you so you are updated on scheduling as we get closer to the date. We plan to host a special orientation for parents and families on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

  • Noon-2 p.m.: Orientation with the Office of Student Life. You will get to learn what your students are hearing about their new academic and social life in Madrid! 

While parent and family orientation is focused on what loved ones of our permanent SLU-Madrid students need to know, our study abroad families are still welcome to join us! We'll do our best to delineate the information that won't apply to students who are studying abroad with us for a short period, versus staying with us for their full degree.

Raftr: The Admissions team and Student Life will inform your students about things they need to know before starting the semester through email and Raftr for families of permanent SLU-Madrid students. Email admissions-madrid@slu.edu to connect with the Raftr community!

If you have any questions about orientation, email us at studentlife-madrid@slu.edu.