Details

• Spain
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

I think if you care about the grade average one important tip is to make sure to take easy courses. In my case there was a website where I could see the difficulty level of all available courses and I made sure to only pick easy ones. I had a great experience abroad and kept a good grade average with low effort while some of my friends had to study a lot because they didn't inform themselves good enough beforehand. Another tip is to pick an apartment that is close to the city center and is well connected.

2. Accommodation

I lived in a shared apartment with 5 roommates close to Atocha. In Madrid renting prices are very high, so I would recommend to start looking for an apartment early. At uc3m there is also student housing but it is in Getafe, which is 1 hour from the city center and is not the nicest area. That's also where the uni campus is at. I would highly recommend to take the apartment in Madrid and not in Getafe. Prices are a bit higher but it is way more convenient. I had friends that lived in Getafe and after 1:30 am the Metro doesn't go anymore so they either had to wait till 6am or take an uber. Regarding safety I never had an issue and I think Madrid is in general a very safe city, but that's my experience as a man.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is a bit old-school, but I really enjoyed my time there. The libraries are good, and the cafeteria has excellent chocolate croissants and coffee. Compared to WU, the teaching style is more relaxed, and professors highly value active participation in class. I chose fairly easy courses and liked all of them. Marketing and Social Media was the most demanding course I took because of the number of assignments, but it was still easier than most courses at WU. If your main goal is to pass, you don't need to worry too much. However, if you're aiming for the highest grades, you'll need to put in a bit more effort. The Spanish grading system ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best possible grade. In practice, though, 10s are very uncommon and only awarded in exceptional cases.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Madrid is excellent. As a student, you only pay around €10 per month and can use the entire public transport network, including Cercanías trains, the metro, and buses. The city is very well connected, making it easy to get around without a car. Madrid is also a very safe city. During my time there, I never experienced a situation where I felt unsafe. However, theft can be an issue, especially in clubs and crowded nightlife areas. Several of my friends had their phones or wallets stolen and often only realized it the next morning. This seemed to happen particularly often to girls, so it is important to stay aware of your belongings when going out. Madrid is a very social and active city. People enjoy meeting friends, going out for drinks, and spending time outdoors. The sports opportunities are excellent. I played a lot of padel while I was there and also started running. Running is especially popular in Madrid—you can see people jogging at almost any time of day, particularly along the banks of the Madrid Río and in El Retiro Park. In general, there are countless options for staying active, including gyms, swimming pools, calisthenics parks, volleyball courts, football pitches, padel clubs, and many other sports facilities throughout the city.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met incredible people from all over the world, made lifelong friends, and had an amazing time in Madrid. The city has so much to offer that I could easily imagine living there for a few years.