Study in Fuengirola, Spain

About Fuengirola

Fuengirola is a coastal town on the Costa del Sol, in the province of Málaga in Andalusia, about 30 km from the provincial capital. It is small in area, just over 10 km², but densely built along the seafront, and had 84,857 registered residents in 2025, according to the Andalusian statistics institute (IECA). Of these, 31,808 were foreign nationals, and Finland was the most common country of origin, accounting for 14.2% of the foreign residents.

That international mix is what defines Fuengirola for students. It is mainly a place for families who want a Nordic or British school for their children, and for adults who want to learn Spanish, or another language, in a town where everyday life runs in several languages. It is not a university town: students who want a degree usually commute to Málaga.

Studying in Fuengirola

Our directory lists four active schools in Fuengirola: three primary and secondary schools and one official language school. The schools reflect the town's foreign communities:

• Aurinkorannikon suomalainen koulu (Colegio Finlandés), a private Finnish school that operates under Finland's basic education and upper secondary school acts and may award Finnish certificates; it covers pre-primary, basic education and upper secondary school (lukio)
• Svenska skolan Costa del Sol (Colegio Sueco de la Costa del Sol), a Swedish school abroad for pupils from preschool to upper secondary level
• St. Anthony's College, a British-curriculum school on the Camino de Coín in neighbouring Mijas Costa, where pupils work towards National Curriculum Key Stage 4 IGCSE examinations and can continue in a Sixth Form

Teaching in these schools is mainly in Finnish, Swedish or English, so they suit families who want to keep their children in their home country's system. For vocational training, the IECA counts four centres offering intermediate vocational cycles (grado medio) and four offering advanced cycles (grado superior) in Fuengirola in the 2023-24 school year.

Learning Spanish in Fuengirola

The public Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Fuengirola, in the Edificio Siglo XXI on Avenida Miramar, belongs to the Andalusian network of public schools specialising in language teaching. Its curricula follow the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It teaches German, Spanish, French and English. Spanish is offered as a face-to-face course at levels A1, A2 and B1, with four and a half hours of classes a week in two sessions. The school also holds an Erasmus+ accreditation for 2024-2027. Places and enrolment follow the Andalusian public calendar, so check admission dates well in advance.

Cost of living for students

No official figure for typical student rent in Fuengirola was found. Housing on the Costa del Sol is in high demand from tourists and foreign residents, so compare offers and check what is included before you sign. Local transport, by contrast, is inexpensive. On the town's urban buses, which run five lines across Fuengirola, a single ticket costs €1.20 and a 10-trip Bonobús costs €10.00. Residents registered in the town (empadronados) have travelled free since 17 May 2023.

Fuengirola is part of the Málaga metropolitan transport consortium (CTMAM). Residents of Andalusia under 30 can apply for its Tarjeta Joven, and from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2026 the card has an extra 50% discount, according to the consortium.

Getting around and daily life

The town is flat and easy to walk along the seafront promenade. The Renfe Cercanías line C1 runs between Málaga Centro Alameda and Fuengirola, stopping at Málaga-Costa del Sol airport; according to Aena, the trip from the airport to Fuengirola takes about 34 minutes. The same line reaches Málaga María Zambrano station, 8 minutes from the airport, where AVE high-speed trains leave for Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes.

The climate is mild, with warm, dry summers. Fuengirola has no main AEMET station of its own; at the nearby Málaga Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 12.1 °C in January and 25.5 °C in July, when average highs reach 30.5 °C. Annual rainfall is about 534 mm, mostly between autumn and spring.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn Spanish in Fuengirola?

Yes. The public Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Fuengirola teaches Spanish as a foreign language at levels A1, A2 and B1, with four and a half hours of class a week. It also teaches German, French and English.

Are there international schools in Fuengirola?

Yes. Fuengirola has a Finnish school and a Swedish school, and St. Anthony's College, a British-curriculum school leading to IGCSE examinations, is in neighbouring Mijas Costa.

Is there a university in Fuengirola?

No. Fuengirola has no university; students usually travel to Málaga, about 30 km away, by Cercanías line C1 or by bus.

How do I get from Málaga airport to Fuengirola?

Take the Renfe Cercanías line C1 from the airport station. According to Aena, the trip to Fuengirola takes about 34 minutes.