Bachelor in Cultural Studies

Exchange programs

The Erasmus programme permits UC3M first degree and post graduate students to spend one or several terms at one of the European universities with which UC3M has special agreements or take up an Erasmus Placement, that is a work placement or internship at an EU company. These exchanges are funded with Erasmus Grants which are provided by the EU and the Spanish Ministry of Education.

The non-european mobility program enables UC3M degree students to study one or several terms in one of the international universities with which the university has special agreements. It also has funding from the Banco Santander and the UC3M.

These places are offered in a public competition and are awarded to students with the best academic record and who have passed the language threshold  (English, French, German etc..) requested by the university of destination.

Non- European Mobility

The Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Studies is particularly suited to students with an interest in the humanities, communication, the social sciences, cultural creation and contemporary debates. It is recommended that students have completed the A-Levels in Humanities or Social Sciences, or equivalent courses in other education systems, although the degree is open to a diverse range of candidates who share a desire to understand contemporary society from a cultural, critical and interdisciplinary perspective.

Particular value is placed on intellectual curiosity, reading and analytical skills, sensitivity to social and cultural phenomena, critical thinking, creativity, initiative, teamwork and an interest in applying knowledge to real-world problems. It is a suitable degree for those who wish to study culture as a living space where conflicts, identities, social transformations and forms of imagination in the present are expressed.

The University offers the degree as a bilingual programme. Consequently, students must complete at least 120 ECTS credits in English and demonstrate a sufficient level of linguistic competence, equivalent to B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Similarly, students whose mother tongue is not Spanish must demonstrate an adequate level of Spanish when taking modules in that language.

Application for a place in the degree

Graduates of the Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Studies will have acquired an interdisciplinary education that will enable them to analyse contemporary culture in its various forms and understand its relationship with the social, political, economic and communication processes of the present day. Their profile combines a humanities-based education with tools from the fields of communication and the social sciences, and focuses on the study of phenomena such as cultural diversity, globalisation, inequality, gender, memory, the media, cultural industries, civic participation and new forms of creativity.

1. Knowledge of Titles

K1 - To know the principles and values of democracy and sustainable development, in particular, respect for human rights and fundamental rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, the principles of universal accessibility and climate change.

K2 - To know basic humanistic contents, oral and written expression, following ethical principles and completing a multidisciplinary training profile.

K3 - Identify and contextualize major contemporary cultural movements and conflicts, taking into account social factors such as class, gender, ethnicity, or religion.

K4 - Analyze current cultural practices in relation to their historical contexts and institutional trajectories.

K5 - Understand the functioning of contemporary cultural systems and their main agents (institutions, policies, formats).

K6 - Distinguish basic approaches to cultural analysis from humanistic and social perspectives (sociological, historical, philosophical, anthropological).

K7 - Understand the role of the media in the production and transformation of cultural forms. 

K8 - Recognize global cultural diversity and the processes of interaction and cultural hybridization linked to globalization.

2. Skills of Titles

S1 - To plan and organize team work making the right decisions based on available information and gathering data in digital environments.

S2 - To use information interpreting relevant data avoiding plagiarism, and in accordance with the academic and professional conventions of the area of study, being able to assess the reliability and quality of such information.

S3 - Apply critical reasoning to the interpretation of cultural phenomena, using appropriate terminology and basic analytical tools.

S4 - Communicate ideas and findings orally and in writing clearly, coherently, and appropriately for academic context.

S5 - Critically analyze cultural practices from an ethical perspective, recognizing cultural norms, values, and conflicts.

S6 - Design basic cultural initiatives in institutional or community settings.

S7 - Develop practical solutions to address cultural challenges in defined academic contexts.

S8 - Use basic tools of visual representation and digital communication to present analysis or research findings.

S9 - Develop strategies for the preservation of cultural heritage and the social practices that sustain it.

3. Competences of Titles

C1 - To Know and be able to handle interpersonal skills on initiative, responsibility, conflict resolution, negotiation, etc., required in the professional environment.

C2 - Apply concepts, approaches, and methods of cultural analysis to the study of sociocultural phenomena from a critical and informed perspective.

C3- Plan cultural initiatives, promoting innovation and social responsibility.

C4 - Independently and creatively address problems and questions specific to the field of cultural studies, selecting and effectively combining acquired knowledge, skills, and resources.

External internships

The Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Studies offers work placements at institutions, companies, foundations and associations linked to culture, communication, the arts, cooperation, social mediation and the creative industries. Partner organisations include, amongst others:

• Instituto Cervantes
• Teatro Real
• Teatro de la Zarzuela
• Círculo de Bellas Artes
• Fundación Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
• CentroCentro
• AECID
• Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos
• Centro Cultural Coreano
• Instituto de Estudios Posnaturales
• IvoryPress

Career opportunities

The Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Studies trains graduates to understand culture as one of the fundamental pillars of the contemporary world. In a context characterised by social diversity, the expansion of the creative industries, the centrality of communication and the transformation of audiences, the degree prepares students to analyse complex cultural phenomena and participate in projects related to management, mediation, content creation, inclusion and socio-cultural intervention.

This qualification provides access to the "Master's Degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary Education, Sixth Form and Vocational Training, depending on the relevant specialism.

They will be able develop their work as:

• Cultural management, programming and production.
• Cultural and creative industries.
• Cultural, institutional and corporate communication.
• Creation and management of cultural content.
• Publishing houses, bookshops, literary projects and reading promotion.
• Cultural and intercultural mediation.
• Diversity management, inclusion and community projects.
• International cooperation, the third sector and social organisations.
• Cultural consultancy, audience analysis and trend analysis.

Schedules and calendars

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)

Schedules and calendar

Schedule in bachelor's degree

Academic calendar

Exams calendar (first semester)

Exams calendar (second semester)

Exams calendar (recovery tests)