Segovia Campus | IE University
Segovia Campus | IE University
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Study in Segovia: A 13th-century convent. A modern university campus
IE University's Segovia campus occupies Santa Cruz la Real, a 13th-century Dominican convent in the historic center of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage city since 1985. Founded in 1218, granted royal status by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, and restored as a university campus in 2006. Segovia sits 25 minutes by high-speed train from Madrid, combining the focus of a small university city with full access to the Spanish capital and the IE Tower.
Why study in SegoviaÂ
Why study in SegoviaÂ
Segovia is small enough that an international community of 100+ nationalities defines the city's social life. It's old enough that classes happen inside a 13th-century cloister. And it's close enough to Madrid that being in Segovia never means being far from anything.
SANTA CRUZ LA REAL: A HERITAGE SITE ADAPTED FOR MODERN TEACHING
The Convent of Santa Cruz la Real was founded in 1218 as the first Dominican convent in Spain. In 1478, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella granted it royal status, the source of the "la Real" in its name, and funded the reconstruction that produced the Aula Magna and the main entrance still in use today. Spain secularized the building in 1836, after which it served as a hospice, an orphanage and, later, a prison, until restoration began in 2006.
The brief was specific: keep the convent intact and make it work for a 21st-century university. The result is a campus where most classes happen in restored historic rooms, and every classroom is wired, climate-controlled and configured for the small-cohort, case-based teaching that defines IE University.
The cloister
The architectural center of the campus, used for movement between classes, breaks and informal study.
The Sala Capitular
Originally a Dominican prayer room, now a working teaching space. The vaulted ceiling carries eight centuries of history.
Reyes Católicos Residence Hall
The on-campus student residence, housed in a building that has been part of the Santa Cruz la Real complex since the 19th century.
AULA MAGNA
The convent's principal hall, used for the largest lectures, guest talks and graduation. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand's motto is still visible on the doors.
Learning spaces inside Santa Cruz la Real
Across IE University’s locations, a network of studios, labs and centers gives you the space to experiment, test and build. These are hands-on environments where concepts move into action, with each one designed to connect your learning with real-world impact.
Design StudioÂ
Open-plan studio space configured for individual projects, group critique and adaptive teaching formats
Creativity Center
A dedicated space for cross-program creative work and university-wide arts and humanities initiatives.
Physics, Biochemistry, Environmental DNA and Geology Labs
Wet labs and instrumented teaching spaces supporting undergraduate science programs in Environmental Sciences, Behavior and Social Sciences and Applied Mathematics.
CREATIVE CAMPUS
An interdisciplinary hub for creativity, collaboration and hands-on learning across architecture, design and the arts.
Stories from our students
What is it actually like to study in Segovia? Students from across IE University's undergraduate programs describe the campus, the international community, and why a small city turns out to be the right place to start a degree.
Breaking Stereotypes with IE University Students (Segovia Edition)
Isabella’s Student Experience in Segovia
SofÃa’s Student Life in Segovia
Life in SegoviaÂ
Life in SegoviaÂ
Segovia is small enough to walk across in 20 minutes, affordable by any European standard, and genuinely easy to live in. The city mixes long-term Segovians with an international student community built around IE University. For housing, residences, daily costs and student services, we've built a dedicated resource.
Finding a place to live
Finding a place to live
Moving to a new city can feel overwhelming, but in Segovia, finding your place is part of the adventure. Whether you choose a student residence or share an apartment with classmates, you'll live close to campus in spaces that are safe, welcoming and fully integrated into the student community.
What makes living in Segovia special isn’t just the practical side—it’s the sense of belonging. Within weeks, your neighborhood will feel familiar, your daily walk to class will become second nature, and you’ll start creating routines that feel like home.
Want to Learn More?
Discover the intricate history behind IE University’s Segovia campus.
Walk through Santa Cruz la Real from anywhereÂ
Walk through Santa Cruz la Real from anywhereÂ
Explore the cloister, the Aula Magna, the labs and the residence floor by floor. The virtual tour is the closest thing to standing inside the convent itself.