Study in Valencia, Spain

About Valencia

Valencia is the capital of the Valencian Community and one of the largest cities in Spain, with 840,792 registered inhabitants on 1 January 2025, according to the national statistics office (INE). It lies on the Mediterranean coast, between the sea and the fertile huerta farmland, and combines a large historic centre with beaches and modern districts such as the City of Arts and Sciences.

Students choose Valencia for its range of universities, its many Spanish schools and its everyday quality of life: a mild climate, a flat city that is easy to cross by bike or metro, and a cost of living that is usually below Madrid and Barcelona.

Studying in Valencia

Our directory lists 40 active schools in Valencia, including 18 universities and other higher-education centres, 11 language schools, 4 vocational and professional schools, 3 primary and secondary schools and 1 online provider. The Universitat de València (UV) is the oldest: its constitutions were drawn up on 30 October 1499 and it was authorised by a papal bull in 1501. The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) is a public technological university with just over 50 years of history and campuses in Vera (Valencia), Alcoy and Gandia. It offers 40 bachelor's degrees and 13 double degrees, and states that 6.9% of its bachelor's students and 20.7% of its master's students are international.

Private options include the Universidad Europea de Valencia, which offers degrees in Spanish and in English, and the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir (UCV), whose Study Abroad @UCV programme offers courses in English and Spanish and is a member of the Association of American Programs in Spain (APUNE). Valencia also has public schools of higher arts education, such as the Conservatori Superior de Dansa de València Nacho Duato, whose four-year programme leads to the official Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Danza, the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny (EASD), with more than 175 years of history, and the Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático (ESAD). Berklee Valencia, the campus of the Berklee College of Music, offers graduate programmes in music.

For vocational training, centres such as Capitol Formación Profesional offer official FP qualifications at grado medio and grado superior level, in the classroom and online, in areas such as business administration, marketing, international trade and early childhood education. The most frequent subjects in our Valencia listings are Spanish language courses, nursing, business administration, law, dentistry, economics and physiotherapy.

Learning Spanish in Valencia

Valencia is one of Spain's main destinations for Spanish courses. The Instituto Cervantes lists more than 20 accredited centres in the city, among them 2Day Languages, AIP Language Institute, Conversa Spanish Institute, Costa de Valencia, Españolé International House, Euroace, Hispania, Intereuropa, Route 66 Idiomas and Taronja. Intereuropa, for example, was founded in 1998 in the historic centre, and Españolé occupies a restored Gothic palace in the El Carmen neighbourhood. Typical options include:

• intensive group courses all year, from A1 to C2
• DELE and SIELE exam preparation
• preparation for the DELE A2 and CCSE exams for Spanish nationality
• private and online lessons
• accommodation in host families, shared flats or university residences

Residents can also study Spanish and Valencian at the public Escola Oficial d'Idiomes València-Saïdia.

Cost of living for students

Rent is the largest expense, and prices vary a lot between the historic centre, the university districts around Avenida Blasco Ibáñez and the outer neighbourhoods. No official source publishes typical student rents, so compare offers from the universities, the language schools and private listings.

Public transport is affordable for young people. For the first half of 2026, Valencia city council kept the discounted EMT bus fares: the EMT Jove pass gives people under 30 unlimited travel on the EMT network for €12.50 a month, and the Bonobús multi-trip card costs €5.10 instead of €8.50. Check the current price with EMT before you arrive, as the discounts are renewed by the council.

Getting around and daily life

Valencia is flat and compact, and most students get around by bus, metro, bike or on foot. Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 connect Valencia airport with the city centre; line 3 also serves the university area, with trains about every 15 minutes on weekdays. High-speed trains run from Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes to València Joaquín Sorolla station, and both stations are in the city centre.

The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. At the AEMET station at Valencia airport, the average temperature for 1981-2010 is 10.5 °C in January and 25.5 °C in July, with about 461 mm of rain a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is Valencia a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes. The Instituto Cervantes lists more than 20 accredited Spanish schools in Valencia, with courses all year, exam preparation and help with accommodation.

Which universities are in Valencia?

The public Universitat de València, founded at the end of the 15th century, and the Universitat Politècnica de València, plus private universities such as the Universidad Católica de Valencia and the Universidad Europea de Valencia.

Can I study in English in Valencia?

Some programmes are taught in English, for example degrees at the Universidad Europea de Valencia, Study Abroad @UCV and Berklee Valencia's graduate programmes. Most degrees at the public universities are taught in Spanish or Valencian, so check the language of each programme.

How much does public transport cost for students in Valencia?

In the first half of 2026, people under 30 could use EMT buses without limit for €12.50 a month with the EMT Jove pass, according to the city council.

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

Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 run from the airport to the city centre, with trains about every 15 minutes on weekdays.