Madrid – The Ideal Study Abroad Destination
There are many reasons why this dynamic city would be a place that nearly every international student falls in love with.
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You will join a vibrant international community: Universities in Madrid offer a wide variety of academics and host students from all over the world. You will get a chance to study alongside students from unique places and diverse cultural values from all over the world.
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You can become fluent in Spanish: Spanish happens to be one of the most widely spoken languages, and learning it would be a great added skill for you. It is the official language in many international organizations and individuals who can speak it well are in high demand across multiple industries.
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You will get to enjoy the great lifestyle: Madrid offers a wonderful and entertaining lifestyle to its international community. It boasts a vibrant nightlife with a large variety of bars – more than any other city in the world. In addition to that, the city is home to a vast number of places you can visit when you feel like going around for a tour. There are 73 museums spread all over the city for those who have an interest in history, art, architecture and related subjects. The noteworthy architecture along with a wide array of street performers is an added attraction for people visiting the place for the first time. And since the Spanish love celebrating, the city is also home to countless traditional festivals, including the famous Spanish Bull fights.
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First class transportation: The transportation system in the city makes it relatively easy for students to get around. The Madrid metro is one of the most ideal options for getting around in the city. Taking a day trip in and around the city is easy, cheap and the perfect fun-filled activity for students on the weekends. With just a half an hour train ride, you can visit cities like Toledo, Segovia and Alacala de Henares.
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Easy on the pocket: The prices in Madrid for various daily items are generally lower than what you would find in other major cities across the world. The Madrid food culture is also something you would enjoy, with lots of traditional dishes such as tapas, paella, churros and sangria to try here. The city has a great welcoming atmosphere and very friendly people that will make your transition into a new lifestyle a lot easier.
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You will get to study in world class universities: Universities in Madrid are considered some of the most innovative in the world. They are committed to embracing and implementing the latest technologies and staying up to date with the changing market trends. Due to these reasons, they have the ability to prepare students for their future careers and work places. There are several universities in the city that offer wonderful programs for international students. Have a look:
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
This is a private and independent university that is recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education. The university has an aim to expand Spanish language and culture and for this purpose, it welcomes students from a large number of countries. It aspires to maintain the highest quality of scientific research and academic investigations. Even though it has a small student body of 3000 local and 300 international students, the university has an excellent academic culture. The student to teacher ratio is 10:1, ensuring individualized attention for the students. The university is divided into three campuses located at different spots within the city.
Universidad Carlos III De Madrid
Also referred to as UC3M, this university is a forerunner in public research. It aims to improve the society through high quality academics and research. It was founded in 1989 and named after Charles III of Spain. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is an accredited institution, fully recognized by the Ministerio de Educacion y Cienca. The current enrollment at the institute is approximately 18,000 with nearly 20% students coming in from different countries all over the world. UC3M consists of three schools, under which it offers 29 bachelor’s degree programs, 63 master’s programs and 19 doctoral programs. It has three conveniently located campuses in the city.
Complutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a public research university that is one of the oldest educational institutions in the world. It has a large student body of 86,000 students and is ranked amongst top universities in the country.
Madrid is also home to several other universities that serve as good options for international students. You might want to look into the Technical University of Madrid, European University of Madrid, Autonomous University of Madrid, EOI Business School, King’s College Madrid, Queen Sofia College of Music and so on.
Tips for Living in Madrid
When moving to a new city, you have got to understand the ways and customs of the place beforehand. Here are a few tips that might be of use to you:
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Save money on travelling by using Blablacar – This is a car sharing app that matches people with drivers who are going to the same destination.
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Practice your Spanish – Before heading on to Madrid, try getting a hang of the language spoken there. This will help you in the initial adjusting process and in your academics as well.
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Be careful with your things – Be very careful of where you keep your phone, wallet, keys etc. Pick-pocketing is common in certain neighborhoods in the city.
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Prepare to be changed forever! – Moving to Madrid even for the duration of a degree only, will change you as a person. You will become more independent, broaden your horizons and will be more mentally and culturally stimulated. You are bound to fall in love with the city, so much so, that you might actually never want to leave!
So if you are looking for a study abroad destination that has a little bit of everything from wonderful academics to culture, tradition, history and entertainment, you need to head on over to Madrid.