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Studying in Spain

Spain has more than 45 million inhabitants and Spanish is the official language. There are 17 Autonomous Communities and other languages are also considered as official according to their Statutes of Autonomy. Some national competences are transferred to the Autonomous Communities as is the case of the Education sector. Recent figures show that Spain is the first European Country which receives more young Erasmus students.


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Information about visa and residence

Students coming from EEA Member States (EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Swiss) don't need to apply for a visa. Other students should apply for a visa.

Spain has an extensive network of Consulates and Embassies abroad that provide a series of services. For concrete information and advice about visa and residence in Spain, contact the Consulate or Embassy in your country.

Social support and grants

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) offer grants for Studying in Spain for foreign people.

Some Spanish universities have international collaboration agreements with universities abroad Spain. Please, ask the foreign affairs department at the university where you want to study, if this is the case.

Some Spanish Banks and also Bank Foundations offer grants to foreign students.

Cost of living and tuition fees

Although Spain is not an expensive country, the average cost of life varies hugely. The big cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián and Bilbao are more expensive than small cities and cities in southern Spain.

According to the latest estimates from a report made by a Spanish well-known bank, in 2006, “Family Economy and Consumption Report” you need at least around €9,000 a year to live in a city such as Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao (living in a shared flat and without the costs associated with university study). If you want to live in halls of residence or rent a flat for one person, you must add around €2,000 to the above figure.

In cities such as Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Zaragoza, the annual cost is around 10%-15% lower. However, the best alternative for smaller budgets is offered by province capitals such as Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and Granada, which have a long university tradition. In these cities, annual expenses can be up to 25% lower than in the big capitals.

Enrolling in a Spanish public university for a first degree costs between €450 and €900 per year. The price varies depending on the institution, the laboratory or experimental costs involved in the course, and the course level (undergraduate or post-graduate). 

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Short Overview

Capital Madrid
Language(s) Spanish, Aranese, Basque, Catalan, Valencian and Galencian
European Union 1 January 1986
Population 45,2 million
Area 504.030 km²
Density 90 km²
Currency Euro (€)
Time Zone UTC+1
  Summer UTC+2
Calling code +34
   
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