Continuing my “Promoting Erasmus and studying abroad” pages, I now introduce you to the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid;. Let’s suppose that you are an Erasmus student or in general a student planning to study abroad for a semester or so. What are the factors that you would take into consideration before choosing your next destination and university? How would you organize your background research? What are the things that you’d love to know about your university in advance? Here’s a short research I did about one of the biggest universities in Spain that welcomes thousands of Erasmus students every year.
Welcome to the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid!
Background info; The university; Although Politécnica de Madrid is a Young university, having been founded only in 1971, most of its Schools are over a hundred years old, dating back of the 18th and 19th centuries and existing independently until they were grouped together as Politécnica de Madrid. According to the annual university ranking conducted by El Mundo, the Technical University of Madrid ranks as the top technical university in Spain and second overall. The majority of its Engineering Schools are consistently ranked as leading academic institutions in Spain in their fields, and among the very best in Europe. This School today covers numerous additional fields such as Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical and Nuclear Engineering.
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Calle Ramiro de Maeztu, 7, 28040 Madrid, ΙσπανίαLocation; Madrid! The city is absolutely gorgeous, beautiful architecture, beautiful people and beautiful weather. If we look at statistics, Spain is the most popular Erasmus destination country. And now, Madrid has won the title of the best Erasmus city. They must be doing something right! As you might have noticed, Madrid was recently elected the best Erasmus city in Europe. Just in case there is anyone who still needs convincing of this fact, we have collected just some out of hundreds of reasons why this award is so well-deserved. There are tapas on every single corner! It has amazing views and sunsets. Everything is close by. There is always something going on! The streets are full of culture and history. Buildings like the Town Hall of Madrid will take your breath away.
The life in the city
“In the world, there are 194 countries and thousands of cities, but none other is as vibrant and magical as Madrid. Being an Erasmus student in this city is, without any doubt, the best choice anyone could ever make. If you feel like chilling out, you can walk around Retiro Park. If you want to learn about art, you can visit plenty of museums and you can also walk through Gran Vía and enjoy the majestic architecture. At night, you can enjoy the best night clubs, meet people and dance all night long in a multicultural environment. Madrid is unique and unforgettable. It is for everyone. When people say: “The Erasmus life, the best life” it is absolutely true, but even more in my Erasmus city: Madrid.”
Royal Palace, Madrid
Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain
Gran Vía, Madrid
Gran Vía, Madrid, Spain
El Retiro - Jardines del Buen Retiro de Madrid
Parque de El Retiro, 28009 Madrid, España
Plaza Mayor, Madrid
Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Puerta de Toledo, Madrid
Glorieta Puerta de Toledo, s/n, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Visit the Thyssen Museum in Madrid
Paseo del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Plaza de España in Madrid
Plaza de España, 28008 Madrid, Spain
Museo Reina Sofia
Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Visit the Prado Museum
Paseo del Prado, s/n, 28014 Madrid, Spain
MediaLab Prado, the citizen’s cultural lab
Calle de la Alameda, 15, 28014 Madrid, Ισπανία
The Caixa Forum
Paseo del Prado, 36, 28014 Madrid, Spain
La Tabacalera, from the Tobacco Factory to the Self Organised Social Center
28012, Calle de Embajadores, 53, 28012 Madrid, Ισπανία
La Latina, Madrid
Barrio de La Latina, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Malasaña, Madrid
Malasaña, Madrid, Spain
Lavapies, Madrid
Lavapiés, 28012 Madrid, Spain“First of all, Madrid is the capital of Spain so there are a lot of monuments and museums you can visit; most of them for free. Secondly, there is always something to do with ESN such as tandem, salsa lessons and parties. Thirdly, I feel Madrid is a multicultural city, there are people from all over the world! And last but not least, even though it is the capital, it is not as stressful as other cities because it has a lot of green areas.” –
Housing and accommodation;
Below you may find information provided by the university’s official website regarding accommodation.
How am I going to find an apartment in this big city that I've never been to before? And do it in Spanish?!
Well, you can do it! Here are some tips and information to help you on your apartment hunting. Get excited, because you're going to find a great apartment and have an incredible time living in Madrid! If you're out walking around while soaking in the different barrios, keep your eyes peeled for "se alquila" signs -- which are everywhere. Many people put up signs with phone numbers when they're renting a room. Rip off a number and start collecting them! Sometimes apartment doors themselves will have a "Se alquila" sign with a phone number posted up next to the building number, or up on a balcony. If you like the area, you can call the numbers while you're there to find out more information.
Websites with Madrid apartment listings
I would also suggest using the interwebs to enhance your search. Here are some websites that you may find useful while looking for housing:
Segunda Mano - https://www.vibbo.com/
Spotahome https://www.spotahome.com/
Fotocasa https://www.fotocasa.es/es/
Idealista - https://www.idealista.com/en/
Important info;
Average rental in shared accomodation; 400 euros. Monthly transportation subscription; 20 euros (Abono Joven-till 26 years old). Monthly food cost; 193.88 euros. Average lunch price at a restaurant; 9euros. Average Fitness subscription; 30 euros. Beer Price at a bar; 2,50 euros.
..and of course do not forget to join the local ESN community!
ESN works in the interest of all international students, not just for Erasmus students. ESN offers a clear introductory programme for all international students to introduce them to the laws, rules and customs of their host country.
Pack your bags and choose Madrid as your Erasmus or studying abroad destination! Cheers!
We recommend to book your stays in Madrid in advance as it can get booked up quickly during certain periods. If you use this link, you pay the same price and we get a small commission - thanks for your support!
Want to plan a trip here? Build your own hotel+flight package with Live The World, or reach out for personalized advice from one of our travel experts.
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Chrisa Lepida
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