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Study in Spain

Spain is a popular destination for international students seeking quality and affordable higher education. There are around 85,000 international students studying in Spain each year. With lots to offer, there will be something for everyone is this fantastic country.

Why choose Spain as an international student

There are over 76 universities in Spain, and they are a mixture of public and private. Of these, around 24 are private, and around 7 of these are associated with the Catholic Church. The public universities are state-funded, meaning that their fees are set by the local government. Spain has a long and rich tradition of higher education, and therefore their institutions are consistently well ranked. In the 2023 QS World University Rankings, 12 Spanish institutions are ranked in the top 500. The highest of these is the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, sitting at 178th.

You are able to study at all traditional levels in Spain. This includes bachelor’s, master’s and PhD level study. A bachelor degree usually lasts 4 years, and you will be required to gain 240 ECTS credits to pass (find out more about what the ECTS is). A master’s degree usually lasts 1-2 years, and you must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent to be accepted. A Spanish Doctoral degree (PhD) usually lasts up to 3 years, or 5 years if you study part-time. You will need to have been awarded a bachelor’s and master’s degree to gain entry on a Doctoral programme. There are many options for types of courses available, and what fields they are offered in. You are highly likely to find a programme that suits you at an institution in Spain.

There are many interesting cities throughout Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia.

International students will need to obtain a student visa in order to enrol at university in Spain. For more information, see our Spain Student Visa Guide.

Search for courses in Spain

Highlighted courses in Spain

Fashion & Luxury Marketing MSc

TBS Education in Barcelona Spain

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Artificial Intelligence for Business MA

EU Business School, Barcelona Spain

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MA International Business Management Other Masters

Marbella International University Centre Spain

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Master in Digital Solutions Development MSc(Eng)

Barcelona Technology School (BTS) Spain

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International Trade, Finance, and Development Master Program Master Degree

Barcelona School of Economics Spain

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View all courses in Spain

More information about Spain

Capital City Madrid
Currency EUR, Euro
Language(s) Spanish
Universities on StudyLink 36 universities
Major Student Cities Barcelona

Language Requirements

The official language of Spain is Spanish. Studying in Spain will be a fantastic chance to pick up a new language, or improve your current skills. This will look great on your CV, as Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world!

Most programmes are taught in Spanish, but there are an increasing amount of Spanish universities offering programmes taught in English. If you choose to study in Spanish, you will have to prove that your language skills meet the teaching standard. If you choose to study in English, you will also need to prove that your language skills meet the required standard. For more information regarding the language requirements for your course, contact your chosen institution. Even if you do study in English, it is recommended that you still make an effort to improve your Spanish, and that you communicate with the locals and other students as much as possible.

Photos from universities in Spain

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