Autonomous University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UAB) at a glance
- City
- Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona area
- Type
- Public university
Key takeaways
- Non-EU students without an EU residence permit pay about €66–82 per ECTS at UAB, depending on the master (e.g. €75 for Advanced Genetics in 2026/27).
- EU students and EU-residence holders pay €19.37 per ECTS for the same masters.
- Our data lists 26 English-taught UAB masters across science, economics, AI, politics and development.
- Each master has its own calendar; most 2026/27 periods opened on 12 January 2026.
- After admission you reserve your place with a non-refundable advance of €500, €1,000 or €1,500.
On this page
- Why UAB is good value
- UAB tuition fees for non-EU students
- English-taught programs at UAB
- Admission requirements
- Deadlines: 2026/27 dates as a guide
- Scholarships
- Living near Barcelona and visa money
- Who should choose this university
- Mistakes to avoid
- Honest pros and cons
- Applying from Afghanistan
- How to apply step by step
The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) is a large public university just outside Barcelona with one of Spain's largest English-taught master's offers. If you do not hold an EU residence permit, expect to pay about €66–82 per ECTS, or roughly €3,960–4,920 for a 60-ECTS master. For example, the Master in Advanced Genetics lists €75 per credit for 2026/27.
That is more than at Granada or Navarre, but you get a much wider choice of English programs in a major metropolitan area. Here is how it works.
Why UAB is good value
- Big English-taught catalogue: 26 masters in our data, many taught 100% in English.
- Public prices: under €5,000 for most 60-ECTS masters even at the non-EU rate.
- Erasmus Mundus programs such as Education Policies for Global Development and MorphoPHEN, with consortium scholarships.
- Barcelona area: the Bellaterra campus is in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
UAB tuition fees for non-EU students
Each UAB master's page shows its own non-EU price. Examples from the fact pack and the program pages:
| Master | EU / EU residence | Non-EU without EU residence |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Genetics (2026/27) | €19.37 | €75 |
| Physics, chemistry and modelling masters | €19.37 | €66 |
| Zoonoses and One Health; Erasmus Mundus Education Policies | €19.37 | €82 |
Inter-university and Erasmus Mundus masters have fees set by the coordinating university, so their prices can be very different. For example, the Data Science master's page says fees are set by the coordinating institution. After admission you pay a non-refundable reservation of €500, €1,000 or €1,500, which is deducted from tuition.
Residence matters, not nationality
UAB applies the higher rate if you do not hold an EU residence permit. Non-EU nationals who already have EU residence pay €19.37 per ECTS.
English-taught programs at UAB
| Field | Example masters | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Life sciences | Advanced Genetics; Bioinformatics; Plant Biology, Genomics and Biotechnology | 60 ECTS |
| Physics and nanoscience | High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology; Photonics; Advanced Nanoscience | 60 ECTS |
| AI and engineering | Computer Vision; Telecommunication Engineering; Modelling for Science and Engineering | 60–90 ECTS |
| Economics and business | Economic Analysis; Economics and Business Administration; Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 60–120 ECTS |
| Politics and development | Political Science; International Security; International Development | 60 ECTS |
There are no English-taught bachelor's degrees at UAB in our data. For more cities, see English-taught programs in Spain.
Admission requirements
- Degree: an official bachelor's from inside or outside the EHEA that gives access to postgraduate study in your country. Non-EHEA degrees need no homologation.
- Grade equivalence: a Spanish ministry certificate of equivalence of your average grade.
- English: set per master. Advanced Genetics accepts B1 or an interview; many others ask for B2 or C1.
- Documents: passport, degree, transcript with credits/hours and grades, English certificate, CV or motivation letter as required. Documents in Catalan, Spanish or English need no translation.
Ranking is mainly on your academic record. Read more in Spain university admission requirements.
Deadlines: 2026/27 dates as a guide
| Master group (2026/27) | 1st period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Economics and business (ARiEB, EBA, MOBE) | 12 Jan – 28 Feb 2026 | Later periods until 30 Jul |
| Political Science | 12 Jan – 28 Feb 2026 | 2nd and 3rd periods to 30 Jun |
| Computer Vision; RICSE; Telecom Engineering | 12 Jan – 30 Mar 2026 | Further periods to Jun/Jul |
| Biosciences (Genetics, Bioinformatics…) | 12 Jan – 29 May 2026 | Deposit before 21 Jun |
| Economic Analysis (IDEA), 2027/28 | 15 Nov 2026 – 30 Jun 2027 | Rolling admission |
Late periods are risky
Some masters accept only applicants who need no visa in their last periods. Apply in the first period so you have your admission letter by spring.
Scholarships
The clearest funding is through UAB's Erasmus Mundus masters, which offer consortium scholarships. We did not check other UAB master's grants in detail. See scholarships in Spain for international students.
Living near Barcelona and visa money
Barcelona is a popular and competitive housing market, so start looking early. For the visa you must show funds of 100% of the IPREM per month (less with prepaid housing; tuition does not count), plus health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain. With a study authorisation you may work up to 30 hours a week if it fits your studies. See cost of studying in Spain.
Who should choose this university
UAB is a good fit if you want a research-focused English master in the sciences, economics, AI or politics near Barcelona and can apply in the first period, between January and spring. It is less suitable if you want the lowest possible tuition (Granada or Navarre are cheaper) or an English bachelor's degree (look at Carlos III instead).
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a student visa makes you a resident. For tuition purposes a study-stay authorisation is not residence, so budget for the non-EU rate.
- Applying in the last period. Late admissions often leave too little time for document legalization and the visa appointment.
- Forgetting the visa funds. The visa needs proof of 100% of the IPREM per month on top of tuition; tuition payments do not count.
- Missing the reservation deadline. If you do not pay the €500–1,500 advance in time, your place may go to the waiting list.
Honest pros and cons
Benefits
- One of the largest English-taught master's catalogues in Spain
- Public prices well below private universities
- No translation needed for English documents
- Several Erasmus Mundus options
Difficulties
- Non-EU rate is about four times the EU rate
- Different calendar for every master
- Non-refundable deposits up to €1,500
- No English-taught bachelor's
Applying from Afghanistan
Afghan applicants
Afghan diplomas need diplomatic legalization, not an apostille, and the Spanish Embassy in Kabul is closed. Visa applications go to the Embassy in Islamabad (legal residence in Pakistan needed) or Tehran (legal residence in Iran). See the Spain student visa guide.
How to apply step by step
- 1
Choose a master and check its calendar
Each program page lists its periods and English level.
- 2
Get your grade equivalence
Generate the free ministry average-grade declaration.
- 3
Pre-enrol online
Apply via UAB's master's application page and pay the pre-enrolment fee.
- 4
Pay the reservation
Pay €500, €1,000 or €1,500 by the deadline, or your place may go to the waiting list.
- 5
Apply for your visa
Apply at least two months before the start of classes.
Compare with UPC BarcelonaTech and Pompeu Fabra, or explore all Spain guides. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.
Frequently asked questions
How much does UAB cost for international students?
Non-EU students without an EU residence permit pay about €66–82 per ECTS depending on the master, roughly €3,960–4,920 for 60 ECTS.
Does UAB offer master's programs in English?
Yes. Our data lists 26 English-taught UAB masters, including Erasmus Mundus programs.
When do UAB master's applications open?
For 2026/27, most periods opened on 12 January 2026, and each master had its own deadlines. Economic Analysis accepts 2027/28 applications from 15 November 2026.
Does UAB need my degree to be homologated?
No. A non-EHEA degree that gives access to postgraduate study in your country is enough, plus a ministry certificate of average-grade equivalence.
Official sources
Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
- 1.UAB — Master in Advanced Genetics (fees 2026/27)
- 2.UAB — Erasmus Mundus and master's degrees in English
- 3.UAB — Master's application for admission
- 4.UAB — Pre-registration calendar (Advanced Genetics)
- 5.UAB — Required documentation (Advanced Genetics)
- 6.Spanish Ministry of Inclusion — Study stay authorisation
- 7.Embassy of Spain in Kabul