Top Universities in Spain & IELTS Requirements

Updated on 9 October 2026

This post lists the Spanish universities that are placed highest in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027. It also reports the English-language requirements that several Spanish universities publish for programmes taught in English. The positions are reproduced as THE publishes them. Each language requirement comes from the university’s own admission page, as it read in October 2026.

Spanish universities in the THE World University Rankings 2027

The THE World University Rankings 2027 cover 2,297 institutions from 118 countries and territories. Eleven Spanish universities appear in the first 800 places. Three have an exact position. The others are placed in bands, because THE does not publish exact positions lower down the list. An equals sign means that the position is shared with another university.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), whose requirements are described below, is in the 801–1000 band. THE lists most of these universities under English names, for example University of Barcelona and Autonomous University of Madrid.

Other rankings use different indicators and place the same universities differently. A position describes a whole institution, not a single degree, so it is a starting point for a choice and not a verdict on a programme.

How IELTS scores work

IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is one of the certificates that Spanish universities accept as proof of English. According to IELTS, results are given on a 9-band scale and are reported in whole and half bands. The overall band score is the average of the four section scores (listening, reading, writing and speaking), rounded to the nearest half band. IELTS describes band 6 as a competent user and band 7 as a good user.

IELTS recommends that results are considered valid for two years after the test. Organisations that accept IELTS can decide to accept results for longer, so the university’s own rule is the one that counts.

English requirements published by the universities

There is no single IELTS score for a Spanish university. Requirements are set for each programme, and many are expressed as a level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) instead of an IELTS band. The examples below show the range.

• IE University: all programmes are taught fully in English and every candidate’s English is assessed during admission. Non-native speakers need a certificate unless they qualify for an exemption. The application page lists IELTS with a minimum of 7 points (7.5 recommended), TOEFL with a minimum score of 100, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, and the Duolingo English Test with a minimum of 130. IE University accepts certificates for two years from the date of the exam.
• UC3M, bachelor’s degrees: students do not need a certificate to apply for a group taught in English. According to the Study in English page, they must prove a B2 level of English during the first year, with an accepted official certificate or a level test run by the university.
• UC3M, Master in Finance: the programme page asks for an official C1 English diploma covering listening, reading, speaking and writing. For IELTS it gives the range 7.0 – 8.0. Native English speakers and applicants who completed their undergraduate degree in English are exempt.
• UAB, master’s degree in Political Science: applicants must show English equivalent to CEFR level B2. The admission requirements say this can be done with official certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL, or with earlier university studies taken in English. No IELTS band is stated. The UAB master’s degree in Economic Analysis also asks for English equivalent to level B2.
• UPC, master’s degree in Data Science: the degree is taught entirely in English and, according to the programme page, applicants must certify a B2 level of English or equivalent.
• Universidad de Navarra, Master in Economics and Finance: the admission page asks for proof of English and lists IELTS with an overall score above 6.0, internet-based TOEFL above 90, TOEIC above 790 or a Cambridge certificate at B2 level or higher.

In these examples the published requirement runs from CEFR level B2 to C1, and the IELTS scores that are stated run from above 6.0 to 7 or more. The websites of the Universitat de Barcelona and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra could not be read when this post was checked, so their requirements are not reported here.

Before applying

THE notes that the majority of courses in Spain are taught in Spanish, with a number of courses in English at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. A programme taught in Spanish asks for proof of Spanish, not IELTS. The language of instruction is stated on each programme page.

• Read the admission page of the exact programme. Two degrees at the same university can ask for different levels.
• Check which certificates are accepted, the minimum score and how old the certificate may be.
• Ask about exemptions if earlier studies were taught in English.
• For a bachelor’s degree, check whether the certificate is needed for admission or can be handed in later, as at UC3M.

The directory lists universities in Spain and all schools in Spain. The post on the Spanish education system explains how degrees are organised.

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