Study in Getafe, Spain

About Getafe

Getafe is a large municipality in the south of the Madrid metropolitan area, a short train ride from the centre of the capital. It had 193,238 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). Long an industrial town, it is today mostly residential, with a busy town centre, parks and good public transport links to Madrid.

For students, Getafe means above all the main campus of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). Many students choose it because they can study at a public Madrid university while living in a quieter town, or live in Madrid and commute to the campus by train in a short time.

Studying in Getafe

Our directory lists three entries in Getafe: two for the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and one primary and secondary school. The UC3M is a public university with four campuses, and its Campus de Getafe, on Calle Madrid, houses the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, the Faculty of Humanities, Communication and Documentation, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Postgraduate Centre. According to the university, the campus has two libraries, computer rooms, audiovisual studios and a mock courtroom. Our directory lists the UC3M's Getafe campus and, separately, its master's programme in Information and Documentation.

Across all campuses, the UC3M states that it has 25,202 students, 30.4% of them international, and offers 40 bachelor's programmes and 79 official master's programmes. It also states that 76.8% of its bachelor's degrees can be taken entirely in English, with an English option or in a bilingual format, and that more than 40% of its official master's programmes are taught in English or bilingually. This makes Getafe one of the most accessible places near Madrid for international students who do not yet speak fluent Spanish, but check the language of your specific programme before applying.

For families, Colegio Los Ángeles, a cooperative school, covers early childhood, primary and secondary education and the Bachillerato, and has a bicultural project.

Cost of living for students

No official figure for typical student rent in Getafe was found. Rents are generally lower than in central Madrid, but demand from students and commuters is high, so start looking early and compare what is included. The UC3M has residence halls for its students.

Public transport is very cheap for young people. Getafe is part of the Madrid regional transport network, where the Abono Joven, for people aged 15 to 25, costs €10 a month for travel throughout the region in 2026, after the Comunidad de Madrid extended its 50% discount from 1 January 2026, according to the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM).

Getting around and daily life

The Campus de Getafe is about a 5-minute walk from the Las Margaritas Universidad station on Cercanías line C4, which links it directly with Atocha, Sol and Chamartín in Madrid. The nearest Metro station is Juan de la Cierva, on line 12 (MetroSur), and city and interurban buses stop on Calle Madrid. From Madrid-Barajas airport, the UC3M recommends taking Metro line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and changing there to Cercanías line C4 towards Parla. Students arriving by AVE high-speed train can take the C4 directly from Atocha or Chamartín.

The climate is continental, with cold winters and hot, dry summers. At the AEMET Getafe station, at 620 metres (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 5.9 °C in January and 25.9 °C in July, when average highs reach 33.2 °C. Annual rainfall is low, about 365 mm.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Getafe?

The public Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) has its Campus de Getafe here, with faculties of Social Sciences and Law; Humanities, Communication and Documentation; and Health Sciences, plus its Postgraduate Centre.

Can I study in English in Getafe?

Often, yes. The UC3M states that 76.8% of its bachelor's degrees can be taken entirely in English, with an English option or bilingually, and that more than 40% of its official master's programmes are taught in English or bilingually.

How do I get from Madrid to the Getafe campus?

Take Cercanías line C4 towards Parla from Atocha, Sol or Chamartín to Las Margaritas Universidad; the campus is a 5-minute walk from the station.

How much does public transport cost for a student in Getafe?

In 2026 the Abono Joven, for people aged 15 to 25, costs €10 a month and covers the whole Madrid region, according to the CRTM.