Study in Zaragoza, Spain

About Zaragoza

Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon, in north-eastern Spain, and one of the country's largest cities, with 693,091 registered residents on 1 January 2025 according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). It lies on the River Ebro, roughly halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, and has more than two thousand years of history, with Roman, Islamic, Jewish and Christian heritage in its old town.

For students, Zaragoza offers the services of a large city at a more relaxed pace than Madrid or Barcelona. Its university has been at the centre of city life for over four centuries, Spanish is the everyday language, and the city's position on the high-speed rail line makes it easy to travel around Spain at weekends.

Studying in Zaragoza

Our directory lists 17 active schools in Zaragoza: 12 universities and other higher-education centres, one language school, two primary and secondary schools and two online and distance-learning providers. The largest institution is the public Universidad de Zaragoza. On 10 September 1542, Emperor Charles V raised the city's school of arts to the rank of a general university, and the new university opened on 24 May 1583. Today its faculties include the Facultad de Economía y Empresa, which offers a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a group taught in English and a degree in International Business. Affiliated centres such as the Escuela Universitaria de Turismo de Zaragoza teach the university's official degree in Tourism. The private Universidad San Jorge has its campus just outside the city.

Zaragoza is also a centre for specialised higher education. The Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón is a public conservatory run by the Government of Aragon, and the Escuela Superior de Diseño de Aragón teaches graphic, product, interior and fashion design. At graduate level, CIHEAM Zaragoza (the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute) offers master's programmes and advanced courses in agriculture and food, and the Zaragoza Logistics Center specialises in logistics and supply chain management. Families will find international options such as the Lycée Français Molière and Zaragoza SchoolHouse. Most university degrees are taught in Spanish, so check the language of each programme.

Learning Spanish in Zaragoza

The Universidad de Zaragoza runs its own Spanish courses for foreign students (Cursos de Español como Lengua Extranjera). The Zaragoza centre is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, which renewed the accreditation in December 2024. Options include:

• language and culture courses by level
• intensive courses
• courses for specific purposes
• blended and online courses
• DELE and SIELE exam preparation
• training courses for teachers of Spanish

In summer the university also runs Spanish courses in Jaca, in the Pyrenees; the 2025 edition brought together students of more than 25 nationalities.

Cost of living for students

Zaragoza is generally a cheaper place to live than Madrid or Barcelona, but no official source publishes typical student rents. The Universidad de Zaragoza's housing service keeps an up-to-date list of flats and rooms for rent, with prices and locations, and advises students to visit a flat and sign a written contract before paying anything.

Buses and the tram are paid with a single ticket or with a rechargeable card (tarjeta bus or tarjeta ciudadana), and monthly, six-month and annual passes are available. According to the city council (February 2026), passes for young people cost 50% less, passes for children aged 8 to 14 are free, and journeys with a multi-trip card cost 40% less than the standard fare, thanks to subsidies from the city and the national transport ministry. Check the current prices with the operator before you arrive.

Getting around and daily life

The city centre is compact and flat, so many students walk or cycle. A tram line and a network of urban buses cover the rest of the city. The Delicias intermodal station is the hub for long-distance travel: Renfe runs AVE high-speed trains from Zaragoza Delicias to Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes and to Barcelona. Zaragoza Airport is linked to the city by bus line 505, which stops at Delicias and runs according to flight times.

Zaragoza has a dry climate with cool winters and hot summers. At the AEMET Zaragoza Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 6.6 °C in January and 25.3 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 32.4 °C, and annual rainfall is only about 322 mm.

Frequently asked questions

Is Zaragoza a good place to learn Spanish?

Yes. Spanish is the everyday language of the city, and the Universidad de Zaragoza runs Spanish courses for foreign students at a centre accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, including DELE and SIELE exam preparation.

Which universities are in Zaragoza?

The main one is the public Universidad de Zaragoza, whose history goes back to 1542. The city also has the private Universidad San Jorge, university-affiliated centres and specialised schools of music, design, agronomy and logistics.

Can I study in English in Zaragoza?

Some programmes are taught in English, such as a business administration group at the Facultad de Economía y Empresa and some graduate programmes. Most degrees are taught in Spanish, so check the language of each programme.

How do I get from Madrid to Zaragoza?

The quickest way is the AVE high-speed train, which Renfe runs from Madrid Puerta de Atocha - Almudena Grandes to Zaragoza Delicias. The same station has high-speed trains to Barcelona.