UCM is a large public university and admission is variable by programme, decided by the nota de corte. Competitive programmes: Medicine ~13/14 (the hardest to access), Relaciones Internacionales and Psychology ~11-12/14, ADE (Business) and Law ~9-11/14. Many science, humanities or education programmes have a nota de corte below 9/14, so they are more accessible. For Romanians, the entry mark is calculated from the Baccalaureate through UNEDasiss. A Baccalaureate average of 9 plus is recommended for competitive programmes, while Baccalaureate 7-8 plus is enough for many grados. To raise your mark you can take the PCE in 2 additional subjects.

As an EU citizen, you pay statutory EU fees: roughly EUR 1,000-2,000 per year for a bachelor's degree (60 ECTS x ~EUR 15-30 per credit, depending on the experimental level of the programme). Accommodation Madrid: EUR 450-800/month (residencia or colegio mayor more expensive, shared apartment EUR 400-700). Food: EUR 250-400/month. Transport: the transport pass for young people under 26 in the Comunidad de Madrid is very cheap (~EUR 8-20/month). Total cost per year: ~EUR 12,000-16,000 all-in, drastically lower than the UK (GBP 180k plus) or the USA (USD 280k plus). Note: bachelor's degrees in Spain are 4 years (240 ECTS), not 3 as in the UK.

Becas MEC (Ministerio de Educacion): for EU citizens with family income below a threshold, covering tuition plus an accommodation component. Becas Comunidad de Madrid: regional scholarships for EU students. Becas de colaboracion UCM: internal grants for students with good results. Erasmus+: if you come initially on an academic exchange for 1-2 semesters, you receive EUR 350-500/month. Bursa Spania from the Romanian Ministry of Education: for Romanians admitted to a Spanish public university, combinable with Spanish scholarships. Important: the EU fees you automatically receive (~EUR 1,000-2,000/year) are already a major advantage compared with what non-Europeans pay.

Most bachelor's degrees at UCM are taught in Spanish, so you need Spanish B2 level (proven through DELE, SIELE or the language option within UNEDasiss). However, there are also programmes or tracks in English, especially in: certain Business grados (bilingual ADE), Relaciones Internacionales and social science courses. At master's level the offer in English is wider. If you want a 100% English-taught programme at bachelor's level, private universities such as IE University or other Madrid institutions can be alternatives, but UCM remains the most accessible public option in Madrid with EU fees.

UCM is renowned for: Medicine and health sciences (Pharmacy, Dentistry, Veterinary, clinical Psychology), Law (the historic Facultad de Derecho), Ciencias Politicas and Sociology, Economics and ADE (Business), Relaciones Internacionales, Communication and Journalism (Ciencias de la Informacion), Philology and Philosophy, plus exact sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology). UCM is number 1 in Spain for employability (53rd in the world on this QS indicator). Note: Medicine, Psychology and Relaciones Internacionales have the highest notas de corte.

Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the most vibrant cities in Europe: culture, gastronomy, museums (Prado, Reina Sofia), nightlife, sport and a strong job market. The main campus Ciudad Universitaria is an extensive university district in the north-west of the city, with faculties, libraries, sports grounds and colegios mayores. Students get around easily with the metro and buses, and the transport pass for young people under 26 is very cheap. Large international community: over 7,000 international students, with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), events and trips. The everyday language is Spanish; English works in international and tourist settings.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the United Kingdom or the USA where you need a work visa, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you automatically have the right to work in Spain without a visa. Spain is one of the largest economies in the EU, and Madrid is the main economic hub: the headquarters of major companies (BBVA, Santander, Telefonica, Iberdrola, Indra) plus a growing tech and startup ecosystem. Main industries: finance, tech, telecom, consulting, healthcare, communication, renewable energy. With UCM being number 1 in Spain for employability, the degree has good traction on the local market. Plus, with a degree recognised across the EU, you can work anywhere in the Union without a visa.

Bachelor's degrees (grados) at UCM last 4 years (240 ECTS), in line with the European Bologna system. That is one year more than the UK (3 years) and the same length as the USA. ECTS (European Credit Transfer System): 1 ECTS equals roughly 25-30 hours of total study (class plus individual work). A standard academic year is 60 ECTS = 2 semesters x 30 ECTS. To obtain the degree ("Grado") you must accumulate 240 ECTS plus complete a Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG), a final-year thesis in year 4. Advantage of the ECTS system: you can transfer credits to other European universities (useful for Erasmus). Exceptions: Medicine is 6 years (360 ECTS), and Pharmacy is 5 years (300 ECTS).