Study in Huesca, Spain

About Huesca

Huesca is the capital of the northernmost province of Aragon, in north-eastern Spain, on the plain south of the Pyrenees. It is a small city: the INE (Spain's national statistics institute) counted 55,454 residents on 1 January 2025. The historic centre, with its cathedral and the old town around the Coso, is compact, and the mountains are close enough for weekend hiking, climbing and skiing.

Students who choose Huesca usually want a quiet, affordable place with an easy daily routine, or a specific programme that is only taught here. Life is calmer than in Zaragoza or Barcelona, and the city works well for students who value nature and outdoor sport.

Studying in Huesca

Our directory lists 1 active school in Huesca, a higher-education centre: the Escuela Superior de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales de Aragón (ESCYRA). It is a public centre of the Government of Aragon and awards the official Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Conservación y Restauración de Bienes Culturales, a higher arts degree in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, with two specialisations: painting and sculpture. ESCYRA also lists a master's programme in mural painting. The school says it teaches in small groups, with practical work on real art objects from the first year.

Admission to ESCYRA is through an entrance test held in June. For 2026 the test took place on 17 June (sculpture) and 18 June (painting), with theory papers, drawing and colour, and a manual skills test; the general test fee was €51. Teaching is in Spanish.

Huesca also has a university campus of the Universidad de Zaragoza, with the Escuela Politécnica Superior, faculties of humanities and education, health and sport sciences, and business and public management, and a nursing school. Most other schools in our directory for the region are in Zaragoza.

Cost of living for students

We found no official figure for student rents in Huesca. It is worth contacting your school about rooms before you arrive. Most daily trips can be made on foot or by bike, which keeps transport costs low; the city bus service is run under contract for the city council, which lists the operator's office in its mobility section.

Getting around and daily life

The city centre is small and walkable, and the council promotes cycling through its Huesca en Bici scheme. Huesca is on the high-speed rail line from Zaragoza: Renfe advertises seasonal AVE services between Madrid, Zaragoza and Huesca on Fridays and Sundays from 28 November to 29 March. Huesca-Pirineos Airport is managed by Aena.

The climate is continental, with cold winters and hot, dry summers. At the AEMET Huesca Aeropuerto station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 5.2 °C in January, when average minimums are 1.4 °C, and 24.1 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 31.6 °C. Annual rainfall is about 480 mm. Winter clothing is essential.

Frequently asked questions

What can I study in Huesca?

Our directory lists ESCYRA, a public school that awards an official higher arts degree in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, with painting and sculpture specialisations. The city also has a campus of the Universidad de Zaragoza.

How do I get into the conservation and restoration degree at ESCYRA?

Candidates take an entrance test in June with theory papers, drawing and colour, and a manual skills test. In 2026 the general test fee was €51.

Can I reach Huesca by high-speed train?

Yes, on some dates. Renfe advertises winter AVE services between Madrid, Zaragoza and Huesca on Fridays and Sundays from 28 November to 29 March.