History
UC3M was established by an Act of the Spanish Parliament on 5 May 1989, within the framework of the University Reform Act of 1983. From the outset it was intended to be a relatively small, innovative, public university, providing teaching of the highest quality and focused primarily on research. Its first Chancellor was Professor Gregorio Peces-Barba.
Education
All UC3M courses are divided into three groups, (bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees), with the following programmes:
- 40 bachelor’s courses (16 in Social Sciences and Law, 3 in Humanities, 19 in Engineering, 1 in Sciences, 1 in Health Sciences and 2 in Guardia Civil University Centre) and 13 combined degree courses.
- 79 official master's courses (in Law, Economics and Political Sciences, Business, Humanities, Communication, Information and Social Sciences and Engineering and Basic Sciences) plus 19 official double master's and 49 private master courses.
- 24 doctorate courses in the varying fields of investigative research ongoing at the university.
Research
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is a multidisciplinary university that researches and transfers its knowledge in different areas and sectors that demand the different challenges of research, transfer and market programs, both at local, national and international levels.
Career
The employment rate of UC3M graduates reaches 90,6%.
University Ranking
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
285 34
2024
319 1
2023
320
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2025
801
2024
801 200
2023
1001
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
-
2023
901
2022
901
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
-
2024
953 -101
2023
852
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Housing services
Its three Residence Halls have more than over a thousand places available: Fernando de los Ríos and Gregorio Peces Barba in Getafe, and Fernando Abril Martorell in Leganés.
All of them want to provide a true home away from home for students and faculty during their university stay.
For this reason, as well as covering the basic needs of food and rest, the residence halls also offer cultural activities, forums and meetings which will contribute to the personal development of the residents.
Library services
For teaching and research the University has four libraries: Library of Social Sciences and Law, and Library of Humanities and Library and Information Science in Getafe, Library of Engineering in Leganés and the Library of Colmenarejo Campus.
Medical services
The UC3M is integrated into the Madrid Network of Healthy Universities (REMUS, in its Spanish acronym) the main objective of which is to promote health in the university community. Committed to this purpose, we want to help you to have a healthy lifestyle, encouraging you to acquire habits that favour physical, mental and emotional health.
Campus life
- Getafe Campus - Located in the town of Getafe to the south of Madrid, this campus has two schools: the School of Social Science and Law, and the School of Humanities.
- Leganés Campus - Located in the town of Leganés, to the south of Madrid, this campus houses the School of Engineering.
- Colmenarejo Campus - Located in the town of Colmenarejo, to the northeast of Madrid, the campus has three schools: the School of Social Science and Law, the School of Humanities and the School of Engineering.
- Madrid - Puerta de Toledo Campus - It is the main venue for the UC3M Center of Postgraduate Studies (University Master’s programs and professional training and development).
Sports facilities
UC3M has modern sports facilities, including a swimming pool, spa, paddle tennis courts, tennis courts, squash courts, bouldering courts, climbing wall, 7-a-side football pitch and beach volleyball court, indoor cycling and fitness rooms, and multipurpose rooms for different activities.
Practicing sports at the University is very easy and convenient, since it saves you from having to travel, and it also provides undeniable health benefits and has even been shown to influence better academic performance. Find out about the sports centres on campus and the possibilities they offer.
Student clubs
At UC3M there are more than 60 student associations with different themes: cooperation, solidarity, culture, sports, politics, technology... Consult the directory here, separated by campus, of all the associations currently working at the University.
Accreditation
- Its degree programs have obtained the most prestigious engineering accreditation in Europe, the EUR-ACE label, awarded by the ENNAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education).
- The first public university to have obtained the AACSB accreditation.
- First university in Europe to obtain the ACEEU dual accreditation for its contribution and impact on the industrial and social fabric
- The sole Spanish public university accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA)
- Accreditation from the CAIA Association for the Master’s in Finance program.