Tufts Madrid

Study in Spanish or English. Gain professional experience. Discover new ways of seeing the world.

Tufts Madrid connects academic study with life in Spain’s capital city. Offering two academic tracks, Arts & Sciences in Spanish and STEM in English, students pursue engaging coursework while developing the language skills, cultural understanding, and confidence to engage across differences.

Learning extends beyond the classroom. Our Global Internship Program offers flexible credit options and opportunities in fields ranging from scientific research, community health, and environmental studies to journalism, diplomacy, finance, and human rights. Students connect their academic interests with professional experience and deepen their understanding of local communities.

Diversity, justice, and human rights shape both what we teach and how we support students. Through continuous mentoring and intercultural learning, we encourage students to question assumptions, consider different perspectives, and reflect on their responsibilities in an interconnected world.

Tufts Madrid received Diversity Abroad’s 2022 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education Award in the category of Student Engagement & Support.

Explore the two academic tracks below to find the right fit for your interests and goals.

Arts & Sciences in Spanish

Choose from courses at the Tufts in Madrid program center and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). A typical semester combines one or two UCM courses with one or two program center courses; most students take at least one course at UCM.

All program center courses are taught in Spanish. Most UCM courses are offered in Spanish, though some are offered in English. Students in the A&S track may not enroll in courses at UC3M.

STEM in English

Take STEM courses taught primarily in English at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). Students must complete at least 18 ECTS / 12 Tufts credits at UC3M.

Students who meet the Spanish language prerequisite may also take a course at the Madrid program center. Students in the STEM track may not enroll in courses at UCM.

Explore Beyond the Classroom

Students may explore studio art, dance, music, martial arts, and other subjects through courses at private academies, with or without academic credit.

You may also gain intercultural and professional experience through the Global Internship Program, with full-credit, half-credit, and non-credit options. Internship participation may be limited for students in the STEM track.

Review Tufts’ education abroad academic policies and work with your academic advisor(s) to select courses that support your degree requirements and goals.

Review TGE Academic Policies 

Required Spanish Language Course

All students are required to take Advanced Spanish Language Studies at the Madrid program center. Students are placed in the appropriate course based on their Spanish proficiency and language background:

• Advanced Spanish Language Studies focuses on pronunciation, phonetics, and grammatical precision.
• Advanced Spanish Language Studies for Heritage Learners builds on students’ existing language skills and explores the sociocultural experiences of heritage speakers in the United States and Spain.

Students’ Spanish proficiency is assessed before arrival, upon arrival, and at the end of the semester.

View Program Courses

Direct Enrollment Courses at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Arts & Sciences Track)

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), a top-ranked public university founded in 1822, is one of the largest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. The university’s notable alumni include seven Nobel Prize recipients, several Prime Ministers of Spain, European Commissioners, Presidents of the EU Parliament, European Council Secretary General, Spanish royalty, and Heads of State. For more than 700 years, the University Complutense of Madrid has provided notable contributions in political leadership, arts, literature, and the sciences.

UCM has two campuses: the Moncloa and Somosaguas campus. The Moncloa campus is the main campus of the university and is located in the heart of the city, in close proximity to the Tufts Madrid program center.

Students on this track may not also take courses at UC3M. Students choose from two academic options at UCM: 

1. Students may take classes from the UCM general curriculum in the department or school of their choice—Art History, Fine Arts, Languages and Literatures, History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Mathematics, Law, Electrical Engineering, Music, Media Studies, Business, Education, Information Technology, Psychology, Social Work, and more.
   
   UCM General Curriculum Courses
    
2. Students may also choose courses offered through the Reunidas Program, designed for international students, and supported by the Consortium of North American University Programs. These courses are taken with other students from U.S. programs in Madrid and taught by UCM faculty. Reunidas operates within three Humanities schools at UCM—Philosophy; Language and Literature; and Geography and History—and offers classes in various disciplines, including Spanish Language and Literature, Geography, History, Art History, Philosophy, Sociology, International Relations, and Economics. All courses are taught in Spanish. 
   
   Reunidas Program Courses

Direct Enrollment Courses at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (STEM Track)

Study STEM courses at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), a medium-sized, prestigious public university with an international outlook and a wide range of courses taught in English.

Engineering courses are offered at UC3M’s Leganés campus. Explore the School of Engineering’s degree programs to find course descriptions and languages of instruction under each degree’s “Program” section. Work closely with your academic advisor(s) to select courses that meet your major and degree requirements.

Students in this track must take at least 18 ECTS / 12 Tufts credits at UC3M. Those who meet the Spanish language prerequisite may also take a course at the Tufts in Madrid program center.

UC3M courses are available only to students in the STEM track. Students in this track may not enroll in courses at UCM.

Global Internship Program

The Global Internship Program connects academic learning with professional experience in Spain. Through meaningful work with local organizations, you can deepen your engagement with Madrid communities, develop intercultural skills, and strengthen your résumé.

Previous placements have included diplomacy, international relations, human rights, education, sports, art, public health, environmental studies, sociology, and finance. Internships may be taken for full credit, half credit, or no credit.

Participation may require strong Spanish language skills and options for STEM students may be limited.

Orientation

Beginning the day after arrival, you will participate in a 10-day orientation designed to help you begin to adapt to Spanish culture and society, to inform you about policies and procedures including safety and security measures, and to prepare you for student life at a Spanish university. During orientation, you will be introduced to your Spanish peer mentors, who will help guide and inform you throughout the semester.

Housing and Meals

Homestays

Arts & Sciences students typically live with a host family, either individually or with another student. STEM students who have completed at least four semesters of Spanish may request a homestay but availability is limited.

Placements depend on homestay availability and the needs of the cohort. Your preferences as stated on the housing questionnaire and interviews will be taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed. Host families are carefully selected and monitored to provide a welcoming and supportive environment. Students are expected to approach family life with respect, flexibility, openness, and a willingness to adapt.

Your homestay includes breakfast and dinner each day. You’ll also receive a monthly stipend to cover one daily meal outside the home.

A&S students whose documented dietary needs or other accommodations prevent them from living in a homestay may be placed in a student residence.

Student Residences

STEM students typically live in a student residence, either in an individual or shared room. STEM students who have completed at least four semesters of Spanish may request a homestay but availability is limited.

Residence housing includes a full meal plan. No separate meal stipend is provided.

Students with severe dietary restrictions that cannot be accommodated by a host family or a residence dining service should communicate this clearly and provide documentation during the pre-departure period.

Co-Curricular Activities

Explore Madrid’s vibrant cultural scene with guidance and support from program staff. Throughout the semester, the program reimburses eligible cultural activities up to established spending limits, helping you enjoy plays, films, art exhibitions, and other cultural events.

The program also provides set stipends for activities and travel within Spain and organizes three all-expenses-paid excursions each semester.

Student Perspectives

The on-site staff advises students on academics, intercultural practices, and co-curricular activities; staff organizes study tours, events, and cultural excursions.