Semester Abroad at Pontifica Comillas University

Loris Lang recounts his experiences in Madrid

Loris Lang is currently studying for a master's degree in Industrial Engineering & Management and moved to Madrid in the 2025/26 fall semester to spend his semester abroad there. He reports as follows:

"Overall, I would say that my semester abroad at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid was an extremely positive experience. During my time in Madrid, I was not only able to enjoy the very well-designed courses at Comillas, but also meet lots of new people and develop greatly on a personal level.

For me, Madrid is one of the most livable cities I have ever been to. There is always something to do, whether it's riding a pit bike, attending an event in the city such as a flea market or a city festival, or one of the countless events organized by various student societies such as Citylife.

In addition, Madrid is an ideal starting point for traveling. It is relatively easy to organize a car, and you can reach both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea in about five hours. There are also many historical sites nearby, such as Segovia and Toledo. After my four months there, I can only recommend that anyone considering a semester abroad in Madrid go for it.

The Partner University

As already mentioned, the quality of the courses at Universidad Pontificia Comillas was very high. I only attended English-language courses, as my Spanish level would not have been sufficient for the Spanish courses. All lecturers spoke very clear English and were extremely helpful at all times. The workload for the courses is manageable, and the course material was consistently interesting and relevant to real life. I would recommend future exchange students to choose SAPIENS courses in particular, as these are designed specifically for international students and it is much easier to make contacts there.

Housing: Costs, Amenities, and Tips

When it comes to housing, many of my friends found their accommodation in very different ways. Some used platforms such as Spotahome, while others contacted Comillas directly, which provides timely support with finding accommodation. I personally found a student residence through a recommendation from a friend. Rental prices in Madrid are relatively high and quite comparable to those in Innsbruck. In contrast, grocery prices and especially the cost of public transportation are significantly lower. If you are under 26 years old, you can also apply for the youth travel card for public transport, which allows you to travel throughout the entire Greater Madrid area for just 10 euros.

Finally, I would like to strongly recommend once again doing a semester abroad. You gain an incredible number of valuable experiences – both academic and personal – that have a lasting impact on your life.