The UPM offers 56 bachelor’s degrees and joint degrees, 100 master’s degrees and joint master’s degrees, and 44 doctoral programmes.
The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid offers offers 56 accredited single and joint bachelor’s degree programmes, 100 master’s degree programmes and 44 PhD programmes. Its degree programmes are highly rated by industry. UPM offers 65 internationally accredited degree programmes (EUR-ACE, EURO-INF, ABET, NAAB).
Bachelor’s degrees: UPM’s bachelor’s degree programmes are composed of 240 ECTS[1] credits to be earned over four years. These programmes conclude with the preparation and public defence of a final-year project worth from six to 30 ECTS credits. Some undergraduate degree courses are taught in English.
Master’s degrees: UPM’s master’s degree are composed of from 60 to 120 ECTS credits divided over one or two years. Programmes conclude with the preparation and public defence of a master’s final project worth from six to 30 ECTS credits. Some master’s degree programmes are taught in English.
Doctoral degrees: Doctoral programmes are non-credit-bearing research degrees. They take between three and five years depending on whether the student enrols on a full-time or part-time basis.
European Credit Transfer System
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid degree progammes are adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and use European Credits Transfer System (ECTS) credits. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area for making studies and courses more transparent. It helps students to move between countries and to have their academic qualifications and study periods abroad recognised.
Spanish Grading System
The Spanish grading system is a decimal system from 0 to 10. These grades are accompanied on the transcript by a non-numerical grade. A minimum grade of 5 is required to pass a course. 0 – 4.9: Suspenso (SS) – Fail 5.0 – 6.9: Aprobado (AP) – Pass 7.0 – 8.9: Notable (NT) – Very Good 9.0 – 10: Sobresaliente (SB) – Excellent. A distinction of Matrícula de Honor (with honours) may be awarded to the best students who have attained the grade of Sobresaliente (Excellent). Students who fail a course will have the chance to sit an exam in the July exam sessions.
Under the ECTS system, a student’s outcomes are accredited by a grade. UPM issues an academic transcript stating ECTS grades, where students are graded on a statistical basis. Continuous assessment is the most common assessment system.
ECTS Equivalents
Grade | Cumulative % | Definition |
A | 10 | Outstanding performance without errors |
B | 35 | Above the average standard but with minor errors |
C | 65 | Generally sound work with some errors |
D | 90 | Fair but with significant shortcomings |
E | ~100 | Performance meets the minimum criteria |
FX | Fail | Some more work required before the credit can be awarded |
F | Fail | Some more work required before the credit can be awarded |
