As the leading center of industry, commerce, and technology in Spain, Madrid is an ideal city to study engineering and its applications in the professional world.
This program is designed for engineering students who want to take engineering courses taught in English or Spanish at one of the most prestigious engineering universities in Spain—Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
You enroll in one Spanish language course and may choose to take up to three engineering courses taught at Carlos III. Founded in 1989, the university has quickly become one of the top universities in Spain and is known for its state-of-the-art laboratories. Carlos III is located in Leganés, a suburb just south of Madrid.
Madrid will also be your classroom. Take an architectural walking tour to see Madrid’s many beautiful buildings, churches, and structures. Visit the city’s famous museums, like the Prado and Sorolla, to inspire your coursework. Enjoy our cultural week that focuses on the Spanish War of Independence. Welcome to study abroad!
We want you to feel at home in Madrid, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Madrid, from an informational orientation to cultural activities. Enjoy one of our many field trip opportunities to explore your Spanish surroundings, too.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
Madrid Engineering students are required to complete Universidad Carlos III de Madrid exams on the official university exam date (set by faculty) and depart IES Abroad housing the following day. Since your official exam date will not be known at the time that you book your ticket, you should purchase a ticket with a flexible reservation change policy, usually for a fee. Exact dates will be provided by IES abroad staff on-site.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses that explore Engineering and, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at the prestigious Universidad Carlos III enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You take 15–16 credit hours per semester. All courses are taught in English except for the language courses. You craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:
This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
About Universidad Carlos III de Madridwww.uc3m.es Although the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) is a relatively new institution, it has already established leading programs in the areas of Economics, Business Administration, and Law, while its efforts in Engineering and research are becoming quickly recognized internationally. In addition, it is among the first universities in Spain to comply with the new European Higher Education Area requirements (part of the Bologna Process). Faculty and students come from around the world to join UC3M in its role as a truly global institution.
Courses All local university courses are available in the following disciplines and are taught in English. Spanish is an option for some:
Location & Commute Time The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has three campuses, with its Engineering school located on the campus in Leganés, a cozy suburb just south of Madrid's city center. The campus is easily accessible by public transportation. The commute time from IES Abroad Madrid Engineering housing to UC3M is approximately 30 minutes by train.
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Madrid, it will feel like home.
Homestays – Live in Spanish homes with señoras or families and eat breakfast and one additional meal per day (either lunch or dinner) with your hosts when the program is in session. In many cases, more than one IES Abroad student is placed with a señora or family. Commute time to the university and Center will be from 25 to 45 minutes.
Homestays with Kitchen Privileges – If you are interested in a homestay but prefer to purchase your own food and prepare your own meals, you may wish to consider this option. With this option, you will receive a meal credit. A very limited number of these placements are available. Commute time to the university and Center will be from 25 to 45 minutes.
Apartments– Share apartments located in residential areas in Madrid. Apartments are furnished, and feature fully-equipped kitchens. Utilities, regular cleaning, and wireless Internet access are included, as well as the support of a Spanish apartment guide. Space is limited, and meals are not included. Commute time to the university and Center will be from 25 to 45 minutes.
Part of making you feel at home in Madrid is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, house that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Madrid staff, your fellow students, and the city of Madrid.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
You also take field visits to high-tech companies throughout Madrid to become familiar with the Spanish work culture. You participate in intensive Spanish language classes throughout your first two weeks.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Madrid through our cultural activities, such as:
University Clubs & Events There are many opportunities for you to participate in the life of the city alongside local Spanish students at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). We encourage you to take advantage of the any extra-curricular activities open to you at UC3M. More information will be given on-site.
Although your adventure begins in Madrid, our field trips take you to other great cities in and around Spain to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in the Madrid.
We organize several one to three day field trips for you. Some trips are included in the cost of the program, while other trips are available and may be subsidized by IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.
Valencia 3 days Visit Spain’s third largest city, rich with delicious cuisine, excellent weather, and countless cultural outlets, such as Europe’s newest cultural and scientific complex, Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (the City of Arts & Sciences).
Asturias 3 days Home of the largest national park in Spain, Picos de Europa.
El Escorial 1 day Visit this royal site that was once the residence of the king of Spain, as well as a monastery for the Roman Catholic church. The palace is also the burial site for nearly every king and queen since the 16th century.
Segovia 1 day Site of a Roman aqueduct and historical palaces and churches of Spain’s Golden Age.
Toledo 1 day Known as the “city of three cultures”—Christian, Muslim, and Jewish—Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy that makes the city an open-air museum.
Aranjuez-Chinchón 1 day Home to one of Madrid’s most well-known royal palaces and gardens.
Salamanca 2 days Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, it is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to teaching Spanish language.
Bilbao 2 days The impressive Guggenheim Museum has become the icon of Bilbao; tradition and modernity go hand in hand in this incredible city.
The IES Abroad Madrid Center is located in the heart of the Universidad Complutense’s main campus, inside the San Agustín residence hall. There are two museums — The Museo de América and the Museo del Traje— within walking distance of the Center. Features include:
Elvira MunozIES Abroad Madrid Director Elvira Muñoz, Director, IES Abroad Madrid, served a two-year appointment as Associate Director for the Education Abroad Program at the University of California Madrid. Her association with the University of California began at UCLA, where she was a Lecturer and Associate Undergraduate Vice Chair of the Mathematics Department, 2000-2002, and Visiting Assistant Professor, 1995-2000. She received two Distinguished Teaching awards during her career at UCLA. She also has taught mathematics at State University of New York at Stony Brook, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, and Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Mathematics from Université Paris XI, and a B.S. in Mathematics from Universidad de Salamanca. Her considerable experience abroad also includes work and study in Germany, Sweden, and Brazil.
IES Abroad Staff
María José CachoAssistant Administration and Student Services
Marta CamachoAcademic Advisor
Yolanda CharlánStudent Affairs Coordinator
Angel LópezStudent Affairs Coordinator
Gemma Muñoz GarciaSenior Academic and Internship Coordinator
Yolanda RealAssistant Director of Administration
Faculty
Fernando AlonsoEconomics Doctor en Ciencias Económicas, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Montserrat Alonso Cuenca,Spanish M.A. en Filología Hispánica
Juana Anadón Benedicto,History Doctora en Historia, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Josefina Blanca Armenteros,Art History Licenciada en Geografía e Historia
Epicteto DíazSpanish Literature Doctor en Filología Hispánica Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Rafael Fernández Sánchez,Economics Doctor en Ciencias Económicas Profesor, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Antonia Fernández Valencia,History Doctora en Historia, Profesora, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Emilio GarcíaSpanish Film Doctor en Historia del Cine, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Javier Huerta Calvo,Spanish Literature Doctor en Filología Hispánica Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Cristina Iborra Mateo,Spanish Language M.A. en Periodismo Licenciada en Filología Inglesa
Fernando Luengo Escalonilla,Economics Doctor en Ciencias Económicas, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Amalia López Salso,Spanish Language and Literature M.A., Humanities, Southern Methodist University; Licenciada en Ciencias Biológicas
Beatriz MariñoArt History Doctora en Historia del Arte, Profesor
Ana Martín Pascual,Spanish Licenciada en Filología Hispánica, Advanced Certificate Latin American Literature
José Manuel Matilla Rodríguez,Art History Licenciado en Geografía e Historia, Conservador del Departamento de Dibujos y Estampas, Museo del Prado
José Antonio Nieto Solís,Economics Doctor en Ciencias Económicas, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
María Pardo Serrano,Spanish Language Licenciada en Geografía e Historia
Aurora Pastor Martínez,Theater Performance Licenciada en Ciencias Políticas, Actress
Emilio Peral VegaSpanish Literature Doctor en Filología Hispánica
Emilio Peral Vega,Spanish Literature Doctor en Filología Hispánica
Juan Carlos Pereira Castañares,Contemporary History Doctor en Historia, Profesor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
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