Universities in Spain

Spain is an interesting and UNESCO-rich country, with plenty of opportunities to learn, advance, and socialize. Its higher education sector comprises 89 Spanish universities, out of which 50 are public, and 39 are private universities (listed in this article), which includes some of the best business schools. Spain also is home to the Universidad de Salamanca, which is one of the oldest universities in the world.

Spain has its share of American universities; however, Spanish universities also provide a wide range of advantages for international students (with many offering English-taught degree programs but also Spanish courses, in the official language, and Catalan, a regional language in Spain).

The following list has some of the top Spanish universities, as ranked by Erudera, a higher education search platform. If you go to the bottom of this article, you will find a list of all Spanish universities as well as a list of universities by field of study.

Here are the top Spanish universities:

1. Universitat de Barcelona

The University of Barcelona offers training that emphasizes quality and innovation above all. Students can choose from various study fields, including health sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, and experimental sciences. It has 16 faculties with over 64,000 students in its student population. More than 12,000 students at the University of Barcelona are of other nationalities, contributing to a diverse and multicultural study and social environment. If you’ve always wanted to study in Spain, the University of Barcelona should be one of your top options, because the university is located in one of the largest cities and especially because of the tuition fees.

2. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

The Autonomous University of Madrid is among the top universities in Spain due to its comprehensive student training and international recognition. It offers training in various study fields, including science, philosophy, psychology, business, law, medicine, and teacher training. UAM provides a wide range of courses in English for any foreign student who doesn’t speak Spanish, which is the general language of instruction. The cultural activities and sports facilities are a great asset of the university.

3. Complutense University of Madrid

The Complutense University of Madrid has 26 faculties across different study areas, including fine arts, biological sciences, medicine, psychology, veterinary, statistical studies, teacher training, etc. The general medium of instruction is Spanish; however, there are exceptions to some programs which are offered in English and Catalan, a regional language. Over 80 nationalities are currently studying at this university located in Spain’s capital city, pursuing qualifications in all study levels, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate.

4. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

The Autonomous University of Barcelona is among the top public universities in Spain to pursue a degree. It offers study choices in different areas such as arts and humanities, sciences, biosciences, health sciences, social and legal sciences, and engineering. These study areas are available at all study levels, from bachelor to doctorate. Moreover, many master’s and postgraduate degrees are offered either in English or online. The total number of students at the Autonomous University of Barcelona is over 34,000, out of which 37.7% are international students in masters and doctoral programs.

5. Universidad de Navarra

The University of Navarra is one of the private universities located on the southeast border of Pamplona, Spain. It offers study degrees across numerous disciplines, including architecture, communication, humanities, social sciences, medicine, theology, etc. This university has a mission to contribute to its students’ education at the academic, cultural, and personal levels. The University of Navarra emphasizes the importance of academic research across different fields of knowledge to promote innovation and development within society.

6. Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Pompeu Fabra University is a well-known university and one of Spain’s top universities. This public university is located in the city of Barcelona, and it offers degrees across different faculties. Students are likely to find their preferred field of interest at Pompeu Fabra University, whether it belongs to the health and life sciences or translation and linguistics all the way to engineering. This university also offers the option of blended learning, which is a mix between online classes and traditional classroom methods.

7. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)

University Carlos III de Madrid is a public university located in the Community of Madrid. Due to high demand, this university has decided to offer English-taught groups in some of the most requested degree programs. UC3M provides most of its undergraduate studies in English or bilingual. The former includes groups of students who will learn the degree entirely in English, while in the latter groups, half of the subjects within the curriculum will be taught in English. UC3M wants to contribute to society’s betterment through its teaching and research.

8. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

As the largest engineering university in Catalonia, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia excels in its teaching and research expertise. As one of the top universities in Spain, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia has 28,208 students across its degree programs. Among its 75 master’s degree programs, 29 have English as their instruction language, while 27 are double degrees. This higher education institution specializes in architecture, engineering, science, and technology, providing world-class education and expertise.

9. Universitat Politècnica de València

The Polytechnic University of Valencia specializes in the field of science and technology. It offers degree programs across different schools, including architecture, engineering (civil, design, industrial, telecommunications, etc.), business administration, and fine arts. The University of Valencia ranks among the top Spanish technological universities. It has study groups in three different languages, including Spanish, English, and Valencian, with more than 400 subjects being offered in English. The cutting-edge computer equipment is a great asset to the university of Valencia.

10. IE University

IE University is a private higher education institution and one of the most international universities with degrees available across numerous fields of study, from applied mathematics, computer science, and AI, to the study of law. 75% of the student population at IE University represents around 130 countries, meaning students get an international experience and learn from some of the world leaders in the academic and business world. With campuses in Madrid and Segovia, this university is among the top international universities in Spain.

11. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

The Polytechnic University of Madrid, also known as the Technical University of Madrid, is located in Madrid and was founded in 1971. However, although this is a relatively young university, most of its schools have more than a century teaching tradition. These schools merged into what became the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The oldest school in this university is The School of Architecture, founded in 1752. Students at this university receive a great deal of excellence and career opportunities.

12. Universidad de ´¡±ô³¦²¹±ôá

This public university also belongs to the top universities in Spain due to its teaching excellence and tradition. The University of ´¡±ô³¦²¹±ôá is located 35 km northeast of Madrid, in ´¡±ô³¦²¹±ôá de Henares. This university boasts more than 29,000 students across its degree programs and over 1,600 professors and researchers. Students can find study programs in different study areas, including humanities, social science studies, engineering, etc. International relations, state-of-the-art facilities, and excellence give the University of ´¡±ô³¦²¹±ôá its extra edge.

13. Universidad de Granada

The University of Granada is among the largest universities in Spain, with over 80,000 students across its programs. It is also among the top universities in Spain for its quality. Founded in 1531, this public university in Granada is committed to transferring knowledge and skills, so students graduate with the necessary expertise to enter the job market and succeed in their careers. The University of Granada emphasizes the importance of research, internationalization, and equal opportunities for all.

14. Universidad de Zaragoza

The University of Zaragoza was founded centuries ago, in 1542, and is one of Spain’s oldest universities. Degrees and double degrees at all levels of study are available at the University of Zaragoza in business administration, fine arts, biotechnology, architecture, English, philosophy, engineering, mathematics, journalism, medicine, etc. This university has over 30,000 students enrolled in its programs, and it attracts thousands of international students every year due to its teaching tradition and historic location.

15. Universidad de Sevilla

As the name suggests, this university is located in Seville, Spain, and it is one of the best universities in Spain. This university has around 87 undergraduate degrees, about 93 master’s degrees, and 32 doctoral programs to choose from. It also offers more than 50 international undergraduate and graduate degrees. The University of Seville has over five hundred years of teaching experience since it was founded under the name of Colegio Santa María de Jesús in 1505. It now has a student population of over 50,000 in its degree programs.

List of All Universities in Spain

Here’s a list of all 89 universities in Spain, divided by type, location, and autonomous community:

University Name Type Location Autonomus Community
Abat Oliba CEU Private BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
A Coruña Public A CORUÑA Galicia
A Distancia de Madrid Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
´¡±ô³¦²¹±ôá Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Alfonso X El Sabio Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Alicante Public ALICANTE/ALACANT Comunitat Valenciana
´¡±ô³¾±ð°ùí²¹ Public ´¡³¢²Ñ·¡¸éô¡ ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Antonio de Nebrija Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Atlántico Medio Private LAS PALMAS Canarias
Autónoma de Barcelona Public BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Autónoma de Madrid Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Barcelona Public BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Burgos Public BURGOS Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
°äá»å¾±³ú Public °äöٱõ´Ü ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Camilo José Cela Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Cantabria Public CANTABRIA Cantabria
Cardenal Herrera-CEU Private ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Carlos III de Madrid Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Castilla-La Mancha Public CIUDAD REAL Castilla – La Mancha
Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir Private ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Católica San Antonio Private MURCIA Murcia (Región de)
Católica Santa Teresa de Jesús de Ãvila Private óձõ³¢´¡ Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Complutense de Madrid Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
°äó°ù»å´Ç²ú²¹ Public °äÍѸé¶Ù°¿µþ´¡ ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
CUNEF Universidad Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Deusto Private BIZKAIA País Vasco
ESIC Universidad Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Euneiz Private ´¡¸é´¡µþ´¡/ó¢´¡³Õ´¡ País Vasco
Europea de Canarias Private SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Canarias
Europea del Atlántico Private CANTABRIA Cantabria
Europea de Madrid Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Europea de Valencia Private ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Europea Miguel de Cervantes Private VALLADOLID Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Extremadura Public BADAJOZ Extremadura
Fernando Pessoa-Canarias (UFP-C) Private LAS PALMAS Canarias
Francisco de Vitoria Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Girona Public GIRONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Granada Public GRANADA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Huelva Public HUELVA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
IE Universidad Private SEGOVIA Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Illes Balears (Les) Public ILLES BALEARS Balears (Illes)
Intercontinental de la Empresa Private A CORUÑA Galicia
Internacional de ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹ Public SEVILLA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Internacional de Catalunya Private BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Internacional de la Empresa Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Internacional de La Rioja Private LA RIOJA Rioja (La)
Internacional Isabel I de Castilla Private BURGOS Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Internacional Menéndez Pelayo Public MADRID Estado
Internacional Valenciana Private ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Internacional Villanueva Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
´³²¹Ã©²Ô Public ´³´¡Ã‰±· ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Jaume I de Castellón Public °ä´¡³§°Õ·¡³¢³¢Íѱ·/°ä´¡³§°Õ·¡³¢³¢ÍÑ Comunitat Valenciana
La Laguna Public SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE Canarias
La Rioja Public LA RIOJA Rioja (La)
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Public LAS PALMAS Canarias
³¢±ðó²Ô Public ³¢·¡Íѱ· Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Lleida Public LLEIDA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Loyola ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹ Private SEVILLA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
²Ñá±ô²¹²µ²¹ Public ²Ñó¢´¡³Ò´¡ ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
Miguel Hernández de Elche Public ALICANTE/ALACANT Comunitat Valenciana
Mondragón Unibertsitatea Private GIPUZKOA País Vasco
Murcia Public MURCIA Murcia (Región de)
Nacional de Educación a Distancia Public MADRID Estado
Navarra Private NAVARRA Navarra (Comunidad Foral de)
Oberta de Catalunya Private BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Oviedo Public ASTURIAS Asturias (Principado de)
Pablo de Olavide Public SEVILLA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea Public BIZKAIA País Vasco
Politécnica de Cartagena Public MURCIA Murcia (Región de)
Politécnica de Catalunya Public BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Politécnica de Madrid Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Politècnica de València Public ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Pompeu Fabra Public BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Pontificia Comillas Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Pontificia de Salamanca Private SALAMANCA Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Pública de Navarra Public NAVARRA Navarra (Comunidad Foral de)
Ramón Llull Private BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Rey Juan Carlos Public MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Rovira i Virgili Public TARRAGONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Salamanca Public SALAMANCA Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
San Jorge Private ZARAGOZA ´¡°ù²¹²µÃ³²Ô
San Pablo-CEU Private MADRID Madrid (Comunidad de)
Santiago de Compostela Public A CORUÑA Galicia
Sevilla Public SEVILLA ´¡²Ô»å²¹±ô³Ü³¦Ã­²¹
València (Estudi General) Public ³Õ´¡³¢·¡±·°ä±õ´¡/³Õ´¡³¢Ãˆ±·°ä±õ´¡ Comunitat Valenciana
Valladolid Public VALLADOLID Castilla y ³¢±ðó²Ô
Vic-Central de Catalunya Private BARCELONA °ä²¹³Ù²¹±ô³Üñ²¹
Vigo Public PONTEVEDRA Galicia
Zaragoza Public ZARAGOZA ´¡°ù²¹²µÃ³²Ô
Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

If you are interested to find out best universities in Spain for specific field of studies then see below: