Study in Almería, Spain

About Almería

Almería is a port city in the south-east of Spain, on the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, and the capital of the province of the same name. It had 205,468 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the official municipal population figures of Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). The city lies between the sea and dry, mountainous country.

For students, Almería is a medium-sized, relatively quiet city with a very sunny, dry climate, a university with its campus just east of the city and a daily life that takes place largely outdoors. It suits students who want a full degree or a semester abroad away from the busiest tourist centres.

Studying in Almería

Our directory lists 6 active schools in Almería: 2 universities and other higher-education centres, 2 vocational and professional training centres, a British international primary school and an English academy. The Universidad de Almería (UAL) is the main institution for international students. It offers bachelor's degrees (grados), official master's degrees, its own master's programmes and doctoral studies, and it runs Study Abroad courses, a language centre (Centro de Lenguas) and an International Welcome Center. Its campus is on the Carretera Sacramento in La Cañada de San Urbano, east of the city. Most degrees are taught in Spanish, so check the language of instruction for each programme.

In arts education, the Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño "Carlos Pérez Siquier", a public school, teaches higher studies in interior design and vocational cycles (ciclos formativos) such as artistic ceramics, photography and sculpture for the stage. For vocational training, Formas Almeria offers intermediate and higher FP qualifications, for example in emergency health care or pharmacy, as well as professional qualifications, courses and preparation for access exams. Instituto Didactia designs online training programmes for companies and institutions, mainly in engineering, architecture and technology.

Families moving with children will find Montessori School Almería, a British international school for children aged 2 to 11, about 100 metres from the sea. McGinty School of English has taught English in the city for more than 25 years and prepares students for Cambridge certificates.

Cost of living for students

We have not found an official source for typical student rents, so we do not quote a figure. The Universidad de Almería lists several housing options for its students:

• the Resa Civitas student residence, which the university says has a direct bus to the campus every 30 minutes and is a five-minute walk from the railway station
• a university hostel run by Inturjoven
• a programme in which students live with older people in their homes
• a noticeboard of flats and rooms offered by private landlords to national and international students and staff

The city bus operator Surbus sells a monthly student card (Tarjeta mensual Estudiante) and a university bus pass (Bonobús Universidad); check current prices with Surbus, which did not publish them on a page we could read.

Getting around and daily life

The city's urban buses are run by ALSA under the Surbus brand, with a fleet of 53 vehicles and 15 lines operating 365 days a year, according to the city council. The centre and the seafront are easy to walk. Almería Airport is 9 km east of the city; urban bus line 30 links it with the city centre every day of the year, and the trip takes about 35 minutes, according to Aena. Renfe runs long-distance (Larga Distancia) trains between Almería and Madrid.

The climate is very dry and mild. At the AEMET Almería Airport station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 12.6 °C in January and 26.1 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 30.5 °C. Rainfall averages only 200 mm a year, and the station records about 2,990 hours of sunshine annually. Winters are mild enough for outdoor life most of the year; in summer, plan for heat.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Almería?

The Universidad de Almería (UAL) is the city's university. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies, Study Abroad courses and a language centre, on a campus east of the city centre.

Where can students live in Almería?

The university lists a student residence, a university hostel, a programme for living with older people and a noticeboard of private flats and rooms. We could not find official figures for typical rents.

How do I get from Almería Airport to the city?

Urban bus line 30 links the airport with the city centre every day of the year. The trip takes about 35 minutes, according to Aena.

What is the weather like in Almería?

Almería is mild and very dry: average temperatures are 12.6 °C in January and 26.1 °C in July, with about 200 mm of rain a year (AEMET, 1981-2010).