IE University, Spain

Established in 1973 and founded in Madrid, IE University is a private university with campuses in Madrid, Community of Madrid and Segovia, Castile and León, (Spain) with a student population of 7,000.

You can read more about Milan on the IE University website

IE University offers courses across five schools, these schools include: architecture and design, business, science and technology, international relations and law.

Visit IE University webpage to browse available courses.

As GO LSE students at IE University will be part of the CIVICA Engage track, they will be expected to take an Engage course as part of their programme.

The IE University exchange is additional to the requirements of your LSE degree. Having completed the year at IE University, you will then return to LSE to study the final year of your programme. Your year overseas will not count towards your final degree classification at LSE, but you will be issued with a separate IE University transcript providing details of your results.

Further details on accommodation can be found here.

The scheme is open to second year LSE undergraduate students (not available to BSc Philosophy, Politics and Economics students) who have been accepted onto the CIVICA Engage Track. Generally we require applicants to have passed all of their first year exams (without resits) and to have achieved a 2:1 average across their courses.

Tuition fees

GO LSE students are not required to pay any tuition fees to the host institution in order to participate in the exchange programme. Students will continue to pay tuition fees directly to LSE. For further information, please visit the fees and funding webpage.

Living costs

Further details on living costs can be found here.

Financial support

Please visit our fees and funding webpage for further information.

Travel

GO LSE exchange students are expected to make their own travel arrangements. If you are eligible for Student Finance, you may be able to recoup part of the cost of up to three return journeys between your home and your host institution.

Health Insurance

Though LSE Travel Insurance will cover emergency treatment, it does not cover routine treatment.

Visas

Non-EU students (including British citizens) will need to apply for a long-stay student visa to study in Spain. Citizens of European Union countries do not need a visa to study in Spain.

I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid. It’s an amazing city, with lots of other international students. For me, travelling around Spain and seeing different Spanish cities was a highlight, but sharing those experiences with new friends was also invaluable. I’m also grateful for having the opportunity to connect with the other LSE students who studied at IE University with me. I know I’ll take those friendships into our final year.

By Erin Weeks, GO LSE student 2025/26

My study abroad at IE University Madrid was honestly one of the best things I could have done. Although the admin at the host university can be challenging at times, almost all other aspects were fabulous. The module selections were vast and all interesting - it was hard to choose which courses I wanted to take! I think the fact that most of them are taught by experts who have direct work experience in their field is also extremely important. The professors at IE University are very good at engaging the class and explaining concepts which can be a challenge. Madrid is a wonderful city to study in; it is very social but also chill at the same time. If you make the right friends, which thankfully I found, then you will have a great time, but it was really important for me that I made an effort with full-time students as I really think you will get the best out of your year abroad from fully immersing yourself into the atmosphere. This year brought out the best in me, I am truly grateful for such an amazing opportunity and for the knowledge and deep friendships that I've made thanks to this programme.

By GO LSE student 2025/26