Study in Spain

Spain offers well-regarded business and hospitality schools, public universities with moderate fees and a growing range of programmes taught in English. Since May 2025, students can work up to 30 hours a week, and graduates can stay for a year to look for work.

• Business and hospitality schools

  IE University, ESADE and hospitality schools such as Les Roches attract students from around the world.

• Moderate public fees

  Public universities charge set fees per credit, far below private universities.

• Warm cities, lower costs

  Valencia, Granada and Seville cost noticeably less to live in than Madrid or Barcelona, with mild winters.

• A widely spoken language

  Spanish is spoken by hundreds of millions of people, which adds a valuable language to your degree.

Also on our list

• Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Autonomous University of Madrid
• Carlos III University of Madrid
• EU Business School
• Les Roches Marbella
• Polytechnic University of Catalonia
• Polytechnic University of Madrid
• University of Granada
• University of Navarra
• University of Valencia

• September

  Classes start

  September

  Apply

  January to June

  The main intake at public universities.

• February

  Classes start

  February

  Apply

  September to November

  Mostly private universities and business schools.

Public universitiesFees per credit vary by region, and some regions charge students from outside the EU more.

€1,000 to €4,000 a year

Private universities and business schoolsMaster’s degrees at IE and ESADE cost more.

€8,000 to €25,000 a year

Living costsIncluding rent. Madrid and Barcelona cost the most.

€900 to €1,300 a month

Proof of fundsThe IPREM, a Spanish public income index, for each month of study.

€600 a month

• Language

  • IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 for English-taught programmes
  • Spanish at B2 for Spanish-taught programmes, shown with the DELE or SIELE

• Academic

  • Bachelor’s: HSC or equivalent, recognised for entry to a Spanish university
  • Master’s: a relevant bachelor’s degree

• Student visa

  • Health insurance from a company authorised in Spain, with full cover and no co-payments
  • A medical certificate and a police clearance certificate
  • Certificates legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated into Spanish

1. 01

   Choose programmes

   Compare public and private universities by subject, language and cost.

2. 02

   Take a language test

   IELTS for English-taught programmes; the DELE or SIELE for Spanish-taught ones.

3. 03

   Apply and receive an admission letter

   The embassy needs it in both Spanish and English.

4. 04

   Legalise and translate your documents

   Certificates legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then translated into Spanish by an authorised translator.

5. 05

   Apply for the student visa

   At the Spain visa application centre in Dhaka, run by BLS International for the Embassy of Spain.

6. 06

   Apply for your student card

   Within a month of arriving, for the residence card (TIE) that also lets you work.

• While you study

  Up to 30 hours a week, as long as the work fits around your studies. Your student card authorises it, so you do not need a separate permit.

• After you graduate

  A residence permit of up to 12 months to look for work or start a business, or a direct change to a work permit with a job offer.