- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Program Staff
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
Have you always wanted to study engineering in Spain? Spend a semester at the Universidad del País Vasco in Bilbao, Spain! There are around 3,500 students at the University, most natives of the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain.
The majority of courses are taught in Spanish. An increasing number of courses are also taught in English and some in French. Courses are also taught in Basque (the local language).
The Universidad del País Vasco is a member of Global E3, an exchange program of Engineering Schools from around the world. More than 60 universities worldwide—33 in the United States and 31 in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—comprise the Global E3 consortium. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
- Fall: early September to late January
- Spring: late January to mid-June
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in Spain.
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
International Relations Office | ingenieria.internacional@ehu.es
Relaciones Internacionales
Escuela de Ingeniería de Bilbao
Plaza Ingeniero Torres Ouevedo, 1
48013 Bilbao (Spain)
Phone: +34 946014014, +34946018228
Fax: +34 946013939
Vicedean for International Relations
Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao
University of the Basque Country
Prof. Charles Pinto
E-mail: charles.pinto@ehu.es
Bilbao is the main city in the Basque Country of northern Spain. Home to about 350,000 inhabitants, Bilbao is a friendly city with a very lively cultural and social atmosphere. It was founded in 1300 and is presently the business capital of northern Spain.
Close to the sea, and nestled among hills and mountains, Bilbao combines an urban style with the country flair of a small, seaside community. Residents and visitors alike enjoy leisure activities such as surfing, mountaineering, hiking, and cycling. In addition, visitors come from far and wide to experience the Guggenheim Museum, established in 1997.
The university is located in the very center of Bilbao. Students can choose between sharing rented apartments with other students (the most common situation) or staying at one of the residences which are scattered throughout the city.
Please check the GE3 website for more information.
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad. We suggest you review courses available with your Faculty director of your program prior to applying to the program.
Academic Departments:
Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings. The following disciplines have been listed as available below.
Language of Instruction
Most courses are taught in Spanish. An increasing number of courses are also taught in English and some in French. Courses are also taught in Basque (the local language).
Spanish Proficiency
At least medium level is required. If the student is taking courses only in English, it is recommendable to have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish to manage on a daily basis in the city.
Disciplines Available
-
"Ingeniería industrial" , which comprises
- Mechanical Eng.
- Electrical Eng.
- Manufacturing Eng.
- Mechanical Design
- Industrial Design
- Energetics Eng.
- Nuclear Eng.
- Hydraulics Eng.
- Telecommunications and Electronics
- Chemical and Process Eng.
- Environmental Eng.
- Industrial Management Eng.
- Automatic Control Eng.
- Materials Eng.
Of note:
- All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
- Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
- Courses taken abroad will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
In order to gain Pitt credit, you must receive a C or higher for each course you will transfer back to Pitt for credit.
Information about the grading scale abroad can be found on the Global E3 page.
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:
- the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
- PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
- PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!
SSOE Global Experiences and Engagement Office Team
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Schedule an appointment
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
Academic Calendar:
- Fall : early September to late January
- Spring : late January to mid June\
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)