Summary

EAP’s Hispanic Studies Program at Carlos III University of Madrid enables you to spend a semester at one of Spain’s more innovative universities. This program is designed for international students and provides unusual flexibility in course choices; you will take most of your classes from among the specially designed Hispanic Studies offerings, but you may also take a course or two with Spanish students in the regular Carlos III facultades. Located in the Madrid suburb of Getafe, Carlos III’s modern campus offers a comfortable environment in which to study, while remaining within reach of downtown Madrid.

Students attend classes with international students and (mostly) UC students in the Hispanic Studies courses, and with host country students in regular university classes or mini-cursos.

Duration

Go to Current Participants to see current or past calendars.

Fall semester: early September to mid-December
Spring semester: early February to late May (regular university courses follow a different calendar)

Fall Hispanic Studies Program students may extend their participation to the EAP option at Carlos III University (regular university courses) during the spring semester, with advanced planning for visas.

Academic Focus

Spanish culture and exploration of Spain’s place in Europe and the world. Students may supplement the Hispanic Studies classes with a class from the regular facultades of Carlos III University, although this is easier to do in the spring semester when the calendars better coincide. Carlos III also offers one- or two-unit humanities mini-cursos that allow
UC students to learn about the topics most exciting to a variety of public figures and to share a classroom with Spanish students.

Five courses are required for all students:

• Spanish 114, Spanish 118, or Spanish 128, depending on placement (4.5 UC quarter units); intermediate students take two: Spanish 107 and Spanish 108
• Four other Hispanic Studies courses (4.5 UC quarter units each)
• Or substitute one regular Carlos III course

Language of Instruction

Spanish

Language Study

Language study is required during the semester.

Internships, Research, and Independent Study

Internships are not possible through this program.

Units

You are required to take a full-time course of study while abroad. Students generally enroll in five or six courses to meet the minimum requirement of 21 UC upper-division quarter units.

Housing

The Study Center pre-arranges rooms in private homes in Madrid or Getafe (the suburb where Carlos III University is located). Most homes are located in Madrid. Other housing options are not available. The hosts are not necessarily families.

On-site Support

EAP students are supported by UC’s network of EAP offices at every UC campus and partnerships with EAP host universities throughout the world. UC faculty and local staff abroad help students integrate into the culture of their host country and provide assistance with academics, housing, safety, and other issues.

See the EAP Student's Guide (PDF) for program-specific details about host institutions, program structure, and courses; academic culture and conduct; internships, research, & independent study; units, exams, and grades; orientation; housing; and information about the intensive language program (if applicable).

Host Institutions

• Carlos III University of Madrid

Carlos III University of Madrid

Organized very specifically in the spirit of Spain’s 1977 Constitution and the associated university reform movement, Carlos III is dedicated to the concept of an integrated education that combines science and culture as parts of the same global ideal. As such, its degree structures and course offerings are modern, flexible, and interdisciplinary. Carlos III departs from the traditional Spanish university structure by requiring that all undergraduates, regardless of their major concentration (carrera), complete a certain number of hours of instruction in the humanities (which may be equated to UC’s breadth requirements). Carlos III University enrolls some 13,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has more than 1,200 faculty members on its three campuses. The Hispanic Studies Program takes place at the Getafe campus, located approximately 40 minutes by bus from the center of Madrid. The university has extensive opportunities for students to participate in cultural activities and sports. The modern campus has caféterias, restaurants, a bookstore, and a bank.

Visit the Carlos III University website

Estimated Cost

The cost of study on EAP can be close to the cost of studying on campus and is typically far less than the cost of non-UC study abroad programs. You can also take your UC financial aid abroad! If you do not currently receive UC financial aid, you may qualify for aid while on EAP. Each year, EAP students receive $1.3 million in study abroad grants and scholarships.

The estimated total cost for options in this program are listed below. Future costs will vary due to currency fluctuation, etc. All estimated totals include:

• UC fees
• program-specific fees
• room and board
• mandatory insurance
• incidentals
• transportation
• books
• on-site orientation
• predeparture expenses
• intensive language program expenses where applicable

Application Requirements

Program-Specific Requirements

• Class level: junior, senior, graduate
• Language prerequisite: Minimum two years of university-level Spanish by the end of the last term prior to departure (or earlier if required by your UC campus). If at the time the program starts it has been a year or more since you last took a Spanish course, it is recommended that you refresh your proficiency. Contact your Campus EAP Advisor for details.
• GPA: 2.85 cumulative and 2.85 language GPA at the time of application and maintained through the end of the last term prior to departure.

In addition to program-specific requirements, all applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Serious academic goals and a clear plan for integrating EAP studies into the student’s UC degree program
• Social and cross-cultural sensitivity; maturity; ability to adapt successfully to a different environment and a new education system; ability to assess and exhibit appropriate behavior in a variety of situations
• Willingness to abide by program regulations
• Endorsement by the Campus EAP Selection Committee and completion of all campus-specific requirements (an interview may be required)

These are minimum program requirements only and do not guarantee selection. The Campus EAP Office determines selection and final admission.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines and information on the application process are available through your Campus EAP Office.

In addition to your campus deadlines, there are deadlines by which the Campus EAP Office must submit the completed applications and accompanying materials to the Universitywide Office of EAP (UOEAP). For participation in the Program, it is critical that both campus deadlines and UOEAP deadlines are met. If the application is incomplete and not accompanied by the required materials noted, it will be returned to the Campus EAP Office.

Supplemental predeparture materials will be required for many programs, including, but are not limited to, host institution applications, visa and housing applications, medical clearances, etc.

Visit your Campus EAP Office for more information:

• UC Berkeley
• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC Los Angeles
• UC Merced
• UC Riverside
• UC San Diego
• UC Santa Barbara
• UC Santa Cruz