Which is more affordable, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management?

Tuition is €9,000 (EU) / €13,500 (non-EU) for the 60-ECTS programme, full-time at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and €18,500 at UPF Barcelona School of Management. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Madrid versus Barcelona, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.

Do you need the GMAT for Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management?

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE; UPF Barcelona School of Management has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE. Test policies change each cycle, so confirm the current requirement on each school's own admissions page before assuming you can skip it.

Should I choose Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management?

There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Madrid, Spain versus Barcelona, Spain), the language of instruction, and your budget. Read both full profiles, weigh fit over a handful of ranking places, and if you are still torn, our admissions guide walks through building a shortlist you can defend.

Head to head

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid vs UPF Barcelona School of Management

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and UPF Barcelona School of Management Master in Management programs, compared side by side on the numbers that decide it — ranking, fees, salary, selectivity and class profile.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid versus UPF Barcelona School of Management Master in Management, compared on ranking, tuition, salary, selectivity and class profile.
Metric	Universidad Carlos III de Madrid	UPF Barcelona School of Management
FT ranking 2025	#61	—
QS ranking 2025	—	—
Tuition	€9,000 (EU) / €13,500 (non-EU) for the 60-ECTS programme, full-time	€18,500
Median salary	$68k	—
Employment rate	87%	—
GMAT range	—	—
Duration	12 months	10 months
Class size	60	—
Average age	—	24
International	80%	87%
Female	—	—
Location	Madrid, Spain	Barcelona, Spain

The short version

On tuition, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is the more affordable option at €9,000 (EU) / €13,500 (non-EU) for the 60-ECTS programme, full-time.

Rankings and salary are only part of the decision — fit with your target career, location, language, and cost of living usually matter more. Read each program in full before deciding.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid full profile → UPF Barcelona School of Management full profile →

Narrow it down — free tools

Build your shortlist Torn between Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and UPF Barcelona School of Management? Get a ranked shortlist matched to your budget, target career and profile in about a minute. Track their deadlines See Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and UPF Barcelona School of Management’s application rounds — and every other European MiM’s — in one live timeline.

Frequently asked

Which is more affordable, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management? Tuition is €9,000 (EU) / €13,500 (non-EU) for the 60-ECTS programme, full-time at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and €18,500 at UPF Barcelona School of Management. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Madrid versus Barcelona, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.: Tuition is €9,000 (EU) / €13,500 (non-EU) for the 60-ECTS programme, full-time at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and €18,500 at UPF Barcelona School of Management. Compare like for like before concluding — headline tuition can mix EU/EEA and non-EU rates — and add living costs in Madrid versus Barcelona, since the lower tuition is not always the cheaper city overall.
Do you need the GMAT for Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management? Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE; UPF Barcelona School of Management has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE. Test policies change each cycle, so confirm the current requirement on each school's own admissions page before assuming you can skip it.: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE; UPF Barcelona School of Management has an admission route that does not require a GMAT or GRE. Test policies change each cycle, so confirm the current requirement on each school's own admissions page before assuming you can skip it.
Should I choose Universidad Carlos III de Madrid or UPF Barcelona School of Management? There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Madrid, Spain versus Barcelona, Spain), the language of instruction, and your budget. Read both full profiles, weigh fit over a handful of ranking places, and if you are still torn, our admissions guide walks through building a shortlist you can defend.: There is no universal winner. The right pick depends on your target career, where you want to live and work (Madrid, Spain versus Barcelona, Spain), the language of instruction, and your budget. Read both full profiles, weigh fit over a handful of ranking places, and if you are still torn, our admissions guide walks through building a shortlist you can defend.