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Universities in Spain

Located in south west Europe and sharing borders with France and Andorra to the north and Portugal to the west, Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe. Spain has a wide range of well regarded universities for international students, often with very modest tuition fees.

The types of University

There are over 75 universities in Spain, which fall into three main types of institution:

• Public – Universities which are funded by the Spanish government. There are over 40 Spanish public universities, including the University of Salamanca, the University of Barcelona and the University of Seville.
• Private – Universities which do not receive direct funding from the government. There are over 20 private universities in Spain, including EU Business School, IE University and the European University of Madrid.
• Catholic – Universities which are privately run by the Catholic church. There are over 15 Catholic universities in Spain, including the International University of Catalonia, the Pontifical University of Salamanca and the University of Deusto.

Language of tuition

The most widely spoken language in Spain is Spanish, which is recognised throughout the country. In addition to Spanish, several other languages are spoken throughout different regions of Spain, including Catalan, Galician, Basque and Aranese.

The most common languages of tuition in Spain are Spanish and Catalan, but several universities also offer courses taught in English, including the University of Barcelona, IE University and the University of Navarra.

Popular Spanish cities for international students

• Barcelona – Famous for its rich cultural heritage, Barcelona is situated in the Catalonian region in the north east of Spain, with the mediterranean sea providing sandy beaches within reach of the city. Barcelona is home to several universities including the University of Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona Graduate School of Economics.
• Madrid – The capital of Spain and its largest city, Madrid enjoys wonderful history and cultural heritage, and there is always plenty for an international student to explore. Centrally located, Madrid is also an excellent base for exploring Spain. Madrid is home to some of the most prestigious universities in Spain, including the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Complutense University of Madrid and the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
• Valencia – Located on the east coast of Spain, Valencia is one of Spain’s oldest cities, and is nowadays a busy port city. A very popular destination for international students, Valencia has several universities for international students to choose from, including the University of Valencia, Valencia Polytechnic University and Universidad Católica de Valencia.
• Seville – Based in southern Spain, Seville is the capital of the Andalusian region of Spain. Seville is a very popular destination for tourists in Spain, who visit to experience the culture, architecture and warm weather. It is also a wonderful choice for international students, and has several universities to offer, such as the University of Seville and UNIA – University of Seville.
• Salamanca – Based in northwest Spain, Salamanca’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a very popular destination for international students thanks to the University of Salamanca. 
• Granada – Located in the South of Spain in the Andalusian region, Granada is home to the Alhambra palace, and is famous for its culture and food. Granada also makes a wonderful location for an international student, thanks to the University of Granada.

The top universities in Spain

Spain is home to many historical and well regarded universities, with over 50 being featured in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, including the University of Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra University and the University of Navarra.

Table of the top ranked universities in Spain

See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in Spain. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.