University of A Coruña: Equipping students for the future

Text: Kiki Deere | Photos © Udc

Founded in 1989, the University of A Coruña is a modern and dynamic centre for higher education with a growing and thriving body of students. Its campuses are located in two of the most dynamic places in Galicia, namely the coastal cities of Coruña and Ferrol.

“Over the last 30years, the University has greatly expanded in both size and quality, adapting its academic offer and its facilities to the demands of its students,” explains vice-president for internationalisation and cooperation, Pilar García.

The University offers over 40 degree courses, including Bachelor’s and combined degrees, with some featuring lectures and classes in English. “Our strength and success are the result of the University’s high-quality teaching. Student satisfaction levels remain high, with 90 per cent of graduates saying they would study at UDC again,” Garcia continues.

Many students are attracted by the wide range of courses on offer, with a number of degree courses focusing on niche subjects, such as Industrial Fashion Management and Electronic Engineering. Degrees have been specifically designed to satisfy the demands of today’s creative and digital society, with degree subjects including Data Science and Engineering; Digital Creation, Animation and Videogames; and Information and Digital Documentation.

The University seeks to prepare students for the workplace thanks to its strong ties with the business sector. “We have close relationships with multinationals such as Spanish fashion retail company Inditex, state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia, and Spanish brewery Hijos de Rivera, among others,” explains Garcia.

The University’s increasingly popular Summer School attracts students and professors from over 40 countries, offering intensive courses taught in English by an international body of professors. Recognised by many foreign universities as credits for their own degrees, the courses cover a wide variety of topics ranging from law to technology.

The University is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for students of all races, backgrounds and religions. “We value and respect diversity, integrity and inclusiveness, and we make every effort to assist students with disabilities,” says Garcia.

The university can also help with funding, where necessary. “We strongly believe education is a right,” she continues. “We offer a number of scholarships, grants and bursary schemes of over two million euros, targeted at students who are most in need of financial help.”

The University also fosters equality of opportunity in all its spheres, from the classroom to the sports field. “The University promotes a positive environment, with care for the environment, healthy living, sports and culture forming an integral part of all of our courses.”