Is Spain the right country for your degree?

Terms used

• Grado — The grado is a Spanish bachelor's degree, usually 240 credits.
• Máster — The máster is a Spanish master's degree of 60 to 120 credits.
• Suplemento Europeo al Título — The Suplemento Europeo al Título is a free document that describes your degree in a standard European format.
• Títulos propios — Títulos propios are private university qualifications that are not official degrees and have no automatic recognition.
• TIE — The TIE is the residence card issued to foreigners living in Spain.
• UNEDasiss — UNEDasiss is the national service that processes university applications from students with foreign school systems.

Key rules

• Fees: Public universities charge regulated per-credit prices set by each region, while private universities cost more.
• Language: Most courses are taught in Spanish, and English options are mainly at master's level or in private universities.
• Recognition: Only official degrees are recognised across Europe; private títulos propios are not.
• Paperwork: Non-EU students need a visa or residence authorisation, and foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation plus sworn translation.

The short answer

Spain is a strong choice if you can study in Spanish and can cope with paperwork. You get low public fees and a degree that is recognised across Europe. You pay for that with Spanish-language teaching and a slow, document-heavy process.

What you gain

Low public fees. Public universities charge a set price per credit. Each region sets its own prices. For a bachelor's degree, expect a few thousand euros a year or less. Some master's programmes cost non-EU students more. Private universities cost more still.

Degrees that travel. Spain uses the European structure: a grado (bachelor's degree, usually 240 credits), a máster (60 to 120 credits) and a doctorado. Official degrees are registered nationally and quality-accredited. You also receive the Suplemento Europeo al Título, a free supplement that explains your degree in a standard format. This is the basis for recognition in other European countries. Outside Europe, recognition varies by country, so ask the authority in the country where you plan to work.

Watch for títulos propios. These are private university qualifications, not official degrees, and they are not automatically recognised.

What you give up

Language. Most teaching is in Spanish. In some regions, Catalan, Basque or Galician is also used. English-taught courses are growing, but they are mostly at master's level and in private universities. If you do not speak Spanish yet, plan for language study before you start.

Bureaucracy. Expect several steps:

• a student visa or residence authorisation, ending in a TIE (residence card)
• university admission through UNEDasiss if you come from a foreign school system
• apostilled or legalised documents, with sworn translations into Spanish

The documents list below shows what to gather. Start early, because each step depends on the one before.

Work prospects after you graduate

Jobs are strongest in health (medicine, nursing), engineering and computing. They are weakest in arts, humanities and some social sciences. Graduate and youth unemployment in Spain is above the EU average. Many professions also need your qualification homologated (officially validated) and good Spanish.

If you are from outside the EU, you can apply to stay after your studies. The options are a post-study job-search permit of up to 12 months, or a switch to a work or entrepreneur permit. A 2025 change made the move from student to worker easier. EU citizens do not need a work permit.

How to decide

Choose Spain if low fees, a European degree and living in Spanish appeal to you. Look elsewhere if you need a fully English course at bachelor's level or want to avoid a long paperwork process. Check the exact fees, language of teaching and admission route for your university and region, because they vary and change each year.

Documents you need

• Student visa or residence authorisation (TIE, the residence card for foreigners), issued by the Spanish immigration authorities, if you come from outside the EU.

• University admission through UNEDasiss, the national service that processes applications for students from foreign education systems.

• Your school and degree certificates, legalised or apostilled in the country that issued them.

• Sworn translations of your foreign documents into Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

Will my Spanish degree be recognised in other European countries?

Yes, an official Spanish degree is recognised across the European Higher Education Area, because Spain follows the Bologna structure of bachelor, master and doctorate with ECTS credits. You also get the European Diploma Supplement free of charge, which explains your degree to employers abroad.

Can I study in Spain in English?

Yes, but English-taught options are limited, mainly at master's level and in private universities. Most public degrees are taught in Spanish, and in some regions partly in Catalan, Basque or Galician. Check the teaching language of each programme before you apply.

Which fields give the best job prospects after graduating in Spain?

Health sciences, engineering and computing have the strongest graduate job prospects in Spain, while arts, humanities and some social sciences have higher unemployment.

Can I stay in Spain to work after my studies if I am not from the EU?

Yes, non-EU graduates can apply for a post-study job-search residence permit of up to 12 months, or switch to a work or entrepreneur permit.