Spain: ICADE | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

The ICADE Business School is part of the larger Universidad Pontificia Comillas, a private Jesuit university known for its academic excellence and focus on core values. The business exchange program is located in Madrid at the Facultad de Ciencias Economicas Empresariales.

As the political and economic capital of Spain, Madrid gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and learn about this important and dynamic country. Madrid is an ideal city for improving your Spanish language skills.

As an historic and cultural center, Madrid offers many world-class museums as well as the grand Palacio Real and many beautiful churches. With its many green spaces and the Parque Retiro, Madrid is a great city for outdoor enthusiasts. Modern-day Madrid has much to offer in the way of sports, shopping, nightlife, and delicious cuisine. The campus has a vibrant student life with clubs and sports facilities open to visiting students.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Exchange
- On an Exchange program, students “trade” places with a student from another institution and pay UNC tuition and fees. Please thoroughly review the “program cost” section below for specific information. For additional information about program types, click here.
Language of Instruction: Spanish, English
Program Dates:
- Fall: September 2 , 2024 – December 21, 2024
  - Orientation: August 29th, 2024
  - *Arrival: It is recommended that students arrive a week before classes begin.*
- Spring: January 13 – May 21, 2025
  - Orientation: January 9th, 2025
  - *Arrival: It is recommended that students arrive a week before classes begin.*
Visit the ICADE Prospective Exchange Students website for more information.
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

	This Program’s Level of Competitiveness = 2 Level of Competitiveness (1 = least, 3 = most)
1	Chance of acceptance is probable if students meet the minimum requirements.
2	Most students are typically accepted.
3	This is one of the most competitive programs. We recommend having a back-up option in mind.

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

Apply Now

Program Logistics

Academics

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

You can take business core and elective courses at ICADE that will transfer for the undergraduate business major or minor. UNC Kenan-Flagler students studying at ICADE are only permitted to register for courses in the Faculty of Economics and Business. You are required to take some of your coursework in Spanish. You can either take a Spanish language course or a BUSI course taught in Spanish – you do not need to have initial Spanish proficiency. View their course offerings here.

Courses taken at ICADE will transfer back to UNC Pass (ICADE grade of 5 and above)/Fail (ICADE grade below 5). Pass grades do not affect your UNC GPA. Fail grades transfer back to UNC as Fs, which will affect your UNC GPA. Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers and graduate schools will also look at the ICADE transcript, so grades are important.

You will transfer back 2.7 UNC credits for every 4.5 ECTS credit course, and are expected to take between four and five courses worth 4.5 ECTS credits each during the semester. If you earn a 5 or more in all courses, you will receive a total of either 13.5 or 16 UNC credits you’re your semester abroad (depending on the number of courses taken at ICADE).

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education requirement or the High Impact Experience requirement (if you are under the new IDEAs curriculum). Full-time enrollment in this program is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Language Prerequisite: No prior Spanish language experience required; we require students to take at least 1 course in Spanish (language and/or Business courses) during their semester abroad

Language of Instruction: English/Spanish*

*Students are required to study Spanish throughout their stay. You can choose to take a Spanish language course or a BUSI course taught in Spanish. The program offers courses in both English and Spanish; you may enroll in a course taught in Spanish if you fulfill the minimum language prerequisite.

Housing

While UP Comillas does not have dormitories for local or international students, there is a housing service at the university that provides guidance on available options. On this program, you may choose to live with a host family, share an apartment with other students, or reserve a room at a student residence in Madrid. You can learn more about housing on ICADE’s accommodation page.

Program Cost

We suggest you create your global program budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
UNC Tuition and Fees	Use the amount on the Tuition and Fees line and divide by 2 to get your cost
Fee UG Business Major/Minor	Based on major/minor enrollment
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$200

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**
Expense	Estimated Amount
International Airfare	$1,650
Housing	$3,960
Meals	$2,200
Immigration Visa/Residence Permit	$160
Passport Application Fee	$165
Course Materials	$50
International Cell Phone Plan	$350
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance	$400
Local Transportation	$200
Miscellaneous	$2,000


Other Personal Expenses***

Total Estimated Expenses (In-State):	$17,540
Total Estimated Expenses (Out-of-State):	$33,644

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? If you are accepted into this program you will need to travel to a Spanish consulate/embassy in the United States to obtain a visa permitting you to study in Spain. For this appointment, you will need your passport in hand along with other documentation from our office and the host university office. Please set up an appointment with your Global Programs Advisor to discuss.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting to learn more about this and other programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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