Study in Burgos, Spain

About Burgos

Burgos is a provincial capital in Castile and León, in northern Spain, with 177,402 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). Its Gothic cathedral and the Camino de Santiago, which crosses the city, are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Universidad de Burgos describes the city as medium-sized and as the main industrial centre of Castile and León.

For students, Burgos offers a public university of moderate size, a compact historic centre and a strong link between study and local industry. It suits students who want to study in Spanish in a city where daily life is less expensive and less crowded than in Madrid or Barcelona, while staying on the main rail line between Madrid and the north.

Studying in Burgos

Our directory lists 3 active schools in Burgos: 2 universities and other higher-education centres and 1 online university. The Universidad de Burgos (UBU) is a public university created in 1994, when it separated from the Universidad de Valladolid, to which its colleges had belonged since 1972. It has almost 10,000 students, according to its own history page, on two campuses: the Campus del Vena and the Campus de San Amaro, around the Hospital del Rey, a former pilgrims' hospital founded in 1195 that now houses the rectorate and the Faculty of Law. The UBU currently offers 26 bachelor's degrees (grados), 5 of them both online and face to face and 2 bilingual in English and Spanish, as well as 7 double degrees, 27 master's degrees, 13 doctoral programmes and 16 of its own qualifications (títulos propios). It is part of the European university alliance RUN-EU, and it publishes a list of courses taught in English or suitable for English speakers for exchange students.

The university's Centro Internacional del Español runs Spanish courses all year round, online courses and official DELE, CCSE and SIELE exams. International UBU students who cannot certify level B1 must take an intensive Spanish course before the semester starts.

The Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño de Burgos (EASD Burgos) is a school of art and design in a building on Calle Sahagún, in use since January 2012. It offers higher studies in Fashion Design and Product Design, advanced and intermediate vocational cycles in animation, photography, illustration and leather crafts, and the arts track of the bachillerato. The Fashion Design degree lasts four years (240 ECTS credits), is taught face to face in Spanish and leads to the title of Graduado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Diseño.

The Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla (UI1) is an online university whose campus is in the historic centre of Burgos, a few metres from the cathedral. Its five faculties are based there, and students can choose to sit exams online or in person, depending on the programme.

Cost of living for students

Housing is the main cost. The UBU runs its own hall, the Residencia Universitaria "Camino de Santiago", a mixed residence with 78 places. For the 2026-27 academic year, a new resident pays €756 a month for a place in a double room and €888 a month for a single room, VAT included, with full board, cleaning and internet included, according to the university. Prices are lower for returning residents. The university's accommodation page also lists other residences in the city that are not linked to the UBU and a programme in which students share a home with older people.

We did not find an official page with current city bus fares, so check the city council's mobility office for student passes. Many students walk or cycle: the public bike service BICIBUR runs 24 hours a day and is open to residents who study in Burgos, even if they are not registered on the municipal roll.

Getting around and daily life

The historic centre, the cathedral and the UI1 campus are within walking distance of each other, and city buses link the centre with the university campuses and the outer districts. Renfe runs AVE and long-distance trains from Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor to Burgos Rosa Manzano station; the first train of the day leaves Madrid at 07:15. Burgos has a small airport of its own, run by Aena, with a city bus line from Plaza España. For international flights, most students use Bilbao airport, about 176 km away, or Madrid, about 231 km away.

At 891 metres above sea level, Burgos has cold winters and mild summers. At the AEMET Burgos Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 3.1 °C in January, with average night-time lows of -0.8 °C, and 19.5 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 27.6 °C. The station records about 546 mm of rain and 18.5 days of snow a year, so warm clothes are essential from November to March.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Burgos?

The public Universidad de Burgos, created in 1994, has almost 10,000 students on two campuses. The online Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla also has its campus in the city centre.

Can I learn Spanish in Burgos?

Yes. The UBU's Centro Internacional del Español offers Spanish courses all year round and is a centre for the DELE, CCSE and SIELE exams. International UBU students without a B1 level take an intensive course before the semester.

How much does student accommodation cost in Burgos?

At the UBU's Residencia Universitaria "Camino de Santiago", a new resident pays €756 a month in a double room and €888 a month in a single room with full board in 2026-27. Private residences and shared flats are the main alternatives.

What is the weather like in Burgos?

Winters are cold, with an average of 3.1 °C in January and average lows below freezing, and summers are mild, with average highs of 27.6 °C in July (AEMET normals 1981-2010).