Study in Bilbao, Spain

About Bilbao

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country, in northern Spain, with 351,124 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). It lies near the Bay of Biscay and is the capital of the province of Bizkaia. Once known for heavy industry, the city has, in the words of one of its design schools, reinvented itself through culture, design and innovation.

For students, Bilbao offers a compact, walkable city with a strong local identity and good services. It is also bilingual: under the Basque Statute of Autonomy, Basque (euskera) and Spanish are both official languages in the Basque Country. Daily life works in Spanish, but some university courses and public services also use Basque.

Studying in Bilbao

Our directory lists 16 active schools in Bilbao: 7 universities and other higher-education centres, 5 language schools, 2 vocational and professional schools and 2 primary and secondary schools. The Universidad de Deusto has its Bilbao campus on Avenida de las Universidades, where its Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas is based. Its qualifications include the university's own master's programmes, for example a master's in group analytic psychotherapy taught with the Fundación OMIE. Law, economics, psychology, teacher training and language and literature degrees are among the subjects that appear most often in our Bilbao listings.

The city has several public and private centres for the arts and hospitality. Dantzerti, the higher school of drama and dance of the Basque Government's education department, offers bachelor's-level degrees in Drama (Arte Dramático) and Dance, with entrance exams. IED Kunsthal Bilbao is a school of design, fashion and art. The Escuela Superior de Hostelería de Bilbao (Artxanda), a private school with public funding approved by the Basque Government, teaches two-year official vocational qualifications such as cooking and gastronomy (grado medio). Families can choose international options such as the Deutsche Schule Bilbao (Colegio Alemán San Bonifacio), which has more than 100 years of history in the city.

Learning Spanish in Bilbao

Bilbao is a good choice for learners who want an authentic Spanish-speaking city with fewer tourists than the Mediterranean coast. The Instituto Hemingway, teaching in Bilbao since 1999, is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes and is a member of FEDELE; courses start every Monday all year. Exchange students at the public university (EHU) can take free Spanish and Basque courses. Typical options include:

• standard and intensive group courses
• one-to-one lessons
• exam and certificate preparation
• accommodation arranged by the school
• introductory Basque classes

Cost of living for students

Rent is the main expense for most students. We have not found an official figure for student rents or a current fare table from the city's transport operators, so check prices with your school before you arrive. Public transport in Bizkaia uses the rechargeable Barik card, which can be topped up at the Bizkaibus customer desk in the airport arrivals hall.

Getting around and daily life

The centre, the old town and the riverside are easy to explore on foot, and metro, trams and buses connect the city with its suburbs and the coast. Bilbao Airport is linked to the city by Bizkaibus line A3247, which runs between the Termibus station and the airport every 15 minutes, with stops on Gran Vía, according to Aena.

The climate is mild and wet. At the AEMET Bilbao Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 9.3 °C in January and 20.4 °C in July, and January brings about 120 mm of rain. An umbrella and a waterproof jacket are useful all year.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Basque to study in Bilbao?

No, in most cases. Basque and Spanish are both official in the Basque Country, and Spanish is enough for daily life and for many programmes. Some university courses are taught in Basque, so check the language of each course.

Is Bilbao a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes. Bilbao has Spanish schools such as the Instituto Hemingway, accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, with courses starting every week, and exchange students at the public university can take free Spanish courses.

How do I get from Bilbao airport to the city centre?

Bizkaibus line A3247 links the airport with the Termibus bus station every 15 minutes, with stops in the centre such as Gran Vía.

What is the weather like in Bilbao?

Mild and rainy. Average temperatures are about 9 °C in January and 20 °C in July (AEMET, 1981-2010), and it rains often throughout the year.