Program Reviews

My name is Cristóbal. I am from Chile, and I am currently in my second year studying Law at UC3M. I first came to Madrid as an IFP student. That experience laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

I chose the International Foundation Program at UC3M for two main reasons. It gave me a real university experience before I jumped into my degree, and it was one of the clearest paths for an international student wanting to study in Spain. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've made.

Studying and living in Madrid exceeded my expectations. The city has an incredible energy; there's always something to do, somewhere to go, and the people are warm and welcoming. What I enjoyed most about Spain goes beyond just Madrid. The food is outstanding, the culture around celebrations and social life is lively, and Spain’s location makes it an excellent base for traveling around Europe whenever possible.

As for the university, the faculty at UC3M impressed me from day one. The professors were more than just teachers; they were passionate about their subjects, which made a real difference in how I engaged with the material. Academically, the IFP gave me a head start. Completing certain modules meant I could waive some first-year subjects, making the transition into my degree much smoother.

Campus life may not be the university's biggest draw, but there are still some notable things. There is a decent range of student associations, and events like the Intercampus Race, a fun competition that brings students together, provide a good taste of university spirit, and are a great way to meet people outside your usual circle.

On the social side, I formed friendships during the IFP that have truly lasted. I would definitely recommend this program to any international student considering Spain. Madrid is a fantastic university city; the academic standards are high, and the experience you gain, both personally and academically, is well worth it.

Translated by Go Overseas:
During this GAP YEAR at the Carlos III University of Madrid, I liked everything we did, I like how this program wasorganized, Cecilia has accompanied me a lot with all the questions at the university and abroad. In the first quarter, I got to know the university, where the buildings and classrooms are. I also started studying Spanish at this university. In the second quarter, I began to study some subjects to integrate with the environment, the university and prepare for the next course. I went to Cordoba and Salamanca with the university and made many memories of these trips. At the International School I helped with all the documents so thanks to everyone for this GAP YEAR. This program helped me a lot. Everyone helped me from my tutor to the director. I have also learned a lot about Spanish culture. I have a trip within the program to the Camino De Santiago, to take advantage of one of the most important cultural trips in Spain. As a conclusion, I recommend this program to prepare for university and get to know Spain.

Original version:
De este GAP YEAR en Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a mi me gusta todo lo que hacemos, me gusta como se ha organizado este programa, Cecilia me ha acompañado mucho de todos preguntas en universidad y fuera. En el primer cuatrimestre yo aprendi a moverme por la universidad, donde están los edificios y las aulas. También yo comencé a estudiar español en esta universidad. En el segundo cuatrimestre yo empece a estudiar algunas asignaturas para integrarme con el entorno, la universidad y prepararme para el siguiente curso. Yo fui a Cordoba y Salamanca con universidad y tengo muchos recuerdos de estos viajes. En la escuela Internacional ayudo con todo los documentos así que gracias a todo a este GAP YEAR. Este programa me ayudo mucho. Me ayudaron todos desde mi tutor hasta el director. También he aprendido mucha cultura española. Tengo un viaje dentro del programa al Camino De Santiago, para aprovechar uno de los viajes culturales más importantes de España. Como conclusión, recomiendo este programa para prepararse para la universidad y conocer España.

I think that coming to study in Madrid took me out of my comfort zone. I grew a lot on a personal level, I met incredible people and the learning that this great experience is giving me, I am sure it will be very useful for my future. In addition, the International Foundation Program personally helped me on my way to choose the career I wanted to study, since at the beginning I had doubts. It was an academic year that with the help of its methodology I was able to discover what my main passions were and what was the field in which I wanted to invest my next university years.

I highly recommend enjoying the university and the International Foundation Program, more than just studying, and learning from a new culture, experiencing the city of Madrid, and using this open door to Europe to grow personally and professionally.

The IFP is a good experience to understand the Spanish education system and to build important relationships that will last for the rest of your lives. You have to opportunity to meet new cultures and it can guide you to find the path that you want to follow.

"Studying abroad has helped me grow in a lot of aspects so I believe that after my studies at the university, my experiences will help me get to my goals in a more efficient way.
Carlos III University is the only one that offers an International Foundation Course that helps international students to study and then to stay in Spain for work. This course helped me to settle in Spain before starting my professional career". Thanks to this opportunity I have been able to stay at Carlos III University.

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.