Study in Alicante, Spain

About Alicante

Alicante (Alacant in Valencian) is a port city on the Mediterranean coast, in the south of the Valencian Community, and the capital of the province of the same name. It had 366,221 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the official municipal population figures of Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). Spanish and Valencian are both used in public life, so signs and official information often appear in both languages.

For students, Alicante is a medium-sized city with a mild, sunny climate, a city beach close to the centre and an international airport a short bus ride away. Most international students come for Spanish courses of a few weeks or months, but the city also has higher education in music, dance and design, and a British international school for families who move with children.

Studying in Alicante

Our directory lists 10 active schools in Alicante: 6 language schools, 3 higher-education centres and 1 primary and secondary school. Spanish for foreigners is the largest group. Colegio Internacional Alicante was founded in 1998 by a small cooperative of teachers of Spanish as a foreign language. Proyecto Español, which also has schools in Madrid, Barcelona and Granada, is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes and prepares students for the DELE and SIELE exams. Academia de idiomas Ya Hablas has taught in Alicante since 2010 and offers more than 15 languages, and other schools in the city focus on English for local learners.

The public Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Alicante has departments for 11 languages, among them Spanish, English, French, German, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian; it suits learners who stay for a full academic year. In higher arts education, the Conservatorio Superior de Música "Óscar Esplá" awards the Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Música and offers a Máster en Interpretación e Investigación de la Música. The Conservatorio Superior de Danza de Alicante teaches dance pedagogy and choreography and performance, and the Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño de Alicante (EASDA) offers degrees in fashion, interior, graphic and product design, as well as higher vocational cycles in fields such as illustration, advertising graphics and photography. King's College School, Alicante, a private British school, teaches children from 2 to 18.

Teaching at the conservatories, the design school and the official language school is mainly in Spanish, so check the language of instruction and any language requirement before you apply. Private language schools teach Spanish from beginner level.

Cost of living for students

Rent is the largest expense for most students. We have not found an official source for typical student rents in Alicante, so we do not quote a figure; many language schools arrange homestays or shared flats, and it is worth comparing their prices with private offers before you commit.

Public transport is inexpensive. Under the fares in force from 1 October 2026, a single ticket in zone A of the TAM system, which covers the integrated city and metropolitan buses and zone A of the TRAM d'Alacant, costs €1.50. A 10-trip Bono Móbilis Multiviaje costs €9.00, the 30-day Bono Móbilis Mensual €35.00 and the 30-day Bono Móbilis Mensual Jove for young people €29.75; both monthly passes give unlimited travel for 30 days, according to FGV, the regional rail company that runs the TRAM. Between 1 October and 31 December 2026, several tickets carry temporary reductions of 40% or 50%, among them a 50% reduction on the 30-trip Bono Móbilis Jove, so check the current price when you arrive.

Getting around and daily life

The city centre, the seafront and the old town are easy to explore on foot. The TRAM d'Alacant light rail links the centre with the northern districts and the coast; zone A includes lines 2, 3, 4 and 5 in full and line 1 from Luceros to Venta Lanuza. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is connected to the city by bus line C-6, which runs every day of the year, stops at the railway station and connects with the TRAM at Alfonso X El Sabio and Plaza de los Luceros, according to Aena.

By rail, AVE, Avlo and long-distance trains link Alicante/Alacant Terminal with Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes. Both stations are in the city centre, and the first train from Madrid leaves at 06:30, according to Renfe.

Alicante has a dry Mediterranean climate. At the AEMET Alicante/Alacant station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 11.7 °C in January and 25.5 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 30.3 °C. Annual rainfall averages only 311 mm, and the station records about 2,850 hours of sunshine a year. Light clothing is enough for most of the year, but summer courses can be hot.

Frequently asked questions

Is Alicante a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes. Six of the ten schools in our Alicante listings are language schools, and several teach Spanish to foreigners all year. Proyecto Español is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes and offers DELE and SIELE exam preparation.

How much does public transport cost for a student in Alicante?

From 1 October 2026 a single zone A ticket costs €1.50 and the 30-day Bono Móbilis Mensual Jove €29.75, valid on buses and zone A of the TRAM. Temporary discounts of 40% or 50% apply to several tickets until 31 December 2026 (FGV).

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

Bus line C-6 runs every day between the airport terminal and the centre of Alicante, with a stop at the railway station and connections to the TRAM at Luceros and Alfonso X El Sabio.

Can I study music, dance or design in Alicante?

Yes. The city has a higher music conservatory, a higher dance conservatory and a school of art and design, the EASDA, which teaches design degrees and higher vocational cycles. Courses are mainly taught in Spanish.