Choosing where to study in Spain can be one of the most difficult decisions you will face before attending college. You might even seek top-ranked universities in Spain for guidance. Colleges in Spain are a popular destination for international students. Completing a program at one of Spain's universities will help you pursue your desired job and obtain work experience in your field of study. Therefore, here, let’s learn about all the best universities in Spain.
Before moving to study in Spain, here are some important points that one must know.
Parameter |
Statistics |
No. of Universities in Spain |
76 |
Tuition fees of universities in Spain |
750 EUR - 3500 EUR |
Popular courses in Spain |
Business Management and Administration, Economics, Primary Education, and Tourism |
English language exams required |
IELTS / TOEFL / PTE |
Entrance exams required |
GMAT / GRE / SAT |
Studying in Spain offers a vibrant cultural experience with a rich history and diverse landscapes. Universities here are known for high-quality education in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and business. The country's warm climate and delicious cuisine add to its charm, making it an attractive destination for students worldwide. Spanish is the most widely spoken language globally, offering excellent opportunities for language learning and cultural immersion. Additionally, Spain's strategic location in Europe provides easy travel access to other European countries.
In Spain, post-work permits, also known as residence permits for work purposes, are available for Indian students to stay and work after completing their studies. These permits allow graduates to seek employment opportunities in Spain. To obtain a post-work permit, students must usually have completed a degree or a specific educational program in Spain. The permit duration can vary depending on the type of degree obtained, typically ranging from one to two years.
International students can work part-time while studying to supplement their income and gain work experience in Spain. According to the student visa of Spain, Indian students can work up to 20 hours/week during the academic year and full-time during holidays or when their university is closed. Typical part-time jobs for students include hospitality, retail, tutoring, and administrative work. Working part-time helps cover living expenses, provides valuable experience, improves language skills, and allows students to immerse themselves in the local culture. On average, a student can earn around 20 EUR per hour through a part-time job in Spain.
Some of the world’s best universities in Spain are highly recognised by various ranking organisations, such as QS Ranking and THE (The Times Higher Education).
University Name |
QS World University Rankings 2025 |
THE Rankings 2024 |
Complutense University of Madrid |
164 |
501 - 600 |
Universitat de Barcelona |
165 |
152 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
175 |
351 - 400 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
198 |
351 - 400 |
University of Navarra |
249 |
301 - 350 |
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) |
265 |
201 - 250 |
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) |
285 |
801 - 1000 |
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) |
321 |
- |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) |
371 |
601 - 800 |
University of Granada |
431 |
501 - 600 |
Universities in Spain are highly known for their arts and humanities related courses. You can easily find an array of courses related to this field, like history, Archaeology, Philosophy, Humanities, etc, to support your dream career. Below, we have mentioned the top 10 universities in Spain listed for pursuing life sciences and medicine courses.
Universities |
QS Ranking |
Complutense University of Madrid |
72 |
Universitat de Barcelona |
94 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
109 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
148 |
University of Granada |
171 |
University of Salamanca |
178 |
University of Navarra |
182 |
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) |
197 |
Universidad de Sevilla |
207 |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) |
268 |
Below are some of the top universities in Spain where you can pursue engineering and technology-related courses.
Universities |
QS Rankings |
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) |
73 |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) |
82 |
Universitat de Barcelona |
140 |
Universitat Politècnica de València |
144 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
226 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
236 |
Complutense University of Madrid |
256 |
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) |
260 |
Universidad de Sevilla |
264 |
University of Granada |
282 |
You can also find various life science and medicine related courses in Spain universities. Here is the list of universities in Spain for science and medicine, ranked by the QS Rankings.
Universities |
QS Rankings |
Universitat de Barcelona |
55 |
Complutense University of Madrid |
138 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
151 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
169 |
Universitat de Valencia |
239 |
University of Granada |
287 |
University of Navarra |
320 |
Universidad de Sevilla |
369 |
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) |
379 |
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela |
401-450 |
Here are some of the top ranking universities in Spain according to QS rankings to study natural science courses.
Universities |
QS Rankings |
Universitat de Barcelona |
59 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
85 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
118 |
Complutense University of Madrid |
191 |
Universitat de Valencia |
200 |
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) |
200 |
University of Granada |
253 |
University of the Basque Country |
312 |
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela |
352 |
Universidad de Sevilla |
354 |
To explore the list of universities in Spain for social science and management courses, students can check the table below:
Universities |
QS Rankings |
University of Navarra |
65 |
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |
93 |
Complutense University of Madrid |
100 |
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) |
104 |
Universitat Ramon Llull |
105 |
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) |
108 |
Universitat de Barcelona |
113 |
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid |
125 |
IE University |
174 |
University of Granada |
262 |
Spain is renowned not only for its vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and stunning views but also for its excellent educational opportunities. Here are some of the top cities in Spain that are highly regarded for studying and are ranked by the QS Ranking organisation.
Cities |
QS Ranking 2025 |
Madrid |
34 |
Barcelona |
41 |
Valencia |
90 |
Seville |
- |
Valladolid |
- |
In Spanish universities, international students can find more than 3,000 courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. But certain courses are highly demanding. Below, we have mentioned some of the most popular courses to study in Spain and the universities providing them.
Programs |
Universities |
Law Programs |
|
Arts and Humanities |
|
Marketing and Finance |
|
STEM Degrees |
|
Hospitality Management |
|
Before enrolling in universities in Spain, international students must meet the admission requirements. Although different universities have varied entrance criteria, the core eligibility criteria are the same. So, let's look at the basic admissions criteria for Spanish universities.
International students may be required to take particular admission exams before admission to universities in Spain. These entrance exams, often known as standardised admission tests, allow the university's admission committee to evaluate applicants' applications based on common criteria. We've listed some of the commonly accepted standardised admission tests below.
To enrol in English-taught courses, international students have to appear for the English proficiency tests. Some of the commonly accepted English proficiency tests in Spanish universities are mentioned below.
Here is a list of important documents required to apply to universities in Spain and for a student visa:
Criteria |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript |
10th and 12th standard academic transcript along with bachelor’s degree certificate |
|
A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 bands or equivalent in any other proficiency test |
|
1 from an academic institution |
2 (1 from an academic institution and 1 from employer) |
|
Required |
Required |
|
Certificates |
Relevant certificates of extra-curricular activities are accepted |
Relevant certificates of extra-curricular activities are accepted |
In Spain, universities generally follow a different academic calendar than countries like the United States or Canada. The academic year in Spain typically runs from September to June, and it is divided into two main intakes:
Fall Intake in Spain - This intake starts in October and marks the beginning of the academic year in Spain. The application period for the Fall intake in Spain usually begins several months in advance, around November to June, with deadlines varying by institution and program. Most undergraduate and graduate programs commence during the Fall intake, providing international students with a wide range of course options.
Spring Intake in Spain - The Spring intake in Spain is less common than the Fall intake but is gaining popularity among some universities in Spain. The application period for the Spring intake in Spain typically opens around April - May to November of the previous year, with specific deadlines set by each university. Since the number of applications during this intake is less, the chances of getting an offer letter increase.
Here is the estimated tuition fee range for Indian students studying in Spain.
Programs |
Tuition Fee Range |
Undergraduate |
750 - 3500 EUR per year |
Postgraduate |
1000 - 3,500 EUR per year |
Private Institution Tuition Fees |
Up to 20,000 EUR per year |
Indian students will require between 900 EUR and 1,100 EUR per month to live in the most costly Spanish cities like Madrid and Barcelona. Cities like Valencia, Seville, and Cadiz have lower living costs, ranging from 700 EUR to 900 EUR per month. Below, we have mentioned the estimated cost of various expenses.
Category |
Cost in EUR |
Accommodation |
360 to 650 EUR per month |
Groceries |
200 and 400 EUR per month |
Transportation |
40 - 60 EUR per month |
Utilities |
115 EUR per month |
Internet |
30 EUR per month |
In order to study in Spain, Indian students must get a student visa approved by the authorities before moving to the country. To apply for the Spanish Study Visa, you must also pay a cost of 7275 INR. Depending on your position, Spanish officials will allow you to pay this money online, in person at a visa application centre in India, or via bank transfer.
The automotive, chemical, medical technology, tourism, shipbuilding, and textile industries are among the most important economic sectors. Among OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations, Spain has a highly efficient and robust social security system that accounts for approximately 23% of GDP ($534 billion (2019 estimate) and $463 billion (2019 estimate)). Below are some of the best job sectors and their average income in Spain.
Category |
Salary per month |
Administration |
€1,147 to €2,098 |
Banking |
€1,197 to €4,650 |
Information Technology |
€1,861 to € 5,573 |
Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations |
€1,321 to €3,823 |
Tourism, Gastronomy, Hotel Business |
€979 to €2,433 |
Economy, Finance, Accountancy |
€1,135 to €3,920 |
Studying in Spain can be a great experience, and several scholarships are available for international students to pursue their studies there. Here are some of the best scholarships for international students to study in Spain.
Scholarship Name |
Value |
Eligibility |
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant 2024 |
Amount of 11700 Euros |
Must be 18 years It must be an early stage of their career |
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for International Students |
Tuition fees and stipend ranging from 1000 to 1500 Euros per month |
Have at least a university’s bachelor degree |
Universidad San Pablo-Charitable-Educational Study Grants |
Maximum of 7500 Euros |
Enrolled for 60 credits of academic performance |
University Community Scholarships- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)
|
Covers public registration fees |
Financial situation |
UIC Barcelona-International Excellence Scholarships |
Grants cover 20% of cover |
Must have 8 GPA |
EADA Scholarship |
Covers between 10% to 40% tuition fees |
Enrolled for MBA before 10 days of awarding scholarship |
University of Alicante-Grants for Master’s Degree Studies |
Covers 50% of tuition fees |
GPA of at least 6.50 in their current Master´s degree studies |
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