Studying in Spain

Studying in your country

To study in Spain, it is best to first choose which qualification you need and then compare institutions, admission requirements and budget. A bachelor's degree, a Higher Level FP and a master's degree serve different goals; the right option depends on your previous education and the work you want to do.

Studying in Spain: requirements, costs and universities by autonomous community

If you are coming from another country, plan your academic and immigration procedures in advance. Getting your qualification recognized, securing a place and having authorization to stay in Spain are separate processes. Below you will find a guide to organize them and a list of universities with their official links.

What you can study in Spain

The organization of university education distinguishes three official cycles:

  • Bachelor's degree: usually 240 ECTS credits, equivalent to four full-time academic years. There are degree programs with 300 or 360 credits due to their specific requirements.
  • University master's degree: it is 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits and requires meeting the program's access and admission requirements.
  • Doctorate: research training whose central outcome is the doctoral thesis; it has its own access, admission and monitoring requirements.

ECTS credits represent the student's workload: they include classes, study and assessment activities. They are not a grading scale.

There is also Higher Level FP, which leads to the Técnico Superior qualification. It is non-university higher education. In the arts field, distinguish the professional cycles in Artes Plásticas y Diseño from the degrees in Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores: they are not the same qualification nor do they have identical access routes.

How to check if a qualification is official

Check the university, the center and the degree in the Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos, RUCT. Check the exact name, the modality and the center offering the program.

An official university master's degree and a permanent training master's degree are different options. The latter belongs to the university's own programs. Before choosing, check whether your goal requires an official qualification, access to a doctorate or authorization to practice a regulated career.

Also read the study plan and the internship and graduation requirements. The program's commercial name is not enough to understand its scope.

Admission requirements: identify your access route

Those entering from the Spanish Bachillerato follow the PAU route. If you studied in another education system, the procedures depend on that education and the destination university, not only on your nationality.

In certain cases the homologation of the foreign qualification to the Spanish Bachillerato will be necessary. In addition, the university may use an access accreditation and require specific exams or services. Check the admission criteria for international students in UNEDasiss and compare them with the chosen institution before registering for exams.

Homologation does not reserve a place and accreditation does not replace pre-enrollment. Write down separately the deadlines for documents, exams, place applications and enrollment.

With a Técnico Superior de FP qualification there is an access route to university studies; you can also take exams to improve your admission grade. Being eligible does not guarantee getting a place in a degree with more demand than places available.

How much studying costs and what scholarships you can apply for

Request a budget for the course and your specific situation. In public universities, prices depend on the applicable regulations, enrolled credits and other conditions; in private ones, check enrollment, seat reservation, fees and refund policy.

Add accommodation, food, transportation, materials, insurance and paperwork. Compare the exact location and commuting time: two campuses of the same institution can involve very different budgets.

The general grants from the Ministry have academic, financial, and nationality or residency requirements. For non-EU applicants, a study stay authorization alone is not equivalent to the residence permit required in the call. Confirm your eligibility before including any aid in your budget.

Language and stay for foreign students

Check the language of each subject, internships and the required language certification. Not all programs are taught entirely in Spanish; the degree profile should help you verify this before enrolling.

If you are non-EU, check the long-term study stay authorization and the corresponding visa. Requirements include admission, financial means and health insurance. Conditions depend on the type of training and the place from which you submit your application. Arrange this paperwork well in advance of the start date.

Universities in Spain by autonomous community

This list brings together universities to explore their offerings and contact admissions. It is not an exhaustive catalog or a ranking. Some institutions have campuses or activity in several regions; verify where the specific program is taught. UIMP operates in different locations and has a historic link with Santander.

Andalusia

Aragon

Canary Islands

Cantabria

Castilla-La Mancha

Castilla y León

Catalonia

Community of Madrid

Foral Community of Navarre

Valencian Community

Extremadura

Galicia

Balearic Islands

La Rioja

Basque Country

Principality of Asturias

Region of Murcia

 

If you haven't chosen a career yet, explore the different degrees and areas of study before deciding on the city. Your destination should support your academic plan.

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