Spain

Find your Degrees in Spain

Oct-June Academic Year

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60,000 Int. Students

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Study

Study in Spain

Spain is a popular choice for foreign students seeking high quality university education at a very reasonable price. The Western European country offers many study options for Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates.

Universities in Spain

There are a large number of universities of Spain, many of which hold a great reputation internationally and get ranked high in international rankings. Although most universities in Spain focus on teaching in Spanish, the trend points toward more degree programmes offered in English.

Some of the most notable Spanish public universities include the University of Barcelona, the Complutense University of Madrid, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

If you are thinking about getting an MBA, Spain might be the place for you. Three of Europe’s top 10 business schools are located in Spain: IESE Business School, IE Business School, and Esade Business School. These highly respected institutions have spawned many international top managers.

Spain is one of the easiest places to make new friends, experience the real fiesta (party) attitude and enjoy lovely, warm, Mediterranean weather! Who wouldn’t want to study abroad in such a welcoming place?

Apart from the overall exciting atmosphere, Spain is home to many universities and colleges that welcome thousands of foreign students each year. While you study and prepare to become a specialist in your chosen field, you will also enrich your cultural horizons by seeing and admiring some really amazing attractions. From white, sandy beaches and blue seas, to the ski slopes of the Pyrenees and to the ancient villages of Granada, Spain truly offers both natural and urban splendours.

Why Study in Spain?

At Spanish universities, you’ll experience a friendly and laid-back atmosphere full of international students coming from all over the world. Although lectures are pretty formal, seminars and lab work are more relaxed, allowing students to freely discuss with professors and ask them questions regarding their course materials.

Universities in Spain offer a varied palette of study options, and science and technical degrees in particular, offer courses that involve both research work and practical exercises.

What to study in Spain

In Spanish universities, you can study any discipline you can imagine at all degree levels. Particularly known for Law, Spanish language or Social Sciences, universities in Spain offer plenty of degrees for subject areas like Computer Science, Engineering or Natural Sciences.

Practical Information

How to apply to universities in Spain

You’ll want to first check with your chosen university in Spain. You will have to apply online and pay an application fee.

Don’t forget to carefully check all entry requirements and necessary documents.

You might have to submit all required application documents in Spanish or have them translated.

Make sure to know what the language requirements are, and whether you need to prove skills in English or Spanish before enrolling in a degree programme.

Show how you performed as a student, and be sure to know what your Grade Point Average (GPA) was during your studies.

To help your chances of going to Spain, be sure to apply to more than one university!

Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If you’re attending a degree programme in Spain, you will sometimes need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

There are over 670 English-taught programmes in Spain.

Universities in Spain will want to see proof that you have good English-language skills, so that you can easily succeed in their courses. Almost all Spanish universities accept these official English exams:

IELTS
TOEFL
C1 Advanced

Living

Living in Spain

Cost of living and tuition fees in Spain

Good news for students: Tuition fees in Spain are among the lowest in Europe. The tuition fees for Bachelor programmes range from 750 EUR to 2,500 EUR per year, and tuition fees for Master programmes are around 1,000 to 3,500 EUR per year - making Spain a cheap destination for international students. Private universities set their own fees, which can be as high as 20,000 EUR per year.

The cost of living in Spain varies by location, but in general it is easy to live well in Spain on a student budget. Food is cheap and high quality and there are many inexpensive fashionable clothing shops. However, it can be expensive to find accommodation in large cities like Madrid and Barcelona. If you are on a very tight budget you could consider cheaper cities such as Valencia or Seville. And remember, public transport in Spain is efficient and cheap, so you will be able to experience everything the country has to offer no matter where you choose to base your studies.

Student life in Spain

While you can choose from a large number of programmes to study in Spain in English, you may want to brush up your language skills before and while you are there. That will make it much easier to interact with locals, and also equip you with the fourth-most spoken language in the world! For certain regions, such as Catalonia (and its capital Barcelona), it doesn’t hurt to learn at least a few phrases in the regional lingo (Catalonian in this case).

That said, life as a student in Spain is an experience like no other. You will find many friends in the country’s vibrant, diverse student community. Spanish students work hard, but they find plenty of time for fun. If you plan to go out at night, be sure to take an afternoon nap - most clubs don't even open until after midnight and your friends will want to party until dawn!

About

About Spain

Introduction to Spain

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, and for good reason. Located on the Iberian peninsula and bordered by France and Portugal, Spain is a beautiful country with a long history and rich culture, known for its architecture, food and wonderful climate.
The country is composed of a number of semi-autonomous regions each with a distinct culture and sometimes even local language. In Spain, you can find any landscape from beaches to high mountains - with climates to match. There are historic and modern universities to choose from in large and small cities in every part of the country.

Spain has one of the most open, friendly and lively atmospheres you will ever experience. Spanish people live their lives to the fullest and everything is a reason for a fiesta, so you’ll be laughing and have a fun time in Spain more than you can imagine.

Spanish culture is fascinating and you could learn a lot about it by just admiring some of its architectural masterpieces, like the great Moorish fortress, the Alhambra, or Gaudi’s famous designs.

Spain is one of the world's biggest producers of saffron and olive oil. Some other important industries that support the country’s economy include renewable energy, telecommunications, tourism and textile manufacturing.

Since Spanish is the second most popular language in the world, you should take advantage of your time in Spain and learn the language that everyone is so attracted to. Learning Spanish won’t be just a fun activity, but it is also an impressive element you can add to your resume.

Iconic places to visit

Throughout Spain, you can find so many beautiful and remarkable attractions, some of them date back from Moorish times. Some of the most popular places you can visit in Spain are:

The National Parks on the Canary Islands
The Cave paintings of Altamira
Buen Retiro Park
The Royal Palace of Madrid
Sagrada Familia,
Casa Batillo
City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia
Basilica of Santa María in Alicante

Fun facts

Throughout history, Spain had different names, from Iberia, to Hesperia, Hispania. They eventually settled on España, which literally means “land of the rabbits”.
Spain remained neutral in both world wars.
Spanish people invented the stapler.
Some of the world’s greatest and most famous artists were Spanish: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Francisco Goya.
Spain is the only country in Europe that produces bananas.

Institutes

Student VISA

Student visa for Spain

Depending on your nationality, you may need to obtain a visa or residence permit to study in Spain.

EU students, as well as those who are from Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, will not need a visa in order to live and study in Spain. They will need to register with your local Spanish authorities in order to obtain a residence certificate. This needs to be done within three months of your arrival into the country.

If you are a student coming from any other country, you will need a visa to study in Spain for more than three months. You can start the application at the Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country. You cannot start this visa process until you have received an official offer from an institution.

Check if you really need a student visa. Usually, if you are an EU-national and want to study in another EU country, you won't need a visa. Some other non-EU countries may also be exempt from an entry visa, at least for an initial duration;
Start accessing the websites of the embassy and consulate, in order to get a general picture of the whole "visa-application" thing;
Check the deadlines and figure out how much time you'll have to wait for your visa. You wouldn't want miss studying abroad from this silly mistake of bad planning;
Go on a scavenger hunt and collect all the documents you will need. Remember, you can find the list on the embassy's website;
Start saving up money, as some applications might require you to have proof of minimum funds;
Brush up on your English skills. Even if this is not always a visa requirement, it will help you a lot to succeed during your university studies.

It is recommended that you arrange your accommodation in advance, as you may be required to provide details of where you are planning to live when you apply for a visa.

Work permit

Working in Spain

Student Work PermitYou must apply for a student work permit in order to work part-time in Spain.

How can I apply?

AT LOCAL AUTHORITIES, Before you start to work you must apply for a work permit at the Foreigners Office.

Application requirements

You can apply for the work permit if you have:

a valid residence permit .

Duration of work permit

2 YEARSY, our work permit will be valid for the duration of your contract and cannot be exceed the duration of your student visa.

Max. hours of work per week

20 HOURS/WEEK, You will be allowed to work 20 hours per week. You can work fulltime during summer breaks up to 3 months.

Required documents

You will need a few documents to apply for your work permit:

student visa and residence permit;

offer of employment or employment contract submitted by employer.

Extra information

You can work part-time in Spain provided your job is compatible with your studies.

Work after graduation in Spain

First things first! In Spain, you can choose a work permit like the Work Permit to remain in the country and work full-time. Read our work permit info below and start planning!

Work PermitIf you want to work in Spain after finishing your studies, this permit will allow you to work here for for 1 year. You can renew the permit.

How can I apply?

EMPLOYER, The employer applies to the Local Foreigners Office on your behalf.

How long does it take to get the permit?

90 DAYS, After applying for the work permit you will have to wait 90 days for a decision. If you do not get a reply in 3 months you can assume your request was dismissed.

Application requirements

You can apply for the work permit if you have:

studied in Spain for 3 years without scholarship;
clean criminal record;
a minimum salary of 650 EUR/month;
a job offer that is valid for at least 1 year (30 hours per week minimum).

When can I start applying?

You can start applying for the work permit before your student visa expires and when you have a job contract.

Duration of work permit1 YEAR

Your work permit will be valid for for 1 year. You can renew the permit.

Max. hours of work per week

40 HOURS/WEEKYou will be allowed to work 40 hours per week.

Minimum wage per month

860 EUR/MONTHYou are guaranteed a minimum salary of 860 EUR per month while working in Spain.

Required documents

You will need a few documents to apply for your work permit:

official application form (EX-03);
copy of your passport;
copy of the documentation that certifies you have the appropriate training to fill the job;
documentation that identifies the company;
signed work contract;
copy of your graduation diploma.