Exploring the Benefits of Studying in Spain for International Students
Spain attracts international students for full degrees, exchange semesters and Spanish courses. This post sets out the main reasons to study in Spain and the points to check before applying: how degrees are structured, how tuition fees are set, what the Spanish language offers, how admission to a bachelor’s degree works for holders of foreign school certificates, and what the rules say about visas and work. The facts were checked on official pages in October 2026.
Degrees within the European system
Spanish universities follow the three-stage European structure. Royal Decree 822/2021 sets it out: a bachelor’s degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, except those that European rules fix at 300 or 360 credits; a master’s degree has 60, 90 or 120 credits; the doctorate follows. Credits and degrees are therefore comparable with those of other European countries.
Students enrolled at a university elsewhere in Europe can also come for part of their degree. Under Erasmus+, a long-term study period abroad lasts from 2 to 12 months. Erasmus+ students do not pay tuition, registration or examination fees at the receiving institution.
Several Spanish universities appear in international rankings. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the first five from Spain are:
- University of Barcelona (joint 145th)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (183rd)
- Pompeu Fabra University (joint 187th)
- University of Navarra (251–300 band)
- Autonomous University of Madrid (351–400 band)
A ranking measures research and teaching as a whole. It says little about one particular degree, so compare programmes as well. The directory lists the universities in Spain.
Tuition fees at public and private universities
Public universities charge “public prices” that are set every year for each type of degree. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities publishes a yearly statistic of these prices, with the average price per credit for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and the prices published in each region’s official bulletin. The amount on the invoice depends on the region, the degree and the number of credits taken.
Two points matter for international students:
- Some universities apply a different price list to foreign students. The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, for example, publishes its prices per credit and a separate document with prices for foreign students. Always ask the university which price applies to your nationality and residence status.
- Private universities set their own fees, so the university’s own fee page is the only reliable source.
Older versions of this post gave “from” prices per city. They could not be confirmed on official pages and have been removed.
A language with a large community
Studying in Spain means daily contact with Spanish. According to the 2025 yearbook of the Instituto Cervantes, potential speakers of Spanish exceed 630 million worldwide. The community of native speakers reached 520 million in 2025 and is the third largest in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.
Most bachelor’s degrees are taught in Spanish. Some universities also offer degrees or groups taught in English (the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid lists its bachelor’s degrees in English, for example), and the university’s page for each degree states the language of instruction. Students who need to prove their level can take the DELE diplomas of the Instituto Cervantes. They cover all CEFR levels from A1 to C2, are officially valid and do not expire. Many students take a language course first: see the list of Spanish language courses in Spain.
Admission to a bachelor’s degree with a foreign school certificate
Admission does not go through one single exam. UNEDasiss, a service of the distance university UNED, assesses the school records of international students and runs the exams they need for bachelor’s degrees. Its accreditation converts the grades of the home country to the Spanish scale. There are two main routes:
- European Union, European Higher Education Area, International Baccalaureate, European Schools, China and Colombia: students who meet the university entrance requirements of their own system apply with the UNEDasiss accreditation. They can sit specific competence tests (PCE) to raise their admission grade; UNEDasiss recommends at least 2.
- Other countries: students must meet the requirements for recognition (homologación) of their studies as equivalent to the Spanish bachillerato. For a public university they need the accreditation and PCE exams; UNEDasiss recommends at least 4 subjects.
The admission system differs between public and private universities, and private universities apply their own procedure. Universities may also ask for proof of language level. UNEDasiss advises students to check the admission criteria with the university first, and to prepare documents early because they must be legalised and translated. The PAU, the entrance exam taken by pupils of the Spanish school system, is not the usual route for applicants from abroad.
Visa and work during the studies
Citizens of countries outside the European Union need a study visa for stays of more than 90 days. The consular information of the Spanish foreign ministry lists the main documents:
- proof of acceptance at an authorised teaching centre for a full-time programme
- proof of financial means, with a minimum equal to 100% of the Spanish IPREM indicator
- health insurance with a company authorised to operate in Spain, without co-payments or waiting periods
Study stays of less than 90 days do not require a study visa, although a short-stay visa may be needed depending on nationality.
Holders of a study authorisation may work alongside their studies. The immigration regulation approved by Royal Decree 1155/2024 allows employed or self-employed work that is compatible with the studies. As a general rule the work may not exceed thirty hours a week, and it is limited to the autonomous community where the authorisation was granted. The same regulation has a procedure for moving from a study stay to a residence and work permit, so staying on after graduation is possible under its conditions.
Before you apply
- Choose the degree and the university first, then check its admission criteria and language of instruction.
- Ask the university for the tuition price that applies to you.
- Start the UNEDasiss accreditation and, if required, the recognition of your school certificate well before the university’s deadline.
- Apply for the visa at the Spanish consulate for your place of residence once you have the letter of acceptance.
The directory’s overview of schools in Spain and the city pages help to compare places to study.
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