Polytechnical University of Madrid - SMILE Mobility Programme

SMILE Mobility Programme

You will study for one or two semesters at a partner university on another continent and will not pay any tuition fees there. You will continue to pay tuition fees only at your home university. The semesters will count towards your degree at home, so you won’t lose any time. English is the working language. The programme is run through the Magalhaes Network, an association of technical universities in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, which has been organising exchange programmes since 2005. Every year, more than 1,000 students take part, spread evenly across the continents. SMILE covers only the tuition fees. No monthly stipend is paid, but you can apply for separate funding elsewhere.

Who can apply

• Field of study: You’re studying engineering or architecture.
• University: Your home university is part of the Magalhaes Network and has a SMILE exchange agreement with the university where you wish to study.
• Where you go: You’re going to a partner university on another continent. You’re travelling from Latin America or the Caribbean to Europe, and vice versa.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that your home university is a member of the network.
• Language: You can attend courses taught in English.

How to apply

Applications are made via the International Office at your home university. There, you will find out which SMILE partners you can choose from, and the International Office will handle the nomination process. There are two application rounds each year: one around December or January for the following autumn semester, and one around August or September for the spring semester.

How realistic are your chances?

The programme is restricted to engineering and architecture students at a network university – you either meet the entry requirements or you don’t. If your university is a partner institution and you meet the language and academic requirements, your chances are good, particularly as places are distributed evenly across the two continents. Check with your International Office well in advance, as places at popular universities can be snapped up quickly.