IE University logo

IE University

Madrid, ES · Ranking #5

IE University is a private, non-profit institution with urban campuses in Madrid and a historic campus in Segovia, Spain. Founded in 1973 as Instituto de Empresa and re-launched as IE University in 2007, it offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in business, economics, law, international relations, design, architecture, computer science, data and information systems, and related fields. IE is highly international, with more than 10,000 bachelor’s and master’s students from over 130–160 countries and around 90% international students. It is extremely selective (acceptance rate around 10–19%) and is recognized globally for employability, consistently ranking among the top universities in the world and #1 in Spain in the Global Employability Ranking. Teaching is in English and Spanish, with many programs fully taught in English.

IE University logo

IE University

About the university

IE University is a private, non-profit institution with urban campuses in Madrid and a historic campus in Segovia, Spain. Founded in 1973 as Instituto de Empresa and re-launched as IE University in 2007, it offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in business, economics, law, international relations, design, architecture, computer science, data and information systems, and related fields. IE is highly international, with more than 10,000 bachelor’s and master’s students from over 130–160 countries and around 90% international students. It is extremely selective (acceptance rate around 10–19%) and is recognized globally for employability, consistently ranking among the top universities in the world and #1 in Spain in the Global Employability Ranking. Teaching is in English and Spanish, with many programs fully taught in English.

Key information

  • Location: Madrid, ES
  • Ranking #5
  • QS #190
  • THE #201
  • National ranking #4
  • Institution type: private

Popular faculties

  • Business and Economics
  • Law
  • International Relations
  • Architecture and Design
  • Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
  • Data and Information Systems

Programs (38)

  • Law
  • International Business
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Marketing
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • Medicine
  • Pharmacy
  • Veterinary Science
  • Psychology
  • Architecture
  • Business Administration
  • Nursing
  • Computer Science
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Telecommunications
  • Dentistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Economics
  • Tourism and Hospitality
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • Engineering
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Environmental Science
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Education
  • Fine Arts
  • Music

Student body

  • Total students: 10,000
  • Undergraduate: 6,000
  • Graduate: 4,000
  • International students: 90%

Campus life

IE University offers an urban campus in Madrid’s financial district and a historic campus in Segovia. Campus life is highly international and career-oriented, with strong links to industry and a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and technology. Students engage in clubs, conferences, competitions and networking events with global recruiters. Madrid and Segovia provide contrasting environments: a major European capital and a smaller UNESCO World Heritage city.

Housing & accommodation

Housing cost: €800 - €1,798 / per month

Housing options

  • University residences
  • shared student apartments
  • private studios
  • homestay with local families
  • off-campus rented apartments

Student clubs and organizations

  • Business and finance clubs
  • consulting clubs
  • tech and coding clubs
  • design and architecture societies
  • international and cultural clubs
  • entrepreneurship clubs

Sports

  • Football
  • basketball
  • volleyball and other student sports teams organized through IE campus life

Career & internships

Employment rate: 95%

Partner companies

  • Google
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Santander
  • Amazon
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Mondelez

Internships: IE Talent & Careers runs a powerful employability ecosystem with over 550 companies recruiting annually and more than 12,000 job posts on its platform. The IE Careers Forum, held twice a year, connects students with leading global employers. Many programs include compulsory or optional internships, and 92% of IE University graduates find employment within six months, with over 44% working outside Spain.

Admission requirements

Required tests

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL

Required documents

  • Online application
  • transcripts
  • standardized tests or internal admission test (where applicable)
  • English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL
  • IELTS
  • or IE English test)
  • CV
  • essays
  • recommendation letter(s)
  • passport; admissions interview is typically required

Minimum GPA: 4

Tuition costs

  • €25,000 - €50,000 / per year
  • Acceptance rate: 15.00%
  • Scholarships available: IE offers a broad portfolio of scholarships covering partial tuition for high-potential and high-need students, including merit-based, diversity, women in leadership, region- and program-specific awards. Many scholarships are managed through the IE Foundation. Students can combine certain scholarships with external loans and funding. Details, eligibility and application deadlines are provided on IE’s official scholarships portal.
  • Additional costs: Digital platform €800/year, Career services €500/year, Networking €300/year

Quick facts

  • Founded: 1973
  • Teaching languages: English, Spanish, spanish, english
  • Study formats: offline, online, hybrid

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