Global E3: Universidad Del País Vasco

 

Overview: 

Have you always wanted to study engineering in Spain?  Spend a semester  at the Universidad del País Vasco in Bilbao, Spain!  There are around 3,500 students at the University, most natives of the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain.
 
The majority of courses are taught in Spanish. An increasing number of courses are also taught in English and some in French. Courses are also taught in Basque (the local language). 
 
The Universidad del País Vasco is a member of Global E3, an exchange program of Engineering Schools from around the world. More than 60 universities worldwide—33 in the United States and 31 in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—comprise the Global E3 consortium. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
 
You must first be accepted by the Swanson School of Engineering International Programs Office , then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. In the past, application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.
Each university might have an additional application.  Please refer to University's website for details.

Learning Objectives: 

As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop: 

  • the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment. 
  • non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path. 
  • a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Spain.

 

Partner Information: 

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
International Relations Office   |   ingenieria.internacional@ehu.es
Relaciones Internacionales
Escuela de Ingeniería de Bilbao
Plaza Ingeniero Torres Ouevedo, 1
48013 Bilbao (Spain)
Phone: +34 946014014, +34946018228
Fax: +34 946013939
Vicedean for International Relations
Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao
University of the Basque Country
Prof. Charles Pinto
E-mail: charles.pinto@ehu.es

Location Description: 

Bilbao is the main city in the Basque Country of northern Spain.  Home to about 350,000 inhabitants, Bilbao is a friendly city with a very lively cultural and social atmosphere.  It was founded in 1300 and is presently the business capital of northern Spain.
Close to the sea, and nestled among hills and mountains, Bilbao combines an urban style with the country flair of a small, seaside community.  Residents and visitors alike enjoy leisure activities such as surfing, mountaineering, hiking, and cycling.  In addition, visitors come from far and wide to experience the Guggenheim Museum, established in 1997.

Housing Description: 

The university is located in the very center of Bilbao. Students can choose between sharing rented apartments with other students (the most common situation) or staying at one of the residences which are scattered throughout the city.
 Please check the GE3 website for more information.

Academic Description: 

Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad.  We suggest you review courses available with your Faculty director of your program prior to applying to the program. 
Academic Departments: 
Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings.  The following disciplines have been listed as available below. 
Language of Instruction
Most courses are taught in Spanish. An increasing number of courses are also taught in English and some in French. Courses are also taught in Basque (the local language).
Spanish Proficiency
At least medium level is required. If the student is taking courses only in English, it is recommendable to have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish to manage on a daily basis in the city.
Disciplines Available

  • "Ingeniería industrial" , which comprises
    • Mechanical Eng.
    • Electrical Eng.
    • Manufacturing Eng.
    • Mechanical Design
    • Industrial Design
    • Energetics Eng.
    • Nuclear Eng.
    • Hydraulics Eng.
  • Telecommunications and Electronics
  • Chemical and Process Eng.
  • Environmental Eng.
  • Industrial Management Eng.
  • Automatic Control Eng.
  • Materials Eng.

 
Of note: 

  • All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office. 
  • Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.   
  • Courses taken abroad will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university. 

Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.    

Students who have attended this program in the past have taken classes in the areas of:: 
Engineering
University Course Catalog: 
Vasco's Global E3 page
Grading: 

In order to gain Pitt credit, you must receive a C or higher for each course you will transfer back to Pitt for credit. 
Information about the grading scale abroad can be found on the Global E3 page. 
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. 
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
 

Experiential Learning Description: 

N/A

Program Fees: 

Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.

Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.

 

tems Billed by Pitt
 
 
Tuition: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs:https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Program Fee: Check Pitt's website to verify current costs https://ir.pitt.edu/undergraduate-tuition/ 
 
Study Abroad Fee $400 
 
Total Billed by Pitt: Estimate your Pitt expenses based on current tuition and fees
 
How Much To Budget: 
 
 
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
 
Travel Expenses: Airfare, Passport, Visa, Resident Permit  $2,000 
Room & Board $3,000 - 5,000 
Personal Expenses $1,000 - 5,000 
 
The Estimated Costs reflect information provided by exchange partner and are reported to OAFA to calculate financial aid packages. The listed costs are defaulted to one semester. Multiply the costs by two for two semesters.
 
Personal expenses vary with individual students. Review the program's page, as well as our budgeting page for more information. 
 
The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.  
 

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

 

 

Application Instructions: 

You must first be nominated by the Swanson School of Engineering International Initiatives Office, then you will be directed to apply to Global E3. A formal nomination from SSoE Engineering International Initiatives is required for Pitt students to be recognized as an exchange student. Therefore, Pitt students must complete all necessary Pitt steps in addition to the Global E3 university’s requirements. In other words, acceptance by Pitt Engineering International Initiatives does not guarantee acceptance by the exchange university.  
Prior to being accepted, please visit the Global E3 website and read the application instructions and application deadlines. (In the past, Global E3 application deadlines have been October 1st for spring semester programs and March 1st for fall semester programs.) 
Each university might have an additional application.  Please refer to the Global E site for details.   
Minimum Requirements: 

  • SSoE student in good standing 
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA & be of sophomore standing or higher 
  • Please check the Global E3 site for additional requirements for this specific school

 

Additional Information: 

Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website. 

 
 
 Academic Calendar:

  • Fall : early September to late January 
  • Spring : late January  to mid June
Insurance Requirements: 

The University of Pittsburgh provides comprehensive health insurance as a part of studying abroad. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the Engineering International Initiatives office.  However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.

Visa Requirements: 

In order to study as a student in specific countries, a visa is required. A visa is formal endorsement by the host country to grant permission for an individual to enter, live or stay in that country for a specific purpose and period. In addition to a visa, some host countries may require a residency permit upon arrival. 

For those without the host country’s nationality, students may need to obtain a student visa to study on this exchange. Pitt students should also research the visa and/or permit process through the specified country consulate website.  
 

In general visa application requirements may include but are not limited to the following requirements:  

  • Visa application 
  • Valid Passport 
  • Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university) 
  • Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.   
  • Passport photos 
  • Application fee 
  • Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)

 

You're seeing student-submitted photos from Spain. There may be photos that do not necessarily represent this program or it's inclusions, but we hope you enjoy seeing what Panthers around the world are doing!