Study in Madrid, Spain

The Gran Vía in the center of Madrid

Madrid, the capital and largest city of Spain, is a truly captivating place—a city that is absolutely brimming with history, culture and an unlimited number of diversions. Madrid is home to a population of approximately 3.2 million, and its larger Madrid metropolitan area hosts a whopping 6.3 million permanent residents. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after Paris and London.

While Madrid is now a modern city in every sense of the word, its leaders and residents have gone to great lengths to preserve the look and feel of many of the city’s historic neighborhoods and streets. Its must-see landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre, complete with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's most treasured historical archives; a large number of national museums; and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums.

Few cities can boast the artistic pedigree of Madrid, which has become a haven for art lovers the world over. For centuries, Spanish royals showered praise and riches upon the great artists of the day, from home-grown talents such as Goya and Velázquez to a stunning pantheon of Flemish and Italian masters. Masterpieces by these and other Spanish masters, such as Picasso, Dalí and Miró, now adorn the walls of the city’s aforementioned museums and world-class galleries.

Madrid is also home to some of the most beautiful and historic architecture in the world and the broad sweep of this architectural history provides a glorious backdrop to city life. The wide range of architectural sights to behold while visiting Madrid include the city’s medieval mansions and royal palaces, the creative angles of Spanish contemporary architecture, the sober brickwork and slate spires of the Madrid baroque style and the extravagant Andalusian structures. Put simply, this is one majestic city.

If food is your passion, you can rest assured in the knowledge that Madrid has evolved into one of the richest culinary capitals of Europe. While the city has wholeheartedly embraced the creativity and innovation of its current chefs, its gastronomy as a whole is forever wedded to the enduring traditions of Spanish cuisine. From the very traditional tapas restaurants and cafes to the scores of modern and international food options in the city, eating in Madrid is always a genuine pleasure.

Last but not least, those looking to let loose and party during their stay will quickly discover that the nightlife in Madrid is truly the stuff of legend, and the perfect complement to the more sedate charms of its grand arts and fine dining. The city is absolutely loaded with after-dark hotspots—a collection of storied cocktail bars and nightclubs that combine a hint of glamour with non-stop action. Throughout its many neighborhoods and enclaves, guests of this great city will find themselves swept along on a tide of people, a blissful crowd intent on dancing until dawn.

If there is one city that understands the meaning of a ‘good time,’ Madrid is it. The party-capital of Spain is reputably the most fun-loving, passionate and playful place in Europe – a fiery celebration of life, love and Spanish pride; and there is certainly a lot to be proud of. From its influential ties in the global market to the attractive student life on dozens of campuses, Madrid raises the international bar on what it means to live and learn.

The city isn’t shy about its higher education. It proudly boasts the most prestigious schools in Spain, including some of the oldest universities in the entire world. In fact, the very infrastructure of Spain’s higher education system is ranked in the top ten among all other nations. Despite its national public schools, the city also includes a number of private institutions, as well as foreign schools from countries like Britain, Italy and the United States. Also famous for its business schools, the city houses some of the highest-ranking business programs in the entire world. From the largest universities of 100,000 students, to the small schools of only 5,000, the sheer size of Madrid’s student body is mind-boggling. Madrid is truly not just a city for parties and festivities; it offers some of the best higher education programs in the world, and the massive number of schools and students is the evidence.

There may be no architectural icon in Madrid, but the unimaginable number of gorgeous plazas, medieval cathedrals, art galleries, museums, monuments and historical treasures provide students with an inexhaustible list of sightseeing options. If individuals tire of touring, Madrid has a world-famous nightlife, complete with bars, dancing and live music performances. Madrid is also an excellent place to take a flamenco class, enjoy a bicycle ride and even relax at a day spa – and don’t miss the traditional, Spanish tapas menu, either.

Some other considerations for future students in Madrid include:

Majority of courses taught in Spanish.
Sometimes overwhelming nightlife.

Major Fields of Study in Madrid

There are so many schools in Madrid and so many educational programs that selecting several major fields of study that reflect the city’s education is next to impossible. Students should feel relatively at ease with almost any desired course selection.

The only way to determine the most prevalent fields of study in Madrid is to take into account the type and number of specialty schools, available programs, research focuses and environmental effects on the student body. If some major fields were selected from the vast range of those available, they would likely be the following:

Business
Spanish language and literature
Physics

There are also many technical schools in Madrid that specialize in areas of technology, engineering and computing science. Coupled with major research initiatives, these courses enjoy significant popularity in Madrid.

Schools of Madrid

The schools in Madrid are impressively diverse. There are institutions focusing in music, international schools of business and private universities with a range of general studies. Each school is unique, and students should carefully consider all options before selecting a university or other institution.

The Complutense University of Madrid is the oldest university in Madrid, and one of the oldest in the world. This public institution offers a wide range of studies, though several of its schools are more respected. With foreign campuses and hundreds of famous alumni, it is a top choice for many students.
IE Business School is another famous institution in Madrid. This private graduate school is one of the most respected business institutions in the world, with a focus in international issues. Multiple schools affiliate with the school, which offers degrees in anything from management to tourism.
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is a public university known for intensive academic programs. It offers some bilingual programs for non-native Spanish speakers. The most popular courses undertaken at this school include economics, business and certain science and technical studies.