Educads

Study in Spain 2026

Spain has 98 universities, with Madrid and Barcelona among the main student cities. Daily life can run in Spanish or English, depending on the university and city.

The academic year is shaped by a large university network, with examples including Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Complutense University of Madrid, University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Madrid, IE University, and Bircham International University.

International students often begin by focusing on the Student Visa (Visa de Estudiante), then looking at the university city and housing. Madrid and Barcelona are the main student cities named here, and many students build their first-term routine around campus life in one of them.

Language in daily life can be Spanish or English. That mix matters when choosing where to live and study, especially if you want a university where some services or classes may be available in English.

Spain uses the euro, and its price level was 70% of the US level in 2023. For students deciding whether to move, that gives a basic sense of everyday costs while studying in a country with a GDP per capita of USD 44,252 PPP.

Universities in Spain

UA Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona logo

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain · Public University

★ 64 QS World #149 Admissions open
Tuition (indicative)
EUR 2,500 – EUR 3,500/yr
Founded
1968
UC Complutense University of Madrid logo

Complutense University of Madrid

Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain · Public University

★ 62 QS World #172 Admissions open
Tuition (indicative)
EUR 2,500 – EUR 3,000/yr
Founded
1499
UB University of Barcelona logo

University of Barcelona

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain · Public University

★ 62 QS World #165 Admissions open
Tuition (indicative)
EUR 2,500 – EUR 3,500/yr
Founded
1450
UA Autonomous University of Madrid logo

Autonomous University of Madrid

Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain · Public University

★ 61 QS World #189 Admissions open
Tuition (indicative)
EUR 2,500 – EUR 3,000/yr
Founded
1968
IE IE University logo

IE University

Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain · Private University

★ 58 QS World #314 Admissions open
Tuition (indicative)
EUR 19,500 – EUR 26,500/yr
Founded
1973

All universities in Spain →

Questions about student life in Spain

What visa do international students need for Spain?

The Student Visa (Visa de Estudiante).

Which cities are named as student cities in Spain?

Madrid and Barcelona.

What languages are used in daily life for students in Spain?

Spanish and English.

Student cities in Spain

Each one has its own guide to life, costs and working.

More on Spain: destination overview · universities · scholarships · student visa

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