Spain may not be as popular as other European study destinations, but it’s becoming a go-to place for many foreigners. It is rich in history and boasts delicious food and balmy year-round weather.
Additionally, Spanish universities have a long record of providing education to their local and international students. With this, you can guarantee you’ll receive the highest quality of education in your chosen field.
Spain is also a good place to live, given that it has a lower cost of living than most European countries. This – and its cheap universities – make Spain an excellent destination for learners who want to study well and for cheap. This article will look at the cheapest universities in Spain for international students.
What Are the General Requirements to Study in Spain?
The basic requirements for studying in Spain at the undergraduate level are the following:
- High school leaving certificate
- Transcript of records
- Proficiency in Spanish and English, depending on the program
As for graduate students, the requirements are:
- Accomplished application form
- Bachelor’s degree and transcripts translated into Spanish
- Copy of visa
Other academics, student visa, and language requirements may vary depending on your chosen university, program, nationality, and degree. As an incoming international student here, kindly collect the requirements your university needs for admission.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Do Universities in Spain Offer English-taught Programs?
Yes, there are a few universities in Spain that teach in English. One is Marbella University, which is located in Malaga, Spain. Another option is the Global Business School, which has campuses in Barcelona and Madrid. It offers all of its undergraduate and graduate programs in English.
Not all Spanish universities have English-taught programs or courses, so make sure to decide first what program you will be taking, then choose a Spanish university that offers that program. The language requirements will highly depend on your chosen program.
Affordable Universities in Spain for International Students
1. Universidad de Granada
The University of Granada, or UGR, is one of Spain’s oldest universities. Established in 1531 by Emperor Charles V, it currently has 5 campuses in Granada – and 2 more in the Spanish territories of Melilla and Ceuta. With a tuition fee of less than €1,000 a year, the Universidad de Grenada is the cheapest university in Spain for international students.
UGR has many schools, faculties, and departments throughout its multiple branches. All in all, it offers programs in the fields of Engineering, Architecture, Information Technology, Fine Arts, Science, Sports Science, Economics and Business, Education, Political Science, Health Science, Labor Studies, Communications, Law, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology, Social Work, and Translation.
UGR, ranked high in all of Spain, has a large student population of more than 56,000+ students. It also has a sprawling international body of 12% – many of whom have named UGR the best Spanish university for foreigners.
2. Universidad de Alicante
The links above to the undergraduate and graduate tuition will lead to a list of academic programs you can choose from. Since the tuition fee is different for varying academic programs, click on your preferred academic major for detailed information regarding your academic fees.
The University of Alicante, or UA, was founded in 1979. This cheap university in Spain continues the legacy of the University of Orejuela, which operated from 1610 to 1808.
Located at San Vicente del Raspeig in Alicante, UA is listed as one of Spain’s top universities. Through its 70+ departments, students may specialize in Law, Social Science, Experimental Science, Education, Liberal Arts, Health Science, and Technology.
Most courses are taught in Spanish, though some are taught in English (the Graduate Program in Economics, for example). This bilingual nature has helped UA attract many international students.
3. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The Autonomous University of Barcelona, or UAB, is a prestigious school in the neighborhood of Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona. Founded in 1968, it is currently ranked the second-best university in Spain.
UAB offers programs in Science, Health Science, Biosciences, Arts and Humanities, Social Science and Law, and Technological Sciences. It also offers 5 bachelor’s degrees in English, namely Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Economics, Primary Education, Tourism, and English Studies.
There are even more English-taught Master’s programs, including that of Data Science, Labor Economics, and Photonics, to name a few.
4. Universitat Rovira i Virgili
The University of Rovira Virgili, or URV, is a public Catalan university founded in 1991. It is named after Antoni Rovira I Virgili, the former Catalonian parliament president.
URV has various faculties throughout its 6 Tarragona and Reus, Spain campuses. For one, the Faculties of the Arts, Law, and Nursing are housed in Campus Catalunya.
Campus Sescelades, located north of Tarragona, houses the Faculties of Educational Science & Psychology, Chemistry, & Oenology, and the Schools of Engineering & Chemical Engineering.
Campus Vapour Neu in the Reus City Center has the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, while the Faculty of Tourism & Geography is located in Campus Vila-Seca. The Faculty of Business & Economics and the School of Architecture are at Campus Bellissens.
5. Universidad de Alcala
The University of Alcala, home of the Cervantes Prize, is one of Spain’s oldest institutions at 522 years old. Established in 1499, it is currently located in Alcala de Henares – in the former buildings of Madrid-based Complutense University.
Apart from this ‘historical’ branch, the affordable universities in Spain also have a Science & Technology campus and another one in Guadalajara.
The former Studium Generale – as sanctioned by King Sancho IV of Castille – presently offers degrees in Arts and Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, Architecture and Engineering, Law and Social Science, and Science.
It also has Master’s programs taught in English, such as North American Studies, Photonic Engineering, Finance and Banking, International Business Administration, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
6. Universidad Carlos III Madrid
The Carlos III University of Madrid, or UC3M, is a public institution founded in 1989. This cheap university in Spain has 4 campuses in Madrid, where its various faculties are located.
The Getafe Campus, for example, houses the Schools of Law, Social Science, Humanities, and Communications. The School of Engineering can be found in the Leganes Campus, while the Graduate School is in the Madrid-Puerta de Toledo Branch. On the other hand, the rest of the departments are situated at the Colmenarejo Campus.
Ranked the 24th-best university in all of Spain – and one of the world’s best ‘young’ universities – UC3M currently has 17,000+ students. It also has an ever-increasing foreign student community.
7. Universidad Complutense Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is one of the most affordable universities in Spain for international students. It was founded in Alcala by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros in 1293. It then moved to its present location in 1836 following the order of Queen Regent Maria Christina.
Complutense students are dispersed through the university’s historic faculties of Fine Arts, Biology, Chemical Science, Commerce and Tourism, Computer Science and Engineering, Dentistry, Economics and Business Administration, Education, Geography and History, Geology, Language, Law, Library Science, Mathematics, Media, Medicine, Nursing and Physiotherapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Political and Social Science, Psychology, Social Work, Statistics, and Veterinary Medicine.
We hope this article on the cheapest universities in Spain for international students was helpful. To know more information like this, check out the Programs in Europe for International Students.
