Study in Santiago de Compostela, Spain

About Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is a historic city in Galicia, in north-west Spain, and the end point of the Way of St James pilgrimage routes, whose cathedral and old town draw visitors from all over the world. It had 100,965 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). That makes it a small city in which the university plays a very large role.

Students choose Santiago for its university tradition, its compact old town and its lower pace of life compared with Spain's big cities. Galicia has two official languages: under the Statute of Autonomy, Galician (galego) is Galicia's own language, and both Galician and Spanish are official. Spanish is enough for daily life, but you will see Galician on signs, in public services and in some university classes.

Studying in Santiago de Compostela

Our directory lists 10 active schools in Santiago de Compostela: 4 universities and other higher-education centres, 2 language schools, 1 vocational and professional school and 3 primary and secondary schools. The public Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC) has been a university since 1495. It had 25,396 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 2024-25 and 36 teaching centres on two campuses, Santiago and Lugo. It offers 205 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes in 2025-26 and 1,675 of its students took part in mobility programmes such as Erasmus+. Its Centro de Linguas Modernas (CLM) organises language courses and its own B1, B2 and C1 exams.

The other higher-education centres include the EASD Mestre Mateo, a public school of art and design. It teaches higher degrees in Fashion Design and Product Design and higher vocational programmes in photography, sculpture techniques and jewellery. The Instituto Europeo Campus Stellae, active since 1989, offers master's programmes and courses, many of them online. The Universidad Intercontinental de la Empresa (UIE), a private university, has its institutional seat in the city and its campuses in A Coruña and Vigo. For hospitality, the Centro Superior de Hostelería de Galicia teaches degrees in hotel management and gastronomy and a chef course.

For families, the options include Chester College International School in nearby Teo, which describes itself as Galicia's first international school and has a residence for boarders. Semente Compostela is a Galician-language school for children aged 2 to 12, approved by the Galician government and accredited by NEASC. Montessori Compostela is an international Montessori school.

Learning Spanish in Santiago de Compostela

Santiago is a good choice for learners who want to live among local students rather than in a resort town. Academia Iria Flavia, a small family-run school, has taught Spanish since 1994. It offers intensive courses, courses for school groups and training for Spanish teachers, prepares students for the CCSE exam, and helps with accommodation, activities, insurance and visas. The public Escola Oficial de Idiomas de Santiago de Compostela teaches Spanish as well as Galician, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Cost of living for students

We have not found an official figure for student rents in Santiago. The USC offers 1,151 places in 3 university residences and 3 colegios mayores (2025-26). For the 2025-26 year its residence service offered 960 rooms, with applications closing in June. Places are limited, so it is worth applying early; the alternative is a room in a shared flat.

Getting around and daily life

The old town and the university areas can be explored on foot, and city buses cover the rest of Santiago. Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport is just outside the city. Bus line 6A links it with the centre, and other lines run from the airport to Lugo and A Coruña, according to Aena.

The climate is mild but very wet. At the AEMET station at Santiago airport (370 m above sea level; normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 7.7 °C in January and 18.6 °C in July, and the annual rainfall is about 1,790 mm. An umbrella is part of everyday student life.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Galician to study in Santiago de Compostela?

No. Galician and Spanish are both official in Galicia, and Spanish is enough for daily life and for most courses. Some university classes are taught in Galician, so check the language of each subject.

Which universities are in Santiago de Compostela?

The main one is the public Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), a university since 1495, with about 25,400 students. The private UIE has its institutional seat in the city, and there are specialised centres for art and design, hospitality and online master's programmes.

Is Santiago de Compostela a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes. It is a small, lively student city, and schools such as Academia Iria Flavia (since 1994) and the public Escola Oficial de Idiomas teach Spanish to foreign learners.

What is the weather like in Santiago de Compostela?

Mild and rainy. Average temperatures are about 8 °C in January and 19 °C in July at the airport station (AEMET, 1981-2010), and it rains on many days of the year.