Choosing a university and programme

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or already carrying out a move to Spain to study. By the end, you can shortlist degrees and universities that fit your goals, your language level and your budget, and you can spot programmes that are not officially recognised before you pay for them.

Admission routes and exams, fees and grants, the student residence route and general advice on choosing a city to settle in are covered elsewhere. This topic comes first, because what and where you study shapes every later step.

Start with "How to choose a degree (grado) in Spain". It helps you pick a field and a programme that fit your goals, your language and your chances of getting in. After that, move on to the other articles in this topic as your questions come up.

Key rules

• Guaranteed places: Nobody, including an agent, can guarantee a place in a capped public degree, because places go by admission mark.
• Degree length: A standard grado is 240 ECTS over four years, while Medicine is 360 ECTS over six years.
• Field is fixed: You apply to one specific degree, and your first-year subjects already belong to that field.
• Cut-off mark: Admission depends on the cut-off mark for that degree, so always add fallback choices.
• Public entry: Public universities rank you by admission mark, and each degree has a cut-off mark.
• Private entry: Private universities set their own process, often with tests, an interview and a grade review.

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Student visa or residence authorisation — Is Spain the right country for your degree?
• Certificate of registration at your town hall — Studying in English in Spain and what still needs Spanish

Translations and legal papers

• Sworn translations of your foreign documents into Spanish — Is Spain the right country for your degree?

Other documents

• University admission through UNEDasiss — Is Spain the right country for your degree?
• Your school and degree certificates — Is Spain the right country for your degree?

Choosing a university and programme: questions that cross several articles

Can I pick my field after I start university in Spain?

Mostly no, because you apply to one specific degree and admission goes by that degree's cut-off mark. There is generally no common undeclared first year, apart from a few university-specific combined first-year programmes, which are still registered as specific degrees. If you change your mind later, you can apply to move to another degree, and your passed credits may be recognised. Read "How to choose a degree (grado) in Spain" first.

Is a private university easier to get into and how much more does it cost?

Private universities are generally less selective by mark, but they cost several times more than public ones. They set their own admission process, often an application, entrance tests or interviews and a review of school grades. Some degrees, such as Medicine, are still competitive. Public fees are set by each region, so compare both in "Public or private university in Spain: which suits you?".

How do I check that a degree is official before I pay?

Search for the programme in the RUCT, the national register of universities, centres and degrees, on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities website. Check that the university, the teaching centre, the exact title and the credits match what is advertised. A programme that does not appear is a título propio with no official validity. The steps are in "Official degrees versus a university's own titles (títulos propios)".

Will a degree from a título propio let me do a master's or a public-sector exam?

No, a título propio does not open official routes such as an official master's, a doctorate or public-sector exams that require an official title. It may count as a merit and some universities recognise a limited share of its credits, at their discretion. Read "Official degrees versus a university's own titles (títulos propios)", and "Comparing Spanish universities beyond the rankings" for how to shortlist.