Biology Schools and Programs in Spain

Biology Studies in Spain

Biology is the study of living things at every level, from molecules and cells to organisms, populations and ecosystems. The Universidad de Murcia describes its degree as covering the morphology, systematics, structure, function and interaction of living beings, with each other and with their environment. In Spain biology is taught as a four-year bachelor's degree at many public and private universities, and it leads on to master's degrees, research and work in health, the environment and industry.

How the degree is organised

Under Royal Decree 822/2021, a Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and an officially recognised master's degree 60, 90 or 120 credits; a doctorate follows the master's. The Grado en Biología follows this model: four years and 240 ECTS credits at universities such as the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad de Navarra. The first years build a base in physics, chemistry, mathematics and biostatistics, and later years cover the biological fields themselves. At the Universidad de Murcia these include anthropology, cell biology, biochemistry, botany, ecology, genetics, immunology, microbiology and zoology. The Universidad de Salamanca, which has taught its degree since 2009-10, presents it as the study of the structure, function and interaction of living beings and of how this knowledge is applied in professional practice.

All official degrees are listed in the Ministry's Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos (RUCT). A search for "Biología" returns 40 bachelor's degree records, including the general Biology degree at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad de Granada and the Universidad de León, and more specialised degrees such as Biología Ambiental (Environmental Biology) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Biología Sanitaria (Health Biology) at the Universidad de Alcalá. Some records belong to older plans being phased out ("a extinguir"), so it is worth checking that a degree is still open before applying.

Master's degrees and research

After the bachelor's degree, students specialise with an official master's degree, often of 60 credits in one year. One example is the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid's Máster Universitario en Microbiología: one year (60 ECTS), taught in Spanish, with 28 places and two pathways, environmental and health. It accepts graduates in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science or similar fields. The approximate first-enrolment price is €2,736, or €5,079 for non-EU students who are not residents (UAM, 2026). A doctorate is the route to a research career.

Where to study biology in Spain

Our directory lists 33 schools in Spain that teach biology. The cities with most of them are Madrid, Barcelona, Murcia and León, and there are options across the country, from Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo to Cádiz, Badajoz, Jaén and La Laguna in Tenerife. Most degrees are taught in Spanish. Some universities add English: the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona teaches its degree in Spanish and English and offers an International Science Program in which the first year, the electives and the final project are taken in English.

Admission and language

Places are limited, and admission to a public university depends on the entry grade. At the Universidad de Murcia the degree has 90 places for new students, and the cut-off grade for 2025-26 was 9.056. Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually start with UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' academic records for admission to Spanish bachelor's degrees, and then apply to each university, which sets its own admission criteria. For master's degrees taught in Spanish, non-Spanish-speaking applicants may need to prove level B2: the UAM's microbiology master's asks for it.

Recognition of the qualification

To use a foreign university degree in Spain, Royal Decree 889/2022 sets out three routes: homologation (homologación), which gives access to a regulated profession; a declaration of equivalence, which certifies the academic level (bachelor's or master's); and the recognition of individual subjects to continue studying. Biology is not on the ministry's list of regulated professions eligible for homologation, so a foreign biology degree is usually recognised through a declaration of equivalence.

Careers

Biology graduates work in research and in many applied fields. The Universidad de Navarra lists the environment (environmental management and consulting, pollution control), health (clinical analysis, clinical biochemistry, microbiology and parasitology) and industry (waste management, research, development and control of biological processes, biotechnology). The Universidad de Murcia mentions placements in hospitals, technology and agri-food companies, protected natural areas and schools. There are no official employment statistics specific to biology on this page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a biology degree take in Spain?

A bachelor's degree in Biology takes four years and has 240 ECTS credits. A master's degree usually adds one year of 60 credits.

Can I study biology in English in Spain?

Most biology degrees are taught in Spanish. Some universities teach part of the degree in English, such as the Universidad de Navarra, whose International Science Program takes the first year, electives and final project in English.

How do I apply with a school-leaving qualification from another country?

Most international applicants start with UNEDasiss, which assesses foreign school records for admission to Spanish bachelor's degrees. They then apply to each university, which sets its own criteria and number of places.

Do I need homologation to work as a biologist in Spain with a foreign degree?

Biology is not on the ministry's list of regulated professions for homologation. A declaration of equivalence certifies the academic level of a foreign bachelor's or master's degree.