Madrid - Engineering, Math & Science

Overview

As the leading center of industry, commerce, and technology research in Spain, Madrid is an ideal city to study engineering, architecture, and science and their applications in the professional world.

This program is designed for engineering, architecture, and science students who want to take courses taught in English or Spanish at a prestigious and academically-challenging university — Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

Specialize your studies with a range of engineering courses, from aerospace to mechanical. General architecture courses—including introduction to architecture, drafting, and design courses—offer you unique insights to your field. Science courses provide you with the chance to study pharmaceutical science as well as food sciences, with courses in biology and chemistry, too. Mix disciplines or focus on a single field for more concentrated studies.

Madrid will also be your classroom. Take an architectural walking tour to see Madrid’s many beautiful buildings, churches, and structures. Enjoy trips to research centers. Visit the city’s famous museums like the Prado and Sorolla to inspire your coursework.

We want you to feel at home in Madrid, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From an informational orientation to cultural activities, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible. Enjoy one of our many field trip opportunities to explore your Spanish surroundings, too.

Quick Facts

• Center: IES Abroad Madrid
• City: Madrid
• Country: Spain
• Program Credits: 15-19 per semester (16 credits recommended)
• Language of Instruction: English, Spanish
• Language Prerequisites: None

Program Dates

After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.

Fall 2018

• August 31 - December 22

Upcoming Application Deadlines:

• Spring 2019 - October 19, 2018

Academics

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, architecture, and science, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. 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 must take 15-19 per semester (16 credits recommended). All courses are taught in English except for the language courses.

Craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:

• IES Abroad Spanish language course (required, 4 credits)
• IES Abroad English-taught engineering elective courses (up to 8 credits)
• IES Abroad Spanish-taught elective courses (up to 9 credits)
• Universidad Carlos III engineering courses (up to 15 credits)
• Universidad Carlos III English-taught elective courses (up to 15 credits)

Some courses are available in Spanish for students with advanced language skills. You must meet the program’s specific requirements, including a GPA of 3.0 or above, and, in certain university courses, prerequisites and junior or senior standing.

Because of the high academic rigor of these courses, we recommend you take the following courses in your U.S. home institution:

• Thermal Engineering
• Fluid Mechanics

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

Art History

• AH 249 - Spanish Art And Architecture (Fall, Spring)
• RL/AH 350 - The Iberian Peninsula: Cultures and Religions Through the Arts (Fall, Spring)

Internship Seminar

• IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Leading Across Cultures (Fall, Spring)

Mathematics

• MT 330 - Linear Algebra (Spring)

Religious Studies

• RL/AH 350 - The Iberian Peninsula: Cultures and Religions Through the Arts (Fall, Spring)

Spanish

• SP 101 - Spanish Language In Context: Novice Abroad I (Fall, Spring)
• SP 201 - Spanish Language in Context: Novice Abroad III (Fall, Spring)
• SP 301 - Spanish Language In Context: Emerging Independent Abroad I (Fall, Spring)
• SP 333 - Spanish for Science and Engineering (Fall, Spring)
• SP 351 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad I (Fall, Spring)

Partner Institution

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

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

Local university courses are available in the following disciplines and most are taught in English. Spanish is an option for some. In addition to attending the standard class sessions at Universidad Carlos III, IES Abroad students will also participate in a required weekly tutoring program that provides additional academic support and practice for each class. The tutoring program is managed by Universidad Carlos III and is factored into the overall number of credits; the student’s performance in the tutoring program forms part of the overall final grade of the course. Disciplines include:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Audiovisual System Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Communication Systems Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical Power Engineering
• Energy Engineering (only first year courses)
• Industrial Electronics and Automation
• Industrial Technology Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Telecommunication Technology Engineering
• Telematics Engineering

Internships

Interning abroad as part of your study abroad experience will help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive market. It’s an exhilarating challenge, and we’re here to help guide you in securing your placement and succeeding in your internship.

Participating in an internship abroad helps you:

• Add international experience to your résumé
• Gain real work experience and skills
• Build your confidence

All of our engineering internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.

Housing

We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which 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.

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 receive a meal credit. A very limited number of these placements are available.

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 compañero. Space is limited, and meals are not included.

Colegio Mayor - Colegios Mayores are dorms located on the Complutense campus and throughout the city. This housing option includes up to 20 meals per week in student cafeterias.

Colegios Mayores are ideal for outgoing students with a high level of Spanish language who want to integrate into local, more traditional student culture, participate in Colegio activities, and are willing to abide by the rules of the Colegio. This housing option is limited and requires an additional fee.

Student Life

Orientation

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.

Take course-related excursions to high-tech companies throughout Madrid to become familiar with the Spanish work culture. Participate in intensive Spanish language classes throughout your first two weeks.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Madrid through our cultural activities, such as:

• Language intercambios and bilingual debates with Spanish students
• Volunteer opportunities
• Lessons in Spanish cooking and dance
• sports activities such as soccer games
• Weekend activities with Spanish students

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.

Eligibility Requirements

• 18 years of age
• In good standing at your home school
• Firm 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
• No Spanish language is required
• Prerequisites for certain university courses
• Current enrollment at your home college or university in a STEM field program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
• Have completed at least 3 semesters of your Engineering, Architecture or STEM program by IES Abroad Madrid Engineering Program start date

Passport & Visa Requirements

A passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the end date of the program, with at least two blank pages is required.

A student visa is required to enter Spain. Upon admission, you will receive more information about the application process and any related fees. The visa application process for non-U.S. citizens can be extremely lengthy, please contact us for more information. If you're studying with IES Abroad in Spain, you may be eligible to use the IES Abroad ACCeSS program. ACCeSS is our visa processing service in which we submit your visa application and supporting documents to the consulate for you.

Cost

Fall 2018

• Tuition: $15,030
• Housing: $3,730
• Insurance: $230
• Total: $18,990

Academic Year

• Tuition: $27,040
• Housing: $7,460
• Insurance: $455
• Total: $34,955

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.