Online Degree, Online Courses and Distance Learning in Madrid, Spain

Online and distance learning lets students follow a Spanish programme without moving to Spain, or combine study with a job. Several providers are based in Madrid, from universities that teach entirely online to business schools and professional training centres with e-learning courses. For students in Latin America and elsewhere, these programmes are a way to obtain Spanish qualifications, often in Spanish, from home.

Our directory lists 5 online and distance-learning providers in Madrid. This page explains what kinds of qualifications they offer and what to check before enrolling.

What the providers offer

The Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UDIMA) describes itself as Spain's first private online university. It offers online bachelor's degrees in areas such as primary and early-years teaching, business administration, computer engineering, law and psychology, as well as official master's degrees, among them a Máster Universitario in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Spain's public distance-learning university, the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), also has its headquarters in Madrid; students can get face-to-face support there or at one of its associated centres.

Business and professional schools add shorter or more specialised programmes. CESAE Business & Tourism School has trained hospitality and tourism professionals for more than ten years and offers eight master's programmes in tourism and hotel management; its partnerships with Spanish universities lead to university-own qualifications (títulos propios). Bureau Veritas Business School runs online auditor courses based on ISO standards, which students can follow at their own pace, and master's programmes in Spanish, one of them an official Máster Universitario awarded by the Universidad del Atlántico Medio. CEOE Formación, the training arm of the Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE), runs management programmes, many of them taught in person in Madrid.

Official degrees and own qualifications

Under Spain's university regulations (Real Decreto 822/2021), official bachelor's degrees can be taught on site, in hybrid (blended) form or virtually. A degree counts as virtual when at least 80% of its ECTS credits are taught online. Universities can also offer their own continuing-education qualifications (formación permanente) in any of these modes, but they must state clearly that these are not official degrees. Before you enrol, check whether the programme leads to an official grado or máster universitario or to a school's own certificate, because this affects recognition in your country and access to further study.

Admission and visas

For an online bachelor's degree at a Spanish university, students with foreign school qualifications usually need the same accreditation as for on-site study: UNEDasiss assesses international students' records and runs the exams needed for admission to Spanish degrees. For master's programmes and other courses, check each provider's admission rules.

Studying online does not normally give you the right to live in Spain. Non-EU students need a study stay authorisation for programmes of more than 90 days, and according to the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, programmes must be at least 50% on site to qualify; language courses must be fully on site and full time. A fully online programme is therefore something to follow from your home country.

Practical tips

• Check the teaching mode (online, hybrid or on site) and whether exams must be taken in person
• Confirm whether the qualification is official or the provider's own
• Ask about time zones for live classes if you study from the Americas or Asia
• Compare the total price, usually charged per ECTS credit or per programme

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an official Spanish degree online?

Yes. Spanish law allows official bachelor's degrees in virtual mode, and universities such as UDIMA and UNED teach official degrees at a distance.

Do I need a student visa for an online course from Madrid?

No. A fully online programme can be followed from your home country, and it does not qualify for a study stay authorisation, which requires at least 50% on-site teaching.

Is a título propio the same as an official master's degree?

No. Títulos propios and formación permanente qualifications are awarded by the university itself and are not official degrees, which matters for recognition abroad.