Introduction:

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was established in 1989 and was intended to be a relatively small, innovative, public university, providing teaching of the highest quality and focused primarily on research. The University aspires to excellence in all its activities, with the aim of becoming one of the top universities in Europe.
 
The university has a strong reputation in business subjects, in particular Economics, for which it is regularly ranked amongst the top 50 institutions worldwide.

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Disclaimer:
Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, applicants should be aware that changes to academic calendars may occur with little or no notice. Students are encouraged to either wait to book travel or book travel that allows for changes with no financial penalty. 
 
Applicants should also be aware that processing of visas may be impacted or halted by specific countries. Failure to secure the necessary visa may result in inability to participate in this program. 
 
Participants on this program may be required to self-quarantine prior to the start of their program for a specified period of time. Students are responsible for arranging (logistics and financial) their travel appropriately to ensure self-quarantine is completed prior to the start of the program.

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Campus: 

UC3M has four campuses divided into the following Schools and Centers:

• Getafe Campus: School of Social Science and Law and the School of Humanities are located here.
• Leganés Campus: School of Engineering
• Comenarejo Campus: School of Social Science and Law, School of Humanities and School of Engineering
• Madrid-Puerta de Toledo Campus: Center for Graduate Studies 

Exchange students will generally only be taking courses on either Getafe or Leganés campuses.
 
Getafe Campus
Located within the greater Madrid metropolitan area in the town of Getafe, the campus is 13 km south of the city center. Facilities on this campus include libraries, computer rooms, television and recording studios, sports centers equipped with indoor pools and spas and student residence halls
 
Leganés Campus
Located within the greater Madrid metropolitan area in the town of Leganes, the campus is 11 km south of the city center. Facilities on this campus include experimental laboratories for courses in bioengineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, and robotics, library, computer rooms, a sports center with an indoor pool and student residence halls.

Academic Areas: 
Exchange students may enroll in subjects from all UC3M schools.

1st and 2nd year courses have very limited spots, and it will be very difficult to gain a spot in these courses. Exchange students must take a minimum of 24 ECTS credits (12 UM Credits) and a maximum of 30 ECTS credits (15 UM Credits) per semester.

Please note that due to challenges with COVID, there may be fewer course offerings, so applicants to this program must have flexibility with their academic options. 

Some courses offered in English have a high demand, so it is strongly encouraged that you have alternative courses as a backup.
 

Faculty of Social Sciences and Law	Business Administration Political Science Law Economics Management and Technology Statistics and Business International Studies Philosophy, Politics and Economics Finance and Accounting Employment and Labor Relations Sociology Tourism
Faculty of Humanities, Communication and Library Sciences	Film, Television and Media Studies Cultural Studies Management of Information and Digital Contents History and Politics Humanities Journalism
Polytechnic School	Science and Engineering Data Electrical Power Engineering Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering Engineering Physics Aerospace Engineering Sound and Image Engineering Computer Science and Engineering Applied Mathematics and Computing Mechanical Engineering Telematics Engineering Biomedical Engineering Industrial Technologies Engineering Telecommunication Technologies Engineering Energy Engineering Mobile and Space Communications Engineering

Courses offered in English can be viewed here:

• Social Sciences and Law Studies/Humanities and Communication Studies
• Engineering

The courses (taught in English) below are in high demand and it is strongly encouraged that students have alternative courses approved by their academic advisor in case they are no longer available when you arrive
 

School of Social Sciences and Law

School of Humanities, Communication and Library Sciences

Artificial intelligence for humanities Consumer behavior Corporate Governance and social responsibility Economic history Family Business Management Financial Economics Global environmental challenges Globalization and society Human rights Inequality Innovation & Technological change International Business Management International Financing International Organizations Introduction to gender studies International public law Labor Law and Social Security Marketing Management Digital Marketing Digital Business Regional and urban economics Strategic management Supply chain management World Politics Organization Behavior Origins of the modern firm

Advertising & Communication Communication and Participation of Civil Society in the Internet Film narrative History of Journalism History of Spain Media landscape Political philosophy Radio Workshop Spanish History: 20th Century Social networks and virtual communities

Grading Scale:
Professors at Spanish universities rarely award a 10; students generally receive grades between 6-8. Spanish universities can be severe in their grading in comparison to the US.  Credit Equivalency:
1 ECTS Credit = .5 UM credits 

Program Dates

Fall Semester: September – January
** Students intending to study at UC3M in the fall will need to request permission to take exams in December from the professors upon arrival.**
 
Spring Semester:  January –  May

Housing: 

There are limited spaces in On-campus residences in Getafe and Leganés. Keep in mind that full-year students have priority.

Given the limited number of available rooms in the residences, they recommend that you search for accommodation on the websites of companies with whom they have a signed agreement. 

Off-campus housing resources:
The following resources are not affiliated with the University of Miami but are options that exist if you’d like to research further.

• Livensa Living: Student Accommodation company with locations in west Madrid and Getafe (near UC3M) – rooms come furnished, private kitchen and bathroom and you can choose between different studio types
• CityLife Madrid: Provides free and paid services to identify housing options
• DoveVivo: Short-term rentals (amenities included in rent) located throughout the city

Required Health Coverage:

Health insurance coverage is necessary for all students in Spain but more so for international students, who apply for a student visa, as you will be asked to provide this during the visa application process.
 
Passport Requirements:

In order to go abroad, you must have a valid passport  that will not expire during your time abroad or within 6 months upon your return.
 
Visa Requirements:
 
It is up to you to consult the Embassy of Spain in your country of origin to determine your visa requirements. 
 
An official letter of acceptance from your host institution is required to apply for your student visa. You must wait until within 90 days of your start date to apply.
 
Next Steps:

Serious applicants should plan to submit a complete, well thought out, and comprehensive application. In the required essay, please focus on sharing your academic, personal and professional goals and how admission to UC3M will help you achieve them.
 
Students who submit a complete application by the deadline will be granted an interview. Qualified candidates will be nominated to UC3M, however UC3M will make the final admission decision. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Participation in the program cannot be guaranteed as there may be a limit on the number of students we can send to UC3M in a particular semester. Please ensure that you think critically about your?second choice?option when completing this portion of your online application. 

Helpful Facts: 
 

Currency	The currency in Spain is the euro, the same as in other European Union countries. The euro is divided into 100 cents. • There are eight different coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. • There are seven different bank notes, for the following amounts: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
Language	Spanish is spoken all over the Spanish territory. However other languages are also spoken in certain areas of Spain. These are: Catalan, in Catalonia; Galician, in Galicia; Euskera/Basque, in the Basque Country; Valencian, in the Region of Valencia; and a particular variety of Catalan, spoken in the Balearic Islands.
Airport	Madrid-Barajas Airport   Located on the northeast of Madrid, only 12 km from the city center
Weather	Madrid has an inland Mediterranean climate in the western half of the city transitioning to a semi-arid climate in the eastern half. Winters are cool due to its altitude and can include sporadic snowfalls and frequent frosts between December and February. Summers are hot, in the warmest month, July, average temperatures during the day range from 32 to 34°C (90 to 93°F) depending on location. Madrid is the driest capital in Europe.