Study in Spain as an International Student: 2027/28 Complete Guide

Yes, you can study in Spain as a non-EU student in English, and at public universities the fees are often lower than in the UK or North America. The path has five parts: choose an official English-taught program, meet the entry rules (UNEDasiss for most bachelor's applicants, a recognised degree for master's), legalize and translate your documents, get admitted and pay the enrolment fee, then apply for the national study visa.

This pillar guide walks you through the whole journey for the 2027/28 intake and links to a detailed guide for every step. Every rule below comes from official Spanish government, university or UNEDasiss pages, listed in the sources at the end.

Why Spain? A quick, honest overview

Spain has a large public university system, a growing list of English-taught master's programs and clear post-study options. Public tuition is set by each autonomous community (region), not nationally, so prices differ a lot between Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia and other regions (Organic Law 2/2023).

The main challenges are paperwork and language. Many bachelor's programs at public universities are taught in Spanish or a co-official language, so the English-taught offer is much bigger at master's level. Read our honest pros and cons of studying in Spain before you decide.

Step 1: Find official English-taught programs

Start with official tools. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities runs QEDU, a search tool for degrees, centres, cut-off grades and fees. The RUCT register confirms that a university and its degree are officially recognised. This matters because the study visa requires admission to a recognised institution for a full-time program leading to a recognised degree.

In the FindUniPath database, 40 public and 25 private Spanish universities currently list English-taught programs. Public universities offer most of the English-taught master's programs (318 of 472), while private universities offer most English-taught bachelor's programs (153 of 204). See the full picture in our guide to English-taught programs in Spain.

Step 2: Check the entry requirements for your level

Bachelor's (Grado)

If your school system is outside the EU, you can enter Spanish public universities through UNEDasiss if your secondary studies meet the requirements for homologation to the Spanish Bachillerato. Public universities require the UNEDasiss accreditation with the Calificación de Acceso and the PCE subject exams; UNEDasiss recommends taking at least 4 subjects. Private universities set their own admission systems, often with their own tests and interviews.

Master's (Máster Universitario)

Under Royal Decree 822/2021 (art. 18.2), a bachelor's degree from outside the European Higher Education Area that is equivalent to a Spanish Grado can give access to a master's without homologation. The degree must give access to postgraduate study in the country that issued it, and universities may ask for bridging courses of up to 20% of the master's credits.

Full details, including GPA and language levels, are in our Spain university admission requirements guide.

Step 3: Apply on time

You apply directly to each university (preinscripción). For the 2026/27 course, the UNEDasiss deadline for international students applying to public universities was 7 July 2026, with pending documents accepted until 31 July 2026. Dates for 2027/28 are not published yet. Master's deadlines are set by each university and often start in winter: for example, Pompeu Fabra University's first master's call for 2026/27 ran from 14 November 2025 to 14 January 2026.

Our step-by-step application guide explains the full timeline and portals.

Step 4: Prepare documents early

Foreign public documents must be legalized for use in Spain, unless an international agreement exempts them. Countries in the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention only need an apostille. Immigration procedures also require a sworn translation into Spanish. Pakistan and India are on the Apostille Convention list; Afghanistan and Iran are not, so their documents need full diplomatic legalization.

Read the documents, translation and legalization guide for the full chain.

Step 5: Budget for tuition and living costs

Costs depend heavily on the region and on whether a university charges non-resident non-EU students a higher rate. Some examples from official university pages for the current year:

• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya: about €2,700 per 60 ECTS for non-resident non-EU master's students.
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid: €84.07 per ECTS for most master's programs for non-resident non-EU students (about €5,044 for 60 ECTS).
• University of Seville: the same public rates for everyone, €13.68 per ECTS for a master's.
• IE University (private): €27,300–45,120 per year for bachelor's programs.

For the visa you must also prove living funds of 100% of IPREM per month. See the full breakdown in the cost of studying in Spain.

Step 6: Apply for the Spanish student visa

For stays over 90 days you need a national study visa (visado de estudios). Apply in person at the Spanish mission covering where you legally reside, at least two months before classes start. You need proof of admission and paid enrolment, funds, health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, a criminal record certificate (stays over 180 days), and a medical certificate. Doctoral candidates apply for a researcher visa instead.

After arrival, if your stay is over 180 days, apply for the TIE foreigner identity card within one month. Our Spain student visa guide covers every step.

Step 7: Funding and scholarships

There is no general Spanish government scholarship open to all international students. MAEC-AECID calls mostly target specific regions or groups. Your best options are university grants (for example, the University of Huelva's Talent Scholarships for international master's students), Erasmus Mundus consortium scholarships and private-university merit awards. See scholarships in Spain for international students.

Step 8: Work during and after your studies

A long-stay study authorization for higher education automatically allows work of up to 30 hours, as long as it is compatible with your studies. After finishing at least a Grado-level degree, you can apply for a 24-month, non-renewable residence permit to look for work or start a business. Details are in working and staying in Spain after graduation.

Your Spain timeline at a glance

1. 1

   12–18 months before: shortlist programs

   Use QEDU and RUCT, then read each university's own admission and language rules. For a 2027/28 start, plan from autumn 2026.

2. 2

   Start legalization and translations

   Apostille or diplomatic legalization, then sworn Spanish translation. Allow several months if your country is not in the Apostille Convention.

3. 3

   Bachelor's: homologation and UNEDasiss

   Apply for homologation to the Spanish Bachiller and for the UNEDasiss accreditation (window 4 February – 1 December each year).

4. 4

   Apply to universities

   Master's calls often open in autumn or winter; public bachelor's pre-registration usually closes in early July.

5. 5

   Accept and pay enrolment

   The visa needs proof of admission and payment of registration or enrolment fees.

6. 6

   Visa at least 2 months before classes

   Apply at the consulate for your place of legal residence. The decision is due within one month once the study authorization is favourable.

7. 7

   Arrive and get your TIE

   Apply for the TIE within one month of entry if your stay is over 180 days, then renew each year.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying for the visa too late. The consulates ask for applications at least two months before classes start, and a late application without a good reason is a common problem.
• Choosing a mixed-language program by accident. Some programs are listed as bilingual or Spanish and English. Check the teaching language on the official program page before you apply.
• Starting legalization after admission. Diplomatic legalization can take months, and embassies such as Islamabad report legalization backlogs.
• Counting tuition money as living funds. The money you pay for your studies does not count towards the 100% IPREM proof of funds.
• Applying where you do not legally reside. Spanish missions only accept study-visa applications from people living legally in their consular district.
• Ignoring early master's rounds. Many universities recommend their first admission round to non-EU students because later rounds leave too little time for the visa.

Deadlines move every year, and missing one can cost you a full year. Track deadlines for free on FindUniPath to see each university's official dates, or last year's dates clearly marked when the new ones are not yet published. You can also browse everything about Spain on our Spain hub.