Universities in Valencia, Spain

Valencia has a long university tradition. The Universitat de València dates from the end of the 15th century, and today it shares the city with a public technical university, several private universities and a group of public higher arts schools. International students can take bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in almost every field.

What Valencia's universities offer

The Universitat de València (UV) is the oldest university in the city. According to its own history, the Juries of Valencia drew up the constitutions of the first Valencian university on 30 October 1499, and a papal bull authorised it in 1501. Today it covers all branches of knowledge, from science and health to law and the humanities.

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) is a public technical university with just over 50 years of history and campuses in Vera (Valencia), Alcoy and Gandia. The university states that it offers 40 bachelor's degrees, 13 double degrees and more than 90 official master's options, and that 6.9% of its bachelor's students are international, rising to 20.7% at master's level.

The private universities include the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir (UCV), with faculties such as Medicine and Health Sciences, Psychology, and Veterinary and Experimental Sciences; the Universidad Europea de Valencia, which advertises bachelor's degrees taught in Spanish and in English; and the Universidad Internacional de Valencia (VIU), which teaches its degrees online. For students from US universities there is Study Abroad @UCV, a programme with courses in English and Spanish; the UCV is a member of the Association of American Programs in Spain (APUNE).

Higher arts education has its own institutions. The Conservatori Superior de Dansa de València Nacho Duato is a public centre whose students earn, after four years, the Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Danza, at level 2 of the Spanish qualifications framework (MECES). The Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de València (EASD), a public school with more than 175 years of history, offers degrees in graphic, fashion, interior and product design as well as master's programmes. The Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Valencia (ESAD) describes itself as the only drama school in the Valencian Community with an official qualification. Berklee Valencia, a campus of Berklee College of Music, offers graduate and summer programmes at the City of Arts and Sciences.

Admission for international students

At the UPV, pre-registration for bachelor's degrees runs from mid-June to the first week of July, with an extended deadline until the end of July for international students. For official master's degrees, pre-registration is organised in phases, the first opening in November. The whole process is online with scanned documents, and originals can be presented later, with a deadline extended to December.

Deadlines and requirements vary between institutions: private universities run their own place-reservation processes, and the arts schools require specific entrance tests. Check each institution's admissions page several months in advance.

What studying costs

At Valencia's public universities, tuition fees are set each year by the Generalitat Valenciana by decree. The UV explains that the amount depends on the number of credits, the type of subjects in each degree and some administrative charges, and that public fees cover between 15% and 25% of the cost of a first enrolment. The rules in force are Decreto 101/2024 of 2 August, amended by Decreto 195/2025. There are exemptions, for example a full exemption for large families in the special category. Private universities and institutions such as Berklee Valencia set their own fees.

Practical tips

• Transport: in the first half of 2026, the EMT Jove pass gave people under 30 unlimited travel on EMT city buses for €12.50 a month, according to Valencia City Council
• Mobility: the UV runs exchange programmes such as Erasmus and SICUE for students who want to study elsewhere during their degree

Frequently asked questions

When do international students apply to the UPV?

For bachelor's degrees, general pre-registration runs from mid-June to the first week of July, with an extended deadline until the end of July for international students. For master's degrees, the first phase opens in November.

How much does it cost to study at a public university in Valencia?

The price depends on the credits and the degree, and is set each academic year by the Generalitat Valenciana by decree. Public fees cover between 15% and 25% of the cost of a first enrolment, according to the UV.

Can I study art, music or dance at higher level in Valencia?

Yes. Besides the universities, the city has public institutions such as the Conservatori Superior de Dansa, the EASD and the ESAD, which award official higher arts qualifications.