Study Abroad Programs in Spain

Where Can You Study Abroad in Spain?

Where you go changes your cost more than anything else. A month in Granada runs roughly half what the same month costs in Barcelona, and both offer full semester programs.

Madrid

The capital and the largest concentration of programs. NYU Madrid and USAC both run semester programs here, and the under-26 transport pass covers the entire city for about $22 a month, the best deal of any Spanish city.

Barcelona

Coastal, Catalan-speaking alongside Spanish, and the most expensive city for students alongside Madrid. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Universitat Pompeu Fabra both host study abroad students, and IED Barcelona runs design programs.

Seville

The most affordable of Spain's major cities and the deepest Spanish immersion of the four. CIEE, WorldStrides, Adelante, and the Spanish Institute for Global Education all run semester programs here.

Granada

The best value in Spain, with monthly costs around 40 percent below Madrid. A classic language immersion city, walkable enough that most students skip transport costs entirely.

Valencia

Coastal, cheaper than Barcelona, and growing fast as a student city. A middle option between the affordability of the south and the size of the capitals.

Spain has far more study abroad cities than the five above, from Salamanca and Bilbao in the north to Málaga and Alicante on the coast. Use the filters above to browse programs by city.

Top Universities for Study Abroad in Spain

• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona. Pre-established courses for study abroad students, with programs run directly and through SAI.
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. Semester places through AIFS Abroad.
• NYU Madrid, Madrid. A US university campus in Spain, with coursework taught in English and Spanish.
• IED Barcelona, Barcelona. Design, business transformation, and creative programs at the Istituto Europeo di Design.
• Spanish Institute for Global Education, Seville. Full semester programs built around Spanish immersion.
• Expanish, Barcelona. Intensive Spanish language courses for shorter stays.

What Can You Study Abroad in Spain?

Popular fields include:

• Spanish Language
• Business
• Culture
• History
• Economics
• Communications
• Art & Design
• Political Science & Politics

There are many more subjects available. Use the filters above to browse them all, or let the GoAbroad Online Advisor narrow it for you. It is a free interactive tool that instantly matches you with meaningful travel, study, work, or volunteer programs based on your personal goals.

Do You Need to Speak Spanish to Study Abroad in Spain?

No. Plenty of programs in Spain teach entirely in English, and this is the single most common reason students rule Spain out when they shouldn't. Programs fall into three groups:

Taught in English. No Spanish required. Common at provider centers and international campuses, and the usual choice for students in business, design, and the social sciences.

Taught in Spanish. Usually requires two to four semesters of prior study. Direct enrollment at Spanish universities generally sits here.

Mixed. Some coursework in English while you build Spanish alongside it. The most common format, and the one most students end up choosing.

Language immersion. Intensive Spanish study, often with a homestay, which is the fastest way to clear a language requirement.

Program formats

Provider programs. A study abroad organization handles your application, housing, insurance, orientation, and support on the ground. The most common format in Spain and the easiest for first-time travelers.

Direct enrollment. You enroll at a Spanish university as a regular student. Cheaper and more immersive, and usually requires stronger Spanish.

Exchange programs. You swap places with a student from a partner university and keep paying home tuition.

Faculty-led programs. A professor from your home university leads a group. Shorter, more structured, and credits usually transfer without separate approval.

Study and intern combinations. Coursework plus a placement, which adds work experience to the semester.

Academic Credit Transfer

Your home university decides which credits transfer, not the program provider or the Spanish university. Get that approval in writing before you leave.

1. Course approval. Take the syllabus for each course to your advisor and get written confirmation of what counts and toward what. Approve a backup, since courses fill up.
2. How credits convert. Spanish universities use ECTS, where a full semester is 30 ECTS and typically converts to about 15 US credit hours. Confirm the conversion your school uses, because it varies.
3. Whether grades affect your GPA. Some schools transfer study abroad courses as credit only. Others fold the grades in.
4. Language of instruction on your transcript. If you take courses in Spanish, check whether your home university will count them toward a language requirement as well as toward credits. Many will, and most students never ask.
5. How the transcript arrives. Six to twelve weeks after your term ends is normal.

What Are the Requirements to Study in Spain?

Most programs require a minimum GPA, sophomore standing or above, and a valid passport. Language requirements depend entirely on the program.

1. GPA. Most programs set a minimum between 2.5 and 3.0. Direct enrollment at Spanish universities may require more.
2. Year standing. Sophomore standing or above is usually required. Summer courses are often open to first-year students.
3. Language level. Depends on the program. Many teach in English with no Spanish required.
4. Passport validity. Most programs require your passport to be valid for at least a full year beyond your start date, which is stricter than the six months many countries ask for. Check this first.
5. Home university approval. Good academic and disciplinary standing, plus pre-approved courses.
6. Visa. Required for almost every semester program. See below.
7. Health insurance. Private health insurance is mandatory for the student visa, and it must cover your entire stay.

Visas

This is where Spain differs from most destinations, and where students get caught out.

• Programs of 90 days or less need no student visa for US citizens and most other nationalities. This covers summer courses and short programs.
• Programs between 90 and 180 days require a Type C student visa. A typical fall or spring semester runs about four months, which is over 90 days, so most semester students do need one.
• Programs over 180 days require a Type D student visa, plus a TIE residence card that you must apply for within 30 days of arriving in Spain. The TIE is a separate step from the visa, and you need it to open a bank account or sign a lease.
• Processing takes four to eight weeks once you have an appointment, and consulates recommend booking two to three months ahead. You cannot apply until your program issues an acceptance letter.
• You will need to show proof of funds, currently around €600 per month of your stay, along with a background check and private health insurance.

Learn more about visas and passports

How Much Does It Cost to Study Abroad in Spain?

Spain is one of the more affordable study abroad destinations in Western Europe. Your city matters more than your program format, since Granada or Seville can cost close to half what Madrid or Barcelona does.

Upfront costs

• Program fee. $3,000 to $8,000 for a summer or short course, $8,000 to $20,000 for a semester, and $16,000 to $35,000 for an academic year. Direct enrollment and exchange programs sit at the lower end, provider programs at the higher end.
• Flights. $500 to $1,200 round trip from the US, depending on your departure city and season.
• Student visa. $90 to $190 for the visa itself depending on your nationality, plus $200 to $500 for supporting documents, which can include an apostilled background check, a medical certificate, and notarized translations.
• TIE residence card. About $20 to $30, for stays over 180 days only.
• Health insurance. $200 to $700 for the semester. This is mandatory for the visa, not optional.
• Housing deposit. $300 to $1,200 if your program does not arrange accommodation.

Private health insurance is a visa requirement in Spain, not just a good idea, and your home plan almost certainly will not qualify. Browse GoAbroad's recommended travel insurance providers and get a quote by destination and travel dates.

Monthly living expenses

• Housing. $275 to $880 per month for a room in a shared flat or student residence. Granada and Seville sit at the bottom of that range, Madrid and Barcelona at the top. Many programs include housing or a homestay in the fee.
• Food and groceries. $175 to $365 per month. University canteens serve full meals for $3 to $6, which is the cheapest way to eat in Spain.
• Utilities and internet. $55 to $130 per month, often bundled into student accommodation but rarely into private rentals.
• Local transportation. $22 to $66 per month. Madrid's under-26 pass covers the whole city for about $22, and Granada and Seville are walkable enough that many students skip it.
• Personal spending and weekend travel. $110 to $330 per month.

Budget roughly $660 to $1,150 a month in Granada, Seville, Salamanca, or Valencia, and $1,100 to $1,650 in Madrid or Barcelona. Figures converted from EUR and vary with the exchange rate.

What the program fee usually covers

Tuition and course registration, and depending on the program, housing or a homestay, some meals, insurance, orientation, excursions, and support on the ground.

What it usually does not cover

Flights, visa fees, personal spending, most meals, local transport, and weekend travel. Read the inclusions on each program carefully, because two programs with the same headline price can differ by thousands once you account for what is left out.

Scholarships & Funding for Study Abroad in Spain

Funding is worth applying for even if you assume you won't get it.

• Provider scholarships. Many providers offer their own awards, listed directly on their program pages.
• GoAbroad scholarships and deals. One application on MyGoAbroad puts you in front of multiple funding and discount opportunities.
• Federal and institutional aid. In the US, existing financial aid frequently applies to approved study abroad programs. Ask your financial aid office how your package travels.
• Early bird discounts. Several providers discount for applying ahead of the deadline.

Don't rule out a program on price before you check what's available. Find scholarships to help pay for or reduce the cost of your semester in Spain.

When Can You Study Abroad in Spain?

Spanish universities run two main terms. Autumn starts in September and finishes in December or January. Spring starts in January or February and finishes in May or June.

Terms available on GoAbroad

• Academic Year. Two full terms, September through June. Requires a Type D visa and a TIE card.
• Fall. September through December or January.
• Spring. January or February through May or June.
• Summer. Three to eight week courses, usually June through August, and short enough to need no visa.
• May Term. Short intensive courses between the spring and summer terms.
• Winter. Short courses over the December and January break.
• Spring Break. One to two week faculty-led and short programs.
• Trimester. Programs following a three-term calendar.
• Throughout the Year. Rolling start dates set by the provider.

Plan backward from the visa, not the deadline

This is the part that catches Spain applicants out. Consulate appointments need booking two to three months ahead, processing takes another four to eight weeks, and you cannot start either until your program sends an acceptance letter.

For a January start, that means applying in September or early October, not November. For a September start, it means applying in spring. Missing the appointment window, not the application deadline, is the most common reason students lose a place in Spain.

How to Use GoAbroad to Find the Right Program in Spain

Here is how you can narrow 416 programs in Spain down to a shortlist you can act on.

1. Start with the Spain programs page. Every Spain program is gathered in one place, so you can see the full range before narrowing anything.
2. Filter by what actually matters to you. Narrow by city, subject, and term to get down to a manageable set of programs.
3. Save your options. A MyGoAbroad account keeps your shortlist in one place instead of scattered across browser tabs.
4. Compare side by side. Check the differences that are easy to miss, like housing, insurance, and language of instruction.
5. Read the reviews. Program reviews come from students who have already gone, and they cover what a program page doesn't, including how good the support was when something went wrong.
6. Hear it firsthand. Alumni interviews go further than a review, with students walking through their whole semester.
7. Request information. Contact providers directly from their program page with your questions about credit, housing, and deadlines.
8. Prefer a shortcut? The GoAbroad Online Advisor does the narrowing for you. Answer a few questions about your field, budget, and destination, and it sends back programs that fit.

Every provider on GoAbroad is verified before their programs are listed, which is what makes the comparison worth doing in the first place.

Learn more about how GoAbroad works