Overview
Choose a university in Spain, with the help of our guide, and one thing is for sure: your friends will be very jealous!
Stretching to the Pyrenees in the east, the Mediterranean in the south, the Bay of Biscay in the north, and Portugal in the west, Spain is one of the biggest countries in Europe.
It is also the fourth most popular tourist destination in the world, welcoming an annual volume of tourists which considerably exceeds its population.
It is a country of contrasts, where the affluence and cosmopolitan bustle of Western Europe is mixed with a distinctly southern extravagance and charm; where an expressive and flamboyant culture segues into afternoon naps and long languid evenings in bars and cafés; where distinct regional identities often take precedence over a unified national one.
This proved to be a combination that the nearly 85,000 international students who were studying there in 2009 could not turn down. Of course, lifestyle alone isn’t enough to draw in the punters – you need to have good universities too! And Spain has plenty of them. Some 18 Spanish institutions feature in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, of which 14 are within the top 500.
The largest concentration of these are in capital city Madrid and second city Barcelona, with the latter boasting the country’s two highest ranking universities, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and Universitat de Barcelona.
Studying at master’s or PhD level? Read our graduate-level guide to Spain >
Fast Fact
- Spain is a kingdom. Current monarch is King Juan Carlos I
- Unicameral legislature, led by prime minister (currently Mariano Rajoy)
- Official language is Castilian, usually simply referred to as Spanish, which is the second most common first language in the world. Commonly spoken regional languages include Basque, Catalan, and Galician
- Composed of 17 regions: Andalusia, Andorra, Aragón, Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, Gibraltar, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, New Castile, Old Castile and León, and Valencia.
- Population is 46,162,024 (National Statistics Institute figure)
- Capital city is Madrid
- Area of 195,364 square miles
- As well as the mainland, Spain is in possession of the Balearic and Canary Islands, and two autonomous cities in North Africa
- Largely Roman Catholic
- Currency is Euro, symbol: €, €1 = US$1.35
- Uses Central European Time (UTC+1), changing to Daylight Saving Time in the summer (UTC+2)
- Internatio dialling code is +34
Lifestyle
Find out more about some of Spain's top student cities...
Madrid
Spain’s capital and largest city is home to four universities in the QS World University Rankings, led by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (206), followed by Spain’s oldest university, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (226), Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (343), and Politécnica de Madrid (451-500). Like any historic European capital worth its salt, you’ll find fast paced modern life taking place against a backdrop of beautiful historic architecture, with plenty of culture on offer; including the Prado – one of the world’s most celebrated art galleries. The city’s biggest football team, Real Madrid, is one of the world’s most decorated and famous.
Barcelona
Spain’s second city is the capital of Catalonia, a region to the southeast of Spain with a proud regional identity. It is one of the most aesthetically distinct cities in Europe – dominated by daring modernist architecture, such as the Sagrada Familia cathedral. It is a famously youth-orientated city, and plays host to the annual Primavera Sound music festival. Barcelona boasts Spain’s top two highest ranking universities, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and Universitat de Barcelona (176 and 187 respectively), as well as Universitat Pompeu Fabra (266) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (350). Some football team or other is also based there.
Valencia
A conservative city on Spain’s south coast, Valencia is probably best known for being the spiritual home of paella. It is also home of the massive Les Falles (in praise of St Joseph, nominally…) festival and the Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. It is a major tourist magnet due to its beautiful beaches and unique picturesque centre. Valencia’s main institutions of higher education, the Universitat de Valencia and Universidad Politecnica de Valencia both make the top 500 of the QS World University Rankings.
Granada
Granada, located towards the south of Spain, has a distinctly North African feel, the result of centuries of Moorish rule. The most famous example of this legacy is the spectacular Alhambra, a huge castle which overlooks the city. It is fair to say that it is a major student city, with its university, the Universidad de Granada (451-500), hosting over 80,000 students in its five different campuses, so you’ll probably feel right at home – a feeling which will be bolstered by the free tapas you’ll get with every drink you order, a quirk of the region in which the city is based.
Seville
Another charming historical city, located towards the southwest of Spain, Seville is the capital of the region of Andalucía, and home to the sizeable Universidad de Sevilla (551-600). It’s known for its festivals (Semana Santa and the Feria de Sevilla are the biggest), and its tapas, but Seville is probably most famous for being the home of flamenco – Spain’s national dance and the accompanying music. In the modern age, it is also famous for its relaxed but exciting nightlife – so if you like to party into the early hours, then perhaps Seville should certainly be on your list.
According to the Top Universities Students Online Usage Report, respondents in Spain were more likely than any other European group to choose smartphones as their most-used internet device. More global trends in internet usage >
Practical Information
Admission, entry and visa requirements
There is no centralized application portal for Spanish universities, and each institution will set its own entry requirements and deadlines – be careful to check with the university itself. You may need to sit an entrance examination, though EU students and others who have done International Baccalaureates will often be excused this part of the procedure
Teaching, as you might expect, will almost certainly be in Spanish, so it’s important that you have a grasp of the language; you’ll struggle to even get as far as applying if not.
Visa requirements depend on whether or not you’re from the EU. Students from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are treated the same as EU students in this case.
EU applicants
• You will pay the same fees as local students. These average at around US$2,100 a year.
• You won’t need a visa, but will need to register at the Central Registry Office for Foreigners, from which you will receive a certificate confirming your right to study in Spain. In order to get this, you will need to present a passport or national identity card, and proof that you’ve been accepted onto a course.
Non-EU applicants
• Your fees will be higher, but only marginally. The average figure in 2010 was just over US$2,200.
• You will need to apply for student visa type D in your home country. This comes in two formats; open and 180 days, so make sure that you apply for the right one. Exact requirements may vary. You will certainly need to have been accepted onto a course, have purchased health insurance, and have sufficient funds (a letter confirming parental support is deemed sufficient). You may need to prove you don’t have a criminal record and provide a medical certificate. You should allow three months for processing.
• You will be allowed to work, so long as it does not adversely affect your studies
• After arriving you must also apply for an Autorización de Estancia por Estudios, a temporary permit which gives you right of residence in Spain, within 30 days. This has to be renewed annually, and will hinge on your satisfactory academic performance.
Featured University
Universities in Spain
Rank Universities Locations
1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Madrid
2 Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Madrid ...
3 Universidad de Sevilla
Sevilla
4 Universidad de Granada
Granada ...
5 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Barcelona ...
6 Universitat de Barcelona
Barcelona ...
7 Universitat de València
Valencia ...
8 Universidad de Zaragoza
Zaragoza ...
9 Universidad Politécnica de Valencia
Valencia ...
10 Universidad del País Vasco
Bilbao
11 Universidad de Alicante
San Vicente del Raspeig ...
12 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Cantoblanco
13 Universidad de Málaga
Málaga
14 Universidad de Salamanca
Salamanca ...
15 Universidad de Murcia
Murcia ...
16 Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona
Cerdanyola del Vallès ...
17 Universidad Pompeu Fabra
Barcelona
18 Universidad de Castilla La Mancha
Ciudad Real
19 Universidad de Oviedo
Oviedo ...
20 Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Getafe
21 Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela ...
22 Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona ...
23 Universidad de Cádiz
Cádiz
24 Universitat Jaume I
Castelló de La Plana
25 Universidad de Alcalá
Alcalá de Henares ...
26 Universidad de Valladolid
Valladolid ...
27 Universidad de Extremadura
Badajoz
28 Universidad de Vigo
Vigo ...
29 Universidad de La Rioja
Logroño
30 Universidad de les Illes Balears
Palma de Mallorca
31 Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria ...
32 Universidad de La Laguna
La Laguna ...
33 Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Móstoles ...
34 Universitat Rovira I Virgili
Tarragona ...
35 Universidad de Cantabria
Santander
36 Universidad de Huelva
Huelva
37 Universidad de León
León ...
38 Universidad de Córdoba
Córdoba
39 Universidad de La Coruña
A Coruña
40 Universitat de Girona
Girona
41 Universidad de Deusto
Bilbao ...
42 IE University
Segovia ...
43 Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo
Madrid
44 Universidad Europea de Madrid
Villaviciosa de Odón
45 Universidad de Jaén
Jaén ...
46 Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Madrid
47 Universidad de Almería
La Cañada de San Urbano
48 Universitat Ramon Llull
Barcelona
49 Universidad de Burgos
Burgos
50 Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Sevilla
51 Universidad Pública de Navarra
Pamplona ...
52 Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena
Cartagena
53 Universidad Camilo José Cela
Villafranca del Castillo
54 Universidad Católica San Antonio
Guadalupe
55 Universitat de Lleida
Lleida
56 Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca
Salamanca
57 Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
Hoyo de Manzanares
58 Universidad Internacional de Andalucía
Sevilla ...
59 Universidad CEU San Pablo
Madrid ...
60 Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
Villanueva de La Cañada
61 Mondragon Univertsitatea
Mondragón ...
62 Universidad San Jorge
Zaragoza ...
63 Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Madrid ...
64 Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Barcelona ...
65 Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes
Valladolid
66 Universitat de Vic
Vic
67 Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera
Moncada ...
68 Universidad Abat Oliba CEU
Barcelona ...
69 Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir
Valencia
70 Universidad Católica de Ávila
Ávila
71 Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche
Elche ...
Ranking of Universities>
International study in Spain
Why study abroad in Spain?
One of the biggest reasons students choose to study abroad is the opportunity to learn another language, and in this regard, you can’t beat Spain. With the national dialect the second most spoken in the world, it’s certainly a good one to master and an ability to do so will likely enhance your CV significantly.
- Spain is the most popular destination for students on the Erasmus exchange programme, which allows them to spend a year away from their home university in a foreign country.
- The country has many highly regarded institutions, with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona the highest rated in the 2012 QS World University Rankings at 176. Universitat de Barcelona is next at 187.
- Spain has 76 universities, with about two-third of these state-funded while the remainder are private institutions.
- While the majority of courses in Spanish universities are taught in Spanish, there are also a number of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in English.
Entry and visa regulations
EU students do not require a visa to study in Spain, but they must apply for a residence permit from the Central Registry Office for Foreigners within three months of arrival.
- To apply as an undergraduate student, you will first need to contact the Spanish National University for Distance Education in order to have your documents validated and confirm any special requirements that apply to your home country. You can then apply directly to the university of your choice.
- Officially the cut-off date for applying to universities in Spain for Autumn admission is in June, but it’s a good idea to apply much earlier as an international student due to the validation procedure.
- At postgraduate level, students should go directly to their chosen institution.
Funding your study
Fees for tuition at public universities are set by education bodies at a regional level, so these vary around the country.
- In all areas, however, the costs are much lower than in the UK, ranging from about £400 to £1,000 per year. Private universities are much more expensive.
- There are very few scholarship opportunities for foreign students in Spain, and a database of those available can be found at Universidad.es. Student loans are generally not available to international students who’ve moved to the country to study.
- Many students work part-time while studying and no extra permission is needed to do so, but it will be harder to find work if you don’t have adequate Spanish skills.
- Universities usually offer some accommodation, either on or off campus, and some also help arrange homestays with local families for students wishing to improve their language skills. Flat-sharing is also common among students and many stay in hostels or use sofa-surfing sites when they first arrive in Spain and then seek more permanent housing.
The cost of consumer goods and services in Spain is below average in comparison with other European countries. As a guide, average costs include:
- One litre of milk: £0.86
- A pint of local beer: £2.50-£4
- Single bus fare: £1.20
- A can of coke: £0.43
- A coffee and a pastry for breakfast: £1.60
- Inexpensive meal in a restaurant (without wine): £10
Health and safety
- Spain is generally a safe country, but pickpocketing and bag-snatching can be a problem in many larger cities in Spain, especially Barcelona, and passport theft is a particular concern. Avoid carrying valuables around as much as possible and be alert to your surroundings.
- UK students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be entitled to access free healthcare in Spain in the same way as a local resident. But Spain also has many private health providers, along with health centres that provide both state-funded and private treatment. Make sure you clarify you are being offered treatment on a state-funded basis and present your EHIC card at the first opportunity.
- You’ll have to pay 40% of the cost of any prescriptions you get from a state-funded healthcare provider.
Helpful links
For more information, see Study in Europe.
Studying in Barcelona: An Insider's Guide
Is Barcelona really as great as everyone says? The short answer is yes, writes Gracy Rigano, an Italian business economics student who spent a year in Barcelona while studying at EAE Business School.
The capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is well known for the distinctive architectural creations of Antoni Gaudi. It’s also among Europe’s top student cities, and if you’d like to spend your student days eating good tapas, soaking up sunshine and meeting lots of friendly people of different nationalities, this could be the place for you.
Here are five reasons to choose to study in Barcelona:
1. Lots of international business schools
In Barca, as most people call it, there are many internationally renowned business schools, including EAE, IESE and ESADE. The public universities – Universitat de Barcelona and Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona – are also good, so even if you’re not sure about spending your entire university career in Spain, it could be a good option for a shorter period of study abroad.
If you’re not able to speak Catalan (used alongside Spanish in the Catalonia region of Spain), that shouldn’t be a problem. Many courses are available in Spanish and/or English, and you’ll meet people of a wide range of nationalities.
2. Good weather
The sun shines from March to October in Barcelona, and when winter arrives it’s rarely harsh. You can take a break from studies by relaxing with friends on Barceloneta beach or in one of the city’s many bars, which also serve delicious tapas. For jogging or picnics, Ciutadella Park is a good choice, and you’ll often find great musicians playing and singing there too.
3. Artistic, cultural and historical exploration
Walking around Barcelona is always a pleasure! In the Gothic district, you find yourself being transported back in time, as you can’t help but stop to admire Gaudi’s most famous work – the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Meanwhile the El Born area is full of old-town architecture but with a ‘new town’ feel – an irresistible combination that makes it particularly popular with locals.
The Arabic district in the El Raval area is vibrant, historic and full of personality. This lively, multicultural neighbourhood offers a huge selection of tempting cafes, restaurants and bars. The area has also become fashionable in recent years, hosting a wide variety of art studios, galleries and trendy bookshops, not to mention the imposing MACBA (Museum of Modern Art).
Then there’s Passeig de Gràcia, part of the 5km-long shopping district, and home to two more of Gaudi's most important creations – La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. However, if you don’t like crowds I’d recommend avoiding Las Ramblas – a 1.2km walkway through the centre of the city which is always packed with tourists!
4. Fiesta
In Barcelona, you will never be far away from the next fiesta (party). There are plenty of clubs to meet all kind of tastes, and there’s always someone ready to join you for a fun night out.
There are also fantastic city-wide festivals, such as the Fiesta de la Mercè, an official holiday held every 24 September to mark the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy. Highlights include parades, firework displays, human tower-building, and of course lots of music and dancing.
5. Affordable living costs
The cost of living in Barcelona is relatively inexpensive. Public transport is affordable and the service is very good, and the cost of renting a room is also very reasonable – which for students could be a key factor!
In Mercer’s 2011 Cost of Living survey, which compares the cost of goods, services and accommodation rental prices, Barcelona ranked at 66 – much lower than cities with comparable attractions and quality of life.
See where Barcelona ranks in the latest QS Best Student Cities >
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