Details

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

1. Preparation

I chose UC3M as a partner University. The campus is in Getafe which is very far away from the city center. Even though you might need to travel nearly an hour to get from the center to the campus in Getafe I really recommend living in the city center and not close to campus, because Getafe is really not pretty and you will miss out on the quality of living in Madrid if you chose to stay around campus.

2. Accommodation

I was staying in an apartment (private) which I found at HousingAnywhere - (Rightplace-Apartments). I was living in the city center close to La Latina. Even though I have heard, that La Latina shouldn't be the safest, I didn't experience it that way at all. The area provides a lot of nice tabas bars. I was traveling roughly 50 Minutes to university from there, but if you are close to a subway station that might change a bit, since I always had to walk 10 minutes over there. Tips I wish I'd known beforehand: maybe live a little closer to Malasana, because it is nicer over there a bit more in the north of madrid, but also more expensive. If I could chose a location to live, I would choose Malasana, because you are closer to Retiro, you have nicer bars etc.

3. Academic life at host university

Campus is not comparable to WU Vienna. It is much older (but not in a good way - Instead it is quite shabby). Teaching style is not good, maybe it was because of my professors. Most professors really didn't know what was going on and also you can expect a lot of cold calling like in school. I can recommend the following courses: Conflict Management - Especially with professor "Ana Gonzales". She was extremely nice and the classes were fun and very low effort at the same time, even though to get a good grade you have to volounteer a lot in activities etc. Entrepreneurship - The professors name was Cela - also low effort and quite fun

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport - Preferred the subway when it had to go fast - Otherwise the train is much more comfortable but not reliable. Madrid is very safe I think there are a lot of activities and sport options in madrid - Especially on campus you can do paddl, tennis etc.

6. Testimonial

Walks in parque Retiro were always nice. I also did trips to Toledo nearly every week, there you have amazing spots to sit and enjoy nature views. Best bar in Madrid is Barbara Ann - There you can meet a lot of exchange students and its just an amazing atmosphere.