Information for term Engineering + Society
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenStudents from all academic backgrounds are invited to study abroad in Madrid on this exciting Engineering + Society program. Designed for academically motivated students, this program is held at CIEE's award-winning research partner school, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), where students can enroll in aerospace, energy, or biomedical engineering courses, all delivered in English. Students can also enroll in any level of Spanish language courses as an elective or gain insight into Spanish business culture by getting real-world work experience through a for-credit internship in Spanish. All courses are complemented with CIEE cultural activities and excursions that delve deeper into Madrid's various urban and green infrastructures.
Follow our Travels:
Unique Experiences
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STUDY AT A PRESTIGIOUS LOCAL UNIVERSITY
No reason to worry about your Spanish language level if you enroll in English-taught courses in science, engineering, business, communications, arts, and social sciences with local Spanish students at one of Spain’s academically rigorous universities, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M).
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TAKE ELECTIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE CLASS
Enroll in a Spanish language course at UC3M appropriate to your level, from novice to advanced.
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CREATE INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Build your international network of peers by delving into group projects and social activities, apply problem-solving, cross-cultural and critical-thinking skills in a variety of disciplines including Science, Technology, Engineering, Business, Social Sciences, and Mathematics
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ART GALLERIES and WORLD-CLASS MUSEUMS
500 -
SQUARE MILES OF GREEN PARKS IN MADRID
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RESIDENTS IN THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA
6 M
Location & Culture
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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 minute 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.
The Culture
FEATURED EXCURSION
Visit the world heritage site 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 from 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.
- Discover the flavors of Spain while learning to cook. Learn about the correct type of rice to use to make an authentic paella and try your hand at flipping a Spanish tortilla.
- 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, LGBTQI+ 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 a STEM tutorial 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
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Daily Life
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HOUSING
All housing is in Madrid city within a 40- to 60-minute commute to the UC3M campus in Getafe and Legané.
Homestays: Homestay placements may be with individuals or families, and hosts may welcome one or two CIEE students. Each student has a private bedroom and shared bathroom, with access to kitchen, WiFi, and laundry facilities.
Residence Halls: These modern-style, WiFi-enabled dormitories typically house students in single or shared bedrooms. The residence halls have independent dining halls and laundry facilities, and are close to supermarkets, restaurants, and public transport. Meals, kitchen access, and laundry are not included in the program fee.
Shared Apartments: Students stay in furnished apartments with single, double, or triple rooms. Apartments have access to a kitchen and shared common spaces and are in local city neighborhood areas with plenty of shopping and eating options.
Housing is tight in Madrid and is pre-screened by CIEE staff, so housing placement decisions are at the sole discretion of CIEE. If we cannot accommodate your first housing preference, we will let you know before you arrive. -
MEALS
Homestays: Hosts provide two meals a day during the week.
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 have the option to purchase dining hall meal plans on their own if offered by the residence hall management.
Madrid, Spain Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE Madrid
Calle Aduana 33, 4th floor 28023 Madrid Steps away from the historic main square, Puerta del Sol with easy access to metro, bus, and commuter trains to housing and UC3M classes.
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B
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID (UC3M)
LEGANÉS and GETAFE Both campus locations (in the adjacent suburban towns of Leganés and Getafe, located in the southern area of Madrid) are a 40-60 minute commute from central Madrid.
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C
Getting Around
Students can pre-order their local public transport card at their own cost, to gain access to a safe, clean, easy to use public transport system and commute like locals. Local transportation costs are not part of the program fee.
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
The Engineering and Society 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. This program also allows students with no knowledge of Spanish to take classes at a Spanish university in English in a variety of topics not only in the area of Engineering but in Business or Economics, among others. Choose from CIEE elective courses and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) courses in audiovisual, communication, computer, electrical, electronic, industrial, material, mechanical, telecommunication, and telematics engineering. Engineering courses follow lecture format for the first four to six weeks then switch to lab work or smaller group sessions. CIEE students may also take Education Abroad courses, which focus on Spanish language and culture. Students can choose to take Study Abroad Program (SAP) courses offered mostly in English - and/or Curso de Estudios Hispánicos (CEH) courses in Spanish.
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was established in 1989 and is recognized as Spain’s most prestigious institution of higher education. It follows a U.S. academic calendar and has one of the highest percentages of full-time and tenured female faculty in Spain. 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, communiations, political science and law. Both the Leganés and Getafe campuses are 30-40 minutes outside of downtown Madrid via efficient and modern public transit.
CIEE courses are offered at the CIEE Madrid Center, which is located near the Puerta del Sol – a well-known public square in the center of the city.
GPA
3.0
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
Students must enroll in a minimum of 4 courses.
Program Credit
Total credit: 15-18 U.S. semester/22.5-27 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours
- UC3M courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CEH and SAP courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
Engineering courses are academically challenging and involve daily reading and homework assignments. Attendance at lectures is required. Classes range in size from 25 to 80 students, and classrooms are modern and comfortable. Coursework and exams are to be completed as assigned, on schedule. Interns meet regularly with the course coordinator and other CIEE students, in addition to time on the practicum site. UC3M courses run from early September until early December in fall, and from late January to late April or May in spring. CIEE students enrolled in UC3M courses in the fall can arrange to take early exams in December. Early departure is not allowed in spring.
Class Format
UC3M classes are taken in English or Spanish, depending on student language level – regular university classes are open to Spanish and other international students. Engineering School courses are taught in English and follow lecture format for the first four to six weeks, and then switch to lab work or smaller group sessions. It’s common for a course coordinator to instruct with a co-teacher who alternates teaching lectures with performing lab research. Most courses also incorporate online coursework.
Grading
Students are graded on class participation, class activities, homework assignments, exams, papers, and/or oral presentations. Professors give numeric grades based on a 10-point scale, which are converted to U.S. letter grades.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English and/or Spanish
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse 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.
Spring 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Fall 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
HOST INSTITUTION COURSES
Click to OpenUNIVERSIDAD 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
CEH & SAP COURSES (Getafe Campus)
Curso de Estudios Hispánicos (CEH) and Study Abroad Program (SAP) courses are available to American university students and offered by UC3M Education Abroad. Courses are taken with other American / international students and focus on Spanish language and culture. Unlike traditional UC3M courses, neither CEH or SAP courses 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.
SAP COURSES
Offered in English. More information can be found on the university’s SAP website.
- Cervantes and His World: Exemplary Novels
- Gender Perspectives in Contemporary European and Spanish Literature
- Latin American in a Post- Colonial Perspective, and its Relationship with Spain
- Masters of Spanish Art n the Museums of Madrid
- Spain and the European Union: Political and Economic Issues
- Spain in Progress: Spanish Society Today
- Spanish Art Masters in Madrid Museums
- Spanish Cultural Studies: 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
CEH COURSES
Offered in Spanish. More information can be found on the university’s CEH website.
- Cine Español
- Economía Española y Europea
- El Terrorismo y Sus Víctimas: Un Desafío Global Desde 11-S
- Energías Renovables en España
- Español 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)
- La Mujer en la Ciencia y la Tecnología
- Literatura Española (siglos XIX y XX)
- Literatura Hispanoamericana (siglo XX)
- Religión y Sociedad en España
- Sociología del Sistema Educativo Español
- 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
Click to OpenScholarships & 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
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 19 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jan 23, 2023 | Jun 3, 2023 |
$19,950
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,208 ** Housing = $5,275 *** Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $925 † International Airfare = $540 †† Local Transportation = $250 Books & Supplies = $300 Visa Fees = $160 ††† Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500 †††† Personal expenses = $2,000 Total Estimated Costs = $4,675Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** homestay option includes daily breakfast and dinner † For student in shared apartments or student dorms should triple this amount for meals not included in the program fee †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Students staying a full semester in Madrid require a visa †††† If no consulate in your home area |
| Fall 2023 17 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | Aug 28, 2023* | Dec 23, 2023* |
$19,950
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,178 ** Housing = $5,275 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $925 International Airfare = $540 † Local Transportation = $100 Books & Supplies = $40 Visa Fees = $160 †† Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500 ††† Personal expenses = $950 Other = $30 †††† Total Estimated Costs = $3,245Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** homestay option includes daily breakfast and dinner † round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure †† Students staying a full semester in Madrid require a visa ††† If no consulate in your home area †††† Covid test fees for entry to the US, if required |
*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.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Eero Jesurun
Center Director
Eero Jesurun, Ph.D. completed his B.S. and M.A degrees from Georgetown University´s School of Foreign Service.
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Jon Snyder, PhD
Academic Director
Jon Snyder (PhD, University of Michigan) teaches courses at CIEE Madrid on contemporary Spanish literature, with a research specialization on the cultures of protest in social movements.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
2
CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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