Economics Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
About Economics Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
Economics studies how households, firms and governments use limited resources: markets, prices, growth, employment, public finances and international trade. The degree combines microeconomics and macroeconomics with mathematics, statistics and econometrics. In Barcelona, official economics degrees are taught at public universities, at a private university and fully online, and several programmes are taught in English.
How the degrees are organised
Under Royal Decree 822/2021, Spanish bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits, usually four years, and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits. A search for bachelor's degrees in Economics in the ministry's Registry of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT) returns 48 entries across Spain. The RUCT is the place to check that a programme is an official degree and not a school's own qualification. The UOC study plan gives an idea of the basic 60-credit block: introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics, mathematics, statistics, economic history and sociology.
Where to study Economics in Barcelona
Examples from our directory, with official degrees listed in the RUCT:
- Universitat de Barcelona: a public university with the bachelor's degree in Economics
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF): a public university with the bachelor's degree in Economics and the degree in International Business Economics (Estudios Internacionales de Economía y Empresa); at master's level, the RUCT lists the Master of Research in Economics, Finance and Management and the Master in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics
- Universitat Ramon Llull: the bachelor's degree in Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order, taught in English, with specialisations in global economics and global politics
- Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC): a fully online economics degree of 240 ECTS credits, taught in Spanish and Catalan in separate classrooms, with fees regulated by the Catalan government; the university states that it costs less than €900 per semester
Business schools in the city, such as the UPF Barcelona School of Management, Esade, EU Business School and UIBS, focus mainly on business and management programmes; check whether a programme leads to an official degree or to the school's own qualification. At Catalan universities, classes may be taught in Catalan, Spanish or English, so check the language of each subject.
Admission for international students
Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply for UNEDasiss accreditation. UNEDasiss is the UNED service that assesses the academic records of international students and runs the tests needed to enter Spanish bachelor's degrees; it advises students to check each university's admission criteria, which depend on their previous studies and country. A master's degree requires a previous university degree.
Recognition and careers
For a foreign degree, the ministry offers the declaration of equivalence (declaración de equivalencia), which certifies the academic level (bachelor's or master's); homologación is needed only for regulated professions. According to the UOC, typical careers include economic analyst in consultancies and financial institutions, tax adviser, specialist in public bodies and international organisations, and data analyst in business intelligence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study Economics in English in Barcelona?
Yes, at some universities. The Universitat Ramon Llull teaches its degree in Global Governance, Economics and Legal Order in English, and the UPF degree in International Business Economics has an English name in the RUCT; check the language of each subject.
How long is an economics degree in Spain?
A bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, usually four years. An official master's degree has 60, 90 or 120 credits.
Can I study an official economics degree online?
Yes. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, based in Barcelona, teaches an official 240-credit economics degree fully online, in Spanish or Catalan.