Country guide
Study in Spain
Some of Western Europe’s lowest public tuition, 30-hour weekly work rights, and a lifestyle that consistently tops international-student satisfaction surveys.
- Tuition
- €750–3,500 / year (public)
- Living cost
- €700–1,100 / month
- Work rights
- Up to 30 h / week
Why study in Spain?
Spain pairs affordability with quality of life better than almost any destination: public universities such as Complutense Madrid, the University of Barcelona, and the Polytechnic University of Valencia charge per-credit fees that keep a full year under €3,500 — often far less — while living costs outside Madrid and Barcelona stay refreshingly low.
Spain is also becoming a serious business and tech hub: IE, IESE, and ESADE rank among the world’s top business schools, Barcelona and Málaga host fast-growing startup scenes, and the 2022 student-visa reform made Spain one of the most work-friendly study destinations in Europe.
Tuition & costs
- Public universities charge per ECTS credit; a full 60-credit year typically costs €750–3,500 depending on the region (Andalusia and Galicia cheapest; Madrid and Catalonia at the upper end) and degree level.
- Master’s degrees at public universities run roughly €1,500–4,500 per year for non-EU students; private universities and business schools charge €6,000–30,000+.
- Living costs: €700–900 per month in most cities; budget €1,000–1,100 for Madrid or Barcelona.
- Proof of funds for the visa is 100% of the IPREM — about €600 per month (€7,200/year) at current rates; verify the figure for your application year.
Language requirements
Spanish-taught programmes require Spanish at B1–B2 level (DELE or SIELE); B2 is the safe target, and some universities test you themselves.
English-taught degrees are growing quickly, especially in business, engineering, and medicine — they typically require IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL equivalent.
For bachelor’s admission, non-EU students usually need their school credentials evaluated via UNEDasiss and may need PCE exams for competitive programmes such as medicine.
Intake & application timeline
- Bachelor’s: UNEDasiss accreditation and PCE exams run from spring; university pre-registration (preinscripción) usually takes place in June–July for the September intake.
- Master’s: application windows vary widely, from January through July — competitive programmes fill in the first rounds, so apply early.
- Some universities offer a February intake for selected master’s programmes.
- Student visa (Type D) processing takes 1–3 months; degree legalisation and sworn translations of documents add time, so prepare documents early.
Working while you study
Since Spain’s 2022 immigration reform, student-visa holders may work up to 30 hours per week without a separate work permit, as long as the job does not interfere with studies.
After graduating, you can switch to a 12-month job-search stay or directly to a work permit. Immigration rules continue to evolve — check the current regulations with the Spanish consulate before relying on them.