Why study in Spain?
One of the biggest reasons students choose to study abroad is the opportunity to learn another language. As the second most spoken language in the world, the national dialect is undoubtedly a great language to master, and the ability to master it is likely to add to your CV. Spain is the most popular destination for students on the Erasmus exchange program, which allows students to leave their home university to study abroad for a year.
Spain has 76 universities, of which about two-thirds are state-funded and the rest are private. While the majority of programs at Spanish universities are taught in Spanish, there are some programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels that are taught in English.
Entry and visa regulations
EU students do not need a visa to study in Spain, but they must apply for a residence permit from the Central Registry Office within three months of arrival. To apply to become an undergraduate student, you will first need to contact the Spanish National University for Distance Learning to verify your documents and confirm any special requirements that apply in your home country. You can then apply directly to the university of your choice.
The official deadline for applying for fall admission to Spanish universities is June, but as an international student, it is a good idea to apply early as this is a validation process. At the graduate level, students should go directly to the school of their choice.
Funding your studies
Tuition fees at public universities are set by regional education authorities, so rates vary across the country. However, in all areas, costs are much lower than in the UK, ranging from around ￡400 to ￡1,000 per year. Private universities are much more expensive. Spain offers few scholarship opportunities for foreign students. Student loans are not generally available to international students who have moved to this country to study. Many students work part-time during their studies without needing additional permission, but it can be difficult to find work if you don't have adequate Spanish skills.
Universities usually provide some accommodation, either on or off campus, and some help students arrange homestays to help them improve their language skills. Shared accommodation is also common among students, with many staying in youth hostels or using couch-surfing sites when they first arrive in Spain and then looking for more stable accommodation. The cost of consumer goods and services in Spain is below average compared to other European countries.
Typical costs in Spain (March 2015, GBP) include:
1. Apartment rent (1 bedroom): ￡259 - ￡346 per month
2. Cheap restaurant: ￡7.12
3. McDonald's set menu: ￡4.98
4. Domestic beer (in a 0.5-litre cask): 1.42 GBP
5. Imported beer (0.33-liter bottle): ￡1.92
6. Cappuccino: ￡1.14
7. Coca-Cola/Pepsi (0.33-liter bottle): ￡1.22
8. Water (0.33-liter bottle): ￡0.85
9. One loaf of bread: ￡0.67
10. Cigarettes: ￡3.38
11. Local one-way ticket: ￡1.00
12. Cinema ticket: ￡5.34
Health and safety
Generally speaking, Spain is a safe country, but pickpocketing and bag-snatching can be a problem in many of Spain's major cities, especially Barcelona. Passport theft is a particular concern. Do not carry valuables with you and be aware of your surroundings.
UK students with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be entitled to free healthcare in Spain in the same way as local residents. There are also many private healthcare providers in Spain, as well as healthcare centers that offer both state-funded and private treatment. Make sure you clarify that you are providing treatment on a state-funded basis and show your EHIC card in the first instance.
You must pay 40% of the cost of any prescription obtained from a state-funded healthcare provider.
Barcelona School of Economics, Spain
History of the School
The Barcelona Graduate School of Excellence (Barcelona GSE) was founded in 2006 in an internationally recognized tradition of excellence. The Barcelona GSE integrates and supports the international community of active economists, develops new research activities, supports the University's PhD program in Economics Pompeu Bra (UPF) and the University Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and offers new innovative master programs, as well as modular courses in the summer school or through the academic year.
ESADE Business School
History of the School
ESADE Business School was founded in 1958.
ESADE Business School is located in Pedralbes, Barcelona, and also has branches in Sant Cugat del Valles, north of Barcelona, Madrid, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Spanish Business School
History of the School
The Spanish Business School is a graduate business school located in Madrid, Spain. It was founded in 1973 as the Spanish Institute of Enterprise (Instituto de Empresa). The Spanish Business School offers Master's Degree programs, Executive Master's Degree programs, Executive Education programs, PhD and DBA programs. Every year, about 1,900 students from 90 countries pursue degrees at the Instituto de Empresa Industrial.
University of Barcelona, Spain
History of the University
The University of Barcelona (UB) was founded in 1450 by the Rector of the Estudi General of Barcelona, establishing professors of theology, canonical and civil law, medicine, philosophy, and the arts. It was originally built in Naples, but was forced to move to Cervera in 1717 and eventually returned to Barcelona in 1842. Barcelona has two official languages: Catalan and Spanish. Both languages are also mainly used on campus.UB offers free Catalan courses and Spanish courses at low prices.
Today the University of Barcelona is a research university with two internationally recognized campuses - the HUBc Health Campus and the BKC Knowledge Campus. Between 2011 and 2012, *** 9,497 international students participated in degree courses and international exchange programs.
Autonomous University of Madrid
Student Services and Facilities
Student Jobs
International students can do part-time jobs depending on their qualifications.
Disability Support
The Office of Solidarity and Cooperation of the Autonomous University of Madrid offers a Disability Counseling Service that provides direct assistance to students, faculty, and administrators throughout the university community. The purpose of the Disability Counseling Service is to ensure equality of opportunity for people with disabilities to study at the University and to promote social sensitivity and awareness.
Student Associations
The Faculties and Schools have student associations, including the Association of Students and Foreign Researchers of the Autonomous University of Madrid.The Cantoblanco Campus was inaugurated on October 25, 1971, marking the beginning of a period of expansion and consolidation, during which the number of courses on offer increased in line with the number of research projects, and for both activities support services were provided.
The School of Psychology was founded in 1983 with the approval of a planning scheme for the Cantoblanco Campus that allowed for the development of the site through a large number of buildings and facilities in the following years. Since 2009, UAM has been a College of International Excellence (CIE).
The UAM + CSIC project at CIE represents a leap forward in the strategy aimed at making the university campus an internationally recognized environment for research in the physical sciences attractive to students, with a faculty that combines quality service, research, teaching and management with significant social, economic and cultural impact.
Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
History of the University
The University was founded in 1968.
In 2009 it was recognized as an International Campus of Excellence.
University of Navarra, Spain
History of the University
The University of Navarra was founded in 1952 as a private university. It emphasizes providing a personalized education: in 2018, the ratio of one teacher to 12.7 students was 1 to 12.7.The university was founded by a saint (and founder of the Catholic ministry union), Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, and is a Catholic institution but respects freedom of worship. The University of Navarra has seven international campuses located in Pamplona, San Sebastian, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, S?o Paulo and New York. It currently offers up to 81 undergraduate programs and 38 master's programs, with approximately 1,471 professors and lecturers and 12,738 students.