Study in Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain

About Villanueva de la Cañada

Villanueva de la Cañada is a town in the Community of Madrid, west of the capital. It had 24,028 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the municipal population figures of Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). It is a residential town with a large university campus, and interurban buses connect it with Madrid and the neighbouring towns.

For students, Villanueva de la Cañada is above all a university campus town: the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio has its main campus and registered address here. The town also suits families who want a French international school in the Madrid area, and adults who look for a distance-learning provider with an office in Spain.

Studying in Villanueva de la Cañada

Our directory lists 3 active schools in Villanueva de la Cañada: 2 higher-education institutions and 1 primary and secondary school. They are very different, so it is worth checking what each one awards before you apply.

The Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX) is a private university. According to Spain's official register of universities (RUCT), it was recognised by a state law of 20 April 1993, and its registered address is the Campus de Villanueva de la Cañada, Avenida de la Universidad 1. Its officially recognised bachelor's degrees (grados) listed in the RUCT include, among others:

• Dentistry (a 300-credit degree taught at the Faculty of Dentistry in Villanueva de la Cañada)
• Veterinary Medicine
• Architecture
• Biomedicine and Biotechnology
• Computing and Artificial Intelligence
• Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
• Law

The register lists an Erasmus code for the university (E MADRID17), so it takes part in the Erasmus exchange programme. Teaching is mainly in Spanish; the RUCT lists the dentistry degree with the English name Bachelor in Dentistry, but check the language of each programme with the university.

Bircham International University (BIU) is a private distance-learning institution created in 1992, with its international office in Villanueva de la Cañada. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctorate (PhD) programmes by distance learning, as well as continuing-education and professional diplomas. BIU states on its own site that it is authorised in Spain for "non-formal" (distance) higher education and that its degrees are exempt from recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Education. In practice this means they are not official Spanish university degrees, so check whether an employer or another country accepts them before you enrol. BIU lists bachelor's tuition from €3,510 to €6,800.

The Lycée Français International Molière is a French school that, according to the school, has offered French education for 50 years. It belongs to the AEFE network (the agency for French education abroad) and teaches pupils from 2 to 18 years old. Pupils learn French, Spanish and English. Alongside the French programmes, the school teaches the Comunidad de Madrid's Spanish language and literature and social studies programmes, so pupils can earn both the French baccalauréat and the Spanish Bachillerato. According to the school, the French baccalauréat gives direct access to Spanish universities.

Cost of living

We have not found an official source with rent levels in Villanueva de la Cañada, so we give no figure. University students should ask the university about residences and accommodation options before they arrive.

Public transport is cheap for young people. The Madrid transport consortium (CRTM) Abono Joven costs €10 for 30 days of unlimited travel in all fare zones, from zone A to E2, for anyone aged 15 until their 26th birthday. It covers the interurban buses that serve Villanueva de la Cañada.

Getting around and daily life

Buses are the main public transport in Villanueva de la Cañada. CRTM interurban lines include the 627 Madrid (Moncloa)-Villanueva de la Cañada-Brunete, the 626 Las Rozas-Majadahonda-Villanueva de la Cañada and the 669 San Lorenzo de El Escorial-Villanueva de la Cañada. The Lycée Français International Molière runs three school bus lines, from Madrid-Princesa, Torrelodones and Boadilla.

The climate is that of the Madrid region: cool winters and hot, dry summers. AEMET has no climate station in the town; at the Madrid Retiro station (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 6.3 °C in January and 25.6 °C in July, when average daily highs reach 32.1 °C.

Frequently asked questions

Which university is in Villanueva de la Cañada?

The Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, a private university recognised by a state law in 1993, has its main campus here. Its official degrees include Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture and Law.

Are Bircham International University degrees official in Spain?

No. BIU states that it is authorised for non-formal distance higher education and that its degrees are exempt from recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Education, so they are not official Spanish university degrees.

How do I get from Madrid to Villanueva de la Cañada?

By interurban bus. Line 627 runs from Moncloa in Madrid, and the CRTM Abono Joven, for people aged 15 to 25, costs €10 for 30 days of unlimited travel in all zones.

Is there an international school in Villanueva de la Cañada?

Yes. The Lycée Français International Molière, part of the AEFE network, teaches pupils from 2 to 18 in French, Spanish and English and prepares them for the French baccalauréat and the Spanish Bachillerato.