IE University reviews

The courses are very interesting as well as diverse in nature. The degree titled under communication and digital media requires multiple proficiencies that the university manages to cover them all and provide all mean to facilitate the learning experience. At IE they promise to deliver education in a new and innovative way which is very visible and concrete so far. Professors are very kind, open for discussions, negotiations and mainly hear the students out- it's a very collaborative learning experience.

My experience with IE University’s admissions process for the Bachelor in Communications and Digital Media (Madrid Campus) was, without exaggeration, one of the most unprofessional, frustrating, and disappointing interactions I have ever had with an educational institution. I strongly encourage anyone considering applying here to read carefully and think twice.

Initially, I applied to IE’s Fall 2024 intake and was rejected. While disappointed, I accepted the decision professionally and moved forward. Later, I applied again, this time clearly and explicitly for the Fall 2025 intake. From this point forward, my experience rapidly deteriorated.

In January 2025, after receiving confusing communications implying my second application was invalid because I had supposedly reapplied within the same academic year—despite these being two entirely separate admission cycles—I reached out for clarification. I contacted multiple individuals within IE’s Admissions Team, including Alba Ocampo, Diana Maria Mohino Fernan, and various general admissions emails. From January 14th through February 5th, I sent a total of five emails clearly asking for clarification, documentation, and assistance.

I received absolutely no response. Complete silence. Not a single person acknowledged any of my inquiries, let alone addressed them.

Due to the total lack of communication from IE’s Spanish offices, I escalated my concerns by contacting IE’s U.S. office. Suddenly, IE began responding. Only at this stage—after months of neglect—was it revealed that there was allegedly a "technical error" that incorrectly flagged my second application as a duplicate. However, even after acknowledging their own error, IE still provided no genuine clarification about why my second application was rejected. They continuously cited vague “technical issues” and repeatedly avoided providing specifics, despite my persistent requests.

After numerous exchanges filled with deflection and vague justifications, IE’s admissions team repeatedly claimed to have previously reached out to me with "standard notifications and personalized communications." When I asked for evidence or documentation of these alleged outreach attempts—given that I had never received a single communication—IE flatly refused to provide any proof. Instead, they abruptly ceased all further communication.

Ultimately, after a lengthy, exhausting, and demoralizing experience, IE agreed to refund my application fee—though only after I explicitly demanded it, stating that otherwise I would dispute the charge with my credit card company. Their final response was dismissive, refusing accountability and essentially washing their hands of the matter.

This entire ordeal made it abundantly clear to me that IE University:

Does not communicate transparently or professionally

Will ignore applicants’ genuine concerns unless forced to act by external pressure

Attempts to cover administrative failures with vague explanations, unsupported claims, and outright refusals to provide evidence

Lacks accountability when confronted with clear evidence of negligence and poor management

As someone who was excited and enthusiastic about potentially attending IE, this experience has permanently altered my perception. I was accepted seamlessly into ten universities in the U.S. and seven European universities—all institutions with even stricter standards and more competitive admissions processes. I also secured scholarships at multiple of these schools. None of these reputable institutions had any issues with my qualifications, nor did they mishandle my applications. IE University was literally the only school where I experienced any issue, let alone such severe neglect.

To anyone considering applying here: proceed with caution. The admissions department at IE Madrid has demonstrated, through direct actions and inactions, an alarming lack of professionalism and transparency. In my honest opinion, based on this firsthand experience, IE University’s admissions process and administrative handling are nothing short of embarrassing and utterly unacceptable.

I sincerely hope my review prevents other students from enduring what I have gone through.

The university is forward and expanding quickly. Eager, bold and innovative. However, the trade off is poor academics, no structure and horrible at taking in feedback from the students. Instead is more likely to overrun the students for the benefit of the university. The student is not in the focus, rather the business. 

The quality of professors vary, but the majority (especially in Madrid Campus) is working professionals with very little experience with teaching and minimal care about the student's learning. They are great contacts to have, but if you are there for learning it might not be the best choice of university. 

The new Madrid Campus is open, but incomplete. I have faith for it to become better but can already see how the cracks can grow bigger and that building a tower as campus will be the biggest regret of investment. Why? Because the campus is extremely separated and you barely meet other students - which are the major resource of the campus, its international student body. The campus is instead another corporate building in which you just go to for your class and then return back. The area is also highly corporate and no really places to hangout, for example take a beer after class. 

The schedules are horrible. No structure whatsoever. How can you build a healthy routine if you one day start at 10 am and the other at 5 pm and finish anytime between 1pm-9pm? Many days we had classes between 1-6 pm without any longer break than 10 minutes. 

On top of all, what I am most disappointed at is the poor management. The management of my program has every year changed the contact person at least once and as a representative of the group I stop believing in that the feedback will be cared about. Either should we have come earlier or taken cared of it ourselves before coming - it is always excuses and then followed with "we are here for you". Words, but rarely action. 

The academics is poor and grading is skewed. We are given a huge overload of assignments that are most of the time bullshit and useless but takes up our time. Never have I been given a rubrics on which my work is graded and rarely constructive feedback on how to improve.

In September of 2020 after some deliberation, I decided to join IE university and get my masters in International Relations. My Uncle was supportive and even helped me financially since I had gotten a scholarship. My mother was excited and proud that I got in. I was eager to improve my skills, meet new people and go on the visit to Belgium to make contacts that I was sure would help me in my future career. 

So that's how my journey started and oh boy was it downhill from there. I worked hard and applied myself to my studies, only very reluctantly coming up for air after months of hard work and cajoling by concerned friends. I had to do this while balancing financial difficulties, a job, a crazy landlord, getting a bank loan and eventually orchestrating a whole move from my previous apartment. Things would get so dire that come August I wouldn't even have enough money to buy a soda. 

IE promised improved job prospects but despite applying while in school and for the past three years, I have only had one job for six months that was different from my previous teaching jobs and I was told i got that job because of my teaching experience not IE. I have applied within and around my field and failed, asked for help and received vague and unhelpful answers and even tried applying to IE itself only to be turned away.I never got the trip to Belgium and instead got poorly prepared speakers who contributed little and only one of whom I was able to get contact info for. I understand that pandemic issues prevented the usual trip but the attempts to make up for it failed miserably. I am now way past graduation and unable to get internships while my peers have all moved on to more successful positions. IE has never made good on any of their promises to me and I would recommend you stay away unless you are rich and beautiful then by all means go for it even if you fail you have nothing to lose. But even if that isn't you give it a shot just know their is a chance for catastrophic failure.