Jade – University of Carlos III of Madrid – Spain
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Studying abroad at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. From the moment I arrived, I was immersed in a vibrant culture, made lifelong friends from all over the world, and explored breathtaking places both in Madrid and beyond.
Making Friends from Around the World
One of the best parts of my exchange was the people I met. It was amazing to meet people from different walks of life and experience all these new things together. The friendships that I built really made the experience so much better and it wouldn’t have been the same without them. Don’t worry about not being able to make friends, there’s so many students in the same position. I think UC3M said about 30% of their students are exchange students.
Traveling Near and Far
Madrid’s central location made weekend trips so easy. There are high speed trains that can take you to a beachside city in 2 hours or I would definitely recommend renting a car and taking a drive to the Basque and Asturias regions. Take advantage of your weekends and travel to Portugal or Morocco as well.
Of course, I also fell in love with Madrid itself. There’s always something happening the city is really alive, and I loved it. The city is so picturesque, the metro is amazing and there are so many museums free for students.
Embracing Spanish Culture
The Spanish way of life was definitely a big change from Australia. They have super late dinners meaning that some restaurants might not open until 8pm and they also have their siesta time around 1-3pm where smaller shops are closed.
For national holidays they almost always have a parade or event in Sol which I recommend it’s such a fun way to see everyone getting together and they go all out. I went in our second semester where I saw Spain’s national day, the 3 kings day and more.
Study Tips
Engineering subjects are all at the Leganés campus and others at Getafe. In my experience we had a lot of mandatory attendance practical/ laboratory classes, but the tutorials/ lectures were not (this can change by teacher). In comparison, UC3M course structure was not as defined as QUT and I often found it hard to navigate partial exams and assignment due dates. All of the teaching staff that I interacted with were really helpful and understanding. Exchange students have the option to do their exams in 1 week before Christmas, which was very challenging as there was no break between exam week and end of sem.
Tips for Future Exchange Students in Madrid
If you’re planning your own adventure in Madrid, here are my top tips:
- Learn basic Spanish (less people speak English than you think)
- Say yes to every invitation (when are you going to have this chance again)
- Get your student metro card (unlimited rides each month)
- Try menu del día (cheap & many courses for lunch)
- Live in the city (more immersive experience & better transport)
- WALK everywhere (beautiful and you will see so much more)
- Embrace the late-night lifestyle
- Join ERASMUS student groups to make friends
- Visit El Rastro on Sundays and mercados
- Enjoy every moment—it flies by!
My exchange at UC3M in Madrid was an incredible experience where I made lifelong international friends, travelled easily across Spain and beyond, and adapted to Spain’s lively culture. Balancing classes with exploration was a challenge but it was well worth it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
