Tufts in Madrid

Tufts in Madrid, run in conjunction with Skidmore College, is designed to increase intercultural agency and understanding, and to achieve inclusive excellence. As a global leader in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, the program offers courses designed to foster critical thinking, active learning, and the development of intercultural skills and knowledge. All of this is done within the framework of diversity, justice, and human rights. The program also offers a rigorous Global Internship Program with flexible credit options in the fields of community health, women’s advocacy, refugee and immigrant advocacy, international relations, human rights, journalism, diplomacy, education, environmental studies, scientific research, marketing, finance, and more. Additionally, the program offers education, mentoring and training in intercultural competency development. Tufts in Madrid was selected by Diversity Abroad as the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion in International Education Award (EDIIE) for the category of Student Engagement & Support.

The overall design of the program promotes academic and intellectual achievement at the highest level within the framework of diversity, justice, and human rights, and seeks to inspire in students an awareness of and a concern for the experience and well-being of human beings across the globe. 

Students have the flexibility to choose from a variety of courses offered through the program, taught at our Madrid campus, as well as courses available at our partner institution, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Most students enroll in at least one course at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. A typical academic schedule includes one or two university courses and two to three program courses per semester. All program courses are conducted in Spanish, whereas some university courses are taught in English.

Students participating in the Engineering Track will take their courses, typically taught in English, through Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M); there will also a program course or two designed specifically for students in the Engineering Track.

Additionally, students have the option to take courses at private academies, with or without credit, in areas such as studio art, dance, music, or martial arts. Students can also choose to participate in the Global Internship Program, with options for full credit, half credit, or no credit (may not be available for students in the Engineering Track).

Be sure to review our academic policies for education abroad and plan accordingly with your academic advisor(s).  

Review TGE Academic Policies 

Prerequisites

This program is open to Tufts and non-Tufts undergraduate juniors and seniors who meet the general eligibility requirements. In addition, applicants must have successfully completed at least Spanish 4 or the equivalent of four semesters of college-level Spanish. Students in the Engineering Track have no language prerequisite. Students from all academic majors are encouraged to apply.

Program Courses

Courses at the Madrid campus focus on critical studies, examining the intersectionality of underrepresented identities (gender, race, sexual orientation, migratory status, socioeconomic status), and their expression in art, literature, architecture, politics, and social institutions. Program courses and faculty provide critical peninsular and transatlantic studies that allow students to situate and understand Spain as a complex, dynamic, heterogeneous society and culture in constant transition.

All program courses have coordinated activities outside of class, such as selected events, films, lectures, and exhibits currently available in Madrid.

A note about language courses:

• Advanced Spanish Language Studies, equivalent to Spanish 121, is required for students who have completed SPN 21, 22 or higher. The program offers the equivalent of SPN 21 for students who have completed SPN 4. These courses are offered at the program center and include a special focus on pronunciation, phonetics, and grammatical precision. Students’ language level will be assessed before arrival, upon arrival, and at the end of the semester.
• Advanced Spanish Language Studies for Heritage Learners is required for Heritage students and modeled on the assumption that heritage learners bring unique resources to language learning that should be incorporated into the classroom. Course includes a focus on the sociocultural context of heritage speaking in the U.S. and in Spain.

View Program Courses

Direct Enrollment Courses at Universidad Complutense de Madrid

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), a top-ranked public university founded in 1822, is a 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 in Madrid program center.

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, Geography and History, and offers classes in various disciplines such as 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 (Engineering Track - new for 2025-26!)

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) is a relatively small and innovative public university with a distinctly international profile. Established in 1989, UC3M offers a broad range of degree programs, including a highly accredited Engineering program, many courses of which are taught in English; nearly 20% of the student body is made up of international students. The UC3M School of Engineering has received the European seal of international quality in engineering (EUR-ACE), which is the most prestigious seal that an engineering degree can receive in Europe and guarantees that the accredited Bachelor's and Master's degrees meet the professional requirements of engineering at the European level in an exemplary manner. 

Engineering courses at UC3M are offered at the Leganés campus; course offerings (along with language of instruction) are detailed within the 'Program' listing for each track of Engineering. Interested students are encouraged to consult closely with their Engineering adviser(s) to ensure that courses taken at UC3M align with their major and degree requirements.

Global Internship Program

The Global Internship Program provides a unique opportunity that complements the curriculum, enhances your resume, and enriches your personal experience in Spain. Previous internship placements have included roles in Diplomacy, International Relations, Human Rights, Education, Sports, Art, Public Health, Environmental Studies, Sociology and Finance. Internships may be taken for full, half, or no credit. (Students on the Engineering Track should indicate their interest well in advance to determine if this will be available to them.)

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

You will be individually placed with a host family based on your preferences, as specified in a comprehensive housing questionnaire and discussed in an interview with the program director. Host families are carefully selected and monitored to ensure they meet program standards. You will have breakfast and either lunch or dinner with your host family, and you will also receive a monthly meal stipend for a daily meal you eat outside the home.

Student Residence

You will be assigned an individual room in a student residence equipped with a private bathroom, a small refrigerator, and a microwave. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the student dining hall. To-go meals are available with advance notice. A monthly meal stipend is not provided.

Co-Curricular Activities

Students are highly encouraged to be active in Madrid’s vibrant cultural scene, and our program staff offer abundant informational resources and support for student activities and wellbeing. The program also offers unlimited cultural reimbursement, allowing you to attend plays, films, art exhibits, and other cultural events, as well as set stipends for activities and travel within Spain. The program 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.