Why Study in Madrid?

From the beautiful countryside that surrounds it to the bustling inner city, there is no shortage of things to do in Madrid as an MBA student. The city is home to people of many different nationalities from all corners of the world; clear to see when roaming around the city. Choose to study in Madrid, and your circle of acquaintances is sure to be diverse.

Madrid is a lively social hub of activity, with an array of parks, plazas, monuments, sports, restaurants and bars, to which we can add year round music and art festivals. Student life in the city need never be dull! And it can suit those on a budget; there are plenty of things to do in Madrid that will cost you nothing at all.

Spain’s capital is home to three of the best art galleries and museums in the world; the renowned Prado, the Reina-Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza – all of which are a 10 minute walk apart in Madrid’s ‘Golden Triangle’. It is also home to Spain’s royal family and the imposing Palacio Real de Madrid as well as numerous other examples of spectacular historical architecture.

The energetic night life offers young people and students the perfect setting to unwind after a hard day studying. For fans of indie and rock music, there is the infamous Malasaña barrio, and those who prefer dance music and pop culture, there is Chueca. Madrid is one of those places where each night has something different to offer, and the famous late night culture means that parties last until the early hours of the morning!

It’s fairly unlikely you’ll run out of things to do in Madrid, but if you want a bit of change of scenery, its position in the center of the country means that is the perfect base from which you can explore Spain. On a high speed train, you can reach the coast in just two and a half hours.

At Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the MBA program is a one year, full-time international program; an MBA experience designed to prepare young business professionals for the working world at management level.

Students here benefit from a small class size and a nurturing environment in which they can learn and practice their skills. As at any top business school, the focus is on real-life, problem solving scenarios and instilling independent thinking in its students.

Although taught in English, the program offers Spanish language classes so that students can improve not only their employability internationally, but also make the most of their MBA experience while they study in Madrid.

The program was accredited in 2006 by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), making it part of a very exclusive club of six Spanish AMBA-accredited MBA programs.

But you won't want to spend all your time at business school. With a population of over 3 million, getting around the city easily is a must and the Metro system makes this possible – and cheap. Just like London, Paris and New York, this is the quickest and easiest way to travel through each district, or barrio, if you don’t want to take a bus or taxi.

Puerta del Sol is the center of Madrid (and Spain), and is often referred to as ‘kilometre zero’, as all roads lead to this central location. Here you’ll find large department stores, cafes and restaurants buzzing with people shopping, friends meeting and tourists exploring the city.

The plaza’s famous statue El Oso y el Madrono is a symbolic landmark in Mardid. From this central point, you can reach many prominent areas in the city – Gran Via, the Royal Theatre and Palace, El Rastro flee market with its fashionable and bohemian crowd, and Plaza Mayor, the old city market square in Madrid known as Madrid de los Austrias.

With so much to enjoy in this wonderful city, student life in Madrid can sometimes feel like a holiday. But fun as your MBA experience will be, there are more serious arguments for studying in Madrid, namely the business, banking and industrial sectors. It is a great city in which to work and to establish valuable contacts for after your program is complete. Though if you’re planning to leave afterwards, you won’t want it to end!

This article is sponsored by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

Learn more about courses on offer at the university