Universities in Santander, Spain

Santander, the capital of Cantabria, is a medium-sized coastal city in the north of Spain. It had 175,425 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the Spanish statistics institute (INE). For a degree, it offers a public university with a campus in the city, a private university and a private university centre, in a setting where most places are close together and the beach is part of daily life.

Students who prefer smaller classes and a quieter pace than in Madrid or Barcelona often look at Santander. Spanish is the language of both lectures and daily life, which helps anyone who wants to improve their Spanish while studying.

What the universities in Santander offer

The Universidad de Cantabria (UC) is a public university founded in 1972. According to the university, it offers 30 official bachelor's degrees, 5 double degrees, 42 official master's degrees and 20 doctoral programmes, with its faculties spread over two campuses, and it has 9,389 bachelor's students. Its programmes cover engineering and technical studies, health sciences, sciences, social sciences and law, and the humanities. It also runs summer courses and has a language centre (Centro de Idiomas).

The private Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) organises its teaching in three schools:

• Faculty of Health Sciences: degrees such as Sport Sciences, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Psychology
• Higher Polytechnic School: Technical Architecture, Computer Engineering, Industrial Organisation Engineering
• Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities: Business Administration and other degrees

The university has its own residence with 36 apartments and 69 studios. CESINE is a private university centre with two schools, Business and Communication, and Design and Creation. It offers bachelor's degrees in Digital Communication; Advertising, Public Relations and Marketing; International Business Administration; Graphic Design; Fashion Design and Interior Design, which the centre says are official and validated through SIUCAN, as well as top-up degrees taught in English.

Admission for international students

Students with secondary-school qualifications from abroad can apply for a bachelor's degree at the UC through the route for foreign qualifications, and the university also admits students who have completed part of a university degree outside Spain. In many cases the first step is UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' academic records and runs the specific subject tests (pruebas de competencias específicas). Private universities set their own admission criteria, so check them directly with each one.

Costs

At the UC, tuition is calculated by multiplying the credits of each subject by the price per credit, which depends on the field of study. Public fees are set by the Government of Cantabria; for the 2026-27 academic year the fees of 2025-26 remain in force. New first-year bachelor's students do not pay these fees if they took the PAU in Cantabria or have been registered as residents (empadronados) in a municipality of Cantabria since before 31 December of the year before the course starts. Private universities set their own prices.

A single ticket on the city buses (TUS) costs €1.30. The Tarjeta Trimestral Joven, for residents of Santander aged 25 or under, gives unlimited travel for three months for €51.

Practical tips

• Register as a resident (empadronamiento) in Santander when you arrive: it gives access to the youth bus card and can count towards the UC fee exemption
• Look for accommodation early, especially for the start of the academic year in September
• Check the language of each programme: most bachelor's degrees are taught in Spanish
• Bring clothes for rain

The climate is mild and oceanic. At the AEMET Santander Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 9.7 °C in January and 20.3 °C in August, with about 1,129 mm of rain a year.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Santander?

The public Universidad de Cantabria, the private Universidad Europea del Atlántico and the private university centre CESINE, which specialises in business, communication and design.

How much does it cost to study at the Universidad de Cantabria?

The price depends on the number of credits and the field of study; for 2026-27 the public fees of 2025-26 still apply. New bachelor's students who have been registered as residents in Cantabria early enough do not pay these fees in their first year.

How can an international student get into a bachelor's degree in Santander?

At the public university, usually through UNEDasiss, which assesses the academic record and runs the specific subject tests. At the private institutions, check each centre's requirements.

Is there student accommodation in Santander?

Yes. For example, the Universidad Europea del Atlántico has a residence with 36 apartments and 69 studios, with single and shared rooms.