Study in Bellaterra, Spain

About Bellaterra

Bellaterra is a residential area of Cerdanyola del Vallès, near Barcelona in Catalonia, about half an hour by train from the city centre. For students, Bellaterra means one thing above all: the main campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), whose postal address is "Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès)". Cerdanyola del Vallès, the municipality the campus belongs to, had 58,528 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE).

Unlike a university in a city centre, the UAB is a self-contained campus next to the Collserola Natural Park, with its own student village, train stations and free internal buses. It suits students who want campus life with Barcelona close enough for weekends and evenings.

Studying in Bellaterra

All 4 active listings in our directory for Bellaterra belong to the UAB or its affiliated schools. The UAB is a public university. The decree creating it was issued on 6 June 1968, and a month later its first four faculties were set up: Arts, Medicine, Sciences and Economics. In the 2025-26 academic year it offers 107 bachelor's degrees (grados) and 138 official master's degrees, with 27,540 bachelor's students in its own centres, according to the university's figures.

The UAB is also very international. According to the same figures, 4,187 international students took part in its Study Abroad programmes, 1,493 foreign students were enrolled in bachelor's degrees in its own centres, and 35 of its official master's degrees are taught in English. Catalan and Spanish are also used in teaching, so check the language of instruction of each programme: the Escola de l'IGOP, for example, teaches its master's 70% in Spanish and 30% in Catalan.

Examples from our directory:

• the Facultat de Psicologia i de Logopèdia, which teaches bachelor's degrees in Psychology and in Speech Therapy (Logopèdia), official master's degrees, the university's own master's and postgraduate programmes, and doctorates
• Turismo y Dirección Hotelera, the tourism and hotel management studies of the Escola FUAB Formació, with bachelor's degrees in Tourism, Tourism in English and Hotel Management
• the Escola de l'IGOP, the training school of a UAB research institute based on the Bellaterra campus, whose official inter-university Máster Universitario en Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria (60 ECTS credits, 40 places) is taught at its site in Barcelona

Cost of living for students

The main on-campus housing option is the Vila Universitària, a student village in the heart of the UAB campus, next to the Collserola Natural Park. From 1 September 2026, a single room in a five-person flat costs €388 per person a month and a single room in a three-person flat €450 a month, utilities not included, for 10-month stays. For shorter stays the prices include utilities: €531.94 and €596.92 a month respectively. The flats do not come with bed linen, towels or kitchen utensils, but bed linen and kitchen utensils can be rented.

The UAB's internal bus service is free. For trains and interurban buses, students use the integrated fare system of the Barcelona area (ATM); we could not read current fares on an official page, so check the price of the student and youth passes before you arrive.

Getting around and daily life

The campus has its own train stations. FGC trains on lines S2 and S6 stop at Bellaterra station; according to the Vila Universitària, the trip from Barcelona takes 30 minutes, with trains about every 10 minutes. Rodalies Renfe lines R7 (Barcelona Sant Andreu Arenal - Cerdanyola Universitat) and R8 (Martorell - Granollers Centre) also serve the campus, and a free bus links Cerdanyola-Universitat station with the campus buildings on weekdays. Because of works by Adif, the R7 was running a limited service between Montcada Bifurcació and Cerdanyola Universitat from September 2026, so check Renfe before travelling. The SARBUS company runs buses from Barcelona (Fabra i Puig) to the UAB every 30 minutes.

From Barcelona-El Prat Airport, the Vila Universitària recommends taking the Aerobús to Plaça Catalunya and then the FGC S2 or S6 line to Bellaterra.

The climate is Mediterranean. At AEMET's Barcelona Fabra station, at 408 metres (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 8.2 °C in January and 23.8 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 28.4 °C. Annual rainfall averages 621 mm.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Bellaterra?

Bellaterra is home to the main campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), a public university created in 1968. In 2025-26 it offers 107 bachelor's degrees and 138 official master's degrees.

Can I study in English at the UAB?

Yes, partly. According to the university, 35 of its official master's degrees are taught in English, and there are bachelor's degrees such as Tourism in English. Check the language of each programme, as Catalan and Spanish are also used in teaching.

How much does student housing on campus cost?

At the Vila Universitària, a single room in a shared flat costs from €388 a month (five-person flat, utilities not included, 10-month stay) from September 2026.

How do I get from Barcelona to the campus?

FGC lines S2 and S6 run from Barcelona to Bellaterra station in about 30 minutes, with trains about every 10 minutes. Rodalies Renfe lines R7 and R8 and SARBUS buses also serve the campus.