Carlos III de Madrid Universidad

Age: 22

History: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) was founded in 1989. Named after an 18th-century philanthropic king, the university seeks to maintain a guiding philosophy of creating responsible, free-thinking graduates, sensitive to social problems and committed to an idea of progress based on freedom, justice and tolerance.

Address: Calle Madrid 126, Getafe, Madrid, Spain. The city centre is a short walk and a train ride away. There is also access to the Getafe Campus by subway and bus. The University has two other campuses: Colmenarejo [Avenida Universidad Carlos III, 22 – Colmenarejo, Madrid] and Leganés [Avenida de la Universidad, 30 – Leganés, Madrid].

Ambience: The school is situated on a modern, leafy campus in Getafe, a suburb of Madrid. Madrid itself is a heady mix of art galleries, nightclubs, pavement cafes, and sprawling department stores, but if it all gets too much, there are good transport links to the eastern coast.

Vital statistics: The MBA programme was launched in 1997 and continues to give students a good solid business education. The focus is on effective communication, real-world problems and business planning, and the school believes that the cultural diversity of MBA participants prepares them for the increasingly globalised business world. It is a full-time, one-year programme that is offered in both English and Spanish. A PhD in business administration and quantitative methods, and a master in financial analysis are also offered by the school.

Easy to get into? MBA applicants must have a first degree and at least three years' professional experience. The GMAT and TOEFL are not compulsory, but count favourably. The programme places a strong emphasis on the quality of academic records and professional experience. Knowledge of Spanish is not required.

International connections: UC3M maintains international partnership and some exchange opportunities with Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina) and IBMEC Business School (Brazil).

Glittering alumni: Graduates of UC3M hold positions in companies such as Ernst & Young, Exxon Mobil, Intel, Kraft Foods, Manpower, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Renault.

Gurus: Jaime Ortega, associate professor of management; Andrea Fosfuri, associate professor of management; Nora Lado, associate professor of marketing; Marta Macías, associate professor of accounting.

Student profile: On the MBA, 58 per cent of students are aged between 24 and 28, and 46 different nationalities are represented.

Cost: MBA fees are €12,000 but the university grants tuition discounts on a competitive basis.

Who's the boss? Dr Clara Cardone-Riportella, associate professor of accounting and financial economics, is the director of the MBA programme.

Prospectus: +34 91 624 98 33; www.mba-master.net; mae@ceaes.uc3m.es