Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

This program helps us, international students, to access Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and to learn/improve our Spanish, while we get to experience living in Madrid and discovering its culture. Four years later, in October of 2021, I have been able to finish my undergraduate studies and I am currently working for one of the biggest multinationals in the country. I would definitely define my experience as very positive and recommend to whoever wants to have a life experience or develop a career abroad.

The International Foundation Program helped me in many ways. It helped me ease into university life. Through the different classes you could choose from, I got to try different fields and decide on the bachelor degree I wanted to pursue. During the program I met people from many different nationalities, who are still now some of my closest friends. I also got to enjoy all of the activities and facilities available from the university, like the gym, as well as having enough time to visit Madrid, while still studying.

During my years at UC3M, I got to participate in some of the activities offered by the university. I signed up for the gym, which has many activities you can participate in, such as crossfit or padel. Another great part of the gym is the spa. One of the other activities I have participated in is the Model United Nations (MUN), where you get to represent a country and debate about current problems. Something great about this university is that it is close to the center and there is good public transportation, which means you can easily go out to the city and visit some of the museums, go out to eat at a restaurant or go to a bar. This program helped me improve some of my soft-skills such as teamwork, flexibility or adaptability and communication.

The gap year program is a great program for not only academic reasons but also for personal growth. With the cultural activities available and the international environment of both the university and the city of Madrid, one is certain to grow as a person and learn a lot. I have been able to collaborate with the international school on many projects, I have been able to give back to the community by volunteering at university in Models of the United Nations and I have also been physically active by continuously joining the gym at UC3M and attending dance classes. The program has also helped me build some soft-skills such as cooperation, team-work and organization.

The IFP course has been one of the main reasons behind my academic, professional and social success. The program is designed in such a way that it provides students with great introductory courses in various fields. As a student of natural sciences, I found the introductory courses in the social sciences essential in preparing me for my four-year degree at UC3M. Additionally, the small-sized classes were great for better learning and it had also helped us make friends and meet people much more easily.