10 Cheap Universities in Spain for International Students

Spain is considered as one of the best places to visit in Europe. Its magnificent beaches, interesting food, and delightful cuisine are just some of the reasons why people love to take a vacation in this country located in the Iberian Peninsula.

But Spain offers more than paella, tapas, and sangria. Visiting Spain doesn’t mean you limit yourself to spending a few days in Ibiza or watching the running of the bulls in Pamplona during the festival honoring Saint Fermin.

A visit to Spain can mean taking advantage of the notable education system of the country. Ranked among the top in the world, Spanish universities offer international students a world-class education they may not find at home.

In addition, it gives them more chances of exploring a country with a rich culture and history. It allows students to experience the country has to offer while getting an outstanding education from one of the best universities in the world. In this article, we will be going over the cheap universities in Spain for international students.

Cost of Studying in Spain

The cost of studying in Spain may depend on where the student is staying. But a monthly budget of 900 EUR ($1,100 USD) to 1,000 EUR ($1,200 USD) will be enough to cover all expenses. These expenses include rent, food, utilities, and other expenses.

Are Universities Free in Spain?

Similar to many European countries, Spanish public universities are normally free for Spanish citizens. But the same cannot be said for private universities.

Despite this, tuition in Spain is among the cheapest when compared to similar universities in Europe. A Bachelor’s degree can cost as low as less than $1,000 USD per year. Due to this, Spain is one of the more popular destinations for international students.

What are the languages of instruction for universities in Spain?

Even as most university programs in Spain are taught in Spanish, there is a growing trend towards the use of English as the language of instruction in several programs.

Cheapest Universities in Spain for International Students

1. University of Granada

The University of Granada traces its roots to the Madrasah Yusufiyya, which was established by the Sultan of Granada in 1349. This was an Arabic university teaching different subjects such as astronomy, calculus, and medicine. The University of Granada is one of the cheap universities in Spain for international students.

It was later replaced by the San Cecilio college in 1492. In 1526, Emperor Charles V established a college and in 1531, the University of Granada was officially founded. Today, the university is among the leading institutions of higher learning in the world and continues to accept students from all over the world.

The university has 22 faculties offering a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. These programs include Archeology, History, Philosophy, Biology, Physics, Nursing, Medicine, Tourism, Computer Science, and Law.

The university is among the most popular destinations of international students studying under the Erasmus Program of the European Union. Due to this, it has become a hodge-podge of cultures from all over the world. Moreover, Granada is a university city where a good percentage of the population is a part of the academe in one way or another.

2. University of Alicante

Even as the University of Alicante was officially established in 1979, it carries the tradition of the University of Orihuela, which was started in 1545 through a Papal Bull. It was built based on the Center for University Studies and has its main campus located in San Vicente del Raspeig.

The university provides a wide range of programs for both local and international students. The different programs offered by the university include Humanities, Marine Studies, Optics and Optometry, Architecture, and Social Work

The university accepts students from different backgrounds and locations around the world. Students can participate or check out some cultural activities and exhibits organized by the university. They can also get involved in sports as a fan or a competitor. Moreover, the students can also join any of the student clubs in the university to keep themselves busy over the weekend.

3. Autonomous University of Madrid

Established as a public university in 1968, the Autonomous University of Madrid was a part of the educational reforms conducted by Spain in the 1960s and 1970s. The move was meant to restructure the university system following an increasing demand for tertiary education in the country.

This cheap university in Spain may be located in a municipality, but it’s among the most prominent universities in Spain. It has seven faculties, namely the Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy and Liberal Arts, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Faculty of Sciences, and Faculty of Economical Science and Business Management, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Medicine.

The students have numerous chances of immersing themselves in the rich Spanish culture. They can also join different literary competitions and workshops for their personal development outside of their academics. Sports and social involvement activities are also options for students to keep their free time occupied with meaningful activities.

4. Complutense University Madrid

Even as the Complutense University Madrid, an affordable university in Spain, was officially established in1499 through a Papal Bull, it can trace its roots to the El Estudio de Escuelas Generales, which was established in 1293. The university itself was created to provide classes in Liberal Arts, Theology, and Canon Law to students in the area.

Today, it has expanded to provide a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs to students from all over the world. The programs offered by the university include Design, Business Administration and Management, Mathematics, Political Sciences, Computer Engineering, and Veterinary Science.

Situated in Madrid, the students can keep their weekends busy by exploring this cosmopolitan city with a notable artistic and cultural heritage. They can also watch a host of cultural activities organized by the university. Moreover, the students can also visit the numerous museums located in and around the university to enhance their knowledge about the culture and history of their host country.

5. Pompeu Fabra University

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs:
    • EU students – 1,202 EUR ($1,400 USD) to 2,069 EUR ($2,400 USD) per year
    • Non-EU students – 6,800 EUR ($8,000 USD) to 10,868 EUR ($12,900 USD) per year
  • Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs:
    • EU students – 1,869 EUR ($2,200 USD) to 7,000 EUR ($8,300 USD) per year
    • Non-EU students – 5,749 EUR ($6,800 USD) to 16,950 EUR ($20,100 USD) per year
  • Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
  • Graduate Tuition Fee Link

The Pompeu Fabra University was established by the Catalan Parliament in 1990 inspired by the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, plurality, independence, and justice. The institution aimed at training citizen and professionals to commit themselves to civic values and work towards developing exceptional research

The seven faculties of the university offer a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs to local and international students. These programs include Human Biology, Political and Administration Sciences, Journalism, Law, Economics, Biomedical Engineering, and Humanities.

To ward of stress from academic life, the students can participate in different cultural activities organized by the university. They can also take up a sport or two to boost their health and fitness. Or they can perform their civic duty and volunteer in any of the developmental activities of the university.

6. Universidade Da Coruna

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs:
    • EU students – 1,215 EUR ($1,400 USD) to 1,882 EUR ($2,200 USD) per year
    • Non-EU students – 2,248 EUR ($2,700 USD) to 3,481 EUR ($4,100 USD) per year
  • Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link

Next on our list of cheapest universities in Spain for international students is Universidade Da Coruna. Established under the Galician Universities Law in 1989, the Universidade Da Coruna is located in the Spanish city of A Coruña. Its university departments are located on two campuses, Campus of Ferrol and Campus of A Coruña. Its main goal is to generate, manage, and distribute culture and knowledge through research and teaching.

The university offers courses that are constantly evolving to meet the needs of society. Aside from the traditional single majors, the university also offers double majors and international study programs. Some of the programs offered by the university include English, Digital Information and Documentation Management, Landscape, Speech Therapy, and Economics.

In addition to academic excellence, the university also encourages its students to give back to society by performing volunteer work for the local community. The students can also enrich themselves by attending cultural activities organized by the university. Moreover, the students are also encouraged to keep themselves fit by taking advantage of the different sports facilities in the university.

7. University of Santiago de Compostela

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate and Graduate Programs:
    • 3,650 EUR ($4,300 USD) to 5,170 EUR ($6,100 USD) per course
  • Tuition Fee Link

The University of Santiago de Compostela, one of the cheapest universities in Spain, was established in 1495 with the foundation of the Grammatic Academy as a school for the poor in San Paio de Antealtares monastery. It is a part of the Galician University System and is currently its headquarters. Its campuses are filled with natural, cultural, and scientific heritage the university has accumulated during over 500 years of existence.

The university offers over 60 undergraduate courses and more than 100 graduate degrees. These degrees provide the students with the knowledge and training they need after they graduate. The degrees offered by the university include History of Art, Psychology, Computer Engineering, Medicine, and Journalism, among others.

The university gives the students the chance to experience different cultures through the different activities and events it organizes. It also promotes health and wellbeing through the different sports activities it makes available to the students.

8. Nebrija University

Established in 1995, the Nebrija University was named after Antonio de Nebrija, a Spanish humanist who authored the first Spanish language dictionary. He also promoted the study of literature and classical language. The philosophy of the university is to learn by doing, which encourages its students to focus on creating knowledge to surpasses any challenges in life.

The university offers a wide array of programs designed to develop the individual talents of its students. These programs include Journalism, Primary Education, Marketing, International Relations, Law, Automobile Engineering, and Tourism.

The university supports the extracurricular activities of its students by organizing interest-based clubs that contribute to their personal and professional development. The university also has several multicultural spaces that promote the different cultures of its students.

9. University of Barcelona

  • Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs:
    • EU students – 1,061 EUR ($1,300 USD) to 1,660 EUR ($2,000 USD) per year
    • Non-EU students – 5,400 EUR ($6,400 USD) per year
  • Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link

Established in 1450, the University of Barcelona, an affordable university in Spain, is among the oldest universities in Catalonia. Its charter was issued by King Alfonso V the Magnanimous after the city of Barcelona requested it. In the same year, a Papal Bull was also issued by Pope Nicholas V.

The university is among the best in the world. It has consistently ranked high among all the universities and is one of the best Spanish universities right now. The university offers numerous degrees, including Art History, Biotechnology, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Tourism, and Fine Arts.

The university has 16 libraries where the students can expand their knowledge about the degrees they’re taking. It also promotes language learning among the students who come from different parts of the world. Moreover, the university also promotes health and wellbeing by encouraging the students to take up at least one sport.

10. Mondragon University

The final candidate on our list of cheapest universities in Spain is Mondragon University. Even though it was officially established in 1997, the Mondragon University traces its roots to the Escuela Politécnica Superior, which was founded in 1943 by Fr. José María Arizmendiarrieta. It is a non-profit university situated in the Basque Country.

The university has four faculties offering a good number of undergraduate and graduate courses for its students who come from all over the world. The degrees offered by the university include Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Primary Education, and Audiovisual Communication.

The university also supports the extracurricular activities of its students by promoting different sports they can participate in. It also organizes events and activities to allow the students to socialize outside of the four walls of the classroom.

 

I hope that this article on the cheap universities in Spain was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Cheap Tuition Category!