Semester in Madrid
Unique Experiences
Practice Your Spanish Skills
with local language exchange groups
Visit the Prado
and explore one of the world’s most renowned art collections
Catch a Football Game
where you can cheer on Madrid’s legendary international football team
Your Destination
Madrid is Spain’s cosmopolitan city, offering an inspiring environment for students of all disciplines. The city’s unique blend of Spanish culture, iconic landmarks like the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor, bustling markets, and lively arts scene create an enriching backdrop for studying abroad. Whether you're studying business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Madrid is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses, host institution courses, and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
- Optional Internship Placements: Enhance your program with an optional for-credit internship that aligns with your career aspirations.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
- Academic Projects: Enroll in an optional for-credit independent research project or service-learning project for increased professional development opportunities.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Madrid will open doors for you to explore Spain’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Discover the flavors of Spain while learning the culinary history on a tapas food tour
- Savor downtime with local students while you play basketball, kayak, swim, or catch a theater, dance, or music performance
- Take a day trip to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the medieval city of Alcalá de Henares
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Where to Find a Vegetarian or Vegan Menú del Día in Madrid
By: Erin Langridge Going out to restaurants as a vegetarian or vegan can be challenging anywhere, so as I started my semester abroad in Madrid, I was unsure of how... keep reading
The Studying Part of Studying Abroad, Madrid Version <3
By: Alyanis Acevedo Serrano Hi! My name is Alyanis, and I am currently studying abroad in Madrid. I decided to study overseas to continue expanding my learning experience of what... keep reading
Sin Gluten: How I survived being Gluten Free while living in Spain and traveling abroad
By: Ali Wolf It was my first week in Madrid. My friends were eating churros con chocolate, a beloved Spanish treat, while I sat and watched. People always ask me... 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).
Due to high demand for housing, most Spanish students live at home with their families, as affordable rental options in the city center are extremely limited. The majority of CIEE student housing is located in well-connected residential neighborhoods outside the historic city center, offering convenient access to Madrid’s metro, bus, and commuter train networks. Whether you live with a host family, student dorm or in a shared apartment, you should expect to commute like a local.
Standard Housing: Includes a single room in a homestay within 30-45 minutes from Puerta de Sol train station; or double room in a student dorm or a shared apartment, distances to Puerta de Sol train station may vary from 40 to 70 minutes. Commute time from housing location to Host Institution Campuses may vary depending on student selected classes.
- Homestays offer socially active hosts and a cultural resource 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.
- Student Dorms: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have an individual or shared kitchen.
Select Housing: Single accommodation in a shared apartment or residence hall, within 45-55 minutes from Sol train station OR Double accommodation in shared apartment or residence hall within 30-40 minutes from Sol station. Commute time from housing location to host institution campus may vary dependent on student selected classes.
- 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.
- Student dorms 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.
Select Plus Housing: Limited available option that includes single room within 30-40 minutes on public transport to/from Puerta de Sol train station. Commute time from housing location to host instution campuses may vary depending on student selected classes.
- 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.
- Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have an individual or shared kitchen.
Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
Please note:
- 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.
- 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. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
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
CIEE Madrid: Study in the historic center of Spain’s capital near Puerta de Sol, conveniently located near shops, cafés, tapas bars, theaters, museums, copy centers, and metro stations. CIEE Madrid features five classrooms, a student lounge, an academic advising office, and a student life office.
The Fundación Ortega-Marañón (FOM) is a prestigious private institution established in 1978 in Madrid offering undergraduate study abroad programs in both Spanish and English. Courses for US college students are held in a modern facility in the lively La Latina district and include a variety of subjects, with strengths in psychology and computer science. FOM is also home to a renowned postgraduate research center affiliated with the Complutense University of Madrid. The FOM is named after the renowned 20th century Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset.
Universidad Antonio Nebrija (UAN) is internationally recognized and has offered Spanish language course instruction since 1985. The UAN academic calendar aligns with the U.S. semester calendar, and students attend classes on the Madrid, Princesa campus. The campus is quiet and centrally located in Madrid. It has excellent connections by public transport and is 15-20 minutes from the Puerta de Sol train station of Madrid city center.
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 classes on the Getafe campus, which is the main UC3M campus, located 25-40 minutes outside of downtown Madrid via efficient and modern public transit. Depending on your housing location, your commute time to campus can vary from 40-to-70 minutes by public transportation because UC3M classrooms are located outside of Madrid’s city center.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Course Information
Attending the CIEE pre-departure online orientation is important as we review the steps for your successful course registration. CIEE collaborates closely with the local host institutions to advise students during the in-country registration add/drop period. One of the indirect benefits of host institution 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.
Students should send all course enrollment questions to CIEE, not the host institutions. Full instructions will be provided after they are accepted into the program.
The actual registration for UC3M courses happens during CIEE’s onsite orientation once students are in Madrid.
Academic Projects
Languages and Cultural Studies
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
Academic Projects
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Communication, Journalism, and Media
History, Philosophy, Religion
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
Academic Projects
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Communication, Journalism, and Media
History, Philosophy, Religion
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
Course offerings may vary from semester to semester. Here is a sample of courses in English:
UNIVERSIDAD ANTONIO NEBRIJA (UAN)
FALL SEMESTER and SPRING SEMESTER
- Consumer Behavior
- Online Marketing in the Digital Era
- International Business
- International Management
- International Trade Marketing
- International Communication
- Sports Industry and its role in European Identity
- Trends of the Global Economy
- Global Skills for International Business Environments
- International Finance
- Intercultural Communication
- Corporate Psychology
- Fundamental Aspects of Spanish Art
- The European Union: Culture, History, and Institutions
- International Relations
- Spanish Civilization and Culture
- Women's Roles in Present-Day Spain
- European Cinema: A Reflection on European Identity Cinema
FUNDACIÓN ORTEGA Y GASSET Y GREGORIO MARAÑÓN (FOM)
FALL SEMESTER
- Art History
- Business in Spain
- Spanish Culture
- Globalization & Media
- Marketing
- Organizational Behavior
- Financial Management
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Sensation and Perception
- Cross Cultural Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Biological Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Statistics
- Computer Data
- Spanish Language and Literature
- World Religions
- Spanish Language and Conversation
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID COURSES
Course offerings are subject to change. Please use the links below to browse available courses.
Social Sciences and Humanities
Courses in the following Social Sciences and Humanities academic areas are available to CIEE Students:
- Business Administration
- Political Science
- Audiovisual Communication
- Law
- Double Degree in Political Science and Sociology
- Double Degree in Law and Business Administration
- Double Degree in Law and Political Science
- Double Degree in Law and Economics
- Double Degree in International Studies and Business Administration
- Double Degree in International Studies and Political Science
- Double Degree in International Studies and Law
- Double Degree in International Studies and Economics
- Double Degree in Journalism and Digital Humanities
- Double Degree in Journalism and Audiovisual Communication
- Economics
- Management and Technology
- Data and Business analytics
- International Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Finance and Accounting
- Management of Information and Digital Contents
- History and Politics
- Digital humanities
- Journalism
- Labour Relations and Employment
- Sociology
- Tourism
Engineering
Courses in the following Social Sciences and Humanities academic areas are available to CIEE Students:
- Data Science and Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Mobile and Space Communications Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Sound and Image Engineering with Artificial intelligence
- Electrical Power Engineering
- Electronics and Automation Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Robotics Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Telecommunication Technologies Engineering
- Industrial Technologies Engineering
- Internet and Cybersecurity Engineering
- Mathematics and Computing
Additional Academic Offer
C3IS Subjects
- Design and Strategic Management
- Principles of Finance
- Digital Marketing
- Marketing and Sales Management
- Digital Business
- Database Fundamentals
Available subjects on the Bachelor's Degree in Urban Sustainability (Leganés Campus)
* First Semester
† Second Semester
- Basic Principles of Science for Climate Change I*
- Basic Principles of Science for Climate Change II*
- Sustainable Environmental Technology†
- Foundations of Complex Systems for Sustainability and Governance†
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
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
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global 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 | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $21,450 |
| Program Academic year 2025-2026 37 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $42,300 |
| Program Spring 2026 17 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $21,950 |
| Program Fall 2026 16 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*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 |
| 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 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 card for under 24 years old offers a significant discount on 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
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 | $30,856 ** |
| Housing | $10,950 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $42,300 |
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 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 card for under 24 years old offers a significant discount on 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
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 | $16,206 ** |
| Housing | $5,250 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $21,950 |
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 | $1,700 |
| Select Plus Housing Fee | $2,550 |
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 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 | $1,214 † |
| International Airfare | $1,000 †† |
| Local Transportation | $125 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $50 |
| Visa Fees | $163 †††† |
| Potential travel to consulate for visa | $510 ††††† |
| Personal expenses | $220 †††††† |
| Total Costs | $3,282 |
*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. $265 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip flight based on U.S. East Coast departure ranges from $700-1200 dependent on carrier
†††Issuance of personalized transportation card and monthly youth passes
††††Students staying a full semester in Madrid require a visa
†††††If no consulate in your home area
††††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense (low-cost SIM card with a 30GB-50GB data plan) + toiletries
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.
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 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.
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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Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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