Spanish universities, master’s programmes and admissions

Spain is more than just a sunny holiday destination. The country’s major cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or Cadiz are popular study abroad destinations among European students. Spain’s universities often boast state-of-the-art facilities. Of the roughly 2,700 master’s programmes, courses in journalism, business, languages, cultural studies, engineering and international MBAs are especially popular. Admission to a Spanish master’s programme is generally no problem if you apply with a three-year bachelor’s. In addition to these ‘regular’ master’s degrees, which usually take one year to complete (two years in some cases), there are more vocationally oriented master’s courses that have university-specific titles (título propio).

Language skills and application requirements

If you plan to do a master’s degree in Spain, you must have a good command of the Spanish language prior to beginning your studies. Even though there is a growing number of master’s degrees taught in English, it is always a good idea to learn the local language at some point—especially if you keep in mind that Spanish skills will always be a big plus when starting your career. Taking a language course prior to your studies is also recommended if you study in a region where Catalan or Galician is spoken in addition to Spanish. In most cases, you apply directly at your university of choice by submitting a certified Spanish translation of your bachelor’s diploma along with any other documents the university may request. To make sure that all documents (application form, transcript of records, translations etc.) arrive before the deadline, you should start collecting information about the application process as early as possible and contact the international office of your Spanish university if necessary.

Costs and funding opportunities

At the postgraduate level, the fees for individual courses at public Spanish universities usually range from 22 to 36 euros per credit, meaning that Spanish tuition fees may add up to 1,700 euros per semester. In addition, you should be prepared to spend about 5,000 to 6,000 euros per year to cover your costs of living. Educational loans and a diverse range of scholarships are available to help you finance your master’s degree in Spain. In other words, a Spanish university is one of the best places to be if you decide to experience life in entirely new ways by completing a master’s abroad.

More information on studying in Spain