Public universities in Spain

Spain attracts foreign students with its beaches, vibrant cities, festivals, and beautiful architecture. The country shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal. Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the state is the third largest UNESCO World Heritage Site after Italy and China. There is something for the tourist to do here: visit many art galleries, museums, spend time on the beach, explore the countryside, visit unusual restaurants. But the main thing is the opportunity to get a quality education at state universities.

Top Universities in Spain

50 universities in Spain were included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings-2021. The most popular are located in Madrid, Barcelona and smaller cities (Seville, Granada). Each region of Spain is individual, therefore, when choosing a university, students should proceed from where they want to study and live for the next 3-4 years. Life here is relatively inexpensive, the cost of goods and services is below the European average.

One of the reasons young people choose to study in Spain is the opportunity to learn the language. Spanish is the second most widespread language in the world, it is in demand in the world of business, science and art. Although most courses are taught in Spanish, there are a number of Bachelor's / Master's programs in English.

Top public universities in Spain

• University Pompeu Fabra is a young university founded in 1990 in Barcelona. Strengths: Social and Human Sciences, Healthcare, Social Sciences, Communications and ICT. It was named after the linguist Pompeu Fabre, a connoisseur of the Catalan language (Catalan is the official language of the educational institution). It operates on 3 campuses: social sciences and humanities study at Ciutadella, health and life sciences at Mar, communications and information technology at Poblenou.
• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona - the main campus is located in Bellaterra, one of the main industrial and technological areas of Mediterranean Europe (25 minutes from the center of Barcelona). The university offers 87 bachelor's degrees, 315 master's degrees and 68 doctoral programs. Bachelor's degrees in business management and administration, economics, primary education, tourism are offered entirely in English, making the university attracting international students. There are 13 faculties on the basis of the educational institution, including the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Communication, Arts, Humanities, Medicine, and Translation and Interpretation.
• The third best Spanish university, the University of Barcelona, is located in vibrant Barcelona, one of the country's largest educational centers. It offers 73 undergraduate courses, over 140 standard graduate courses, over 400 graduate courses in total, UB postgraduate courses, 48 doctoral programs. Two courses are taught entirely in English (International Business and English Studies) and five are partly taught in English.
• Autonomous University of Madrid - the main campus is located in the Cantoblanco area on the outskirts of Madrid, connected to the city center by a commuter train. The campus has 16 cafes and canteens, indoor / outdoor pools, a medical center, sports fields, beach volleyball courts, as well as a train station (!) And bus routes. Notable alumni include several former government ministers, Gaspar Lamazares (former leader of the United Left Party), His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, who holds a law degree.
• Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) - public higher education institution in Spain has been operating since 1499. The university is included in the 5% of the best higher educational institutions in the world, occupying the 209th position. Known for the high quality of teaching in the areas of "Arts and Humanities", "Engineering and Technology", "Life Sciences and Medicine", "Natural Sciences", "Social Sciences and Management", "Mathematics", "Chemistry". The university has an urban campus.

The system of admission to Spanish universities

At the moment, there are two systems for enrolling applicants from abroad:

• Pruebas de Competencia Específica (PCE)
• Evaluación del Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad (EBAU o EvAU).

Each educational institution chooses an admission system. UNED publishes in December the conditions for the student not only to decide what he wants to study, but in which educational institution or region of Spain he wants to study. According to this, students choose the PCE or EBAU system.

PCE system

EBAU system

Most of the country's educational institutions have old urban campuses without the possibility of living: students rent housing or choose accommodation with host families.

Shared student apartment

• Individual room
• Double room

Included: utilities, Internet connection, weekly cleaning of the common area, fresh linens, towels. Meals are self-service.

Additional options:

• Private bathroom
• Air conditioning
• Larger bedroom or private balcony, double bed.

Host family

Included:

• All utility costs
• Individual bedroom
• Internet connection
• Meals: half board or full board
• Weekly cleaning of common areas
• Fresh linens and towels every week.

Additional expenses:

• Opening a personal file
• Secretary's expenses
• Competence tests
• Specialization in 4 subjects
• Qualification for admission to Universidad Espanola.

The preparatory courses are held from October to May - until the date of the official tests - and include 3 cycles:

• The first covers the most important topics, includes 60 hours on the subject
• The second is a repetition of the past + expansion of the topic, 85 hours.
• The third - consolidation of the passed + test analysis, 25 hours.

All participants of educational programs receive:

• Attendance certificate
• Administrative visa support (if necessary)
• Course materials.

List of documents that UNED requires for accreditation:

1. Copy of DNI, ID card or passport (document with which the request was made).
2. Copia certificada del curso equivalente a1 de Bachillerato (Primer año de Bac) legalizado - a certified copy of the 1st year certificate.
3. Copia certificada del curso equivalente a2 de Bachillerato (Segundo año de Bac) legalizado - confirmed copy of the 2nd year certificate.
4. Copia certificada del extracto de notas del examen de Bacalaureta (Releve des Notes du Baccalaureat) y del Diploma de Baccalaureat legalizados - Confirmed extract of the grades from the certificate for the last two years of study.
5. Traducción jurada del curso equivalente a1 de Bachillerato (Primer año de Bac) - certified translation of the 1st year certificate
6. Traducción jurada del curso equivalente a2 de Bachillerato (Segundo año de Bac) - certified translation of the 2nd year certificate
7. Traducción jurada del extracto de notas del examen de Bacalaureta (Releve des Notes du Baccalaureat) y del Diploma de Baccalaureat - certified translation of an extract from the certificate for the last two years of study.

From February to mid-May, registration for entrance examinations at the university is carried out. Each student prepares an application depending on the exam schedule.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision