Global E3: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid- Spain

 

Overview: 

Study engineering in the capital city of Spain! The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid is the oldest and largest of the Spanish Technical Universities, with more than three thousand faculty members, around thirty-eight thousand undergraduate students, and around six thousand postgraduate students.

The majority of courses are taught in Spainish.  Courses in Materials Engineering are taught in English. 

The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) 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 the UPM 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
E-Mail: rachelkim.elliott@upm.es
Student Advisor - Rachel Elliott

Location Description: 

Madrid is the capital city of Spain, as well as the autonomous community of the same name (La Comunidad de Madrid). The largest city in Spain, Madrid has a population of about 3.3 million, with a metro area population of almost 6.5 million.
Madrid is best known for its great cultural and artistic heritage, which includes the Prado Museum, and boasts the liveliest nightlife in the world.

 

Housing Description: 

UPM does not offer on-campus housing.  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: 
Disciplines Available
Engineering
Architecture
Computer Sciences
Sports Sciences
Fashion Design
Courses in English:
Bachelor in Materials Engineering
Master in Materials Engineering
Master in Signal Theory and Communications
European Master in Software Engineering
Master in Software and Systems
Master in Systems and Services Engineering for the Information Society
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: 
Global E3 site
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.

 

Items 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: 

 

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

E-mail: 
a.olalde@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

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.   
Please contact Dr. Kristine Lalley for more information on Full Year 2020 openings for this program.
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 the end of January
  • Spring: early February to the end of 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 Toledo. 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!