Universities in Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao is the main university city of Bizkaia and one of the main centres of higher education in northern Spain. It combines the public university of the Basque Country with a private university, higher schools of drama, dance and design, and specialised postgraduate centres.

Basque (euskera) and Spanish are both official languages in the Basque Country. University courses may be taught in Basque or Spanish, and some in English, so check the language of each course before you apply.

What the universities in Bilbao offer

The Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU) is the only public university in the Basque Country. Its Bizkaia campus has nine faculties and schools: the School of Engineering and the Faculty of Economics and Business are in central Bilbao, and the other faculties, such as Fine Arts or Medicine and Nursing, are at the Leioa campus, 15 km from the city.

The Universidad de Deusto, a private university, has its Bilbao campus on Avenida de las Universidades, where its Faculty of Social and Human Sciences is based. Deusto also awards its own master's programmes (títulos propios) with partner institutions; the Fundación OMIE, for example, teaches a master's in group analytic psychotherapy that is a Deusto own qualification.

Higher arts education has its own centres. Dantzerti, the higher school of drama and dance of the Basque Government's education department, has taught for ten years and offers degrees in Drama and Dance, with entrance exams. IED Kunsthal Bilbao, in the Zorrozaurre regeneration area, offers the official higher degree in design (Título de Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Diseño) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). For hospitality, the Escuela Superior de Hostelería de Bilbao in Artxanda, a private school with public funding approved by the Basque Government, teaches official vocational qualifications such as the grado superior in Kitchen Management (Dirección de Cocina).

Admission for international students

To enter a bachelor's degree at the EHU or another Spanish university with foreign secondary studies, most students need the UNEDasiss accreditation, which evaluates international students' records and runs the tests needed for access. Students from countries outside the EU usually also need to have their qualification recognised (homologación) as equivalent to the Spanish bachillerato. Deusto and the private schools run their own admission, and the arts schools hold entrance exams.

Tuition fees

At the EHU, the price of each subject is the credit price multiplied by the number of credits, and the credit price depends on the subject area. In 2025-26, a first enrolment cost between €13.42 per credit (for example Law or Sociology) and €18.92 (for example Medicine or Chemistry), plus fixed enrolment costs of €30.68. The prices for 2026-27 were set by an order of the Basque Government published on 17 June 2026. Deusto and the private schools set their own fees.

Practical tips

• Check whether your faculty is in central Bilbao or at Leioa before you look for housing
• The EHU runs OSTATU, a database of rental accommodation, and lists university residences
• Find out the language of each course: Basque, Spanish or English

Frequently asked questions

Is the EHU in Bilbao?

Partly. The School of Engineering and the Faculty of Economics and Business are in central Bilbao; most other faculties of the Bizkaia campus are in Leioa, 15 km away.

How much does a public university degree cost in Bilbao?

In 2025-26 the EHU charged between €13.42 and €18.92 per credit for a first enrolment, depending on the subject, so a 60-credit year costs roughly €800 to €1,140 plus fees.

Do I need to speak Basque?

Not necessarily. Basque and Spanish are both official, and courses may be taught in either language, so check the language of each one before you enrol.