** NEW ** Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies (joint with european universities)
- Grados
- Bachelor's Degrees
- ** NEW ** Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies (joint with european universities)
- Duration
- 3 years (180 ECTS)
- Centre
- Language
- English
- Comments
-
1st year: Getafe and Leganés Campus.
2nd and 3rd year: European University Campus
Presentation
In a world shaped by rapid urbanisation, both cities and rural areas are vital for a sustainable future. The joint Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies, designed by the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance, to which Carlos III University belongs, offers an innovative, interdisciplinary education to tackle real-life challenges head-on. Customise your learning path, explore diverse landscapes, and lead the way in urban sustainability across Europe with YUFE!
We offer you a new way of studying that will put you at the forefront of European university education. The Bachelor's Degree in Urban Sustainability is an official degree taught entirely in English, which will allow you to study at 10 European universities with one year of guaranteed mobility and the funding of Erasmus+ grants.
One of the characteristics of this degree is its high flexibility and personalisation which promotes a more motivating and meaningful education. With the help of a counsellor who will advise you on the choice of subjects, you will be able to adapt the curriculum to your personal aspirations and objectives. Over three dynamic years, you will shape your learning journey to match your strengths and interests. The first year covers essential skills at your starting university. In the second and third years, you personalise your studies through YUFE minors and study at two to three different universities across Europe. The programme culminates in a dissertation to showcase your expertise.
Throughout your bachelor’s programme, you work internationally with students, teachers, and businesses to address real-world issues in a creative, international and interactive setting. With input from 10 European universities, each a YUFE partner (seven Degree Awarding Partners and three Mobility Partners), the programme offers a diverse curriculum that explores sustainability issues in urban and rural settings.
With this bachelor you will gain transversal competences and an international profile that will be very attractive for your professional future. It also gives you direct access to a wide selection of specialised master's degrees. You finish the Bachelor with a degree awarded by seven European Universities.
Shape the world you want to live in!
Participant Universities
- Nicolaus Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
- Antwerp University (Belgium)
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- University of Essex (United Kingdom)
- University of Eastern Finland (Finland)
- Maastricht University (Netherlands)
- University of Rijeka (Croatia)
In addition to the universities listed above, international placements may be undertaken at Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris, France), the University of Cyprus (Cyprus) and the University of Bremen (Germany).
International Excellence
Program
Year 1 - Semester 1
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media culture and gender | 3 | E |  |
| Ethics and culture | 3 | E | |
Year 1 - Semester 2
Year 2 - Semester 1
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor to choose from YUFE universities | 30 | E | |
Year 2 - Semester 2
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor to choose from YUFE universities | 30 | E | |
Year 3 - Semester 1
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor to choose from YUFE universities | 30 | E | |
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving change: Activisim, Engagement and Communities (UE) | 30 | E | |
| Societal issues in a comtemporary world (EU) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Health & Wellbeing (NCU) | 30 | E | |
| Desing and perspectives on heritage (UA) | 30 | E | |
| Urban ecology in Europe: public policies, cultural narratives (SNU) | 30 | E | |
| Border, Europe and Russia (UEF) | 30 | E | |
| Sustainable business (UEF) | 30 | E | |
| Economic Development (UC3M) | 30 | E | |
| Smart cities for sustainable culture (UC3M) | 30 | E | |
| Energy sustainability in the cities (UC3M) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Inequality (UNIRI) | 30 | E | |
| Natural sciences for sustainability (UB) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Environmental &Sustainability education (UCY) | 30 | E | |
| Urban sustainable development (UM) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Mining (UM) | 30 | E | |
Year 3 - Semester 2
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor Thesis | 18 | BT | |
| Electives: Recommended 12 ECTS credits | 12 | No data | |
| Subjects | ECTS | TYPE | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cities of Dreams and Nightmares | 30 | E | |
| Sustainable Tourism (NCU) | 30 | E | |
| Desing and perspectives on heritage | 30 | E | |
| Cities and Urbanistation: Interdisciplinary perspectives (UA) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Ecology (UNIRI) | 30 | E | |
| Urban Sustainable Development (UM) | 30 | E | |
TYPES OF SUBJECTS:
- BC: Basic Compulsory
- C: Compulsory
- E: Electives
- BT: Bachelor Thesis
PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES:
- UE: University of Essex (United Kingdom)
- NCU: Nicolaus Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
- UA: Antwerp University (Belgium)
- SNU: Sorbonne Nouvelle University (París, France)
- UEF: University of Eastern Finland (Finland)
- UC3M: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
- UNIRI: University of Rijeka (Croatia)
- UB: University of Bremen (Germany)
- UCY: University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
- UM: Maastricht University (Netherlands)
Bachelor Organization
The first year is made up of compulsory and optional introductory courses. At UC3M, this first year is taken at the Getafe and Leganés campuses, on alternate days.
During the two semsters of the second year and the first semester of the third year, you will take three minor programs, at least two of which will be given at other universities in the alliance.
Finally, in the second semester of the third year, you will return to UC3M to complete the Bachelor Thesis.
| Year | Semester | Content |
ECTS Credits |
| 1 | 1 | Compulsory and elective subjects at the student's university | 60 |
| 1 | 2 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Three ‘minor’ of 30 ECTS each, of which at least two are taken during an international mobility stay in one of the other universities of the alliance. | 90 |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 1 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Bachelor Thesis and elective subjects at the student's university | 30 |
Minor
Minors are short programmes on a specific topic related to urban studies and sustainability. The minors offer about 60 ECTS, of which each student must choose 30.
All minors have a compulsory course, the ‘Challenge Team’, in which, through collaboration and group work, a practical problem set by the lecturer who organises it is solved. In addition, in some minors it may be necessary to take another compulsory course. The remaining courses, up to 30 ECTS, can be chosen freely, based on the particular interests of each student.
Of the three minors that must be passed in the bachelor, at least two of them will be taken in another of the universities of the alliance, through a mobility stay with Erasmus+ funding.
Academic advisor
Each student has, from the beginning of their studies, an academic advisor, who will provide them with the necessary guidance and advice to choose, based on their interests and concerns, the three minor programs they are going to study, as well as the optional courses from each of them that best suit their profile.
Throughout the course, several individual meetings will be held to facilitate this orientation.
Academic calendars and regulations
The academic calendars and assessment regulations (marks, exams and make-ups, continuous assessment systems, etc.) will be those of the university where each course is taken.
The specific regulations for the Bachelor can be found in the Education and Examination Regulations
Title and participating universities
At the end of the three years, each student receives his/her Bachelor Diploma in Urban Sustainability Studies, issued jointly by the seven universities participating in the bachelor (Antwerp, Maastricht, Rijeka, Eastern Finland, Essex, Nicolaus Copernicus in Torun and Carlos III de Madrid). It is an official degree, valid in Spain and worldwide.
Admission
To study the Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Urban Studies it is necessary to submit the application on the YUFE website, indicating the university where you wish to do the first year.
However, in the case of the places assigned by UC3M, and due to the current university entrance regulations in Spain, prior application on the YUFE website is recommended, but the final allocation of places will be made based solely on the entrance qualifications (EvAU and other equivalents) in July, through the pre-enrolment process in the public universities of Madrid.
Mobilty
International mobility in the Bachelor's Degree in Urban Sustainability Studies
Students of this degree must carry out at least two mobility stays in other universities of the YUFE alliance:
- Nicolas Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
- Sorbonne Nouvelle University (París, France)
- Antwerp University (Belgium)
- University of Bremen (Germany)
- University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
- University of Essex (united Kingdom)
- University of Easter Finland (Finland)
- Maastricht University (Netherlands)
- University of Rijeka (Croatia)
These mobilities are funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
Profile and Career Opportunities
- Entry profile
Entry profile
Given the characteristics of these studies, the following qualities are highly recommended:
- Intercultural competences; language skills are as important as being open-minded and respectful of different perspectives and ways of life.
- Critical and analytical thinking. A multidisciplinary approach requires the ability to analyse problems from multiple angles and apply knowledge from different disciplines.
- Commitment to sustainability, showing a proactive attitude in the search for sustainable solutions.
- Flexibility and adaptability, crucial in an international and multidisciplinary educational environment.
- Teamwork skills. Students must be good communicators and be willing to work constructively with others to achieve common goals.
- Curiosity and creativity: The ability to innovate and think outside the box is important for tackling complex problems and finding novel solutions.
For admission, the subjects that will be taken into account for the admission grade are Mathematics, Mathematics applied to the Social Sciences, History of Spain, History of Philosophy, Enterprise and Business Model Design, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Technology and Engineering, Geology and Additional Language.
- Graduate profile
Graduate profile
This innovative and open programme is designed to train aspiring professionals equipped not only with specific knowledge, but also with the ability to interrelate disciplines and cultural perspectives, which is essential for navigating the complexities of a globalised world.
The philosophy of the programme is based on fostering disciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise in urban sustainability, enabling programme graduates to address challenges at local, regional and global scales. They are experts in analysing issues related to urban sustainability, applying different methods and theoretical approaches. They have a broad worldview and can adapt to diverse international and intercultural contexts to effectively collaborate and engage with stakeholders in urban development projects. In addition, they are able to generate and evaluate sustainable development strategies. They are prepared to tackle the complex problems of the future as interdisciplinary experts and find innovative solutions that have a positive impact.
Study in English
Study conducted in English only
This degree is taught entirely in English. All work (classes, exercises, practicals, exams, etc.) is done in English, both in the subjects taken at UC3M and at other universities.
It is necessary to accredit a B2 level of English when applying for admission.
Faculty
Scientific activity is a fundamental element of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, which is the top university in Spain in terms of six-year research periods obtained by its faculty. This is composed of internationally renowned scientists integrating leading research groups in project management and resource attraction at national and European level. The commitment to research translates into a significant scientific production and a strong international orientation, with professors who carry out top-level research and contribute to high-impact publications.
This first-rate scientific activity is complemented by experienced professionals who work part-time at the university, facilitating a direct connection between the university and the economic environment.
⚙ 183,28M€ earmarked for fomenting research 2021-2022
👥 140 research groups
📖 165 patent families
☂ 32 incubated companies (11 spin-offs)
📖 2714 published articles
Schedules
Schedules
- Schedule in bachelor´s degree
- The timetables for the 2025/26 academic year will be published soon.
Quality
Characteristics of the Bachelor's Degree
Year of implementation: 2025
Places: UC3M allocates 15 places.
Evaluation and monitoring
This programme has been officially approved by NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) following an external peer review under the European Approach for the Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes. National recognition of the programme is in progress in all countries of the degree-awarding partners.