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Universities in Spain (2026): Tuition, Admissions and Scholarships

Jules

Editor

Updated: October 2026 | Found helpful by 9 others

Spain's official register lists 99 universities (50 public, 49 private) as of October 2026, and public tuition is charged per ECTS credit rather than per semester. The official 2024-25 mean bachelor prices run from EUR 11.95 per credit in Galicia to EUR 19.29 in Navarra, about EUR 717 to EUR 1,157.40 for a 60-credit year.

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How Is the Spanish University System Structured?

The RUCT (Registro de Universidades, Centros y Titulos) is the official register. It counts 50 public and 49 private universities. The RUCT private list returns 51 raw records; 2 are pseudo-entries, leaving 49. IE Universidad and IE Universidad Madrid, and UAX and UAX Mare Nostrum, are separate RUCT entries. San Damaso (ecclesiastical) and Saint Louis University Madrid are not in this count.

Spain has no separate university-of-applied-sciences class: practical schools sit inside public or private universities, and FP de grado superior is non-university tertiary education. Someone looking for an Austrian or German style applied-sciences degree should compare applied schools inside Spanish universities, or FP de grado superior where a university degree is not required.

Illustration of a graduation cap, a book, and a university building, for studying at Spanish universities.
Cap, book, campus: studying in Spain.

How Much Is University Tuition in Spain?

Public tuition is a per-ECTS public price (precio publico) set by each autonomous community, varying by degree group, first or repeat enrolment and sometimes non-EU status. Private tuition is set by each institution. There is no national per-semester tariff.

Official 2024-25 mean first-enrolment prices, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades: university price statistics (31 Jan 2025). Means, not quotes for every degree; 2026-27 decrees not yet captured.
Region or levelMean per ECTS60 ECTS (one year)
Galicia, bachelorEUR 11.95EUR 717
Asturias, bachelorEUR 12.34EUR 740.40
Canarias, bachelorEUR 12.50EUR 750
Andalucia, bachelorEUR 12.62EUR 757.20
Cataluna, bachelorEUR 18.15EUR 1,089
Madrid, bachelorEUR 18.55EUR 1,113
Navarra, bachelorEUR 19.29EUR 1,157.40
Spain (national mean), professionally qualifying masterEUR 15.76EUR 945.60
Spain (national mean), other masterEUR 30.04EUR 1,802.40

A later official example: Orden CNU/731/2025 sets Castilla y Leon 2025-26 prices at EUR 13 to EUR 21.60 per ECTS (first-enrolment bachelor prices; repeat enrolments cost more). Private universities set their own fees, which are not published here as a generic range.

Andalusia: A rebate of 99% linked to passed first-enrolment credits, subject to timing and exclusion rules. It is not an automatic 99% cut of an incoming student's first bill. The current call, its exclusions and the actual credit rate still need checking.

How Do Admissions and Language Rules Work?

Public universities: Spanish qualifications use the EBAU/EvAU and regional preinscripcion; many foreign school credentials go through UNEDasiss, possibly with PCE subject tests. Private universities run their own admissions. See UNEDasiss for foreign credentials.

Language requirements are set per programme. B2 is a common request, not a national rule; accepted IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge, DELE and SIELE scores must be checked per programme. No official counter separates fully English-taught degrees from bilingual tracks, so check each programme page for the language of every course.

Which Scholarships Are Open to International Students?

Status checked 25 October 2026.
SchemeWho it is forStatus
Ministry general grant (beca general)First-enrolment tuition plus variable componentsSpanish, EU or qualifying legal-residence rules; many non-EU student-stay holders are excludedCheck the current call
Andalusia 99% passed-credit rebateRebate of the eligible first-enrolment credit priceEnrolled students meeting the passed-credit and timing rules; not automatic on entryCheck the current call
Disability (33% or more), familia numerosa and other statutory exemptionsFull or partial public-price exemptionDepends on recognised status and documentsCheck the current call
Comunitat Valenciana fee-exemption grantsEligible enrolled-credit feesResidence, enrolment and merit conditions in the callCheck the current call
Fundacion Carolina 2026-27Tuition, travel, insurance or stipend, by lineIbero-American lines; conditions varyClosed: Postgraduate 2 Mar 2026; doctoral and stays 9 Apr 2026 (both closed)
MAEC-AECID Africa-Med 2026-27Funded official master, by lineListed African and Middle East nationalitiesClosed: 2 to 15 Jul 2026 (closed)
Erasmus Mundus Joint MastersOften tuition plus stipend where awardedAll nationalities, set by each consortiumCheck the current call
University merit and aid schemesPartial or full tuition or other aidAdmitted or enrolled students; eligibility variesCheck the current call
Fundacion la Caixa postgraduate abroadStudy abroadFunds study abroad, not inbound study in SpainNot for inbound students

Which Option Fits Your Situation?

Worked scenarios, October 2026. No institution or agent paid for inclusion.
#SituationBest answerRunner-upWhyRuled out
C3Lowest public bachelor price among official 2024-25 regional meansGalicia public universityAsturias/CanariasEUR 11.95 mean is lowest cited official meanCalling it every student's bill: degree/residency variation
C4Andalusian public student expecting near-zero first billBudget actual first-enrolment price, then claim eligible passed-credit rebateAnother region without verified rebateRebate follows passing/eligibility"99% off before study": wrong timing
C5Non-EU student seeking ministry general grantCheck legal-residence eligibility firstCarolina/AECID/Erasmus/university aidPrevents relying on an exclusionary grantStudent-stay status alone: often insufficient
C6Latin American postgraduate applicant in Jan 2026Fundación Carolina callUniversity merit aidInternational line directly matchesAs-of-October application: 2 Mar deadline passed
C7African/Middle East master's applicant in Jun 2026AECID África-Med if nationality/course eligibleUniversity aidSpecific inbound funded-master lineApplying after 15 Jul 2026: closed
C8Practical learner seeking an Austrian UAS labelApplied school/degree inside a Spanish universityFP grado superior if university degree not requiredMatches learning style without inventing a sectorSearching only for "Spanish UAS": wrong taxonomy

Frequently Asked Questions

How many universities are there in Spain?

Spain's official university register (RUCT) lists 50 public and 49 private universities, 99 in total, as of October 2026. The RUCT private list returns 51 raw records; 2 are pseudo-entries, leaving 49. IE Universidad and IE Universidad Madrid, and UAX and UAX Mare Nostrum, are separate RUCT entries. San Damaso (ecclesiastical) and Saint Louis University Madrid are not in this count.

How much does a public university cost in Spain?

Spanish public universities charge a public price per ECTS credit, set by each autonomous community. The official 2024-25 mean first-enrolment bachelor prices ranged from EUR 11.95 per ECTS in Galicia (about EUR 717 for 60 credits) to EUR 19.29 in Navarra (about EUR 1,157.40). Prices also vary by degree, repeat enrolment and sometimes non-EU status.

Does Spain have universities of applied sciences?

No. Spain has no separate university-of-applied-sciences class: practical schools sit inside public or private universities, and FP de grado superior is non-university tertiary education.

Is Andalusia's university tuition 99% free?

Not on the first bill. A rebate of 99% linked to passed first-enrolment credits, subject to timing and exclusion rules. It is not an automatic 99% cut of an incoming student's first bill. At the EUR 12.62 mean rate, the residual is EUR 0.13 per rebated passed credit. The current call, its exclusions and the actual credit rate still need checking.

Can international students get the Spanish government scholarship?

The Spanish ministry's general grant (beca general) has Spanish, EU or legal-residence rules that exclude many non-EU student-stay holders. International applicants usually look at Fundacion Carolina, MAEC-AECID, Erasmus Mundus or university aid instead; the 2026-27 Carolina and AECID Africa-Med calls are closed as of October 2026.

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Updated

  • Published: university system hub with RUCT counts, tuition model and scholarship status