Engineering, Technology + Sciences
Unique Experiences
Study at a Prestigious Local University
with local Spanish students at one of Spain’s academically rigorous universities, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
Take Elective Spanish Language Class
by enrolling in a Spanish language course at UC3M appropriate to your level, from novice to advanced.
Create International Professional Skills
by building your international network of peers by delving into group projects and social activities
500
Art Galleries and World-Class Museums
23
Square Miles of Green Parks in Madrid
7M
Residents in the Greater Metropolitan Area
Your Destination
Madrid’s influence in politics, education, science, entertainment, media, fashion, and arts makes it an important international metropolis, and a major hub in Southern Europe. Spain’s capital city is also its largest, with a historic center dating back to the Habsburg Empire, and world-renowned art museums. A wide variety of tapas bars, dance shows, concerts, outdoor parks, soccer matches, and contemporary theater and cinema make it a lively place to live and learn.
Only steps away from the historic Puerta del Sol, CIEE Madrid is located in the heart of downtown with its vibrant cultural offering. The UC3M Leganés and Getafe campuses are a 40-60 minutes’ commute by train to the south end of Madrid.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Madrid.
Featured Excursion
Visit the world heritage of El Escorial’s Royal Palace, Kings' Pantheon and Monastery built under the reign of King Philip II of Spain in the 1500s. Located in the mountains about a one-hour drive north of Madrid, El Escorial’s impressive architecture gives visitors a glimpse into daily life of the royal court, where decisions were made at the height of the Spanish Empire as a global powerhouse. Students have free time to explore the neighboring 18th-century village San Lorenzo.
Other Excursions & Activities
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the medieval city of Alcalá de Henares or hike the trails in the Guadarrama Mountains on a CIEE-organized day trip.
- Soak up Spanish culture with museum visits, dance classes, urban art and graffiti tours, and popular neighborhood visits to Lavapiés, Malasaña or La Latina.
- Savor down-time with Spanish students while you play basketball, frisbee, hike, kayak, swim, or catch a theater, dance, or music performance.
Projects
In CIEE-sponsored workshops, learn about issues like culture shock, LGBTIQI+ life in Madrid, stress management, navigating the Spanish university, and how to put your study abroad experience on your resume, among other topics.
Students taking STEM courses at the local university are strongly encouraged to sign up for one additional tutoring course (1 US credit) taught by UC3M faculty that prepares students for exams and reinforces the material studied in lecture with additional problem sets. Learn how to sign up for STEM tutorials during the UC3M course selection process.
Apply for an Internship ( Spanish only) before arrival. Earn credit and beef up your resume with international experience in design, marketing, or supporting an NGO – there are plenty of options. Students applying for an internship are required to submit additional materials during the course selection process.
Local Engagement
Campus Life. Our students benefit from all the services and campus facilities provided for UC3M students, including access to gyms, sports centers, and libraries, as well as cafeterias, Wi-Fi, and student clubs and organizations.
Home Life. Students in homestays and residence halls can enjoy meals with their Spanish families or other international and Spanish university students, making for cultural immersion. Try practicing your Spanish with your new family and friends abroad.
Volunteering. Give back and create a deeper connection to Madrid. Students have opportunities to volunteer at local organizations, youth centers, schools, and more. If the local health and safety regulations permit, in-person volunteering will be offered.
Program Blogs
Horseback Riding in Madrid
By: Shafa Abbas Madrid offers an abundance of amazing experiences—iconic activities like visiting the Museo del Prado or strolling through El Retiro Park. But for me, the most unforgettable thing... keep reading
Why It's Never Too Late to Study Abroad: My Experience in Madrid
By: Sydnee Neitzel As I reached the final semester of my college career, I was faced with a decision I had always dreamed of: studying abroad. But, despite years of... keep reading
Cultural Immersion in Madrid
By: Tia Tewari Ever since I learned about studying abroad, I knew I wanted to do it; being able to fully immerse myself into a new culture seemed like an... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Madrid offers diverse housing options to maximize your study abroad experience, including homestays, student residence halls, or shared apartments in several city districts. All housing options are located near supermarkets, restaurants, gyms, and public transport and provide the convenience of urban living in one of Europe’s largest cosmopolitan city settings.
Student housing in Madrid typically looks different than what you may be used to in the U.S. Unlike most college campuses, CIEE does not own or manage student housing in Madrid. We work within local housing networks to carefully identify housing partners, vendors, and homestay hosts that can offer students a safe and culturally active living experience. All Madrid housing sizes, layouts, room designs, and amenities will vary and will have their own distinct features. Living in Madrid may mean downsizing for the duration of your stay as student housing space and location are at a premium (for example, living space, kitchen, washing machines or bedroom size may be smaller than what you´re used to at home).
Standard Housing: Includes a single room at a homestay within 30-45 minutes from Sol train station or a double room at a shared apartment or student dorm located with easy transport access and within 30 to 70-minute commute from Sol train station (Commute time from housing to host institution campuses may vary depending on selected courses.)
Homestays offer socially active hosts who allow for a lot of student independence, no curfew, kitchen access for food storage, a living room, Wi-Fi, weekly laundry, and a bathroom shared with the host. Hosts provide two meals a day during the week.
Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring fewer amenities with basic furniture, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen. Meals are not included in the dorms or apartments.
Student residence halls are modern, offer Wi-Fi and kitchen access.
Select Housing: Includes:
- a guaranteed single room at a shared apartment or residence hall with a commute time of55 minutes from Sol train station (or)
- a double room within 30-45 minutes from Sol train station. (Commute time from housing to host institution campuses may vary depending on selected courses.)
Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring a few amenities with basic furniture, a laundry machine, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen. Meals are not included in the residence halls nor apartments. Student residence halls are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically house students in single bedrooms with an individual or shared kitchen. Select housing requires an additional fee. Please note that you may be placed in housing where you will share common spaces in your accommodations with other CIEE students who opted for a different housing.
Select Housing Plus: Limited number of guaranteed single rooms at a shared apartment or residence hall with an average commute time of 30-45 minutes to Sol train station (Commute time from housing to host institution campuses may vary depending on selected courses.) Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring a few amenities with basic furniture, a laundry machine, Wi-Fi access, maintenance repair services, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen. Meals are not included in the dorms or apartments. Student residence halls are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have an individual or shared kitchen. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee. Please note that you may be placed in housing where you will share common spaces in your accommodations with other CIEE students who opted for a different housing category.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. category.
Meals
Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families, and they are responsible for lunch. Students do not typically have access to use the kitchen at the host family home.
Residence Halls/Shared Apartments: Meals are not included. Residence halls and apartments have direct access to supermarkets, restaurants, public transport, and independent dining halls. Students can purchase dining hall meal plans on their own if offered by the residence hall management.
Academics
This program is designed for engineering students who want to learn Spanish and gain insight into Spanish and European culture while immersing themselves in Spanish university life. As you start planning for your time abroad in Spain, it’s helpful to consider how your academic experience at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) may differ from what you’re used to on your US college campus, and how this enhances your scholastic learning.
How will your learning preference adapt to a teacher-lecture method that emphasizes independent study? What challenges and opportunities do you anticipate with a different grading system using a 1-10 grade scale? The program allows CIEE students with no knowledge of Spanish to take classes at a state-funded, public Spanish university in English in a variety of topics. Not only can you enroll in Engineering courses but in any level of Spanish language, Humanities, Business or Economics, among others. Choose from CIEE elective courses and UC3M courses in audiovisual, communication, computer, electrical, electronic, industrial, material, mechanical, telecommunication, and telematics engineering.
Think about any changes in your study habits when you register for direct enroll coursework at UC3M where nearly half your grade is based on only final assessment. Consider how your academic accommodation may require earlier and more frequent communication with CIEE staff before your arrival in Madrid. What home school course requirements can be replaced with alternate course electives offered at the Spanish host university? Engineering courses at UC3M follow a lecture format for the first four to six weeks then switch to lab work or smaller group sessions. CIEE students may also take UC3M International School courses, which focus on Spanish language and culture courses with other US college students in English.
Attending the CIEE pre-departure online orientation is important as we review the steps for your successful UC3M course registration. CIEE collaborates closely with the UC3M International School to advise students during the in-country registration add/drop period. One of the indirect benefits of UC3M classes is that CIEE students can learn how to collaborate with students from different cultural backgrounds, while expanding their own international job career network, and by gaining insight into the professional workings of a cross-cultural collaboration.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was established in 1989 and is recognized as Spain’s most prestigious public institution of higher education. It follows a U.S. academic calendar system for US visiting college students and has one of the highest percentages of full-time and tenured female faculty in Spain. CIEE students take engineering classes on the Leganés campus. Students can also take classes at the main campus, Getafe, which offers a wide variety of disciplines, from business courses to sociology, economics, media, communications, political science, and law. Depending on your housing location, your commute time from Madrid city center to both the Leganés and Getafe campuses can vary from 40 to 70 minutes in public transport because the UC3M classrooms are located outside of Madrid´s city center.
CIEE courses are offered at CIEE Madrid, near the Puerta del Sol – a well–known public square in the city's center.
Arizona State University: Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar, so you can study abroad with CIEE while continuing to meet all your academic goals.
Course Information
- Spanish-taught courses are available to heritage or advanced-level speakers only. Interested students are subject to a proficiency assessment.
- Internships are only available in Spanish to eligible students.
Academic Projects
Visual and Performing Arts
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Social Sciences
History, Philosophy, Religion
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID COURSES
Please visit the university website for more information.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS (Leganés campus)
Offered in English
- Aerospace Engineering
- Applied Mathematics and Computing
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Data Science and Engineering
- Electrical Power Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering
- Industrial Technologies Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mobile and Space Communications Engineering
- Sound and Image Engineering
- Telecommunications Technology Engineering
- Telematics Engineering
NON-ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS (Getafe campus)
Offered in English and Spanish.
- Business Administration
- Cultural Studies
- Economics
- Employment and Labor Relations
- Film, Television, and Media
- Finance and Accounting
- History and Politics
- Humanities
- International Studies
- Journalism
- Law
- Management and Technology
- Management of Information and Digital Contents
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Statistics and Business
- Tourism
UC3M International School COURSES (Getafe Campus)
UC3M International School courses are available to U.S. university students and are offered by UC3M International School. Courses are taken with other American / international students and focus on Spanish language and culture. Unlike traditional UC3M courses, UC3M International School courses do not involve coursework with Spaniards.
The following lists are samplings of courses that may be available. Not all courses are offered each semester. The final list of courses will be available upon arrival in Madrid.
UC3M INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ENGLISH TRACK COURSES
Offered in English. More information can be found on the university’s UC3M International School website.
- Gender Perspectives in Contemporary European and Spanish Literature
- Latin American in a Post- Colonial Perspective, and its Relationship with Spain
- Spain and the European Union: Political and Economic Issues
- Spain in Progress: Spanish Society Today
- Spanish Art Masters in Madrid Museums
- Cultural Studies: Spanish Culture/s from 1940 to the present
- Spanish Language: Basic Level I
- Spanish Language: Basic Level II
- The Sociology of Migrations: The Context of Spain and the European Union
UC3M INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SPANISH TRACK COURSES
Offered in Spanish. More information can be found on the UC3M International School website.
- Cine Español
- Economía Española y Europea
- El Terrorismo y Sus Víctimas: Un Desafío Global Desde 11-S
- Español en el entorno académicoEspañol Coloquial
- Español para Hispanounidenses
- Estudios Culturales
- Historia de España
- Historia del Arte Español
- Historia del Presente: España de Hoy
- Instituciones Españolas y Europeas
- La España Literaria de Cervantes (Siglos XVI – XVII)
- Literatura Española (siglos XIX y XX)
- Literatura Hispanoamericana (siglo XX)
- Religión y Sociedad en España
- Teoría y Práctica del Cuento en Español
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Fall 2025 16 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | Fees & Housing $21,450 |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $15,256 ** |
| Housing | $5,700 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Visa Fees | $0 |
| Total Fees | $21,450 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Housing Fee | $1,600 |
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $2,400 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $1,190 † |
| International Airfare | $1,200 †† |
| Local Transportation | $125 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $50 |
| Visa Fees | $160 †††† |
| Potential travel to consulate for visa | $500 ††††† |
| Personal expenses | $260 †††††† |
| Total Costs | $3,485 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†The listed estimated cost is for students in homestays. Families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) and students purchase lunch (there isn’t usually access to a kitchen). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $260 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††The youth public transportation for under 24 year olds has a significant discount for local bus metro travel
††††Students staying a full semester in Madrid require a visa
†††††If no consulate in your home area
††††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Eero Jesurun
Center Director
Eero Jesurun, Ph.D. completed his B.S. and M.A degrees from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Eero studied at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid where he obtained a Ph.D...
Get Started
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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