Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or Above
Location: Spain
GPA: 3.0

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Dates & Deadlines
Applications for Fall Semester close on 02/01/2026
Applications for Spring Semester close on 02/01/2026

Program Overview

Study abroad as an exchange student in Madrid! In this exchange program, you will enroll directly in classes at IE University. As an exchange student, you will be able to take classes in business administration, economics, international relations, behavior and social sciences, design, computer science and artificial intelligence, communication and digital media. Classes are available in English and Spanish.

Founded in 1997, the university is a top international university in Spain. The Madrid campus is the IE Tower, a tech-based urban campus in Madrid’s financial district. IE University enrolls over 61,000 students and boasts 19 academic programs, 30 offices around the world, and 70 student clubs. The University provides unique opportunities for exchange students to take full advantage of the culture and lifestyle of Madrid with easy access to the City Center. 

IE University has Counselling Services that provide services to help students deal with challenges in emotional, interpersonal, and academic/career–choice situations.

As the capital and most populous city of Spain, Madrid is a city of contrasting styles and reflects the different periods of change and development. Madrid is home to world-renowned museums, international jazz festivals, a myriad of art galleries, and is overflowing with restaurants and vibrant food markets.

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Fall Semester 2026 02/01/2026 Late August Late December
Spring Semester 2027 02/01/2026 Early January Late May

The application process for this program is competitive: GEO staff will review your application materials, and a decision about your enrollment will not be made until after the application deadline. In some cases, an interview is required. If your program requires an interview, you will be contacted with further details about this process after the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged.

Successful applicants will receive an exchange nomination from GEO. Selection will be based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and written statements. 

Applying for an exchange program involves 2 steps. If you receive a nomination from GEO, you will also need to complete the host university's application, which is administered and reviewed by your host university directly. Instructions will be provided after acceptance by GEO. The host university makes the final decision regarding acceptance into the program. 

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Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

The academic year at IE University is divided in two semesters. The fall semester starts at the end of September and finishes in mid-December. The spring semester starts in early January and finishes at the end of May.

Course Availability:

Please review the course offerings for exchange students on IE University’s website. You may need to use the current academic year’s course list as a guide for what might be available for the term you want to study at IE University.

Exchange students are required to register at least 60% of their courses in their study area/major. If you are a double major, you will need to choose which study area at IE University is appropriate to take 60% of your courses. You can take the remaining 40% of courses from other study areas at IE University as long as you meet any pre-requisites. UO students can take courses from the following study areas:

Behavior & Social Sciences
Business Administration
Communication & Digital Media
Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence
Data & Business Analytics
Design
Economics
International Relations
Philosophy, Politics, Law & Economics

You need to be flexible with choosing courses and have multiple back-up courses in case you do not get into your top choices. You are responsible for ensuring you meet any pre-requisites for courses at IE University. 

Note: Students should consult with their UO academic advisor before submitting their course enrollment to IE University.

Credits:

IE University uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) which is a workload-based system for measuring and comparing study results. Most courses at IE University are worth 3 or 6 ECTS.

Students attending IE University must register for 24-30 ECTS credits per semester. There is a maximum of 30 ECTS + 3 ECTS from an optional Spanish language course for a total of 33 ECTS.

ECTS credits are transferred to the UO at the rate of 1 ECTS credit = .75 UO quarter credits. 

To maintain full-time student status at the UO while on a university exchange program, UO students need to earn at least 12 UO credits per UO term abroad. 

Language of Instruction:

Exchange students at IE University have access to a large variety of coursework available in English. Students wishing to take courses in Spanish will need to prove a minimum level B2 CEFR. 

 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Housing Description

You are responsible for arranging your own housing. The main options that are available are student residences or apartments. You are encouraged to look for accommodation well in advance, as it can be difficult to find available housing in Madrid.

When searching for housing, it is recommended that you use a service dedicated to student housing. Beyond Campus is an exclusive platform, made by IE students, for IE students, that shows apartments and student residences near the city center and the new campus. You can review housing information on IE University's website.