Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain. In addition to being a cultural and financial powerhouse, Madrid is also a great city for students.
Studying in Madrid can be a life-changing experience. In this article we’ve listed six reasons why studying in Madrid is a great idea.
1. Less clouds, more sun
Make sure to pack your sunscreen, because Madrid is cloud-free on more days than almost any other European city. With about 350 sunny days every year, Madrid (along with Athens in Greece) is Europe’s sunniest capital city.
More sunshine leads to happier and healthier students. And when you’re happy and can have fun hanging out with your friends outside in the sun during your free time, you’ll surely have more energy to concentrate on your studies during classes.
2. Large student population
As well as being Spain’s most populous city, Madrid is home to a large student population.
With prestigious universities like the Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense University of Madrid, Charles III University of Madrid, and Comillas Pontifical University it isn’t hard to see why the city brings in so many students from across the globe each year.
With so many good universities in such a liveable city, it’s no wonder that QS has ranked Madrid as the best student city in Spain and the 44th best in the world in their QS Student Cities 2023 ranking.
3. Cultural capital
If you’re a fan of cultural activities, Madrid will not let you down. The city was the European Capital of Culture already back in 1992. With a large number of museums and galleries located across the city, you’ll never be short of places to explore in Madrid. Madrid is also the only city in Spain boasting nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites within two hours of the city centre.
If sports is more your type of culture, you’ll also be spoilt for choice in Madrid. The international football federation, FIFA, named Real Madrid as the greatest football club of the 20th century. They play their home games at the legendary Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Atletico Madrid is another world-famous football team in the city. If you want a more off-the-beaten-track football experience, head to the suburb of Vallecas for a Rayo Vallecano game. Basketball is another big sport in Spain, and Real Madrid is one of Europe’s biggest teams in basketball as well.
4. Great student accommodation
Madrid has a robust supply of great student accommodation. This means that prices, on the whole, are quite competitive and students have plenty of options to choose from. From budget rooms to luxury apartments, you’ll be sure to find your perfect student room in Madrid.
On Student.com we currently list more than 400 different student accommodation properties in Madrid.
5. Hearty cuisine
Whilst Madrid might not be as well-known as some other Spanish cities for its cuisine, there are definitely some unsung heroes worth sampling. Make sure to try at least these ones:
- Churros con Chocolate – deep fried pastry dipped in chocolate.
- Huevos Rotos – aka “broken eggs”, served over fried potatoes.
- Callos a la Madrileña – a traditional beef tripe dish.
- Bocadillo de Calamares – fried squid sandwich.
- Cocido Madrileño – a traditional chickpea stew.
6. Innovative vibe
Madrid isn’t just Spain’s political and financial capital – it’s also a growing hub for innovation. The city leads Spain’s innovation and research, with international companies like Accenture and EY actively supporting innovation in the city.
As a student in Madrid, there are so many opportunities to immerse yourself in innovative and entrepreneurial projects, either through your university or internships. This will give you a chance to have a more well-rounded student experience, as well as potentially giving you some great options for employment after graduation.
Still unsure about where to study in Spain? Check out our reasons to study in Barcelona and reasons to study in Valencia blog posts.