TCU-In Madrid

Students select five courses for a total of 15 TCU credits or 30 ECTS credits. Most classes are worth 6 ECTS credits (3 TCU credits). Students receive TCU credit that applies towards the TCU GPA.

There are two categories of courses available for TCU-In Madrid students.

1. Hispanic Studies (EH):

• • These are courses designed exclusively for study abroad students. Hispanic Studies has two tracks: Track in English (Beginner Spanish and English-taught Culture Classes) and Track in Spanish (Intermediate/Advanced Spanish and Spanish-taught Culture Classes)

2. Grado Courses:

• • These are UC3M’s undergraduate courses and are academically rigorous. If students are requesting courses from this catalog for major/minor/core, they should consider selecting no more than 3.
  • Grado Courses include advanced courses across a variety of disciplines taught in English or Spanish.
    • Browse by selecting a major, referred to as a “Bachelor’s Degree,”
    • Then select “Program” from the menu,
    • Refer to Semester 1 for Fall and Semester 2 for Spring,
    • Flags indicate language of instruction (English, Spanish, or both)

Notes:
Two months before the beginning of each semester, UC3M publishes an updated schedule of classes for EH offerings.

Finals will not be moved, so plan to leave Madrid at the published end-date for your semester. If you finish early, you may rebook your flight home.

As part of the application, students must have their Madrid courses pre-approved through the credit approval process.

While you are abroad, you are enrolled in 12 hours of coursework (identified as SABD) as a placeholder. Your classes will not be posted to your TCU recorded until 8 – 10 weeks after the semester ends, when the transcript from UC3M is sent. Once the Registrar receives your transcript, they will record the courses using the department codes on your Credit Approvals (i.e., MARK, HIST) and a generic course code. Your dean’s office will apply these to your major / minor / electives / core as approved.

All coursework, regardless of program type, counts for grades and will be included in your TCU GPA.

For more information about how credits work, see our Study Abroad Basics page.

Group advising will be available to explain course options and the credit approval process.

Students are required to live in housing provided through TCU and may request one TCU roommate. A single bedroom may be requested for an additional cost, but is not guaranteed. Housing options may include students from other universities supervised by ACCENT Madrid. Students in Madrid live in residence halls.

Students will share a furnished double room with an ensuite bathroom and a kitchenette. Students will have a meal plan through the residence hall cafeteria for at least two meals a day, seven days a week. The residence hall offers a fitness center, study rooms, common/game rooms, onsite washers and dryers, and 24-hour security, and is located in a student-friendly neighborhood, Moncloa, within close walking distance of the Guzmán El Bueno metro stop. Their commute to UC3M will be approximately 55-65 minutes.

Any damages to housing will be posted to the student’s TCU account after they return.

Semester Costs for 2024-25

1. Madrid Program Fee: Fall 2024 – $10,500
   Pay $500 Non-Refundable Deposit to confirm your spot in the program after admission
   Program Fee is billed to your TCU Student Account before the semester begins ($500 deposit applied as a credit)
   This includes:
   — Housing
   — At least 2 meals a day
   — Local transportation card
   — One-day and three-day excursions in Spain, plus flamenco performance, cooking class and bullfight conference and corrida.
   — TCU start-up and mid-term activities
2. TCU Tuition: $30,825
3. Spanish Health Insurance: estimated at $160 and billed to student account
   — Actual cost will reflect invoiced amount by insurance company.
4. Estimated Additional Expenses: For other outside expenses not included in the program fee. Individual budgets are highly variable. This may include:
   — Airfare: $1,400
   — Spanish Visa Fees: $180
   — Books: $200
   — Class Excursions: $300
   — Personal Expenses: $1,000
   — Travel Expenses: Highly variable

Visit the Scholarships & Aid page to learn about study abroad scholarships, through TCU and other organizations. In particular, TCU-In Madrid applicants should look at the:

• TCU International Studies Award

Financial penalties are assessed on a sliding scale, based on withdrawal date.

• To withdraw from a program, you must notify TCU Global (studyabroad@tcu.edu) in writing. Study abroad scholarships and aid will be rescinded and cannot be used towards penalty amounts.
• In the case that TCU must cancel the program, the program fee (including deposit) and tuition will be fully refunded. Study abroad scholarships and aid will be rescinded.
• Financial penalties will be billed to your student account.
• TCU Tuition refunds are subject to TCU policies :(See TCU Undergraduate Catalog: http://catalog.tcu.edu/undergraduate/, Bachelor’s Degree, Definitions and Regulations.)

• Minimum 2.8 GPA; petitions may be considered
• At least two semesters at TCU by the start of the program
• No prior Spanish language required
• Good academic and disciplinary standing
• A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after the program ends) by the application deadline to allow enough time to obtain a Spanish visa

• Fall Programs
  • Priority Deadline: March 22
  • Regular Deadline: March 29, if space available
• Spring Programs
  • Priority Deadline: September 15
  • Regular Deadline: September 29, if space available

If applications exceed enrollment maximums, a lottery system will determine admission. Consideration will be given to those majoring/minoring in Spanish.

1. Complete the Global TCU Study Abroad Forms (already started an application? Login here to finish it).
   • This step includes completing a course approval process for your courses abroad.

Study Abroad programs often include field components that require the ability to perform tasks beyond what is expected in a typical classroom. Many programs require extensive walking and/or the ability to stand for extended periods of time; the ability to independently use public transportations; and/or sleeping in shared quarters. Program and housing facilities may lack central heat and air-conditioning, elevators, and other conveniences. Unless prior accommodations have been made through TCU Student Disabilities Services, students must be able to transport and manage own luggage through airports and public transportation centers.

Managing your health and safety is an important component in having a positive experience abroad. TCU provides you with a number of resources to assist you:

1. Prior to departure, you will need to attend the mandatory orientation which covers specific health, safety, logistical, and cultural information.
2. Upon arrival, you will have an orientation to reiterate health, safety, logistical, and cultural information.
3. TCU provides you membership to On Call International, a premier Global Assistance program. You can call On Call for any kind of travel, health, safety, or emergency issues, including:

• help replacing a lost passpor help translating and interpreting
• help with lost luggage, along with reimbursement for items needed while luggage is lost
• assistance finding general and specialty health care
• assistance with emergency refills of prescription
• health insurance for your time abroad.

For more information, please see Health & Safety

Spanish Visas

Spain requires a visa for all TCU-In Madrid students. The Spanish Consulate prefers that TCU act on behalf of students applying for visas. You will be given visa paperwork to submit to TCU.

Do not plan to travel outside the U.S. during the two months prior to your semester abroad because you must surrender your passport when you apply for a visa. Visa processing can take 5 – 10 weeks.

You will not need your round-trip flight itinerary before you apply for a visa, but you MUST have a round-trip ticket prior to departure for your program abroad.

Before Departure

You must attend the mandatory TCU-In Madrid orientation. You should also review the TCU-In Madrid Handbook and Know Before You Go page.

Arrival and On-Site Information

Students begin each semester with an extensive onsite orientation facilitated by TCU’s logistical provider ACCENT, including a welcome dinner, city tours, and survival Spanish classes. During the semester, students participate in a one-day excursion to Toledo or a similar city, and a 3 day/2 night excursion to Seville/Granada/Cordoba or similar. A transportation card, a writing/tutoring center, and free/inexpensive activities are available throughout the semester.

Because you are not enrolled in TCU classes, the TCU system will show 12 hours of coursework as a placeholder while you are abroad. Your classes will not transfer back to TCU until 8 – 10 weeks after the semester ends. At that time, the correct credit hours will be posted to your TCU record.