Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Immerse yourself in the Spanish experience by participating in the UW-Madison program at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. This program allows you to study alongside Spanish students in courses at the Complutense, an authentic compliment to additional courses that are specially designed for American students. Faculty members at Universidades Reunidas teach the program courses for American students, which are jointly sponsored by Indiana, Purdue, and Tulane Universities. A professor from one of these universities, along with a team of local staff, will provide comprehensive on-site support.
Complutense is located on an old estate known as La Moncloa, which traces its history back to 1499. The grounds encompass full range of facultades (or "schools"), each housed in a separate building with its own library and offices. This campus serves as your home base in a city of nearly five million inhabitants. Located at the European and African crossroads, Madrid is characterized by the modern adaptation of its cultural and historical diversity. Artists, royalty and merchants have all contributed to the city's dynamic appeal.
While Madrid has grown into a modern metropolis, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic streets and neighborhoods. Population estimates show the city is home to roughly 3.3 million residents. Within the European Union, only London and Berlin are more populous than this booming international city. But there is no need to be overwhelmed. You will get to know the rich character of this city through its details: cobblestone streets, balconies dripping with flowers, ornate wrought iron railings and festive Spanish tiles.
Beyond campus, you can follow your senses through a variety of parks and plazas, sidewalk cafes, Madrid's vibrant flea market and the Prado Museum, which showcases the works of Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco. The food culture is also unique to this location. Expect more 3 course lunches, snacking on tapas and late night dinners.
Getting to Your Program
You may choose to book your ticket through the group flight option (which is organized by Indiana University) or make your own flight arrangements.
Visa
A Spanish student visa is required. You are responsible for applying for your own visa. IAP will provide you with visa application instructions. U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program.
You are advised NOT to leave the U.S. for any international travel up to three months before the program begins as your passport must be turned over to the consulate for visa processing. If you must be out of the country more than a couple of days prior to the program start date, there is no guarantee that the consulate will process the visa in time for your departure.
Student visas cannot be extended in Spain.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
About a month before the start of your semester abroad in Madrid, you'll be paired with a recent program participant mentor to give you tips and hints to further prepare for your time abroad.
Additionally, the academic year program begins with a four-week intensive language and culture course. This time is dedicated to helping you improve you language proficiency, as you get acclimated with Spanish life.
For the spring semester program, the Resident Director, a faculty member from one of the sponsoring American institutions, and local Assistant Director provide a one-week, non-credit, orientation.
Housing
If you choose to enroll in a full academic year, you will live with other program participants in a college residence hall during orientation. This pre-arranged housing grants you the flexibility to explore the types of housing available in Madrid. You are expected to coordinate new housing for the duration of the program. More information on
finding a home in Madrid, Spain.
In the spring program you will be matched with a Senora for the first month. You may choose to remain in this housing for the remainder of the semester or independently seek out another housing arrangement.
Excursions and Activities
The program organizes several excursions to popular locations throughout the year. Several extended periods of vacation throughout the year, as well as convenient public transportation, allow you to also travel outside of Madrid. You will embark on several pre-arranged excursions with your peers to sites like the Prado Museum, which showcases the works of the prominent artists Velazquez, Goya, and El Greco. Beyond program-related site visits, you may take advantage of several extended periods of vacation throughout the year to shape an experience unique to your interests. Convenient public transportation makes travel outside of Madrid easy and affordable. Located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is an excellent starting place to explore the entire country as well as its neighbors, during and after the program.
Volunteer opportunities are also available to you. You'll have access to a program called Disfruta Madrid Más, a program that organizes weekly event offerings, activities, and area discounts so you can enjoy activities each week to help you learn Spanish and enjoy the Spanish culture.
For city maps and area tourist info, see the links below:
Madrid Public Transportation in Madrid
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
A faculty member from one of the sponsoring institutions serves as Resident Director. There are also a local Assistant Director and Student Services Coordinator to help with student services.
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Madrid, Spain IAP Handbook (Spring - 2012-13)
WIPT Program Handbook 2012-2013 (Spring - 2012-13)
Madrid, Spain IAP Handbook (Year - 2013-14)
The Reunidas course list covers a wide range of topics that includes arts and philosophy, Spanish literature and language, history and the social sciences. Additionally, courses offered at Complutens focus on world geography and history (including area studies), world literature, anthropology, philosophy and economics.
You will become familiar with three academic building at the Complutense: the Facultad de Filologia (Spanish language and literature), the Facultad de Filosofia (Philosophy, religion and ethics) and the Facultad de Geografia e Historia (Geography, History, Art History and Music). You may take courses at a different Facultad; but please keep in mind that these outside courses require a separate registration fee and are excluded from program-provided tutoring.
You are required to take a minimum of one Complutense course during the fall semester and two Complutense courses during the spring semester.
Affiliate Institution(s)
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Universidades Norteamericanas Reunidas
Foreign Courses
Finding UCM courses online.pdf
Course offerings at the Reunidas
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
