About the university
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was created by an Act of the Spanish Parliament in May 1989. It is a young public university with about 25,000 students, around 30% of them international, spread across four campuses in and around Madrid.
UC3M is known for economics, business, law and social sciences, and for engineering, especially aerospace, telecommunications and data science at its Leganés school. Its Graduate School of Business runs English-taught master's in management, finance and marketing.
For Indian students the appeal is English-taught master's at public-university prices: non-EU students pay roughly €5,000–9,300 a year for engineering and data master's, and €13,500 for the business school's management, finance and marketing master's. UC3M lists 27 master's taught in English.
Madrid is Spain's capital and largest job market. Several master's are taught at the Puerta de Toledo campus in central Madrid, while engineering and data programmes such as Machine Learning for Health are at Leganés.
- Founded
- 5 May 1989, by an Act of the Spanish Parliament
- Type
- Public university of the Community of Madrid
- Students
- 25,202
- International students
- 30.4%
- Teaching and research staff
- 2,292, of whom 15.5% are from abroad
- Campuses
- Four, including Getafe, Leganés, Colmenarejo and Madrid–Puerta de Toledo
- Master's in English
- 27 master's programmes taught in English
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=314 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €7,200
- Duration
- 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 40 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- Taught in English; UC3M's general rule is CEFR B2 (IELTS 5.5–6.5 or TOEFL iBT 72–94); waived for degrees taught fully in English
- Postgraduate
Master in Statistics for Data Science
- Fee / year
- €7,200
- Duration
- 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 40 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- Taught in English; UC3M general requirement of CEFR B2
- Postgraduate
Master in Machine Learning for Health
- Fee / year
- €5,044
- Duration
- 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Leganés; 40 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- Taught in English; UC3M general requirement of CEFR B2
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; pre-master course late August to early September; 60 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- CEFR B2: IELTS 6.5 overall or TOEFL iBT 85
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- 11 months in four 7-week terms (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 60 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- CEFR C1: IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95 (at least the equivalent of 4.5 per section)
- Postgraduate
Master of Science in Marketing
- Fee / year
- €13,500
- Duration
- 1 year full time (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 60 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- C1 preferred: IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95
- Postgraduate
Master in Aeronautical Engineering
- Fee / year
- €9,288
- Duration
- 90 ECTS over 3 semesters, Leganés; 80 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- Official B2 English certificate covering all four skills, for example IELTS 6.0
- Postgraduate
Master in Telecommunications Engineering
- Fee / year
- €9,288
- Duration
- 1.5 years (90 ECTS); bilingual version at Madrid–Puerta de Toledo, Spanish version at Leganés; 80 places
- Intakes
- September (one intake a year)
- English
- Bilingual (Spanish and English) or Spanish; check UC3M's language requirements for bilingual programmes
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master in Big Data Analytics | 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 40 places | €7,200 | ≈ ₹7.6 lakh |
| Master in Statistics for Data Science | 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 40 places | €7,200 | ≈ ₹7.6 lakh |
| Master in Machine Learning for Health | 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Leganés; 40 places | €5,044 | ≈ ₹5.3 lakh |
| Master in Management | 1 academic year (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; pre-master course late August to early September; 60 places | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| Master in Finance | 11 months in four 7-week terms (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 60 places | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| Master of Science in Marketing | 1 year full time (60 ECTS), Madrid–Puerta de Toledo; 60 places | €13,500 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| Master in Aeronautical Engineering | 90 ECTS over 3 semesters, Leganés; 80 places | €9,288 | ≈ ₹9.8 lakh |
| Master in Telecommunications Engineering | 1.5 years (90 ECTS); bilingual version at Madrid–Puerta de Toledo, Spanish version at Leganés; 80 places | €9,288 | ≈ ₹9.8 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with similar universities in Spain.
Scholarships
- PG
UC3M master's scholarships (e.g. call AM01 for Big Data Analytics)
Value: Up to 4 grants of €1,500 for Big Data Analytics in 2026/27; other master's have their own calls
Eligibility: Admitted master's students; each programme's call sets its criteria and deadlines (the 2026/27 Big Data call closed on 31 May 2026).
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- UC3M offers some bachelor's degrees in English, but this page covers its master's programmes, where most Indian applicants apply.
- Bachelor's applicants with Indian Class 12 results need their school qualification accredited for Spanish university access; check UC3M's undergraduate admission pages.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a relevant field; each master's sets its admission criteria (for example, English level and previous degree).
- Apply online through UC3M's master's admission process; programmes close when full.
- Pay the reservation fee after admission (€450 for Big Data Analytics, €1,500 for the business-school master's); it is deducted from tuition.
- Spanish residence or EU status must be in force before the academic year starts for EU prices; otherwise non-EU prices apply.
Documents
- Passport
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts
- CV and statement of purpose
- Official English certificate (B2 or C1, depending on the programme), unless your degree was taught fully in English
- Recommendation letters where the programme asks for them
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| General rule (B2) | IELTS 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, Cambridge First (FCE), Linguaskill 160–179 or Aptis B2. |
| Business-school master's | Management: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 85. Finance and Marketing: C1, IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95. |
| Engineering master's | Aeronautical Engineering: official B2 certificate covering four skills, for example IELTS 6.0. |
| Exemptions | Native English speakers and students whose university degree was taught fully in English (with proof). PTE and Duolingo are not listed. |
Accommodation and living costs
UC3M has three halls of residence (colegios mayores) on its Getafe, Leganés and Colmenarejo campuses. The 2026/27 prices below are for Fernando de los Ríos hall on the Getafe campus, per person per month, before VAT.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Double room, accommodation onlyBills, internet and weekly cleaning included; VAT extra | €535per month | ≈ ₹56,710 |
| Single room, accommodation onlyStandard and big single rooms | €745–787per month | ≈ ₹78,970 – ₹83,422 |
| Single room, full boardAll meals included | €1,105–1,147per month | ≈ ₹1.2 lakh – ₹1.2 lakh |
| Apartment, accommodation only | €830per month | ≈ ₹87,980 |
Campus and location
UC3M has four campuses in and around Madrid, each with its own focus.
- Getafe campus has the Fernando de los Ríos hall, three minutes from Getafe train station and under 20 minutes from Sol in central Madrid.
- Leganés hosts the School of Engineering, including aerospace and telecommunications.
- Madrid–Puerta de Toledo, in central Madrid, hosts many master's, including Big Data Analytics, Management, Finance and Marketing.
- Colmenarejo campus has the Antonio Machado hall, and Leganés the Fernando Abril Martorell hall.
- Around 30% of UC3M's students are international.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Madrid is Spain's largest job market for finance, consulting, tech and engineering, and UC3M's business and engineering master's are built with industry links. UC3M does not publish employment figures for international master's graduates that we could verify. For post-study work options, see our Spain country guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Spain
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Spain. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Spain
Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal), CC BY-SA 3.0 PrivateIE University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Madrid and Segovia, SpainOften chosen for Business & Management, Law, Arts, Design & Media
Photo: Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 3.0 PrivateEsade (official website, opens in a new tab)
Barcelona, SpainOften chosen for Business & Management, Finance & Accounting, Law
Photo: DigitalCompas, CC BY 4.0 PublicUniversity of Barcelona (official website, opens in a new tab)
Barcelona, SpainOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Business & Management
Photo: Zarateman, CC0 PublicOften chosen for Life Sciences, Law, Engineering
Photo: Spanishstudent006, CC BY-SA 3.0 PrivateEU Business School (official website, opens in a new tab)
Barcelona, SpainOften chosen for Business & Management, Finance & Accounting
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 3.0 PublicPompeu Fabra University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Barcelona, SpainOften chosen for Business & Management, Arts, Design & Media, Life Sciences
FAQs
How much does a master's at UC3M cost for Indian students?
Non-EU students pay per ECTS credit. A one-year master's costs about €5,044 (Machine Learning for Health), €7,200 (Big Data Analytics, Statistics for Data Science) or €13,500 (Management, Finance, Marketing). Engineering master's cost €9,288 in year one.
What IELTS score does UC3M need?
UC3M's general rule is B2, roughly IELTS 5.5–6.5. Some programmes ask for more: IELTS 6.5 for Management and IELTS 7.0 for Finance and Marketing. Students whose degree was taught fully in English are exempt.
Does UC3M accept PTE or Duolingo?
UC3M's language requirements list TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, Linguaskill and Aptis. PTE and Duolingo are not listed, so check with the programme before relying on them.
When do master's start and when should I apply?
Master's start in September. Applications close when programmes are full (several were already closed for 2026/27), so apply early.
Does UC3M have student housing?
Yes. UC3M has halls on the Getafe, Leganés and Colmenarejo campuses. At Fernando de los Ríos (Getafe) a double room costs €535 a month and a single €745 a month in 2026/27, before VAT.
Sources
- UC3M: master's taught in English (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: Master in Big Data Analytics (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: Master in Management (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: Master in Aeronautical Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: master's tuition fees (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: language requirements for master's (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: at a glance (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M: history and mission (opens in a new tab)
- UC3M halls of residence: Fernando de los Ríos 2026/27 (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uc3m.es (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details