Established in 1293, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, or UCM for short, is one of the most ancient universities in the world and, in Spain, arguably the most prestigious. It originated in the nearby city of Alcalá de Henares (Latin name: Complutum, hence the Spanish name: Complutense). It offers undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes as well as Spanish courses, summer schools, and several courses aimed at professional development and lifelong learning. It is spread over several campuses – all with excellent connections to the city centre – such as the Ciudad Universitaria campus in Moncloa and the Somosaguas campus in Pozuelo de Alarcón, as well as several buildings in the centre of Madrid.
Well-connected, fairly central campuses; the culture and nightlife of a world-class capital like Madrid; the international atmosphere; and the opportunity to improve their Spanish.
Due to a lack of student housing on campus, most students select accommodation off campus which can be nerve wrecking for those who don not speak Spanish.