International Foundation Program
- Carlos III International School
- Programs
- International Foundation Program
International Foundation Program (Last day June 4th)
Improve your chances of admission to UC3M degrees. International Foundation Program aims to help international students adapt to the Spanish university system, and to facilitate integration by acquiring the basics of Spanish culture and language.
- Duration: 1 year with 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).
- Possibility of access to undergraduate studies.
- Areas: Social Sciences and Humanities | Engineering.
- Languages: Spanish and English.
- Price: 8.500 €.
Academic Information
Each semester is formed by 30 ECTS credits and you can combine the subjects of the curriculum of your choice, as it best suits your interests.
The subjects are divided into 2 blocks:
- Academic subjects: Introductory subjects related to undergraduate and graduate studies.
- Experiential subjects: Courses, workshops, languages and activities that are not related to undergraduate studies. A maximum of 6 ECTS may be taken from this block.
Between these 2 blocks of subjects, the following combinations are possible:
- 4 introductory academic subjects and 1 undergraduate subject. This combination is recommended for access to undergraduate studies after the IFP.
- 5 introductory academic subjects.
- 3 introductory academic subjects, 1 undergraduate subject and 6 ECTS in experiential subjects (language, workshops, etc.).
- 4 introductory academic subjects and 6 ECTS in experiential subjects (language, workshops, etc.).
In addition to the chosen subjects, there will be the complementary courses, which are compulsory subjects taken in the first semester. There are 2 types of complementary courses: Mathematics reinforcement (only for Engineering students) and Oral and Written Expression (for all students). It is not necessary to register for them.
*If you want to enter undergraduate studies after the International Foundation Program, it is important to note the following:
- Each introductory subject is related to Degrees of different areas of knowledge. In the requirements for access to a Bachelor's Degree (paragraph below of Access to a Bachelor's Degree), you can consult which subjects are related to each Degree.
- It is advisable to take and pass, at least, 6 ECTS in undergraduate courses.
- Experiential and complementary subjects are not taken into account for admission to the Bachelor's Degree.
Beginning of classes
- 1st semester: September 9, 2024
- 2nd semester: January 27, 2025
Social Sciences and Humanities Timetable
Engineering Schedules
Study plan: Social Sciences and Humanities
Campus | Getafe
Study Plan | 60 annual credits | 30 credits will be taken each semester from the subject catalog
- Introduction to Economics (6 credits)
- Introduction to Business Administration (6 credits)
- Introduction to Mathematics (6 credits)
- Introduction to Law (6 credits)
- Spanish History (6 credits)
- Introduction to Contemporary Artistic Creation I (6 credits)
- Degree Subject (6 credits)
- Writing and Communication
- Introduction to Political Sciences (6 credits)
- Introduction to Statistics (6 credits)
- Introduction to Sociology (6 credits)
- Introduction to Philosophy (6 credits)
- Communication (6 credits)
- Introduction to Contemporary Artistic Creation II (6 credits)
- Bachelor's Degree Subject (6 credits)
Study plan: Engineering
Campus | Leganés
Curriculum | 60 annual credits | 30 credits per semester from the course catalog
- Introduction to Algebra (6 credits)
- Introduction to Physics (6 credits)
- Introduction to Bioengineering (6 credits)
- Introduction to Calculus (6 credits)
- Bachelor's Degree Subject (6 credits)
- Introduction to New ICT (6 credits)
- Introduction to Chemistry (6 credits)
- Introduction to Programming (6 credits)
- Introduction to Technology (6 credits)
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (6 credits)
- Bachelor's Degree Subject (6 credits)
Requirements
- Have completed secondary education equivalent in Spain to the level of baccalaureate.
- Have at least B2 level in English or Spanish.
Deadlines, Prices & Scholarships
Deadlines
Application for a place for the full 2024/2025 course:
- From October 9th to June 4th
Prices
- 8.500€
There are two options for payment:
- One-time payment. The program will be paid in full in a single installment. The payment period will be until September 30th, 2024, by bank transfer or credit/debit card (Visa-MasterCard). It will be necessary to send the receipt of the transfer.
- Payment in 4 installments. Payment may be made exclusively by credit/debit card (Visa-MasterCard). The payment terms will be as follows:
- 1st deadline: until September 20th, 2024.
- 2nd deadline: October 25th, 2024.
- 3rd deadline: January 24th, 2025.
- 4th deadline: February 21st, 2025.
At the end of the enrollment period you will receive an email with the payment instructions.
Important: according to the university regulations, the cancellation of the enrollment due to the student's resignation will not entail the refund of the fees paid for it and does not exempt the student from the payment of pending fees.
IFP Scholarships Call 2024/25
Carlos III International School of Madrid promotes two scholarships aimed at those students of the International Foundation Program with good academic performance who are in difficult economic situations or in special circumstances that may hinder access to university studies.
Deadline and Amount
- Application deadline: until June 28th.
- Two scholarships in the amount of €8,200 to be used to partially cover tuition fees.
General requirements
- Not to be a resident in Spain.
Academic requirements
- Have completed secondary school studies
- Have a good grade point average in secondary school studies.
- Be formally admitted to the International Foundation Program and have reserved a place.
Financial Requirements
- Do not exceed the income thresholds established in point 2.3 of the terms and conditions of the call for applications.
Situations deserving preferential consideration
Applications from students who document being in vulnerable circumstances as mentioned in point 2.4 of the call will be particularly valued.
Application
Documentation:
- European or non-European Baccalaureate degree or equivalent.
- Academic certificate of the last two years of high school.
- Official language certificate accrediting at least a B2 level, depending on the language in which the student wishes to study the program:
- English: TOEFL or IELTS (this requirement will not be required if the native language is English).
- Spanish: SIELE (this requirement will not be required if the native language is Spanish). - Passport or identity card.
The documents attached to the application must be submitted in Spanish or English. If not, they must be accompanied by the corresponding official translation, which can be done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Interpretation and Language Office, by UNESCO, or any official organization recognized by the Spanish State, by any official representation of the Spanish State abroad, by diplomatic or consular presentation in Spain from the country of origin, or by a duly authorized or registered sworn translator.
Apply Online
- Get your login password.
In order to access the application form for visiting students, you must register to obtain the access password.
If you have any problems registering, it is because you may have some kind of previous relationship with Universidad Carlos III. If you have forgotten your password change it here: Change your password
- Apply for a vacancy.
Access the application with the Passport or DNI number and the password you obtained in step 1. We recommend that you have the files with the documentation ready to upload them to the application. In order to access the application for visiting students, you must register to obtain the access password..
Admission
Applications are reviewed as they arrive. It is necessary to study the documentation and, once it is complete, the response to the admission is usually given within approximately one month.
Admission is conditional upon payment of €300 as a reservation fee. This amount will be deducted from the total price of the program at the time of enrollment.
Enrollment in courses
General Information
Each semester consists of 30 ECTS credits, and you can combine subjects from the study program according to your interests. The subjects are divided into 2 blocks:
- Academic subjects: Introductory subjects related to undergraduate studies and Bachelor's Degree subjects.
- Experiential subjects: Courses, workshops, languages, and activities unrelated to undergraduate studies. A maximum of 6 ECTS credits can be taken from this block.
Among these 2 subject blocks, the following combinations are possible:
- 4 introductory academic subjects and 1 undergraduate subject. This combination is recommended for accessing Bachelor's Degree studies after the International Foundation Program.
- 5 introductory academic subjects.
- 3 introductory academic subjects, 1 Bachelor's Degree subject, and 6 ECTS credits in experiential subjects (languages, workshops, etc.).
- 4 introductory academic subjects and 6 ECTS credits in experiential subjects (languages, workshops, etc).
In addition to the chosen subjects, mandatory supplementary courses will be added, which are taken in the first semester. There are 2 types of supplementary courses: Refresh Maths (only for Engineering students) and Writting and Communication (for all students). It is not necessary to enroll in them.
If you want to pursue undergraduate studies after the International Foundation Program, it is important to consider the following:
- Each introductory subject is related to undergraduate degrees in different knowledge areas. You can check which subjects are related to each degree in the access requirements for the undergraduate program.
- It is advisable to take and pass at least 6 ECTS credits in Bachelor's Degree subjects.
- Experiential subjects and supplementary courses are not considered for Bachelor's Degree admission.
- Consult all the undergraduate admission requirements here.
Instructions for enrolment: 1st semester 24/25
1. Activate your email account.
It's very important that you activate your email account as the password you choose will be used to access the registration platform and Aula Global.
2. Select the introductory academic subjects and experiential subjects for the 1st semester.
- Deadline: July 11th.
- ACCESS TO THE ENROLMENT OF ACADEMIC SUBJECTS. Enter your student number (e.g. 100123456) and the password you chose for the e-mail. AFTER LOGGING IN, CLICK ON "GESTIÓN DE PREMATRÍCULA".
- Social Sciences and Humanities schedules: (Available soon).
- Engineering schedules: (Available soon).
3. Select the Bachelor's degree course
You will be able to choose 6 undergraduate credits for the 2nd semester.
Check the course offer (from August 27th).
- Check the timetables, classrooms and places available for the subjects you want to take.
- We recommend that you take advantage of this period to plan your semester timetable. Check the timetable of the introductory subjects on the Aula Global student portal to avoid overlaps.
- ACCESS THE APPLICATION (available from August 27th). Enter your student number (e.g. 100123456) and the password you chose for your email. AFTER LOGGING IN, CLICK ON "GESTIÓN DE PREMATRÍCULA".
Course selection (from September 4th at 1pm until 16th).
- You can select any group with free places when you enter the application.
- We recommend that you have previously checked the timetable to avoid overlaps between subjects.
- ACCESS TO THE APPLICATION (available from September 4th). Enter your user ID (e.g. 100123456) and the password you chose for your email. AFTER ACCESSING, CLICK ON "GESTIÓN DE PREMATRÍCULA".
Access to a Bachelor's Degree after IFP
Students of the International Foundation Program will be able to access UC3M undergraduate studies after completing the program as long as they meet the established requirements.
Graduate offerings for IFP students
The degrees can be taught in 3 language modalities:
- Spanish: groups in Spanish only.
- English: groups in English only.
- Bilingual: at least 50% of the subjects of the Degree are taught in English.
Social Sciences
- Bachelor in Business Administration (Spanish, English)
- Bachelor in Economics (Spanish, English)
- Bachelor in Employment and Labor Relations (Spanish)
- Bachelor in Film, Television and Media Studies (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Finance and Accounting (Spanish, English)
- Bachelor in History and Politics (Bilingual)
- Bachelor in International Studies (English)
- Bachelor in Journalism (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Law (Spanish)
- Bachelor in Management and Technology (English)
- Bachelor in Management of Information and Digital Contents (Spanish)
- Bachelor in Political Science (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Sociology (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Statistics and Business (Spanish)
- Bachelor in Tourism (Spanish)
Humanities
- Bachelor in Cultural Studies (Bilingual)
- Bachelor in Humanities (Spanish)
Engineering
- Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering (English)
- Bachelor in Applied Mathematics and Computing (English)
- Bachelor in Biomedical Engineering (English)
- Bachelor in Computer Science and Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish, English)
- Bachelor in Data Science and Engineering (English)
- Bachelor in Electrical Power Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Energy Engineering (English)
- Bachelor in Engineering Physics (English)
- Bachelor in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Industrial Technologies Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Mobile and Space Communications Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Sound and Image Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Telecommunication Technologies Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
- Bachelor in Telematics Engineering (Bilingual, Spanish)
Requirements
1. To have a certified high school education:
- For students with a non-European Baccalaureate Degree: To have the homologation of the Baccalaureate Degree by the Spanish Ministry of Education or to have applied for it.. More information about the homologation of the Spanish Ministry of Education.
- For students with a European Union High School Diploma: they must provide the credential for access to university studies issued by the Universidad Nacional de Estudios a Distancia (UNED) through its UNED assis service. More information about UNED assis.
2. Proof of a B2 level or higher by means of an official language certificate. Depending on the language of the degree you wish to access, the following certificates can be presented:
- Degrees taught in English:
- FIRST CERTICATE or higher,
- TOEFL: 72 points Internet based
- IELTS Academic: 5.5 points
- TRINITY: ISE II or higher
- Completed high school in an English-speaking educational system.
- Completion of the International Foundation Program in English.
- Degrees taught in Spanish:
- SIELE
- DELE
- Baccalaureate completed in a Spanish-speaking educational system.
- Completion of the International Foundation Program in Spanish.
3. Pass at least 42 ECTS in academic subjects of the International Foundation Program.
4. Have obtained, at least, an average grade of 6.
Criteria for Selection
Applications will be evaluated individually and admission to one or the other Grade will depend on the following scale:
1. The average grade* obtained in the International Foundation Program will have a weight of 80%. Only grades obtained in academic subjects will be taken into account. Grades obtained in the experiential subjects are excluded from the calculation of this average grade.
2. The average grade* obtained in 2 of the subjects of the International Foundation Program that are basic for the Degree to which the student wants to accede, will have a weight of 10%.
- For Engineering Degrees: Introduction to Algebra, Introduction to Physics, Introduction to Calculus, Introduction to Chemistry and Introduction to Programming.
- For Degrees in Economics, Business Administration, Finance and Accounting, Statistics and Business, International Studies and Business and Technology: Introduction to Mathematics, Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Economics, Introduction to Business Administration.
- For Degrees in Political Science, Law, Labor Relations, Sociology, Information and Digital Content Management, History and Politics, and Tourism: Introduction to Law, Introduction to Political Science, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Business Administration. Political Science, Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Philosophy, History of Spain, Introduction to Mathematics, Introduction to Economics, Introduction to Statistics.
- For Degrees in Audiovisual Communication, Journalism, Humanities and Cultural Studies: History of Spain, Communication, Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Mathematics, Introduction to Economics, Introduction to Artistic Creation I.
3. The passing of at least 6 credits in undergraduate courses will have a value of 10%.
* The average grade is calculated taking into account all academic subjects, both passed and failed.
Request
In the application it is necessary to indicate 3 studies in order of priority. The indicated degrees must be offered by UC3M.
*The following are not eligible to apply: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics and Double Degrees.
- Only one application per student may be recorded.
Application deadline: December 4th to 15th.
Documentation to be submitted:
Homologation of the non-European baccalaureate degree or UNED credential. If you do not have the document yet, you can submit the copy of the application for homologation or submit it at a later date.
Disability and Specific Needs
If you are a student with a disability or with specific educational support needs, please enroll in our program before the following dates:
- full course and first term: July 15, 2023
- and for the second term: December 15, 2023.
*We will not be able to guarantee the full implementation of the necessary support if you apply after the deadline.