Social Sciences Schools and Programs in Spain

Social Sciences Studies in Spain

In Spain, "social sciences" is not a single degree but a family of bachelor's degrees that study how societies, institutions and cultures work. The main ones are Sociology (Sociología), Political Science (Ciencia Política or Ciencias Políticas, often combined with public administration) and Social and Cultural Anthropology (Antropología Social y Cultural). They share a common core of social theory, statistics and research methods, and most are taught in Spanish, which makes them accessible to students from Latin America.

How the degrees are organised

Under Royal Decree 822/2021, Spanish bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits, normally four years, and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits. Social science degrees follow that pattern. At the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the bachelor's degree in Sociology takes 4 years (240 credits) on the Getafe campus and is taught in Spanish; first-year courses include social research techniques and survey design, electives include politics and society in Latin America, and students must prove B2-level English before they graduate. The same university's degree in Political Science has the same length and campus.

The Universidad de Salamanca gives a picture of class sizes: for 2026-27 it offers 50 first-year places in Sociology, 60 in Political Science and Public Administration and 55 in Anthropology, a degree it introduced in 2020-21 and teaches in Spanish and English. After the bachelor's degree, students can take an official master's degree; the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, for example, teaches a master's in Social Policy and Community Action (Máster en Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria) in Barcelona.

Where to study social sciences in Spain

A search of the Ministry's Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT) returns 22 records for Sociology degrees, 20 for degrees named Ciencias Políticas and 18 for Anthropology, including some curricula being phased out. Madrid and Barcelona have the most schools in our directory. Examples with an official degree in RUCT:

• Universidad Complutense de Madrid: Sociology, Political Science, and Social and Cultural Anthropology, at its Faculty of Political Science and Sociology on the Somosaguas campus; it has taught Sociology for more than 40 years
• Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Getafe): Sociology and Political Science
• Universidad Autónoma de Madrid: Political Science and Public Administration
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona): Political and Administrative Sciences
• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona: Sociology, and Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Universidad de Salamanca: Sociology, Political Science and Public Administration, and Anthropology
• Universidade da Coruña (Sociology), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (Political Science and Administration) and Universidad de Valladolid (Social and Cultural Anthropology)
• Distance learning: UNED and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Sociology)

In Catalonia, Galicia, the Basque Country and the Valencian Community some teaching may be in the co-official language, so check the course guide for each subject.

Admission and recognition

Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply for an accreditation from UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' records and runs the tests needed to enter Spanish bachelor's degrees. They then apply to each university within its own deadlines. Language matters: the Universidad de Salamanca recommends at least B1 in English for Sociology, and international students need good Spanish for Spanish-taught degrees.

For holders of a foreign degree, Royal Decree 889/2022 provides homologación (access to a regulated profession in Spain), declaración de equivalencia (which certifies the academic level, bachelor's or master's) and convalidación (recognition of courses to continue studying in Spain).

Costs and visa

The autonomous communities set the fees for official degrees at public universities; private universities set their own. Students from outside the EU who will study for more than 90 days need a student visa from the Spanish consulate, with proof of means equal to 100% of the IPREM, which the Universidad Complutense de Madrid gives as €600 per month of study in 2026, and health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods.

Careers

According to the Universidad de Salamanca, Sociology graduates work in teaching, research, social intervention and consultancy, with social groups and in the human-resources and customer side of public and private organisations. Political Science graduates find work in the civil service at local, regional, national and EU level, in political institutions, in polling (demoscopia) and in consultancy. Civil service posts require passing competitive public examinations (oposiciones).

Frequently asked questions

Is there a degree called "Social Sciences" in Spain?

Not as a single degree. The field is covered by separate bachelor's degrees in Sociology, Political Science and Anthropology, each of 240 ECTS credits over four years.

Can I study social sciences in English in Spain?

Most degrees are taught in Spanish. Some include English: the Universidad de Salamanca teaches its Anthropology degree in Spanish and English, and IE Universidad lists a Bachelor in Political Science in RUCT.

Can I study sociology online?

Yes. UNED and the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya both have an official bachelor's degree in Sociology listed in RUCT.

What can I do after a social science degree?

You can take a master's degree, work in research, consultancy, social intervention or polling, or prepare the competitive examinations for the civil service.