Best universities in Spain 2025

Upon completion of studies in top-rated international boarding schools in Spain, foreign graduates are well versed in two popular European languages, thereby gaining indisputable advantages in the framework of admission to elite universities around the world. It is worth noting that Spanish diplomas are highly appreciated around the world. According to statistics, Spain is included in the list of TOP-10 countries with high-quality training for future managers of well-known international companies.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What advice can you give to potential applicants before applying to foreign universities?

Choose a university that really suits you – do not try to "adjust" yourself to a prestigious or top-rated university. If you are not confident in your capabilities, do not get hung up on the first top 10: believe me, many opportunities of universities of less prestigious will be able to give you what you need to develop and become a specialist.

Pay special attention to additional opportunities, in addition to academic ones. 

Consider geographical location. Where you want to live, what kind of weather and climate will be comfortable for you. 

Understand what is more important to you: a huge university with a campus-city, where thousands of students study in giant amphitheaters-auditoriums, or a more intimate, calm atmosphere in a small college.

The specialists of SMAPSE help future students select an educational program and university in Spain, prepare a package of required documents to enrol in an educational institution. We also offer fam trips to universities in Spain. We guarantee uninterrupted communication with our enrolled clients to help both parents and students resolve various issues that may arise during the period of study.

Below is a list of prestigious Spanish universities that provide high-quality educational programs.

Let's take a look at the pros of choosing Spain as a study destination.

Informal atmosphere in classes

Leading universities in Spain practice a relaxed approach to the vast majority of formalities. Spanish universities do not set strict criteria for writing term papers, in particular, there is no limit on the volume of the written text. Submission deadlines can also be delayed if asked beforehand. Professors encourage students to express their personal point of view, at the same time they show friendliness in communicating with international students. Thus, the applied teaching methodology simplifies the educational process and at the same time makes studying process exciting.

Interdisciplinary Programs at Universities in Spain

Close cooperation between leading universities, research centers, as well as commercial organizations is a common practice in Spain. The most ambitious and advanced research is carried out in those areas that are at the intersection of sciences. For that reason, the target audience for admission to such educational programs are foreign applicants who dream of making a new discovery in science and technology.

Accommodation for the period of study in Spain

A distinctive feature and characteristic of Spain in comparison with other European countries is the low price of rent, food, and transport. The cost of renting a one-room apartment in the central part of the city is from 550 euros per month, if you choose peace of the outskirts, the prices are from 400 euros.

The average bill in a restaurant varies from 20 to 50 euros. In addition, students receive discounts in various museums, cafes, and shops. Student also enjoy a bus pass with reasonable pricing for transportation.

Bachelor's programs

The duration of the bachelor's program in Spain is 4 years, corresponding to 240 ECTS. Every year, international students are expected to write term papers, during the final year, students spend the whole year writing their thesis, which amounts to 30 ECTS. Additional academic credits are possible by attending electives and participating in various events organized by a university. 

Master's programs

A master's degree will take 1-2 years to obtain, which corresponds to 180 ECTS. Master's programs are divided into: professional, academic, and research. If a master's program focuses on a certain specialization and skills that help in its application, it is called professional. If you aspire to become a sought-after scientist in the future, then you should choose academic or research master's programs at universities in Spain. The key difference between each other is in the amount of theoretical disciplines. Academic programs are classic curriculum with many theoretical and complex lectures, while research programs are associated with work in a scientific laboratory.

Doctorate

A Ph.D Degree is awarded after having completed at least three years of study and a successful thesis. During the first year, lectures and seminars are a main part of the curriculum. Over the next two years, the student carries out a research and prepares a dissertation. Later, the graduate is required to defend his work in front of the members of the commission. As a rule, doctoral programs are taught in advanced doctoral colleges, which are created on the basis of elite universities in Spain. At the same time, they can be located in leading research institutes.

Spain offers a good number of educational programs taught in English. Courses taught in English are most in demand on master's level at universities in Spain. In addition, the leading universities in Spain have developed quite a lot of bilingual programs, in which some disciplines are taught in English, and some in Spanish. As for the application requirements, it is necessary to have a level of English corresponding to 6.0 on the IELTS language exam.

The grading system of Spanish universities

According to the system of higher education in Spain, there are two grading systems that assess the knowledge of students. The first system has grades from 1 to 10, while a score of 4.9 and below is considered unsatisfactory. It is extremely difficult to get a grade of 9 or higher for the exam, only 5% of students achieve this. As for the second system, it has 5-points as follows: Suspenso (Failed), Aprobado (Passed), Notable (Very Good)  and Sobresaliente (Excellent), Matrícula de Honor (Honors).

An oral exam is more widely used within the walls of elite universities in Spain. As practice shows, the examinee's answer takes about 15 minutes. It is worth noting that within the walls of leading Spanish universities, the emphasis is on high-quality writing of term papers and graduation papers, and not on the process of passing exams. Immediately after graduation, graduates defend their graduation work in front of the members of the certification committee.

It is worth noting that in Spain, in postgraduate studies international students in Spain are provided with an excellent opportunity to work within the framework of numerous research grants, that are offered by the Spanish government and independent foundations.

To obtain the initial position of a researcher, the candidate must have completed doctoral studies by this time and become the recipient of a certificate issued by the National Evaluation Agency. To take the position of a lecturer, a foreign graduate must obtain a special document issued by the ANECA agency - it allows graduates to teach. The process of obtaining it will not be difficult if you have more than three years of experience in conducting research. As for promotion to the position of associate professor or professor, it depends on the number and quality of your research, teaching experience and students' thesis consults.

The salary level of a researcher is around 2 000 euros per month, the position of a lecturer allows you to earn from 2 500 euros, the salary level of an associate professor and a professor is from 3 000 euros.

By obtaining a student visa, international students can work for four hours a day during semester. With a job offer in hand, it is required to submit a package of documents to the prefecture, which includes a passport, a certificate of study hours, a copy of the contrac twith the working hours. The main condition for obtaining the consent of the prefecture is to ensure that there is no overlap between studying at a university in Spain and working. The process of considering the permit takes around 5 weeks.

However, the process of finding a job that has flexible hours is quite difficult. Employers opt for hiring people who can work full-time. Thus, the vast majority of international students choose freelancing, thereby working from their home at a convenient time free from classes.

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