Universities in Malaga, Spain

Málaga, the main city of the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, had 597,173 inhabitants in 2025 according to the Andalusian Institute of Statistics and Cartography (IECA). For a degree, it offers a large public university, two private universities with new campuses and a group of public arts conservatories and schools that award degree-level qualifications, most of them in or near the Teatinos university district.

Students choose Málaga for the range of subjects in one city, the mild climate and an international atmosphere. Most degrees are taught in Spanish, so a good level of Spanish is usually needed.

What the universities offer

The Universidad de Málaga (UMA) is a public university that has served the city for more than half a century. It has more than 40,000 active students, and in the 2026-27 academic year it offers 78 bachelor's and double bachelor's degrees, 91 master's programmes, 30 doctoral programmes and more than 100 of its own qualifications. Its 10,353 places for new students drew close to 14,000 first-choice applicants. Degrees range from Medicine, Tourism and Translation and Interpreting to Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, and some are taught jointly with the Universidad de Sevilla, such as East Asian Studies. The UMA has more than 600 Erasmus+ partner universities in Europe and close to 200 elsewhere.

Two private universities have campuses in the city: the Universidad Europea de Andalucía and UAX Mare Nostrum, the Málaga campus of the Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio. Both run their own admissions and set their own fees. Business and technology training is also offered by ESESA and CENEC Málaga.

For the arts, Málaga has degree-level centres in several disciplines:

• Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño San Telmo, founded in 1851: higher design studies (4 years, 240 ECTS) equivalent to a university bachelor's degree, plus vocational cycles and the arts Bachillerato
• Conservatorio Superior de Música de Málaga
• Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático de Málaga (ESAD)
• Conservatorio Superior de Danza "Ángel Pericet"
• Centro Privado Autorizado Superior de Música "La Convergente" (ELCAMM), next to the Teatinos campus, which awards the music degree under Andalusian regulations and includes jazz and flamenco specialisations

Admission for international students

Public universities in Andalusia share a single admission district (Distrito Único Andaluz), and applications for bachelor's degrees go through a common pre-registration. Students with a foreign secondary qualification usually start with UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' academic records and runs the specific subject tests (pruebas de competencias específicas) used to improve the admission grade. The arts centres set their own entrance tests, and the private universities have their own admission processes.

Costs

Public university fees in Andalusia are low by European standards. From the second year, Andalusian public universities apply a 99% discount on the credits a student passed in the previous year, as the Universidad de Sevilla explains on its degree pages; extra charges apply to repeated subjects. Private universities charge their own fees, so ask each one for its current price list.

Accommodation is the main cost and the main difficulty: the UMA itself refers to difficulties of access to housing and is tendering a student residence with more than 1,000 places on the Teatinos campus. City buses are cheaper: EMT Málaga's monthly pass costs €23.95, or €13.50 with the UMA card or the Tarjeta Joven, which is for people up to 25 who, among other options, study at a centre in the city (fares in force since 1 January 2025 and extended through 2026).

Practical tips

• Start the UNEDasiss process early if you studied outside Spain, since the pre-registration deadlines do not wait for it
• Look for accommodation well before September
• Get the student or youth bus card as soon as you enrol
• Check the language of each programme; most public degrees are taught in Spanish

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Málaga?

The public Universidad de Málaga and two private universities, the Universidad Europea de Andalucía and UAX Mare Nostrum. The city also has public higher arts centres for music, drama, dance and design.

How many students does the Universidad de Málaga have?

More than 40,000 active students in 2026-27, with 10,353 places for new students.

How do international students apply to the Universidad de Málaga?

Through the Andalusian single pre-registration for bachelor's degrees, usually after UNEDasiss has assessed the foreign school qualification.

Is it hard to find student housing in Málaga?

Housing is tight. The university itself mentions difficulties of access to housing and is planning a residence with more than 1,000 places, so start looking early.