Madrid is Europe's largest political and economic center, a dynamic, cosmopolitan city with many opportunities for foreigners. As a student at one of the universities in Madrid, you can get a prestigious education and at the same time fully immerse yourself in the Spanish-speaking environment. Many universities in Madrid offer their students to undertake internships in other countries, gain invaluable practical experience and, as a result, enter the European labor market as a trained qualified specialist in their field.
Madrid is a city for students
Young people will love Madrid with its many interesting and varied leisure options:
- cultural recreation - visiting the Royal and Crystal Palaces, Prado, Reina Sofia, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Catholic cathedrals;
- for football fans - visiting matches of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Santiago Barnabeu stadium;
- walks - along the most famous Gran Vía, where the Spanish Royal Academy of Fine Arts is located, along the main square Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Cibeles, Retiro Park, Sabatini Gardens or the Botanical Garden;
- nightlife - tapas bars, clubs, cocktail bars, jazz terraces, flamenco theaters.
It is quite profitable to live and study in Madrid - it is one of the cheapest European capitals. The student can live on the campus at the university, rent an apartment with other students, or live with a Spanish family.
Studying at Spanish universities allows for the possibility of part-time work, so students can independently cover their daily expenses.
The desire of our compatriots to emigrate to Spain is explained by the advantages that a foreigner receives by moving to a country with a high standard of living and education. For example, graduates of Spanish universities can easily find a job not only in Spain, but also in other EU countries due to the fact that their diplomas are highly valued and recognized throughout Europe.
Along with a high-quality and relatively inexpensive education, university students have the opportunity to undergo an internship or practice in the best European universities and conduct world-class research.
Overview of Public and Private Universities in Madrid
You can get a high-quality European education both in public and private universities in Madrid. At the same time, tuition fees often depend not on the source of funding for the educational institution, but on the program chosen by the student - “official” (officiales) or “own” (propios).
The cost of studying in an official specialty in all universities in Spain is unified, but universities (most often private) can set their own rates for their own courses. At the same time, los titulos propios are more competitive for the local labor market.
The table provides a brief description of the public universities in Madrid:
| Name | Number of faculties / specialties | Distance learning opportunity | Language of instruction | Bachelor Cost, EUR | master Cost, EUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous University of Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, UAM | 7 / 48 | No | Spanish, there are programs in English | up to 900 | 4500 |
| Complutense University, Universidad Complutense Madrid, UCM | 26 / 78 | No | Spanish, there are programs in English | from 455 | from 455 |
| University of Madrid Carlos III, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, UC3M | 27 / 141 | partially (combined learning online and on campus) | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | from 1385 | 2500 |
| Polytechnic University of Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM | 20 / 200 | No | Spanish | information on request | information on request |
| University of Alcalá, Universidad de Alcalá | 9 / 86 | No | Spanish, English | from 1782 | from 2310 |
| University of Rey Juan Carlos, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos | 8/79 undergraduate, 71 graduate, 78 dual specializations | yes, 9 online programs for 2018 | Spanish, English | from 2500 | from 2670 |
| National University of Distance Education, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, UNED | 11/28 bachelor's degree, 76 magistracy | online learning | Spanish, English | 780 | 1330 |
The largest universities - UAM, UCM, UNED - provide an opportunity for students to receive education in almost any specialty - from fine arts and biological sciences to law and various aspects of medicine.
Those who see their vocation in technical sciences - mining or engineering, architecture, IT, nuclear physics, nanotechnology - are waiting for one of the relatively young universities that have already won leading positions in national rankings. This is the Madrid Polytechnic, which has a high-quality academic base, is actively involved in European scientific projects and has excellent opportunities for all kinds of research.
Carlos III University is more focused on social and legal areas: business administration, economics, finance, political science, international studies, accounting, labor relations, tourism, economics and law.
Education at the universities of Madrid, as in other Spanish universities, includes 3 levels: bachelor's, master's, doctoral studies. Moreover, the cost of obtaining a master's degree is usually several times higher than that of a bachelor's.
In addition, the price also depends on the specialty chosen by the student: studying natural sciences or theology is much cheaper than medicine or law.
Therefore, in the table, which contains information about private universities in Madrid, the cost of training varies within fairly wide limits:
| Name | Faculties / specialties | Distance learning opportunity | Language of instruction | Cost, EUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfonso El Sabio University, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, UAX | 5/38 Master's, 41 Dual Specializations | No | Spanish, English, French, German | information on request |
| University of Pontificia Comillas, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, UPCO | 6/36 Bachelor's, 94 Master's (including dual specializations) | distance learning for some specialties | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | 2800 - 12000 bachelor's degree, 5750 - 28150 Master's degree |
| European University of Madrid, Universidad Europea Madrid, UE | 4/74 Bachelor, 69 Master, 24 Dual Majors | online programs | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | 4700 - 8300 Master's Degree Online |
| Distant University of Madrid, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid, UDIMA | 5/16 bachelor, 42 master | distance learning | Spanish, English | from 1360 |
| CEU San Pablo University, Universidad CEU San Pablo | 6 / 131 | No | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | on average 2,000 - 17,000 undergraduate degrees, 4800 - 51000 magistracy |
| University of Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, UFV Madrid | 6/39 including dual specializations | distance learning courses | Spanish, English | 5900 – 17000 |
| University of Nebridge, Universidad Nebrija | 5/58 Bachelor's, 44 Master's (including dual specializations) | online, mixed programs | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | from 2900 bachelor's degree, 4000 - 17000 master's degree |
| Camilo Jose Cela University, Universidad Camilo José Cela, UCJC | 5/77 including dual specializations | No | Spanish, English, bilingual programs | 3650 – 18000 |
| ESERP Business School, ESERP Business school | 8 / 22 | MBA online, virtual campus for full-time students | Spanish, English | from 5750 |
The European University in Madrid is ready to accept applicants for a variety of specialties: architecture and construction, biotechnology, art, design, sports, law and law, criminology, business management, pharmaceuticals, linguistics, industrial and aerospace technologies and others.
A similar range of official and private master's degrees is offered by UAX, University of Nebridge, CEU, UCJC. Those wishing to work in the field of business, tourism, PR, marketing, finance, international trade should definitely pay attention to ESERP.
The correspondence form of education in Spanish universities allows the student to study remotely, online, take the program at a convenient time and anywhere.
There are 2 specialized distance education universities in Madrid - UDIMA and UNED. In some other universities, it is possible to study remotely only certain courses and programs.
Admission to the University of Madrid
A foreigner is quite capable of entering a Madrid university, choosing the university and the desired specialty to begin with. The specific requirements for applicants can be found on information portals that each university has.
A common feature of all Spanish universities is the need to pass the entrance exam, which is currently called PAU and includes a test of knowledge in 6 subjects.
The test is quite serious, so even Spanish applicants undergo a preparatory course first.
Passing the exam is carried out in 2 stages. On the first one must surrender:
- Spanish;
- foreign language (English, French);
- history of Spain or philosophy;
- a subject to choose from (depending on the specialty: mathematics, Latin, art history, and others).
The second part of the PAU includes the delivery of two more subjects to choose from:
- humanities or social sciences: mathematics, geography of Spain, art history, design, economics, Latin;
- scientific direction: mathematics, physics, drawing;
- health sciences: chemistry, biology, mathematics.
In addition to passing the PAU, a foreign applicant should take care of the preparation of educational documents, their translation into Spanish and notarization.
Admission to Spanish universities immediately after leaving school in Russia is possible under two conditions:
- if you have a certificate of complete secondary education, which must undergo homologation;
- in case of successful passing of the PAU exam.
Free education at universities in Madrid
The possibility of free education is available to those students who manage to get a scholarship or grant to study at a university. There are many such programs in Spain, the main thing is to choose the right option for yourself.
This can be a reward:
- talented or gifted young people in any field;
- applicants entering a certain specialty;
- applicants with special merit or achievements obtained during their studies at school;
- citizens of specific states;
- privileged categories of persons.
When passing the competition, the applicant can be provided with full or partial tuition fees. Funding is provided either by the university itself or by third-party organizations, for example, the Carolina Foundation (the official website of the Fundación Carolina), the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, the EACEA agency and others.
Cost of living in Madrid
Information on average prices for basic goods and services in this city will help a prospective student calculate the affordability of life in Madrid:
- Dinner at a restaurant - 12 euros.
- Coffee in the establishment - 1.72 euros.
- A liter of milk - 0.83 euros.
- A dozen eggs - 1.59 euros.
- A kilogram of chicken meat - 6.24 euros.
- A bottle of wine - 5 euros.
- Travel by transport - 1.50 euros.
- Taxi ride (1 km) - € 1.05.
- Rent a 1-room apartment (not in the center) - 608.50 euros.
- Utilities in a 2-room apartment - 123.66 euros.
- Mobile tariff for 1 min. conversation - 0.20 euros.
- Going to the cinema - 9 euros.
- The cost of jeans is 71.32 euros.
- The cost of sports shoes is 72.94 euros.
Universities in other cities of Spain
There are prestigious Spanish universities not only in the capital. Dozens of universities, located not only in the metropolitan areas of Spain, but also in small towns, provide excellent academic training and research experience.
Among the most prestigious higher educational institutions, which from year to year fall into the world rankings of the best educational institutions, one can name:
- Pompeu Fabra University;
- Autonomous University of Barcelona;
- University of Barcelona;
- University of Navarra;
- Technical University of Catalonia - Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, UPC.
You should also pay attention to private higher art institutions and business schools, whose diplomas are highly rated throughout Europe. For example, a prestigious creative education can be obtained:
- at the conservatories: Royal Madrid, Jesus de Monasterio, Liceu;
- at the institutes: the arts of Barcelona, European design;
- schools: cinematography and audiovisual effects.
Tourism and hospitality programs are offered by schools CETT, EADA and others.
Finally
Education in Madrid, the capital of Spain, is now available not only to citizens of the country, but also to visitors from other states. An impressive list of public and private universities allows the applicant to choose the optimal conditions for studying in this city, to decide on a specialty and get acquainted with the requirements for admission. However, whatever university is chosen, the quality of graduates' training remains invariably high, and the diploma received opens the way to profitable employment in any country in Europe.
