Spain is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
Spain is home to almost 80 Universities, with an approximately even split between public and private Institutions. Higher Education Institutions in the country are of many different types: Academic Universities, Polytechnic Universities, Higher Arts Schools, and Vocational Institutions. Private Universities typically charge higher tuition fees than State Funded Universities. Most Universities offer courses only in Spanish, though most International Universities offer courses in both English and Spanish.
Universities in Spain offer three main kinds of degrees through Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. They also offer short-term diploma and certificate courses.
Most Spanish Universities provide short-term certificate programs for different categories of students. Many of these are summer courses for tourists who wish to learn the language or for regular students who want to expand their academic qualifications. Continuing adult education is another sector in which certificate degree programs are available. However, they also run longer-term vocational diploma courses for students who wish to gain practical training for a period of time shorter than that of a full-time UG or PG degree before joining the workforce.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Spain typically last four years, though some may be completed in six semesters, and a few disciplines (like Medicine) may take 10 to 12 semesters. Undergraduate degrees in public universities are offered in a wide range of disciplines, with several different options available within the broad categories of Science, Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine, Business, Engineering, and Languages. Vocational Universities offer professional undergraduate degrees that are completed in three or four years.
The structure of undergraduate programs in most Spanish Universities is similar: Years 1 and 2 contain foundational courses; these are designed to give students an appreciation of the historical evolution of their chosen subject of study. The subsequent semesters are dedicated to specific study of 1-3 important areas; at this stage, some students may choose to specialise in one or more skills.
Within the second cycle of Tertiary Education, Spanish Universities offer postgraduate or Master’s degree programs. Academic Master’s degrees last 2 or 3 semesters, and focus on coursework and advanced understanding of core subjects. Most Master’s degrees in Spain are similar to postgraduate degrees in other Universities; they start with coursework and the last two semesters are spent on guided research work, including a Master’s Thesis Defence. Spanish Universities offer hundreds of Master’s programs in different specialised areas, including cutting edge disciplines within Science, Engineering, Humanities, Art, and Medicine.
Research is an important component of all the major Universities in Spain, with almost a billion euros invested by the Spanish Government in Research and Development every year. PhD students drive the research engine, and spend 3 to 5 years receiving training in the tools of the trade and conducting original research work. The topic is usually chosen by the supervisor, and doctoral students work closely with their faculty guide on journal publication and thesis preparation and writing. The final PhD defence takes place before a panel of esteemed external faculty members, and successful candidates are awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Spain are-
Physiotherapy | Civil Engineering | Spanish Language and Literature |
Hospitality Management | Environmental Studies | Visual Arts |
Energy Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | International Tourism |
Data Analysis | Gastronomy | Sociology |
Psychology | Computer Animation | Marketing |
Electrical Engineering | Medieval Architecture | Surgery |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Spain.
The Name of the City | No. of Universities |
Madrid | 21 |
Barcelona | 10 |
Seville | 5 |
Valencia | 4 |
Salamanca | 2 |
Pamplona | 2 |
Murcia | 2 |
Malaga | 2 |
Logroño | 2 |
Burgos | 2 |
Public Universities in Spain have relatively low tuition fees for international students, with some Bachelor’s programs charging annual fees of 1,000 Euros per year, much lower than in most European countries. The average fees for Spanish Bachelor’s degree programs are approximately 2,500 Euros per year, with Master’s programs and Private Universities charging substantially higher tuition fees. Most international students subsidise all or part of their tuition fees through scholarships.
Most Spanish Universities make arrangements for student accommodation on campus through Halls of Residence. The monthly rent for these varies according to the occupancy of the flat or dormitory, and according to the city in which the University is located. In general, University accommodation in Spain costs between 300 and 500 Euros per month. Private accommodation is substantially more expensive and can go up to 900 Euros per month in the larger cities.
In most Spanish cities, other living costs add up to approximately 400 to 500 Euros per month. These include food, transport within the city, weekly shopping for essential items, phone and internet costs, recreation and local travel within the country and to neighbouring countries. Students in Madrid or Barcelona will typically find that their living costs are 50% higher than those of students in smaller Spanish cities.
Students wishing to apply for a long-term Spanish visa (Type D) to study in the country must complete the visa requirement criteria. After the completion of the application form, the candidate can expect to receive the student visa in 2 to 4 weeks if all the documents are in order; this process may take longer if there is a large volume of applications to process. Once the student arrives in Spain to begin the course of study, he or she must visit the local authorities to apply for a Residence Permit.