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Outside the Classroom: Learning Beyond Boundaries
Spending a year in four different cities is a core part of your experience, but some of the most defining moments happen outside the classroom.
Explore what daily life looks like across your journey, from practical planning to the experiences that will shape who you become.
- Where you’ll live: Navigate life in cities like Madrid, Singapore, Dubai and/or New York, with guidance on accommodation, neighborhoods and what to expect in each location.
- What it costs: Understand the cost of living in each city, including housing, transport, food and social life, so you can plan ahead with confidence.
- Who you’ll meet: Join diverse student communities at each partner university while staying connected to IE University’s global network, so every move feels like a continuation, not a reset.
- What you’ll experience: Immerse yourself in new cultures, environments and perspectives. Living across four cities will shape your adaptability, mindset and global outlook.
This is more than studying in different cities; it’s about the perspective, independence and global mindset you develop along the way.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Living the experience
Get a clear view of what living, studying and moving between cities looks like, from housing and costs to student life and cultural experiences.
Accommodation
Find your home in every city
Secure safe, student-focused housing with trusted options and university guidance before each move, so you can arrive feeling confident.
Madrid
Book verified apartments and residences through IE University’s Beyond Campus platform.
Singapore
Receive a detailed housing guide from SMU with recommended, student-appropriate accommodations.
Dubai
Choose on-campus housing at AUD or explore private options with support from the housing office.
New York City
Details will be shared in advance of your final year.
Living costs
Plan ahead with clarity.
Understand the cost of living in each city, including housing, food, transport and daily expenses, with detailed guidance and breakdowns throughout the program. Costs vary depending on lifestyle, but early planning helps you adapt your budget to each location and stay in control of your finances.
Madrid
- Housing: €700–€1,500/month (off-campus apartment) or €800–€1,200/month (off-campus student residence)
- Groceries & Takeout: €300–€500/month
- Transport: ~€10/month (student pass)
- Health insurance: €35–€60/month
- Mobile phone: €25–€60/month
- Visa fee: €160 (one-off, non-EU students only)
Singapore
- Housing: €700–€1,400/month (off campus)
- Groceries & Takeout: €450–€600/month
- Transport: €100–€140/month
- Health insurance: €260/year (included in SMU miscellaneous fees)
- Mobile phone: €20–€35/month
Dubai
- Housing: €800–€1,600/month (on campus) or €1,800–€2,900/month (off campus)
- Groceries & Takeout: €825–€1,060/month
- Transport: €50–€100/month
- Health insurance: €750/year
- Mobile phone: €35–€60/month
- Visa fee: €230/year
New York City
- Housing: €2,000–€3,000/month (off campus)
- Groceries & Takeout: €300–€500/month
- Transport: €300–€500/month
- Health insurance: €100/month
- Mobile phone: €60–€90/month
- Visa fee: €300/year
*Ultimately, costs will depend on your lifestyle choices, but the key is to plan early, adapt as you go and make the most of each city on your own terms.
Clubs & student life Â
Make an impact in each diverse, global community by joining clubs, sports and campus events. Whatever your interests, you’ll find opportunities to lead, connect and shape your journey.
Madrid
IE University has a highly international student body. The IE Campus Life team supports a wide range of student-led clubs covering everything from entrepreneurship and consulting to finance, technology, sustainability, culture, sports and social impact. Regular campus events, including conferences, competitions, networking opportunities and social initiatives, will encourage you to step into leadership roles and become an active part of campus life.
Singapore
SMU has a wide range of student clubs and organizations focused on academic, cultural, athletic, artistic and special interest areas. There are also extensive recreation facilities on campus, including food courts, a gym and fitness center, a swimming pool, libraries and a wellness center. You’ll have access to comprehensive health and well-being support throughout the year.
Dubai
AUD's Student Center is the social hub of campus, with dining outlets, a mini mart, shops and printing services. Sport options include basketball, cricket, squash, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball. AUD also provides an on-campus Health Center, a 24/7 university hotline and licensed personal counseling services to support your academic and personal well-being.
New York City
Students experience one of the world’s most dynamic cultural capitals, with access to iconic landmarks, world-class museums such as The Met and MoMA, Broadway shows, diverse neighborhoods, and a vibrant food scene shaped by global influences. From Central Park to Brooklyn’s creative districts, and from major sporting events to international festivals, the city offers endless opportunities to engage with its energy, diversity, and cultural richness beyond the classroom.
Cultural immersion
Live each destination as a local, not a visitor. From Madrid’s cultural heritage to Singapore’s diversity, Dubai’s rapid growth and New York’s energy, each city helps you build adaptability, cultural awareness and a more global perspective.
Madrid
Discover a city where history and modern life coexist. From the neighborhoods of Malasaña and La Latina to world-renowned museums like the Prado and Reina SofÃa, Madrid offers a vibrant cultural and social experience at the heart of Spain.
Singapore
Immerse yourself in a dynamic, multicultural environment at the center of Asia. From hawker centers to neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little India, Singapore blends tradition, innovation and global connectivity.
Dubai
Experience a global hub where tradition meets ambition. From heritage sites and souks to skyscrapers and international events, Dubai showcases how innovation and growth shape one of the world’s fastest-evolving cities.
New York City
Step into one of the world’s most influential cities. From museums like MoMA and The Met to its unmatched food, music and theater scene, New York challenges your perspective and expands what you think is possible.
Summer experience Â
Use your summers to build your profile.
Between academic years, take part in internships, practical projects, global experiences or IE University’s Summer School. These opportunities allow you to gain professional experience, strengthen your CV and explore different career paths.
Visas
Guidance every step of the way.
Each destination requires a student visa, and you’ll receive support from IE University and partner institutions throughout the process.
Madrid
Spain long-term student visa (non-EU students).
Singapore
Student’s Pass (STP) managed with SMU.
Dubai
UAE student residence visa (sponsored by AUD).
New York City
Details will be shared in advance of your final year.
With IE University, living in four cities is more than a logistical journey; it is a structured, supported experience designed to build your independence and adaptability and help you grow in a global context.
MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS
MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS
With over 150 student clubs and organizations, leadership bootcamps, corporate challenges and alumni networks, the Global Bachelor in Business Administration—a distinctive international program of IE University’s Bachelor in Business Administration—offers a truly holistic and transformative education. Beyond the classroom, you’ll develop practical skills through hands-on experiences, connect with a vibrant global community, and gain real-world insights that prepare you to excel in today’s fast-paced, interconnected business landscape.
This comprehensive approach is a core part of the IE University experience, designed to empower you to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful impact anywhere in the world.
Language Center at IE University
IE University considers multiple language acquisition to be a key element of its educational model, leading to success in both work and study.
The Language Center at IEU is proud to offer students the possibility to study a wide range of languages, including French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, and English. With such a large variety of options, our students are able to personalize their academic path to meet their future career plans and objectives.
The Language Center at IEU
The Language Center at IEU
The Language Center helps students develop their multilingual communicative skills to help them flourish in the international labor market.
Take the First Step Into Business This Summer
Take the First Step Into Business This Summer
The Pre-Business Summer Program offers a structured introduction to key business disciplines in a dynamic, hands-on environment. Designed for future Bachelor in Business Administration candidates, it allows you to experience university-level business education and clarify your academic direction before starting the full bachelor’s degree.
In their shoes
Read our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Global BBA help me build an international network?
Spending a year in a premier global hub is a great way to build quality contacts with local experts and professionals around the world. You’ll also stay connected with the global IE Community and IE Alumni network, as well as their regional chapters.
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- What are the Regional Business Treks included in the program?
Regional Business Treks are immersive, hands-on experiences where you can spend the summer visiting international locations, diving into local business dynamics and analyzing different regional economies. You could travel to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia or China, and finally to Chile, in each respective year.Â
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- What global business challenges will I face outside the classroom?
From day one, you’ll apply your skills in real business challenges through practical experiences such as Business Sprints, Labs, Corporate Challenges and Regional Business Treks. You’ll also tackle the IE Challenge, hands-on consulting projects, courses in global strategy, sustainability and innovation, as well as topics such as multinational management, disruption and emerging-market dynamics.Â
These experiences will prepare you to address complex challenges in a rapidly evolving landscape.
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Are there traditional study abroad opportunities within the Global Bachelor in Business Administration?
Not exactly. By its very nature, the Global Bachelor in Business Administration is a true international experience that allows you to study abroad throughout the entire journey. Rather than a short-term exchange, students benefit from campus rotations in four different countries, multicultural classrooms and immersive modules on regional business dynamics. This international structure will help you develop adaptability and a global mindset.
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- What extracurricular activities are available during the global rotations?
During the program, you can join wide-ranging extracurricular activities to complement your academic experience, from student clubs and societies to IEU Labs, academic competitions and sports teams.
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