Study in Elche, Spain

About Elche

Elche (Elx in Valencian) is a city in the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community on Spain's Mediterranean coast, with 245,557 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). It lies about 20 km from Alicante and has three entries on UNESCO's heritage lists: the Palmeral, a historic palm grove inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2000 and described by the city's tourist board as a living legacy of al-Andalus; the Misteri d'Elx, proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001; and the teaching project of the Museo Escolar de Pusol, selected in 2009.

For students, Elche is a large but relaxed city with a public university at its centre, a dry and sunny climate and an international airport within the municipality. Daily life is in Spanish and Valencian.

Studying in Elche

Our directory lists 3 active schools in Elche: 1 university and 2 international and private schools. The Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH) is a public university with its main campus and headquarters on Avenida de la Universidad in Elche. It also has campuses in Orihuela, about 30 km south of Elche, in Sant Joan d'Alacant, near Alicante, and in Altea, on the coast north of Alicante. The UMH offers bachelor's degrees (grados), official master's degrees, doctorates, its own qualifications and university microcredentials. Its degree list for 2026-27 runs from Fine Arts in Altea to Biotechnology and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Elche. Most teaching is in Spanish, but exchange students can choose from a list of courses taught in English for 2026-27, as long as they are taught on the same campus.

The university's language centre, Centro de Idiomas UMH, runs Spanish courses for incoming students and for the public, including a four-month (cuatrimestral) course, online one-to-one classes and DELE preparation, and it is an official Instituto Cervantes examination centre for the DELE and CCSE.

Families moving to the area will also find international schools. Newton College, an international school with a campus in Elche, teaches children aged 1 to 18 and offers both the Spanish bachillerato and the International Baccalaureate; it belongs to the International Schools Partnership (ISP) group. Espacio VIVO School is a small bilingual infant and primary school for children aged 3 to 12 in the Bonavista area, set in a natural environment.

Cost of living for students

Rent is the main cost. The new Residencia Universitaria UMH in Elche opened in the 2023-24 academic year, with a gym, study rooms, a laundry, bicycle parking and a terrace for residents. UMH students also get discounts at partner residences and accommodation in the province, and the international office lists student residences for exchange students. We did not find official room prices, so check current rates with the residence before you apply.

Public transport is cheap for young people. Until 31 December 2026, the city council gives a 50% discount on urban bus fares to passengers aged 15 to 25 who hold the municipal BUS LLIURE mobility card; applicants aged 16 to 25 need a certificate of enrolment for the current year. The monthly pass and other passes have a 40% discount over the same period.

Getting around and daily life

City buses serve the centre and the outer districts, and Elche's central train station on Avenida del Ferrocarril has regular trains, for example to Orihuela, where the UMH has another campus. The city also has a high-speed station, Elche AV / Elx AV; according to Renfe, the first train of the day from Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes leaves at 06:30. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, run by Aena, lies within the municipality, with bus lines to Alicante and Elche.

Elche has a warm, dry Mediterranean climate. At the AEMET Alicante-Elche Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 11.6 °C in January and 25.5 °C in July, rising to 26.1 °C in August, when average daily highs reach 30.7 °C. Rainfall is low, about 277 mm a year, and the station records about 2,950 hours of sunshine a year.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Elche?

The public Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (UMH) has its main campus in Elche and further campuses in Orihuela, Sant Joan d'Alacant and Altea. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, mostly in Spanish.

Can I learn Spanish in Elche?

Yes. The Centro de Idiomas UMH runs Spanish courses for incoming students and other learners, including DELE preparation, and the university hosts DELE and CCSE exams.

Are there international schools in Elche?

Yes. Newton College teaches pupils aged 1 to 18 and offers the International Baccalaureate, and Espacio VIVO School is a bilingual infant and primary school for children aged 3 to 12.

How do I get to Elche?

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is in the municipality of Elche, with bus connections to the city. From Madrid, high-speed trains run to the Elche AV / Elx AV station.