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Architecture Schools and Programs in Spain

40 schools in Spain teach Architecture.

Bachelor in Architectural Studies

The Bachelor in Architectural Studies program gets students ready to change the world and create important surroundings. This program has a project-based approach and a varied body of lecturers and students. It combines technical, environmental, creative and social elements and is forward-thinking and ground-breaking in its approach and energy. IE School of Architecture and Design teaches students to understand the essential skills and tools of architecture, whilst at the same time, encouraging them to consider and give real thought to how the skills and tools could be used in the future. The Bachelor in Architectural Studies degree fosters a select internship program that allows students to gain important work experience in some of the most respected studios around the world. This is all thanks to the international recognition bestowed on IE School of Architecture and Design’s. The Bachelor in Architectural Studies program takes five years to complete and it gives students access to the one-year Master in Architecture. To achieve professional licensure in Spain and the European Union this is required.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Segovia

Master in Architectural Management and Design

The Master in Architectural Management and Design program is geared towards undergraduate students in Architecture, Architectural Design and other associated studies. The aim of the program is to enrich professional vocations by integrating business intelligence in that area. The Master will give the students the required tools and knowledge to open up prestigious positions in prominent companies and architecture studios. This Master will even provide students with the knowhow needed to set up their own business. The Master in Architectural Management and Design program can be studied in Madrid and will take thirteen months to complete.
Level: Graduate  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Segovia

Architecture Studies in Spain

Architecture is a regulated profession in Spain. To practise as an architect (arquitecto) you need two official qualifications: a bachelor's degree (grado) in architecture followed by the qualifying master's degree, the Máster Universitario en Arquitectura. Both are taught in schools of architecture, often called ETSA (Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura), at public and private universities across the country.

How the architecture degree is organised

The structure is set by a ministerial order, Orden EDU/2075/2010. The bachelor's degree has 300 ECTS credits and the qualifying master's degree 60 ECTS credits, and the bachelor's must be completed before the master's. This makes architecture an exception to the general Spanish rule: under Royal Decree 822/2021, bachelor's degrees normally have 240 credits, except those that European rules require to have 300 or 360. The Universidad de Navarra, for example, lists its bachelor's as 300 credits over five years and its master's as 60 credits over 12 months.

The bachelor's degree goes by different names. The national register of official degrees (RUCT) lists, among others, the Grado en Fundamentos de Arquitectura, the Grado en Estudios de Arquitectura and the Grado en Arquitectura. The master's name is protected: no programme may use the name Máster Universitario en Arquitectura unless it meets the official conditions. Do not confuse these degrees with the Grado en Arquitectura Técnica, a separate degree for the building engineering profession.

The curriculum combines a foundation block (basic sciences and drawing), a technical block (construction, structures and building services) and a design block (composition, architectural design and urban planning), with much of the teaching in studio workshops. The bachelor's ends with a final degree project. The master's ends with the proyecto fin de carrera (30 credits): an original project, done individually and defended before a university panel once all bachelor's and master's credits are complete.

Admission and language

Applicants with a secondary school qualification from outside Spain usually start with UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' academic records and runs the tests some universities require for admission to bachelor's degrees. Each university sets its own admission criteria, and applications go to each university within its own deadlines. Some private universities add their own tests: UIC Barcelona's School of Architecture, for example, lists admission tests for prospective students.

The qualifying master's is designed for holders of a Spanish architecture bachelor's degree. Spanish rules let universities admit holders of non-EHEA degrees to master's programmes without homologación once they have checked the level of the degree, but for architecture you should confirm the entry requirements with each school.

Most programmes are taught in Spanish; the Universidad de Navarra lists Spanish as the language of both its bachelor's and its master's. In regions with a co-official language, check the language of each course in the course guide before you enrol.

Where to study architecture in Spain

Barcelona and Madrid have the most schools listed on this page, followed by A Coruña and Seville. Some examples:

  • Madrid: the ETSAM of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid offers the Grado en Fundamentos de la Arquitectura and the Máster Habilitante en Arquitectura. In the Madrid region, the Universidad CEU San Pablo, the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria and the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio also offer official architecture bachelor's degrees.
  • Barcelona: the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and the Universitat Ramon Llull offer the Grado en Estudios de Arquitectura and the Máster Universitario en Arquitectura. UIC Barcelona offers a bachelor's degree in Architecture, an international double bachelor's degree with the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires and a doctorate in architecture studies.
  • Other cities: the Universidad de Sevilla (Grado en Fundamentos de Arquitectura), the Universidad de Granada, the Universidade da Coruña and the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, whose qualifying master's is taught in Pamplona and Madrid. The Universidad de Valladolid, the Universidad de Zaragoza, the Universidad del País Vasco and the Universitat Politècnica de València also offer the Máster Universitario en Arquitectura.

Recognition of the qualification

All official degrees appear in the RUCT, where you can check the exact name of a programme and the university that awards it. Because architecture is a regulated profession, a degree obtained outside Spain needs homologación before you can practise as an architect in Spain; a declaration of equivalence only certifies the academic level (bachelor's or master's). Both procedures are governed by Royal Decree 889/2022. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland with an official qualification for a regulated profession can instead apply for professional recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC.

Careers

The qualifying master's gives access to the profession of architect: designing buildings and producing building and construction projects, directing building works, urban projects and planning, and working on the conservation, restoration and renovation of existing buildings. Architects also work in construction and real estate companies, in public administration, in interior and landscape design, and in research and teaching.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to become an architect in Spain?

Usually six years: a 300-credit bachelor's degree, normally completed in five years, followed by a 60-credit qualifying master's degree, normally completed in one year.

Is a bachelor's degree in architecture enough to work as an architect in Spain?

No. The profession of architect requires both the official bachelor's degree and the Máster Universitario en Arquitectura.

Can I study architecture in Spain in English?

Most programmes are taught in Spanish. Some universities register their degrees with an English name as well, such as IE Universidad's Bachelor in Architectural Studies, but check the language of instruction directly with the university.

How do I get a foreign architecture degree recognised in Spain?

To practise, you need homologación under Royal Decree 889/2022; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can apply for professional recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC.