Spain has it all: beautiful places, nice weather, amazing food, top universities, and a growing international community. It’s no wonder it has become one of the most popular destinations for international students.
In fact, over 200,000 international students are currently enrolled in higher education institutions across Spain. Most of them come from countries such as Italy, Ecuador, France, Colombia, China, and others.
When asked about their reasons for studying in Spain, students mention the strong academic reputation of Spanish universities. They also value Spain’s affordable living costs, global student community, and wonderful Spanish culture.
If you are interested in studying in Spain for a semester or an entire university degree, take a look at the information below to get started.
Apply to Study Abroad Programs in Spain
There are plenty of study abroad programs for high school, college, and adult students in Spain.
Some programs offer intensive Spanish language courses, others offer academic credits, and others offer work-study and volunteer experiences.
Take a look at these Top Study Abroad Programs to explore your options.
As a college student, you could also apply to study abroad in Spain through your home college or university.
Many Spanish universities have agreements with international universities for visiting students. These agreements allow students to attend Spanish universities for a semester or a year as part of their degree program.
By going through your institution, these study abroad programs will usually align with credits and graduation requirements set forth by your school.
Beyond transferable courses and credits, applying through your school will make handling logistics like visas and housing easier. Your home university will likely have a process already in place to make the transition to studying abroad as smooth as possible.
Certainly, many institutions with partner schools have a vast support system as well, so you won’t be going through this alone. Contact the study abroad office at your university for information.
Apply to American Universities in Spain
If you are interested in obtaining a U.S. bachelor’s or master’s degree while living and studying in Spain, you can do so through one of the American Universities in Europe.
Spain is home to four American colleges and universities where you can study in English and obtain an American degree.
Since these American universities are fully accredited and follow the U.S. higher education system, admissions requirements will usually include a high school diploma for bachelor’s degrees and a 4-year university degree for master’s programs.
Contact the university of your choice for information.
Apply to Spanish Universities
Spain has approximately 80 universities, 45 of which are public and funded by the state making their tuition costs affordable for domestic and international students.
Take a look at the 10 Best Universities in Spain for International Students. Popular fields of study include Engineering, Business/Management, Languages, Humanities, Law, and Health Sciences.
Additionally, some of the top business schools in the world are located in Spain. While Bachelor’s degrees in Spain could take 3-4 years, Master’s degrees take 1-2 years, and Doctorate degrees may involve 3-4 years.
For European and non-European students, the application for bachelor’s programs will be a little different since there are additional requirements for non-EU students. Let’s break it down:
Applicants from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, China, and Countries with Educational Agreements
Step 1: Explore your options. Take a look at some of the top universities in Spain. Then, select the university or universities that meet your interests and objectives. Keep in mind that you will need to decide on your academic program since admissions requirements depend on the program of your choice.
Step 2: Contact the university. Request information about admissions requirements. This will include cut-off scores for any potential Selectividad PCE exams (entrance exams), deadlines, tuition costs, and whether UNEDassis accreditation will be considered. UNEDassis facilitates the pre-admissions process by accrediting your documents and offering PCE exam support.
Step 3: Obtain a certified copy of your diploma or equivalent. This is the document that gives you access to university education in the educational system of origin. This may be a high school diploma, a secondary school diploma, European Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate.
Step 4: Send all your certified transcripts and diploma to UNEDassis. Register with UNEDassis, and start your pre-application process. UNEDassis will evaluate whether you need to take any PCE exams to meet your selected university’s cut-off scores. This evaluation is based on your transcripts. Also, you will need to provide proof of Spanish language proficiency through course transcripts and/or scores.
Note: During the year, there are two application periods for the PCE Exam. Exam Period 1 in either May or June and Exam Period 2 in September.
Step 5: Apply to the Spanish university you selected. Once you complete the pre-application process with UNEDassis and receive accreditation and test scores, you can apply to the university you selected. Applicants usually receive a letter of acceptance from their Spanish university in mid-July.
International Applicants from Other Countries
Step 1: Explore your options. Take a look at some of the top universities in Spain. Then, select the university or universities that meet your interests and objectives. You will also need to decide on your academic program since admissions requirements depend on the program of your choice.
Step 2: Contact the university. Request information about admissions requirements. This will include cut-off scores for any potential Selectividad PCE exams (entrance exams), deadlines, tuition costs, and whether UNEDassis accreditation will be considered. UNEDassis facilitates the pre-admissions process by accrediting your documents and offering PCE exam support.
Step 3: Obtain an apostille or legalization for your diploma or equivalent. This is the document that gives you access to university education in the educational system of origin. An apostille is required for documents from Hague countries. If your country is not part of the Hague Convention, you will need to have your documents legalized. If Spanish is not the official language in your country, you will need to have all your educational documents translated into Spanish. Contact the Spanish consulate in your country for translation services.
Step 4: Send all your certified transcripts and diplomas to UNEDassis. Register with UNEDassis, and start your pre-application process. They will evaluate whether you need to take any PCE exams to meet your selected university’s cut-off scores. This evaluation is based on your transcripts. As an international applicant, you might need to take 2 to 4 PCE Exams depending on your selected field of study. Also, you will need to provide proof of Spanish language proficiency through course transcripts and/or scores.
Note: During the year, there are two application periods for the PCE Exam. Exam Period 1 in either May or June and Exam Period 2 in September.
Step 5: Apply to the Spanish university you selected. Once you complete the pre-application process with UNEDassis and receive accreditation and test scores, you can apply to the university you selected. As an international applicant, you may also need to submit proof of funds for visa purposes. Definitely, contact your university to learn about all their requirements. Applicants usually receive a letter of acceptance from their Spanish university in mid-July.
Graduate Programs
Master’s and doctorate programs follow different admissions requirements depending on the selected university and academic program.
Generally, you will need a bachelor’s degree or a similar university degree to qualify for a master’s program. And you will most likely need a master’s degree to qualify for a doctorate or Ph.D.
Some graduate programs such as global MBAs may require GMAT admissions tests, but most programs will rely on your official transcripts, admissions essays, and letters of recommendation to evaluate your application.
Contact the university and graduate program of your choice for specific requirements.
Spanish Visa Process
EU students do not need a student visa to study in Spain.
Non-EU applicants will need to apply for a student visa at the Spanish consulate located in their home country.
Once you receive a letter of acceptance from your university, you must present the following documents:
- Apostilled or legalized birth certificate and official passport
- Official letter of acceptance
- Medical insurance
- Proof of funds sufficient to cover your living expenses during your studies. The quantity required will depend on your country of origin. Each country’s consulate will require a different quantity*
- Other documents as required by the Spanish consulate.
* In general, students need approximately €900-1,000 (~$1,100-1,200) per month to cover living expenses. Tuition costs depend on the field of study. These are the average costs to attend public universities in Spain:
- 150 – 3,500 EUR/year for Bachelor’s programs
- 300 – 3,500 EUR/year for Master’s programs
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Scholarships to Study in Spain
Spain is part of the Erasmus+ program, an EU initiative that provides financial help to study in Europe.
American students may be able to study in Spain on a grant through the Fulbright US Student program. Also, some Study Abroad Programs may offer partial and full scholarships.
Look for scholarships to study in Spain on the Spanish Ministry of Education website. You can also find helpful resources in the scholarships section of MacQuil.com.
Start Planning Your Move
Since the academic year usually starts in September, you have between July and September to get a visa, find housing, and plan your trip.
Spanish universities usually provide resources to international students looking for housing or temporary accommodations. Start looking at all the resources and information provided by your university.
In addition to your university’s resources, there are some online platforms you can use to find apartments, student housing, or roommates. Some platforms include UniPlaces, Booking for Students, Resa, and others.
Like a Fish in Water is your personal guide to international living. Learn how to adapt to any culture, fit in with the locals, and turn what you thought were challenges into exciting opportunities.
Spain is a great country with so much to offer, so start planning your next move and start packing! Your future starts now.
Denisse Romero
Denisse is a global education and communications consultant, as well as the main person behind MacQuil. As an international mentor and frequent traveler, she enjoys sharing information to help anyone travel, study or work abroad.
Denisse holds a Master's in Management from GWU, a Master's in Education from Harvard University and an Executive Coaching Certificate from the University of Cambridge.
