Public universities in Madrid

Madrid offers a very wide range of higher education. Students can choose between large public universities, private universities, American campuses, business and graduate schools, and public and private schools of music, drama and design that award official higher-education qualifications. For an international student, this means a wide choice of subjects and teaching languages in one city.

This page lists the universities in Madrid that are in the official register (RUCT). Faculties, affiliated centres (centros adscritos), business schools and arts schools are listed under higher education centres in Madrid.

What Madrid's universities offer

The public sector includes the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), with degrees in almost every field, and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), a technical university with schools of engineering and architecture. The Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Spain's national distance-learning university, has its headquarters in Madrid and associated centres across the country. Faculties of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, such as its schools of medicine and of economics and business, are also listed.

Private universities include the Universidad CEU San Pablo, which reports more than 90 years of teaching tradition and WSCUC/WASC accreditation from the US system; Universidad Villanueva, with degrees and double degrees in business, law, communication, education, psychology and health; CUNEF Universidad; and the Universidad de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología (UDIT).

Madrid also has American institutions where teaching is in English. Saint Louis University-Madrid began as a study abroad programme in the 1960s; 23 undergraduate majors and two master's degrees can be completed entirely in Madrid, and no previous knowledge of Spanish is required. CIS University, founded in 1981, offers a 2+2 programme in which students can finish their US bachelor's degree at Endicott College in Boston. For graduate study in economics, CEMFI runs a two-year Master in Economics and Finance.

Higher arts education has its own centres. The Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático (RESAD) traces its origin to 1831, and the Centro Superior Katarina Gurska teaches the official Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Música.

Admission for international students

For bachelor's degrees at Spanish public universities, students with foreign school qualifications usually apply through UNEDasiss, which assesses international students' records and runs the subject exams needed for admission. You then apply to each university separately, within that university's deadlines. Private universities and American campuses run their own admission processes.

Students from outside the EU need a study stay authorisation for programmes longer than 90 days. According to the UCM, official degrees must be taken full time (enrolment in at least 90% of the credits of the year), and at least 50% of the teaching must be on site. Students in higher education may work up to 30 hours a week without an extra permit.

Costs

At public universities in the Comunidad de Madrid, fees are set by regional decree and charged per ECTS credit. At the UCM in 2026-27, a first-enrolment credit costs between €16.92 and €20.68 depending on the subject area; full-time students take at least 48 credits a year. Non-EU students without residence in Spain pay the higher fourth-enrolment price for bachelor's degrees (up to €136.44 per credit at the UCM), unless a bilateral agreement applies. A study authorisation does not count as residence for this rule. Private universities and American campuses set their own fees.

Public transport is cheap for students under 26: the Abono Joven costs €10 for 30 days of unlimited travel across the whole region, according to the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid. From age 26 a monthly zone A pass costs €32.70; both prices apply until 31 December 2026.

Practical tips

• Start early: UNEDasiss accreditation and document legalisation take time
• Check the language of instruction for each programme
• Check whether a degree is official or the school's own qualification
• Ask about bilateral agreements that may reduce fees for non-EU students

Frequently asked questions

How much does a public university degree cost in Madrid?

At the UCM in 2026-27, a first-enrolment ECTS credit costs €16.92 to €20.68, so a full year of 60 credits costs roughly €1,000 to €1,250. Non-EU students without residence in Spain pay the higher fourth-enrolment price.

Can I study in English at a university in Madrid?

Yes. American institutions such as Saint Louis University-Madrid and CIS University teach in English, and some Spanish universities offer programmes in English. Most degrees at public universities are taught in Spanish.

How do I apply to a Spanish public university with a foreign school diploma?

Most applicants first obtain UNEDasiss accreditation and then apply to each university within its own deadlines.

Can I work while studying in Madrid?

Non-EU students in higher education may work up to 30 hours a week without a separate permit, as long as the work is compatible with their studies.