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

> Spain has 99 registered universities (50 public, 49 private). Public tuition is charged per ECTS credit: EUR 11.95 to EUR 19.29 in the official 2024-25 regional means.

Updated: October 2026 · By Jules · URL: https://www.how-to-spain.com/education

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.

## How Is the Spanish University System Structured?

The [RUCT](https://www.educacion.gob.es/ruct/listauniversidades?tipo_univ=2&consulta=1) (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)](https://www.ciencia.gob.es/Noticias/2025/enero/estadistica-precios.universidades.html). Means, not quotes for every degree; 2026-27 decrees not yet captured.
| Region or level | Mean per ECTS | 60 ECTS (one year) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Galicia, bachelor | EUR 11.95 | EUR 717 |
| Asturias, bachelor | EUR 12.34 | EUR 740.40 |
| Canarias, bachelor | EUR 12.50 | EUR 750 |
| Andalucia, bachelor | EUR 12.62 | EUR 757.20 |
| Cataluna, bachelor | EUR 18.15 | EUR 1,089 |
| Madrid, bachelor | EUR 18.55 | EUR 1,113 |
| Navarra, bachelor | EUR 19.29 | EUR 1,157.40 |
| Spain (national mean), professionally qualifying master | EUR 15.76 | EUR 945.60 |
| Spain (national mean), other master | EUR 30.04 | EUR 1,802.40 |
A later official example: [Orden CNU/731/2025](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2025-14299) 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](https://unedasiss.uned.es) 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.
| Scheme | Who it is for | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ministry general grant (beca general)First-enrolment tuition plus variable components | Spanish, EU or qualifying legal-residence rules; many non-EU student-stay holders are excluded | **Check the current call** |
| Andalusia 99% passed-credit rebateRebate of the eligible first-enrolment credit price | Enrolled students meeting the passed-credit and timing rules; not automatic on entry | **Check the current call** |
| Disability (33% or more), familia numerosa and other statutory exemptionsFull or partial public-price exemption | Depends on recognised status and documents | **Check the current call** |
| Comunitat Valenciana fee-exemption grantsEligible enrolled-credit fees | Residence, enrolment and merit conditions in the call | **Check the current call** |
| Fundacion Carolina 2026-27Tuition, travel, insurance or stipend, by line | Ibero-American lines; conditions vary | **Closed**: Postgraduate 2 Mar 2026; doctoral and stays 9 Apr 2026 (both closed) |
| MAEC-AECID Africa-Med 2026-27Funded official master, by line | Listed African and Middle East nationalities | **Closed**: 2 to 15 Jul 2026 (closed) |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint MastersOften tuition plus stipend where awarded | All nationalities, set by each consortium | **Check the current call** |
| University merit and aid schemesPartial or full tuition or other aid | Admitted or enrolled students; eligibility varies | **Check the current call** |
| Fundacion la Caixa postgraduate abroadStudy abroad | Funds study abroad, not inbound study in Spain | **Not for inbound students** |

## Which Option Fits Your Situation?

Worked scenarios, October 2026. No institution or agent paid for inclusion.
| # | Situation | Best answer | Runner-up | Why | Ruled out |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C3 | Lowest public bachelor price among official 2024-25 regional means | Galicia public university | Asturias/Canarias | EUR 11.95 mean is lowest cited official mean | Calling it every student's bill: degree/residency variation |
| C4 | Andalusian public student expecting near-zero first bill | Budget actual first-enrolment price, then claim eligible passed-credit rebate | Another region without verified rebate | Rebate follows passing/eligibility | "99% off before study": wrong timing |
| C5 | Non-EU student seeking ministry general grant | Check legal-residence eligibility first | Carolina/AECID/Erasmus/university aid | Prevents relying on an exclusionary grant | Student-stay status alone: often insufficient |
| C6 | Latin American postgraduate applicant in Jan 2026 | Fundación Carolina call | University merit aid | International line directly matches | As-of-October application: 2 Mar deadline passed |
| C7 | African/Middle East master's applicant in Jun 2026 | AECID África-Med if nationality/course eligible | University aid | Specific inbound funded-master line | Applying after 15 Jul 2026: closed |
| C8 | Practical learner seeking an Austrian UAS label | Applied school/degree inside a Spanish university | FP grado superior if university degree not required | Matches learning style without inventing a sector | Searching only for "Spanish UAS": wrong taxonomy |

## Change log

Updated 25 October 2026

- 2026-10-25 Published: university system hub with RUCT counts, tuition model and scholarship status

## What Should You Read Next?

[### Public Universities in Spain All 50 RUCT-registered public universities.](/education/public-universities)[### Private Universities in Spain All 49 RUCT-registered private universities.](/education/private-universities)[### Spain Visa Routes Student visa funds: 100% IPREM per month of stay.](/visa)[### Student SIM Cards in Spain Phone plans for students.](/telecom/student-sim-cards)[### RUCT: Facts Spain's official university register.](/facts/ruct)[### UNEDasiss: Facts Credential route for foreign school leavers.](/facts/unedasiss)

## 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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Source: https://www.how-to-spain.com/education
Last updated: Updated: October 2026
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