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** NEW ** Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies (joint with european universities)

Imagen de Uc3m más YUFE
Duration
3 years (180 ECTS)
Centre
Language
English
Comments

1st year: Getafe and Leganés Campus.

2nd and 3rd year: European University Campus

The bachelor is currently in accreditation process

Presentation

We offer you a new way of studying that will put you at the forefront of European university education. The Bachelor's Degree in Urban Sustainability is an official degree taught entirely in English, which will allow you to study at 10 European universities with one year of guaranteed mobility and the funding of Erasmus+ grants. As it is a joint degree, the duration of this official degree is three years, which is the usual duration in most countries.

One of the characteristics of this degree is its high flexibility and personalisation which promotes a more motivating and meaningful education. With the help of a counsellor who will advise you on the choice of subjects, you will be able to adapt the curriculum to your personal aspirations and objectives.

With this bachelor you will gain transversal competences and an international profile that will be very attractive for your professional future. It also gives you direct access to a wide selection of specialised master's degrees. At the end of your studies you will be awarded a degree from 7 prestigious European universities.

Participant Universities

  • Nicolas Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
  • Antwerp University (Belgium)
  • Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
  • University of Essex (United Kingdom)
  • University of Easter Finland (Finland)
  • Maastricht University (Netherlands)
  • University of Rijeka (Croatia)

In addition to the universities listed above, international placements may be undertaken at Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris, France), the University of Cyprus (Cyprus) and the University of Bremen (Germany).

International Excellence

QS Europe Ranking
QS Graduate Employability Ranking
The Global University Employability Ranking and Survey
Erasmus Plus

Program

Year 2 - Semester 1

General subjects
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Minor to choose from YUFE universities30EEnglish

Year 2 - Semester 2

General subjects
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Minor to choose from YUFE universities30EEnglish

Year 3 - Semester 1

General subjects
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Minor to choose from YUFE universities30EEnglish
Minors to choose from in the first semester
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Driving change: Activisim, Engagement and Communities (UE)30EEnglish
Societal issues in a comtemporary world (EU)30EEnglish
Urban Health & Wellbeing (NCU)30EEnglish
Desing and perspectives on heritage (UA)30EEnglish
Urban ecology in Europe: public policies, cultural narratives (SNU)30EEnglish
Border, Europe and Russia (UEF)30EEnglish
Sustainable business (UEF)30EEnglish
Economic Development (UC3M)30EEnglish
Smart cities for sustainable culture (UC3M)30EEnglish
Energy sustainability in the cities (UC3M)30EEnglish
Urban Inequality (UNIRI)30EEnglish
Natural sciences for sustainability (UB)30EEnglish
Urban Environmental &Sustainability education (UCY)30EEnglish
Urban sustainable development (UM)30EEnglish
Urban Mining (UM)30EEnglish

Year 3 - Semester 2

General subjects
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Bachelor Thesis18BTEnglish
Electives: Recommended 12 ECTS credits 12No dataEnglish
Minors to choose from in the second semester
SubjectsECTSTYPELanguage
Cities of Dreams and Nightmares30EEnglish
Sustainable Tourism (NCU)30EEnglish
Desing and perspectives on heritage30EEnglish
Cities and Urbanistation: Interdisciplinary perspectives (UA)30EEnglish
Urban Ecology (UNIRI)30EEnglish
Urban Sustainable Development (UM)30EEnglish

TYPES OF SUBJECTS:

  • BC:  Basic Compulsory
  • C: Compulsory
  • E: Electives
  • BT: Bachelor Thesis

PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES:

  • UE: University of Essex (United Kingdom)
  • NCU: Nicolas Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
  • UA: Antwerp University (Belgium)
  • SNU: Sorbonne Nouvelle University (París, France)
  • UEF: University of Easter Finland (Finland)
  • UC3M: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
  • UNIRI: University of Rijeka (Croatia)
  • UB: University of Bremen (Germany)
  • UCY: University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
  • UM: Maastricht University (Netherlands)

Bachelor Organization

The first year is made up of compulsory and optional introductory courses. At UC3M, this first year is taken at the Getafe and Leganés campuses, on alternate days.

During the two semsters of the second year and the first semester of the third year, you will take three minor programs, at least two of which will be given at other universities in the alliance.

Finally, in the second semester of the third year, you will return to UC3M to complete the Bachelor Thesis.

Year Semester Content

ECTS Credits

1 1 Compulsory and elective subjects at the student's university 60
1 2
2 1 Three ‘minor’ of 30 ECTS each, of which at least two are taken during an international mobility stay in one of the other universities of the alliance. 90
2 2
3 1
3 2 Bachelor Thesis and elective subjects at the student's university 30

Information on the website of YUFE

Minor

Minors are short programmes on a specific topic related to urban studies and sustainability. The minors offer about 60 ECTS, of which each student must choose 30.

All minors have a compulsory course, the ‘Challenge Team’, in which, through collaboration and group work, a practical problem set by the lecturer who organises it is solved. In addition, in some minors it may be necessary to take another compulsory course. The remaining courses, up to 30 ECTS, can be chosen freely, based on the particular interests of each student.

Of the three minors that must be passed in the bachelor, at least two of them will be taken in another of the universities of the alliance, through a mobility stay with Erasmus+ funding.

Academic advisor

Each student has, from the beginning of their studies, an academic advisor, who will provide them with the necessary guidance and advice to choose, based on their interests and concerns, the three minor programs they are going to study, as well as the optional courses from each of them that best suit their profile.

Throughout the course, several individual meetings will be held to facilitate this orientation.

Academic calendars and regulations

The academic calendars and assessment regulations (marks, exams and make-ups, continuous assessment systems, etc.) will be those of the university where each course is taken.

The specific regulations for the bachelor can be found in the EER (Evaluation and Examination Rules), which will be available soon.

Title and participating universities

At the end of the three years, each student receives his/her Bachelor Diploma in Urban Sustainability Studies, issued jointly by the seven universities participating in the bachelor (Antwerp, Maastricht, Rijeka, Easter Finland, Essex, Nicolas Copernicus in Torun and Carlos III de Madrid). It is an official degree, valid in Spain and worldwide.

Admission

To study the Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Urban Studies it is necessary to submit the application on the YUFE website, indicating the university where you wish to do the first year.

However, in the case of the places assigned by UC3M, and due to the current university entrance regulations in Spain, prior application on the YUFE website is recommended, but the final allocation of places will be made based solely on the entrance qualifications (EvAU and other equivalents) in July, through the pre-enrolment process in the public universities of Madrid. 

Mobilty

International mobility in the Bachelor's Degree in Urban Sustainability Studies

Students of this degree must carry out at least two mobility stays in other universities of the YUFE alliance:

These mobilities are funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

Profile and Career Opportunities

  • Entry profile

    Entry profile

    Given the characteristics of these studies, the following qualities are highly recommended:

    • Intercultural competences; language skills are as important as being open-minded and respectful of different perspectives and ways of life.
    • Critical and analytical thinking. A multidisciplinary approach requires the ability to analyse problems from multiple angles and apply knowledge from different disciplines. 
    • Commitment to sustainability, showing a proactive attitude in the search for sustainable solutions.
    • Flexibility and adaptability, crucial in an international and multidisciplinary educational environment.
    • Teamwork skills. Students must be good communicators and be willing to work constructively with others to achieve common goals.
    • Curiosity and creativity: The ability to innovate and think outside the box is important for tackling complex problems and finding novel solutions. 

    For admission, the subjects that will be taken into account for the admission grade are Mathematics, Mathematics applied to the Social Sciences, History of Spain, History of Philosophy, Enterprise and Business Model Design, Physics, Geography, Chemistry, Technology and Engineering, Geology and Additional Language.

  • Graduate profile

    Graduate profile

    This innovative and open programme is designed to train aspiring professionals equipped not only with specific knowledge, but also with the ability to interrelate disciplines and cultural perspectives, which is essential for navigating the complexities of a globalised world.

    The philosophy of the programme is based on fostering disciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise in urban sustainability, enabling programme graduates to address challenges at local, regional and global scales. They are experts in analysing issues related to urban sustainability, applying different methods and theoretical approaches. They have a broad worldview and can adapt to diverse international and intercultural contexts to effectively collaborate and engage with stakeholders in urban development projects. In addition, they are able to generate and evaluate sustainable development strategies. They are prepared to tackle the complex problems of the future as interdisciplinary experts and find innovative solutions that have a positive impact.

Study in English

Study conducted in English only

This degree is taught entirely in English. All work (classes, exercises, practicals, exams, etc.) is done in English, both in the subjects taken at UC3M and at other universities.

It is necessary to accredit a B2 level of English when applying for admission.

Schedules

Schedules

Quality

Characteristics of the Bachelor's Degree

Year of implementation: 2025

Places: UC3M allocates 15 places.

Evaluation and monitoring

This degree is currently in the process of verification by the NVAO (Netherlands and Flanders Accreditation Agency).