Courses can be challenging but having the opportunity to live in Madrid makes it worth it. Madrid is full of great destinations to take in the spanish food and culture while interacting with some of the friendliest locals in the world.

Study abroad was an absolutely marvelous experience. It made me grow as a person, meet new people, learn about a culture, its peoples, and customs that people from different places of the world have. I would not change my experience and in fact, I would repeat it. Personally, I did not enjoy my classes, the methods are too different and the professors were not really interested in the students. I would not recommend this specific program and university. I would, however, recommend other programs in Madrid and other places around Spain. In my experience, study abroad goes well beyond the classes and thus even though I did not like the program, the time abroad gave me lots of positive gains.

I had lots of support from my program director. She is the best! I don't have any complaints about the study abroad office and/or its methods.

My ESN program had always lots of trips and activities. I liked how they were always planning something for the erasmus tu interact and have a life outside the school.

I rented a studio apartment for myself in an awesome area; La Latina. I LOVED IT! I had the best view of the sunset and the most beautiful european windows and balconies. I actually miss my Spanish Apartment!

I usually would take 2 buses to school (about 40 mints total) or 1 metro ride and then the second bus. For anything else around Madrid I usually walked or took the subway.

My courses were mainly in spanish and My overall academic experience was pleasant although some teachers were not speaking in their native languages or had very strong accents making it difficult to understand even power-points which would be often mistranslated.

I would recommend making friends in classes with as many spanish students as possible because there are many people who are open to befriending an exchange student and showing you the ways of Madrid

Throughout the year i was sick a few times which included a flu and a sever sore throat. I was able to receive treatment from the many local pharmacies equipped with doctors who are willing to help you find the medication you need.

Madrid is very safe and there are few places one could feel uncomfortable. One area that i found many other international students thinking could be slightly dangerous at night would be lavapies near the metro anton martin.

I did not feel discrimination on my program. Spanish people, however, are very closed tend to be sort of grumpy but that is not necessarily the rule. I did feel, in a more general spectrum, that some Spanish people don't necessarily like Latin Americans.

I had a great experience that will have a profound impact on my world view and by living alone in an apartment i have become much more self sufficient and am able to live in a large city. This experience has also helped improve my understanding of the Spanish language and Spanish culture due to being thrust into a bustling capital city.

I made friends that I know will be for live. I traveled to places that I will never forget. I learned so many things that marked me as a person.

My program involved me taking classes directly mixed in with the spanish students which was not the case with most other american students. Although this was troubling at first because I had no idea how the course selection or registration worked and i had no help in that respect, once classes began i was able to get help from spanish students who i had met during my first few days of classes.

The courses depend mainly on yourself and your effort, a great location that is close to Madrid center. The locals are great and will always help you if you're putting in an effort to explain what you're looking for.

Madrid was the perfect location for me because it was a very lively city where there was always somewhere to go or something to do. Also, it felt very Spanish culturally compared to other destinations I considered such as Barcelona, which felt a lot more touristy when I visited. It's also a great home base to travel throughout Spain and Europe because the transportation system is stellar. Locals in Madrid and in Spain are very friendly and helpful and great to get to know. The education system is Spain is very different from CU because it is much less structured and puts a lot more responsibility on the student.

Save electives for your study abroad program in order to make it as easy as possible so you can enjoy your time abroad. Going to this specific program in Madrid, I would live in the city center and commute to school, even though it is about a 40 minute train ride, it is better to stay in the heart of the city. For interacting with the locals, I would say to try and communicate in Spanish and really try to learn the language if you don't already. I found people very nice and always willing to help.

To any prospective students considering the program, I would say absolutely do it. It was by far one of the best and most impactful experiences of my life. I will say that the courses are incredibly difficult, at least as far as engineering is concerned. Many of my friends abroad attended Carlos III but were not at the engineering campus, and many of them commented that their courses were much easier abroad, so I suppose it depends. Either way, I would say the schooling system is entirely different from the United States, so just be prepared to adapt (elaboration in the "Academics" section).
Location-wise, Madrid is an absolute dream. I never expected to feel so at home in a city abroad, but I do think a piece of my soul will always be in Madrid. It is a bustling and international city with good food, people, and amazing culture. However at all times you are only an hour away from amazing mountains for hiking and skiing, and a few more hours (depending on your mode of transport) from the ocean.
I found nearly all interaction with locals to be a good experience. I had heard that the Spanish people could be a bit rude, but I did not find this to be true. While they may bump you in the street, I found everyone I spoke with to be very friendly and good natured. The locals of Spain were one of the things that made me fall so in love with Spain.

I took courses to count toward my Spanish major, mainly relating to linguistics (these were primarily part of the humanities department at Carlos III). While I enjoyed my classes, humanities is definitely not the strongest program at the university (journalism, engineering, and business/law have higher quality programs). The class format is quite different from that at CU, as the classes are typically smaller and place much more weight on the final exam. The difficulty of the classes varies a lot based on the professor and the subject matter. The location of this program is wonderful. While the university is not centrally located in Madrid (you will most likely need to take public transport to get there), the city is a wonderful place to study. There is always something to do or see, whether it is having a picnic in the Retiro park or spending an afternoon in the Prado. In addition, Madrid has a wonderful transportation system and is centrally located, making it a great base for sightseeing throughout Spain. Interactions with local students depend largely on you. There are plenty of opportunities to meet Spaniards, especially if you are taking classes with them in Spanish. If you take the initiative to talk and get to know them they are very friendly. But if you don't make the effort, you will most likely pass the semester just spending time and speaking with other international students (who are much easier to get acquainted with).

The program director is always there for help but if they aren't around you can usually find someone but most likely will make you make until the arrival of the program director.

I did not receive much communication from the program director and I am not certain if there was any on-site support staff.

I found the staff on my program not very helpful, I feel like I ended up having to figure out most things on my own. Th

I found the staff on my program very helpful. My program director was amazing. I bothered him with so many questions during the time leading up to my program and he patiently answered them all, or helped me find the person who could. When I had problems with my scheduling while abroad, he helped me through the entire process of getting it resolved. I am so thankful for my program director.
I found the on-site support staff to be quite helpful as well. They were very good about emailing me about things I needed to do or to attend (for example orientation, collecting my student ID, transcripts, etc.). While I wouldn't say they will reach out to you, they will be there when you reach out to them. Any time I had a question, they were very good about responding to me and directing me properly.
About the other staff on campus, such as teachers and instructors, my advice would be that initiative (and often persistence) on your part is imperative. Do not expect to be given any special treatment as an international student, and do not expect them to be willing to necessarily go out of their way for you. If you are struggling, by all means contact your instructor, and do so as soon as possible. If they say they cannot meet with you, persist until they can meet with you. I found most of my instructors were happy to help, but you must be the one to reach out to them.

Because this program was an exchange, I had hardly any contact with any staff/ coordinators for the program. If you choose this program, you are expected to be independent in navigating the city, finding living arrangements, and managing academics. However, I was rarely confused about what I needed to do; the coordinators provided all the essential information and there are plenty of people available to ask for help if needed, such as the students who volunteer with Erasmus Student Network (a group on campus that provides support and activities for international students).

Orientation was straightforward as well as excursions and extracurricular activities. You will have no issue being integrated into these opportunities.

The on-site orientation was a great way to meet other international students. It was also helpful in getting to know the campus. There were some extracurricular activities offered, however I did not participate in these activities.

I found the on-site orientation to be quite good, including a tour of campus which was nice. One of my recommendations would be to join the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). For a few euros you can join and they organize weekly events such as language exchanges, tapas nights, club nights, and even excursions to places all over Spain. Another group in the area is CityLife Madrid. They also organize weekly events, trips all over Europe, and can help with other aspects of living in Madrid such as living arrangements, phone services, gym memberships, and much more. I found that through these groups and meeting other people on campus and around Spain I was never short of activities and excursions that interested me. There were many ways to get involved and I would definitely recommend taking advantage of them.

The international student orientation provided by Carlos III was moderately helpful and provided a way to meet other international students. The program itself does not provide any excursions or extracurricular activities. Erasmus Student Network does, however, provide various trips, events, and activities that all international students may choose to participate in (at their own expense). These included trips to various locations in Spain, a tapas hour, and other outings in Madrid. I participated in the language exchange program, which was a great way to practice my conversational Spanish while helping a Carlos III student improve his English.

I lived in a 6 bedroom flat and it was perfect and great for meeting more people. My daily commute consisted of taking the metro to a train and then the train to the university. Madrid has the best transportation system in Europe.

I chose to live in a studio apartment. While it was nice to live alone because I did not have to worry about infringing on anyone else's space, it also became lonely at times. If I repeated my experience, I would live in a shared flat/apartment with a few roommates. Local transportation in Madrid is excellent. The metro or train system (cercanías) can take you pretty much everywhere, which was great because I needed both to get to class everyday since UC3M is just outside of the city. Madrid is also a very compact city so walking is often the best option when going somewhere in the city center.

I lived in a flat close to the city center in Madrid. It was a good fit for me because I had 5 other roommates, all around the same age and all new to Madrid. It was nice being close to city center because we had everything close to us - grocery stores, gyms, shopping, etc. The public transportation in Madrid was amazing. To get to school I would have to take a metro and then transfer to a train, and then finish by walking the rest of the way to campus. Overall, the commute to school took around 40-45 minutes. However, you can get anywhere in Madrid by metro, it was super easy and efficient.

I lived in an 8 person apartment in central Madrid. It was an excellent fit for me. I was essentially in the center of the city so I could walk almost everywhere, and Madrid has incredible public transportation. Additionally, I loved all of my roommates, who came from all over the world, and who really helped make my experience in Madrid. Additionally, I very much enjoyed the independence of living in my own apartment in Madrid. While the first few days were a little rough, after settling in I could not have felt happier or more at home. I would also definitely recommend living in the city center. While there are options to live on campus, or close to campus, many people I spoke to wished they were living in the city center because quite frankly, it's where all the action happens, and it is very easy to get to campus using the public transport.
As stated before, local public transportation is absolutely incredible. It is a very walkable city, but for the times when something is out of reasonable walking range (or you're just feeling lazy), the metro, buses, and train systems are incredible. When you arrive be sure to get a transportation card, with which for only 20 euros a month you can ride all of the public transportation as much as you want. The metro system runs all through Madrid and operates from 6:30 until 1:30 in the morning. The local train system (called Cercanias) is also very useful. As the Carlos III campuses are in Getafe and Leganes, you will have to use these trains to get there if you choose to live in the city center (about a 20-30 minutes train ride), but I found it a very easy commute. You can also take these trains to visit other beautiful cities on the outskirts of Madrid, or to go to the mountains for a bit of hiking or skiing. Additionally longer distance buses and trains run from Madrid all over Spain and even other parts of Europe which made traveling abroad very easy.

I lived with a host family, which was a wonderful fit for me. They were able to help me navigate the city and introduced me to many new aspects of Spain and places that I wouldn't have been able to see or experience on my own. I got to experience more of the local food and culture and was much more immersed in the language than I would have been if I had found other accommodations. One of my host sisters attended Carlos III, and we became close friends. She was able to help me with any school-related questions that I had. The public transportation system in Madrid is very good, consisting of buses, metro, and above-ground trains. Anyone under 25 qualifies for a monthly transport pass costing 20 euros per month, which allows unlimited access to public transportation within Madrid. My daily commute to university, by train, took approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. While this sounds long in comparison to what we are used to in Boulder, it is very typical for the students in Madrid (most students do not live on campus). I was able to make use of the time on the train to read or study.

School isn't like the United States so it's a little frustrating because you feel like in the classes you learn nothing, but that's why I said it's on you to learn as much as you can because academic help is hard to come by. Overall school was good for meeting people from Spain but not for actually learning topics.

Overall, the academics at UC3M were good, but the system differs a lot of American university. The biggest difference is the lack of structure provided by professors, which resulted in a lot of confusion from me and my American peers. However, once I accepted this difference, I was able to adapt and passed my classes just fine.

My courses there were very easy compared to at CU. I barely went to class and still did good in all my classes.

One thing to note is that everybody - including your professors - are much more laid back. Not in the sense that they'll let things slide necessarily, but don't be surprised if they arrive to class 15 minutes late or aren't in their office during their office hours. With that being said it is absolutely imperative that you stay on top of your education and above all else ASK if you need help, because they could not care less if you fail or pass, the ownness is on you. The school system is much different than in the U.S. Students in Spain are not as concerned with failing classes as they are in the U.S. because failing a class is not as big a deal, they just retake the class if they fail. Don't expect any exams to be curved, even if the entire class fails. I had one exam in which the passing rate was 14% and the teacher's response was, "You guys better study for the final". I would definitely say my academic experience was very challenging. It is called STUDY abroad for a reason and especially at Carlos III you need to stay on top of them because they get away from you quickly. There is not as much work necessarily, as in you probably will not have any homework, but do be prepared to spend a lot of time studying for your exams. It is difficult, but doable, and don't be afraid to reach out if you need help, because while some of teachers were not the best, they really did try to help me if I reached out to them.

My academic experience was fairly good but definitely not the highlight of the program. I took classes with local students, in Spanish, which I was initially very nervous about but which turned out to be manageable, especially after a few weeks of adjustment. My reading and writing of Spanish improved a lot. The professors were very understanding and supportive of the international students. Based on the subject matter and rigor of the classes, I spent less time and effort on my classes at Carlos III than in Boulder, although this experience probably would vary for students taking courses other than humanities. Classes were divided into 2 sessions every week, a theory class (generally lecture) with a large group of students, and a practical class with a smaller group of students. The course grade was determined by a few essays and the final exams (which contribute much more to the course grade than they do at CU, and are primarily short or long essay questions). The teaching quality varied significantly by class, but the professors were generally engaging.

Knowing a fair amount of Spanish would help any student fit in while in Madrid.

Locals were friendly when I did interact with them, but doing so was sometimes difficult because my friends from school were other international students, not locals. In order to meet locals, I had to really put forward the effort to be social and start conversations with people. I would recommend speaking to local Spanish students in classes in the beginning of the semester. Also, if you are interested in improving your Spanish, be sure to check out an intercambio. These are events that happen (usually at bars) where you can speak in Spanish with locals and they might want to practice their English with you.

I found the local to be absolutely lovely. My biggest piece of advice is to really embrace the culture and assimilate yourself and they will absolutely accept you. Don't be those obnoxious Americans walking around the streets being loud and rude, refusing to even try to embrace the difference in cultures. Almost every person I met was friendly and helpful. One thing I will say is that as a woman, be prepared for cat-calling and a lot of staring. The Spanish will just stare at you unabashedly, which can be a bit off-putting at first. However I never once felt unsafe, and I was out at all hours of the night. They basically just want you to know that they are enjoying looking at you, but nothing more than that. I found building connections with locals pretty easy as long as you put yourself out there. I lived with 7 other people, two of which were Spanish, and that really helped me to make connections. Going out to bars and clubs can also be a good way to meet people and make connections. Additionally, I found the locals at Carlos III to be very friendly once you spoke to them. I found that they will not necessarily reach out and try to talk to you, and it can be intimidating to talk to them as they already have their own groups of friends, but if you are willing to make the first move and reach out, I found the other students to not only be friendly but also helpful when I struggled in class. I would say the biggest thing is just putting yourself out there and reaching out to others, and if you can do that you will easily make local and other international friends

I met a few locals during my classes, and also through the Language buddy program. The students at Carlos III are friendly, but most don't go out of their way to interact with international students unless you make an effort. I met the most locals through my host family and in joining a Catholic young adult group in Madrid (which I knew about because of some family connections). I made so many wonderful Spanish friends within this group! So to interact with locals I would recommend going beyond the typical activities provided for international students, and joining some other group or club that interests you (Carlos III has some clubs and sports teams, or if you are feeling adventurous you can research something outside the university). The locals will easily peg you as an American (they have some kind of radar for it, no matter how you dress) but don't let that deter you; they are very friendly and curious about our country. Make the effort to speak in Spanish and don't worry about making mistakes; you will learn more by trying than by keeping your mouth shut!

I had no health issues while abroad. In terms of dietary restrictions, I do not have any but I had a couple of friends who were vegan/vegetarian. For the most part, they had no issues finding food to fit their needs, but being vegetarian/vegan is a lot less common in Spain than in America so it was slightly more challenging. Also, Spanish cuisine tends to be very meat/dairy heavy, though there are exceptions.

I was lucky to not have any really significant health issues. I did get a couple colds and a few stomach bugs, but nothing major. The pharmacies in Madrid are great and much different from the ones in the US. They are there to help you with your pharmaceutical needs, so if you go in a tell them your systems, they will know what to give you. It is not like in the U.S. where you have to get a doctor's prescription (depending on the medicine), the pharmacists can help you out with a lot of things. They also have free healthcare and public health centers. I did have a friend from Maryland who got sick and went to doctor so there is definitely treatment and support there should you really need it.
I did not really find any health concerns that I didn't expect. I brought quite a few things with me (like ibuprofen, allergy medicine, antacids, etc) and the only thing I really had to end up buying was more ibuprofen. I would say it has about the same health concerns as in the U.S., but also do keep in mind if you want to travel there may be other vaccines you should get. I made a travel appointment at Wardenburg before I left and got anything I might need.
I found to food, particularly in Madrid, to be very accommodating to dietary restrictions. I am a vegetarian and I was never at a loss for something or somewhere to eat. There are actually a lot of vegan/vegetarian restaurants around, and many of the coffee shops have milk substitutes is you are nondairy. Having dietary restrictions gets a bit more difficult in the smaller parts of Spain, but not impossible, and in bigger areas like Madrid it isn't a problem at all.

I am a vegetarian. Spain is definitely not the most vegetarian-friendly country, but my host family was very accommodating. If you are living on your own it wouldn't be an issue, as you can get whatever you need from the supermarkets.

I think Madrid is one of the safest cities that I have ever been in especially in Europe.

I felt extremely safe living in the city center (I lived in Malasaña) and I would describe Madrid as a very safe city overall. However, it is always wise to be careful when walking alone (especially at night) and always be aware of your belongings since pickpocketing is extremely common throughout Europe.

I felt incredibly safe in Madrid. As I said before there are men who will stare and cat-call which can be uncomfortable but I really never felt unsafe, even at all hours of the night. Madrid is kind of a city that never sleeps, there are literally always people out in the streets so you never really feel like you are alone. There were a few times while traveling to other cities that I felt not necessarily unsafe, but on my guard a bit, but really not more than I would walking alone at night in Boulder. It never hurts to be on your guard. But all in all, I felt incredibly safe in Madrid. The only thing you kind of need to watch out for is pick-pocketing, but other than petty crime like that, Madrid is an incredibly safe city.

I felt for the most part very safe at Carlos III. Madrid is a fairly safe city and the biggest thing that you have to worry about is pickpocketing. Always be aware of your belongings, especially on public transportation and when you are in touristy areas. Use common sense, be aware of your surroundings and know where you are going, and be skeptical of people who try to get you to sign things or give you things. Don't be naive, and you will be fine!

Everyone is pretty open-minded in Spain and Europe in general so it's easy to fit in and find people like you.

I did not notice any discrimination while living in Madrid. In fact, I would say that Europe as a whole is more inclusive of other races than the United States is.

I personally found Madrid to be an incredibly inclusive city. As I said do expect some cat-calling and staring if you are a woman but other than that there is not a lot of discrimination. I did find that few people have somewhat "anti-American" sentiments, just in the fact that they think we are obnoxious (unfortunately due to a lot of obnoxious ones giving us all a bad name). It's basically the stereotype we have abroad. But people are very friendly and willing to speak with you and learn more about the U.S. (my thoughts on Trump being the first question anyone asked), and questioning the stereotypes. I would not say it is something to worry about, just to be aware going in. The only other bit of discrimination is that there are some negative sentiments towards Muslims. I did not witness anything happen, but my Spanish roommates told me that many Spaniards are racist towards the Muslims. Other than that I found Spain very inclusive of all types of people, they even hosted the World Pride festival this year which was incredible. If anything, Spaniards will be curious about your differences and want to learn more about you.

I never felt excluded or discriminated against during my program.

It's hard to describe but it was definitely an experience necessary for growing.

I will always remember and look fondly upon my experience in Madrid. While I had countless adventures and made lifelong friends, I also grew a lot more independent from spending such a long period of time on my own. Also, I have a new awareness of various cultures and people and how they differ from the people that I usually interact with.

This experience will definitely have an impact on the rest of life. For one, it has definitely changed me as a person. I have always though of myself as a pretty worldly person, but this experience has definitely made me realize how much more there is to learn about the rest of the world, and definitely incited in me the desire to learn more about the world. I never thought I would feel so at home while so far away from home, and that has really changed my outlook on my life and my career, as I would ultimately like to live abroad again. Additionally, I have made connections with people from all over the world, not just Spain, which makes my goals of living and working abroad much more obtainable. The friends I made while abroad were without a doubt the most impactful part of my time abroad and just knowing that I have friends all over the world makes the whole world seem a lot smaller, and to me, puts the world and its conflicts in a much better perspective. The fact that I was able to bond with so many people, from so many different backgrounds, is a feeling I will carry with my through me education, career, and the rest of my life. Quite frankly, there are not enough words to describe how much this semester has impacted my life.

This experience helped me to grow in so many ways. I became much more independent after navigating Madrid on my own, improving my foreign language skills, and meeting many new people. I learned how to ask for help (something that I previously was very reluctant to do) and that perfectionism inhibits you from learning and growing. I know that the language skills that I gained will help me in my career, as will the broader understanding that I gained of the world. I saw that the American way of doing things is not the only way and that there is much that we can learn from other cultures, even as they can learn from us. Finally, I ignited a thirst to travel and to experience more of the world, something which I now hope will be a priority for the rest of my life.

I road on a camel in the Sahara Desert, definitely a memorable experience.

Right after final exams and before returning home for the holidays, I took a solo trip to Vienna, Austria because I had always wanted to see their famous Christmas markets. Although it was slightly intimidating to take such a big trip alone, it was definitely worth it and I am proud of myself for doing it and for how successful and memorable it was.

I had a few unique experiences during my experience. I got to attend the World Pride Parade this year which was quite a spectacle. I also was able to attend the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, which as an F1 fan was an absolutely incredible experience. The thing I am probably most proud of is being interviewed for a Spanish new channel about the Easter celebrations in Spain. There is almost always some sort of festival or celebration happening somewhere in Spain, so there are a lot of unique things to experience.

I went on a mission trip with the young adult group that I was part of to a small Spanish town near Valencia. We formed friendships with many of the youth in the town as well as visiting a nursing home and doing activities/ playing with many of the younger children. Everyone there welcomed us so warmly, cooking us delicious Spanish food, bringing us crates of oranges to make orange juice, letting us participate in their Holy Week processions, and showing us hospitality in so many other ways. This trip impacted me in several powerful interactions that I had with the villagers (for example, in the conversations that I had with elderly and disabled people in the nursing home), and also allowed me to glimpse a side of Spain completely different from the bustling, cosmopolitan atmosphere of Madrid.

Don't bring an American hair dryer.

It would have been helpful to know more about the university and also housing options. There was very little guidance in these areas.

I really can't think of anything I wish I had known before my departure, I felt like I was pretty prepared. I think the orientation with the girl who had gone before was incredibly helpful. I would definitely say that it does take time to get settled in, so give yourself that time.

People dress much more formally in Madrid than they do in the U.S. in general, and especially in Boulder. Don't expect to wear shorts, t-shirts, leggings/ yoga pants, or hoodies very much, unless you want to stick out like a sore thumb. Be respectful of their standards, and keep this in mind when you're packing! Another thing to keep in mind about Spain is that their schedule is much different from ours. They typically eat lunch around 2 or 3 p.m. and dinner around 9 or 10 p.m. - it's difficult to get used to, but anyone can manage to deal with it for a few months!

The was an absolutely amazing experience and I cannot thank the study abroad department enough for giving me this opportunity!

I would highly recommend the city of Madrid and the exchange program with Carlos III. It provides a lot of freedom to shape the experience that you want to have abroad; it is up to you to make the most of it! No one will be babysitting you or planning things for you. If you need help, it's up to you to find it; if you want to go somewhere, it's up to you to make it happen. A final recommendation would be to have an idea/ general plan of where you want to travel during the semester (in Spain or Europe) before you go. Planning early will save you money on plane tickets and will help you to see as much as possible. Not having the foresight to do this is one of my main regrets for the semester.