Posted by To reduce the confusion about why and where to study in Spain, we’ve brought to you a list of the cheapest universities in Spain for international students.
Spain is a country on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, which includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and various cultures.
Table of Contents
Why Study in Spain?
Spain is a popular destination for international students due to its beautiful climate, active outdoor lifestyle, and diverse outdoor activities.
The country’s geography makes it an ideal location for short-hop trips, and its vast size and regional differences make it an ideal place for short trips within the country.
Spain’s reputation as a safe and secure country for holidays has been celebrated by millions of holidaymakers.
The country’s extensive anti-terrorism provisions have been instrumental in dealing with international anti-terrorism efforts, and the Spanish government’s rigorous approach to security is another reason students prefer to study in Spain.
Popular Courses in Spain
Below is a list of courses popular in Spain:
- Degree in Law
- MBA: Many business schools in Spain are triple-accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.
- Study Spanish in Spain: Spain welcomes thousands of international students to study in the country. There are over 190,000 international students in the country studying various courses.
- Natural Science Courses: Spain has several universities that offer natural science courses, including the University of Barcelona, the University of Valencia, and the University of Granada.
- Hospitality Management
List of the Cheapest Universities in Spain for International Students
Below is a list of the cheapest universities in Spain for international students:
- University of Granada
- University of Valencia
- University of Alcala
- University of Salamanca
- University of Jaén
- University of A Coruña
- Pompeu Fabra University
- University of Alicante
- University of Zaragoza
- Polytechnic University of Valencia
- EOI Business School
- ESDi School of Design
- Nebrija University
- Alicante University
- Autonomous University of Madrid.
15 Cheapest Universities in Spain for International Students
1. University of Granada
- Tuition fee: €758 per year
- Acceptance Rates: 51%
The University of Granada is a public university located in Granada, Spain, founded by Emperor Charles V in 1531. It is the fourth largest university in Spain with approximately 80,000 students.
The university has 4 schools and 17 faculties. In addition to its students, the university has over 3,400 administrative staff and several academic staff.
The Centre for Modern Languages (CLM) at the University of Granada is a popular destination for international students, receiving over 10,000 students annually. In 2014, the university was voted the best Spanish university by international students.
According to various rankings, the University of Granada is among the top ten best Spanish universities and holds first place in Translation and Interpreting studies. It is also considered the national leader in Computer Science Engineering.
The UGR started admitting international students in 1992 with the founding of the School for Languages.
2. University of Valencia
- Tuition fee: Tuition fee for foreigners starts from 1,000 USD per year.
- Acceptance Rates: 50-59%
The University of Valencia, also known as UV, is one of the oldest and most affordable universities in Spain.
It was founded in 1499 and is the oldest university in the Valencian Community. With over 55,000 students, 3,300 academic staff, and several non-academic staff, it is one of Spain’s leading universities.
The university has 18 schools and faculties, located on three main campuses. It offers degrees in various academic fields, ranging from arts to science.
Some courses are taught in Spanish, while an equivalent amount is taught in English. The University of Valencia has numerous notable alumni and has been ranked highly in several rankings.
3. University of Alcala
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for foreigners starts from $2,999 per year.
- Acceptance Rates: 45%
The University of Alcala is a public university located in Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain, and has a rich history dating back to 1499.
It is renowned in the Spanish-speaking world for its annual presentation of the highly prestigious Cervantes Prize. The university has 28,336 students and over 2,608 professors, lecturers, and researchers belonging to 24 departments.
The university has five faculties, with several degree programs divided into departments under each. Due to the university’s rich tradition in humanities, it offers several programs in Spanish language and literature.
The university has notable alumni, including politicians, writers, and scientists. It has also been ranked among the top 1000 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
4. University of Salamanca
- Tuition fee: International students pay a minimum of 1,000 USD per year.
- Acceptance Rates: 47%
The University of Salamanca is a higher education institution located in Salamanca, Spain. It was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX and is one of the oldest universities in the world that is still in operation.
The university has over 28,000 students, 2,453 academic staff, and 1,252 administrative staff. It is also one of the cheapest universities in Spain.
The university has both global and national rankings and is one of the top-ranked universities in Spain based on its number of students, mostly from other regions.
The university is known for its Spanish courses for non-native speakers, which attract thousands of foreign students each year.
5. University of Jaén
- Tuition fee: Spain citizens pay 2,714 USD per year, while international students pay a minimum of 2,500 USD.
- Acceptance Rates: 81%
The University of Jaén is a public research university in Jaén, Andalucía, Spain. It was established in 1993 and has two satellite campuses in Linares and Ubeda.
The university has over 16,990 students and 927 administrative staff. It is one of the cheapest universities in Spain for international students.
The university is divided into three faculties, three schools, two technical colleges, and a research center. The faculties include the Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, and Faculty of Humanities and Education.
The university is known for its excellent quality of education and research programs. It offers a wide range of degrees adapted to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The university’s research centers are involved in various fields such as biotechnology, environmental sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
The university’s website provides detailed information on its academic programs, research activities, and other services offered to students and faculty members.
6. University of A Coruña
- Tuition fee: about $835 per year
- Acceptance Rates: 69%
The University of A Coruña is a public university located in the city of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. It was established in 1989 and has two primary campuses in A Coruña and nearby Ferrol.
The university has a student population of 16,847, with 1,393 academic staff and 799 administrative staff. It is known for providing quality education and has numerous facilities for different departments.
The university has been instrumental in the development of Galicia’s higher education system, being the only higher institute in the region until the early 1980s.
7. Pompeu Fabra University
- Tuition fee: $6000 – $8500
- Acceptance Rates: 75%
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) is a public university in Spain that was established by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia in 1990. It was named after Pompeu Fabra, a linguist and expert in the Catalan language.
UPF is one of the most prestigious universities in Spain and is among the seven youngest universities that are progressing rapidly worldwide. The university has 7 faculties and one engineering school.
It is ranked as the 10th best young university in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings. UPF is also ranked as the best university in Spain by the U-Ranking of Spanish Universities.
The university is known for its flexibility and dynamism, and it aims to transform education to respond to future challenges. UPF is highly competitive in research and has undertaken an imperative commitment as a university institution to help find solutions for the main challenges facing humanity.
8. University of Alicante
- Tuition fee: 2,400 EUR per year
- Acceptance Rates: 60%
The University of Alicante, also known as UA, is a public institution located in San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
It was established in 1979, but its roots can be traced back to the Centre for University Studies (CEU), which was founded in 1968. The university has a student population of over 27,542 and employs 2,514 academic staff.
UA offers over 50 courses and has 70 departments and several research groups in the areas of Social Science and Law, Experimental Science, Technology, Liberal Arts, Education, and Health Sciences. Additionally, there are 5 other research institutes affiliated with the university.
While most classes are taught in Spanish, some courses are offered in English, particularly in computer science and all business degrees.
9. University of Zaragoza
- Tuition fee: Spain citizens pay 2,415 USD per year, while international students pay a minimum of 1,000 USD.
- Acceptance Rates: 81%
The University of Zaragoza is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Spain, having been founded in 1542.
It is also one of the cheapest universities in Spain, with teaching campuses and research centers spread across the three provinces of Aragon.
The university has a diverse range of faculties and departments, including Spanish Literature, Geography, Archaeology, Cinema, History, Bio-computation, and Physics of Complex Systems.
The academic staff at the University of Zaragoza are highly specialized, providing a broad research and teaching experience in both Spanish and English for both local and foreign students.
The university has a total of 40,000 students, 3,000 academic staff, and 2,000 technical/administrative staff.
10. Polytechnic University of Valencia
- Tuition fee: Spain citizens pay 2,714 USD per year, while international students pay a minimum of 3,000 USD.
- Acceptance Rates: 29%
The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) is a Spanish university that focuses on science and technology.
It was founded in 1968 as the Higher Polytechnic School of Valencia and became a university in 1971. The university has 14 schools and faculties, some of which are more than 100 years old. It offers 48 bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as 81 doctoral degrees.
The university has an estimated 37,800 students, 2,600 academic staff, and 1,700 administrative staff. It is also known for being one of the cheapest universities in Spain for international students.
11. EOI Business School
- Acceptance Rates: 10 – 20%
EOI Business School is a public institution that offers executive education and postgraduate programs in business management and environmental sustainability.
It was founded in 1955 by the Spanish Ministry of Education to provide engineers with management and organization skills. EOI stands for Escuela de Organización Industrial.
It is one of the most affordable universities in Spain for international students.
EOI is a member of several prestigious organizations such as AEEDE, EFMD, RMEM, and CLADEA. The school has a vast campus site and numerous notable alumni.
12. ESDi School of Design
- Tuition fee: EUR4,540 Per Semester
ESDi School of Design is a school of Ramon Llull University, which offers several official undergraduate university degrees. It is located in Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain.
The school was established in 1989 and has 550 students, 500 academic staff, and 25 administrative staff. ESDi School of Design is one of the cheapest universities in Spain for international students.
The school offers courses in Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Audio-visual Design, and Management Design, which is a part of integral and Multidisciplinary.
ESDi School of Design was the first institute to introduce Spanish university studies in design, as a title owned by URL. It was also one of the first colleges to provide the Spanish Official Undergraduate University Degree in Design in 2008.
13. Nebrija University
- Tuition fee: Average of EUR8000
- Acceptance Rates: 73%
Nebrija University is a private university institution based in Madrid, Spain, named after Antonio de Nebrija, a Spanish scholar and humanist. It was founded in 1995 and has its headquarters in the Nebrija-Princesa building in Madrid.
The university is known for its personalized education with academic rigor and professional career plan. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in strategic areas of the country, such as languages, education, communication, engineering, architecture, and more.
It has seven schools/faculty with several departments and a good number of students, academic, and administrative staff. The university also provides online programs for students who may not be available on-site.
14. Alicante University
- Tuition fee: The average tuition fees for students from the EU/EEA at the University of Alicante is 2,400 EUR per year.
- Acceptance Rates: 60%
Alicante University, also known as UA, is a public university located in San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
It was established in 1979 on the bbased onter for University Studies (CEU), which was founded in 1968. The university has approximately 27,500 students and 2,514 academic staff.
Alicante University offers several courses in more than 50 degrees and comprises over 70 departments and research groups in the following areas: Social Science and Law, Experimental Science, Technology, Liberal Arts, Education, and Health Sciences, and five research institutes.
15. Autonomous University of Madrid
- Tuition fee: Spain citizens pay 1,393 USD per year, while international students pay a minimum of 5,000 USD.
- Acceptance Rates: 75%
The Autonomous University of Madrid, also known as UAM, is a public university located in Madrid, Spain.
It was founded in 1968 and has over 30,000 students, 2,505 academic staff, and 1,036 administrative staff. The university is widely respected as one of the most prestigious universities in Europe and has received several awards and rankings.
The university has eight faculties and several superior schools that coordinate the university’s academic and administrative activities. Each faculty is divided into several departments that issue various student degrees.
The university also has research institutes that support teaching and improve research.
FAQs on the Cheapest Universities in Spain for International Students
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Conclusion
In conclusion, studying in Spain is a great opportunity for international students who want to experience a new culture and learn from some of the best academic programs in the world.
With the list of affordable universities in Spain, you can fulfill your dream of studying in Spain without paying a lot. We’ve come to the end of this article, feel free to comment on the university that caught your fancy.