Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

English-taught Programs at UC3M include Business, Economics, Engineering (Aerospace, Biomedical, Computer/Software, Communication Systems, Electrical, Industrial Automatics, Mechanical), Communication, Film & Media Studies, International Relations, Law & Society, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish.

For courses in Spanish, review the document on Spanish-Language Study Programs at UC3M as it corresponds to Non-European exchange students. Current programs offered include Business, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering (Biomedical, Energy, Mechanical, Telecommunication, and Aerospace), Film & Media Studies, Journalism, Law & Society, Political Science, Sociology, amongst others.

Haskayne Students: A Haskayne Specific Exchange is available at UC3M. Students can take two senior commerce and/or non-commerce options, and/or a maximum of 2 concentration courses (not ACCT/PLMA). Review your course selection with a Haskayne exchange advisor before your exchange commences to confirm transfer credit. Find your Haskayne exchange advisor online. 

Student Tips: "The course on Newspaper reporting in Journalism shows how media and journalism operates in Europe, which is actually quite different than in Canada, so it was an interesting option not offered at the U of C. For Haskayne students, Organizational Behaviour was an interesting human resources class that focused on how HR works in Spain and Internationally. Enrollment in courses is done online prior to the first week of classes." 

Course Requirements: 1 UofC half course equivalent = 6 ECTS credits. The majority of students at UC3M must take 24-30 ECTS. Be aware that international exchange students have some registration restrictions: you can only make course changes up to and during the first week of arrival, after which there is no add/drop/withdraw period. 

Information about the Spanish grading system is available in the UC3M info sheet, which can be downloaded from the featured links on the right side of the UC3M exchange page.

Fun Fact: All courses have a mix of international and domestic students. Courses have a maximum of 1 quarter (25%) international students.  

The academic year at UC3M is divided into two semesters.

• First Semester runs from early September to late January. 
• Second Semester runs from late January/early Feb to late June. 

Proctored exams are not permitted, so students must complete exams on-site at UC3M and cannot leave the exchange early. This has changed slightly in recent years (e.g. fall-only students were allowed to finish in December) so check with the exchange advisor.

UC3M offers a variety of accommodation options, including on-campus residences, and has a variety of accommodation services and providers at various price-points and locations. More information can be found here as well. Please be careful when you arrange for your own accommodation, there are many housing scams in Madrid.

Student Tips: If you have to arrange for your own accommodation because there is no space in student residence, arrive early and get a short term accommodation in a hostel and search for an accommodation in person instead of online. Like this you will be able to check out the places before you sign any contracts. It is a good idea to take a local person or other friend with you when checking out accommodations. You can also go with third-party providers that check the places for you, however, it is good to also check them by yourself. 

Other Student Tips: "In Madrid, most Spanish students live off-campus, so if you don't get into residence, that is an option. You can set up accommodation before you go, or look for accommodation once you arrive. My recommendation for communities to live in would be Sol and the Gran Via area, and get accommodation as close to Atocha train station as possible (which is the hub where all metro and cercanias trains connect in Madrid), making it easier to get to the campuses or travel outside Madrid. If you plan to live off-campus, group living or shared accommodation is recommended because it's a great way to lower costs of living and meet new people. From Atocha train station, it takes about 25 min to get to Getafe or Leganes." 

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

For English-taught programs, basic Spanish knowledge is recommended but not required. For Spanish-taught courses, applicants must have a command of Spanish at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) at a minimum, or have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in Spanish. Certification of language proficiency may be required. Students do have the opportunity to take Spanish language courses during their stay.

Haskayne Students: There are additional eligibility requirements – see the Haskayne Outgoing Exchange Students page for details. When applying in the online application portal, be sure to select the Haskayne version of this exchange. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, contact your Haskayne exchange advisor to discuss.

Canadian students need a study visa for a semester exchange to Spain. Students now need to travel to Toronto twice to get their visa processed at the Consulate General of Toronto. Students should incorporate the costs associated with this in their budget.

What's so special about Carlos de Madrid, or the city of Madrid?

UC3M offers a buddy program for students to be matched with local Spanish students, as well as excursions such as a trip to Granada or cultural excursions.

For a description of each UC3M campus click here. Also check out the UC3M flickr album for a visual campus tour. 

You can also check out these videos about UC3M:
Get to know Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Welcome to Carlos Jan. 2018
Welcome to Carlos Sept. 2018
Research at Carlos III de Madrid
Sports and Fitness at UC3M

Student Tips: "Go to the Orientation! It’s the week before school starts and it is the best way to meet new friends. This is also where you can sign up for ESN (Erasmus Student Network), which is about 10 euros to join, and every day of the month in September it seems like there’s an event going on. ESN also hosts sports events and biking trips. The ESN Card works a lot like the Ski Club card here in Calgary, for discounts on restaurants/bars and airlines." 

The city of Madrid is also one of the greenest in the world. 

Student Tips: "The best things to check out in Madrid are the main tourist community, Gran Via – this is where everything happens at night in Madrid – stores and bars are open late, and everyone is out walking around. Be careful of pickpockets in this area as they target tourists, but generally it is a safe area to be in. Buen Retiro Park is also a must-see place to visit – it’s a park/forest within the city, with a lake that you can rent a boat to ride on. Temple of Debod is a cool place to take photos as well - it's full of columns donated from Egypt. Tapas in Spain is also an essential experience; there are tapas bars where you can enjoy a series of small appetizers, usually with a drink included. One to check out would be Los 100 montaditos, which offers a wide selection of tapas for 1 euro each. In Spain, the general rule is that you don’t tip unless the restaurant/bar gives you tapas, or you just round up to the nearest euro."

Is there a language or orientation program?

UC3M's Welcome Days are mandatory for students, but offer a host of welcome activities and mixers for students.  offers pre-semester Spanish Intensive Courses in January and September at Getafe campus for an additional cost (roughly 250 euros). The courses span 10 days with 40 hours of instruction; at completion, students will receive 4 ECTS credits and a certificate from the institution. The credit earned may be extra-to-degree or may count towards it, depending on the assessment of your UCalgary academic advisor. 

Student Tips: "It was easy to function with basic Spanish skills at UC3M. Even on the trains, the stops are first in Spanish, then in English, and at UC3M the international advisors also speak English."

What accessibility or supports does UC3M offer?

UC3M offers programs for those that may need accessibility supports or use adaptive technology, which allows customized support for specific needs. For information on accessibility and support services of campuses across Europe, please check out Inclusive Mobility. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.

For those that may need counselling supports for depression or mental illness, or even if you feel homesick while abroad, UC3M also offers counselling that is confidential and free. 

How do I apply for a visa?

You need to be accepted before you can apply for your study visa. UC3M provides some information on their exchange page --> click on pdf foreign national procedures in the right side bar. The Spanish Consulate in Toronto is the best resource for visa information.