Robotics Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
About Robotics Schools and Programs in Barcelona, Spain
Robotics brings together automatic control, mechanics, electronics and computing to design machines that sense their surroundings, make decisions and act. It is used in industry, logistics, medicine and services, and increasingly relies on computer vision and artificial intelligence. In Spain it is rarely a stand-alone bachelor's degree: students reach it through an engineering degree, a specialised official master's degree or a vocational training course.
How robotics studies are organised in Spain
Spanish bachelor's degrees generally have 240 ECTS credits (four years) and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits; a doctorate is open to students who have completed 300 credits across bachelor's and master's studies. In vocational training (FP), the higher qualification Técnico Superior en Automatización y Robótica Industrial lasts 2,000 hours and prepares students, among other roles, to program and control industrial robots.
Where to study robotics in Barcelona
In Barcelona, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), a public engineering university, offers a full pathway of official qualifications listed in the national register of universities and degrees (RUCT):
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Electronics and Automatic Control Engineering (Grado en Ingeniería Electrónica Industrial y Automática, 240 ECTS, four years) at the Escuela de Ingeniería de Barcelona Este (EEBE), with subjects such as Industrial Robotics and Computer Vision and electives such as Intelligent Robotics
- Máster Universitario en Automática y Robótica / Master in Automatic Control and Robotics (120 ECTS, two years) at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial de Barcelona (ETSEIB), taught in English
- Doctoral programme in Automatic Control, Robotics and Vision (Programa de Doctorado en Automática, Robótica y Visión)
A research reference point is the Institut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial (IRI), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the UPC, with research lines in automatic control, computational robotics, mobile robotics, and perception and manipulation.
Admission, language and fees
For the master's degree, the UPC considers related engineering degrees suitable (industrial, electronic, mechanical, computer or telecommunications engineering, among others), as well as degrees in Physics and Mathematics, and requires English at level B2.2. There are 40 places, and 5 of them are decided early, on 31 March, for applicants who need admission in good time for a scholarship or a visa. The approximate price is €2,324 (€5,400 for non-EU residents).
For the bachelor's degree, the approximate price per year is €1,061 (€1,800 for non-EU residents); the language of each subject is listed in the study plan. If you finished secondary school outside Spain, access to the bachelor's degree usually starts with UNEDasiss, which assesses the academic records of international students. Documents from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area must be legalised through diplomatic channels or with an apostille.
Recognition and careers
The UPC qualifications listed above are official. Students with a foreign degree who want to work as engineers in Spain should note that homologación gives access to a regulated profession, while a declaration of equivalence only certifies the academic level of a qualification.
According to the UPC, the bachelor's degree gives access to the regulated profession of industrial technical engineer (ingeniero técnico industrial), with careers in industrial automation and robotics projects, control systems and industrial computing. The master's degree leads to research, doctoral studies and industry.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a bachelor's degree in robotics in Barcelona?
At the UPC, the bachelor's route is Industrial Electronics and Automatic Control Engineering, which includes robotics in its study plan. Specialisation comes with the official master's degree in Automatic Control and Robotics.
In which language is the UPC robotics master's degree taught?
In English, and admission requires level B2.2.
Can I study robotics in vocational training?
Yes. The 2,000-hour higher vocational qualification Técnico Superior en Automatización y Robótica Industrial prepares students to design, assemble and maintain industrial automation systems and to program industrial robots.