Cheapest Universities in Spain

For an international student, searching for the best study abroad destinations can be quite a challenging task. You have to factor in many aspects when trying to find the most suitable university for you, from the qualifications and academic expectations to expenses. One of the most difficult realities to face is finding a university that you like but also meets your financial abilities. If you want to study in Spain, you will need to research the financial aspect in addition to other things.

Although Spain does not provide tuition-free higher education, the good news for international students is that the majority of universities in the country offer affordable tuition fees. Furthermore, depending on your preferences and financial status, you should keep in mind that public universities in Spain are cheaper than the private universities. 

In this article, we have listed some of the most affordable universities in Spain to help you plan your studies without the added stress of worrying about tuition expenses.  

Note that: The tuition fees in Spain universities are calculated based on a ‘price per credit’ and the tuition cost varies per department. As such, you should carefully check the universities listed according to the degree program you are interested in.

Here is a list of the most affordable in Spain for international students in 2025:

• Universidad Complutense Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid)
• University of Valencia
• University of Granada 
• European University of Madrid
• University of Barcelona
• University of Santiago de Compostela
• University of A Coruña
• Pompeu Fabra University

Universidad Complutense Madrid (Complutense University of Madrid)

With more than 80,000 enrolled students, the Complutense University of Madrid is one of the best and popular universities among both domestic and international students. It has a very diverse student body adding to the charm of the vibrant city of Madrid. Moreover, this university offers a wide variety of course programs in languages other than Spanish along with the many available opportunities to engage in campus based important research.

The Complutense University of Madrid is ranked among the best universities in Spain and 10.4% of the student population are international students.

Tuition fees (per ECTS):

1. First registration: 45,02€.
2. Second registration: 71,88€.
3. Third registration: 84,07€.

University of Valencia - UV

As one of the oldest public research universities in Spain, the University of Valencia is considered a renowned educational institution in Spain. The UV offers a wide options of programs ranging from undergraduate degrees to PhD’s. It was founded in 1499 and around 50,000 students in total have enrolled in one of the departments at UV, students from many nationalities. Joining the University of Valencia means joining a multicultural institution with a high employability rate after graduation. 

Aside from the great academic experience that this university offers, you will be one of the luckiest people alive to enjoy the most beautiful beaches and yummiest food that Valencia has to offer.

Tuition fees per ECTS (depending on the degree program):

1. First registration: ~20,00€
2. Second registration: ~35,00€
3. Third registration: ~80,00€

University of Granada 

Considered one of the best universities in Spain, the University of Granada is home to many international students because of their affordable tuition costs. More specifically, 6,000 international students are enrolled in their undergraduate, masters and postdoctoral studies. Aside from the continuously growing interest of international students to study at the University of Granada, the total number of students enrolled goes as high as 47,000. If we take into account every individual that works, studies and does research at this renowned institution, the total number reaches 80,000.

The University of Granada is also a very popular destination among Erasmus+ community and other exchange programs with partnerships in over 80 countries, adding to the diversity that characterizes the university.

Tuition fees per ECTS (depending on the degree program):

4. First registration: 13.68€
5. Second registration: 27,35€
6. Third registration: 52,13€

European University of Madrid

The European University is a private university in Spain with campuses in Madrid, Valencia and the Canary Islands. With world-class facilities the European University of Madrid is a highly sought-after institution, especially by international students. Although it is more expensive than public universities, this university provides one of the best academic experiences in Spain, equipping students with outstanding skills that are applied in the real world post-graduation. To be more precise, the employment rate after graduating from the European University of Madrid is 94%, meaning that most graduates find jobs within only a year after they receive their degree.

As one of the most attractive study abroad options for international students, the European University of Madrid has a student population that is 33% international. The convenient location in the middle of Madrid, makes this university even popular. 

Tuition fees per ECTS (depending on the degree program): 

1. Architecture, Engineering, Science and Computing - STEAM: 172,0€ - 230,0€ 
2. Social Sciences and Communication: 98,0€ - 272,0€
3. Medicine and Health: 142,0€ - 360,0€
4. Sport: 139,63€ - 259,0€

University of Barcelona - UB

The University of Barcelona is one of the biggest universities in Spain, and one of the most popular Spanish universities worldwide. With more than 75,000 students, is ranked among the top 150 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education and top 100 according to the U.S. News & World Report. Aside from the great education quality, at the UB students will be able to find great accommodation options and many other useful facilities such as first-class libraries,language training and student associations to help socialize and tackle university issues.

With over 45 master’s degrees being taught in English, the University of Barcelona is a dreamy study abroad choice for international students. As far as the statistics go, there are 10,408 international students in total enrolled at different programs at the UB.

Tuition fees per ECTS (depending on the degree program):

• International students: 5.87€ - 99.90€.
• Students from EU member countries: 41.17€ - 66.00€.

University of Santiago de Compostela

Another public university located in Santiago de Compostela in Spain, this is one of the cheapest universities in the country. The international reputation that this university holds is mainly because of the high quality of education it offers, the quality of the research carried out at this university and finally the large number of courses offered with an excellence that it is difficult to find elsewhere.

There are around 3,000 international students registering every year at the University of Santiago de Compostela, especially in the areas of Health Sciences, Humanities and Engineering. One of the best advantages of enrolling at this university is the integrated campus, giving students the freedom to have everything under a 15 minutes reach by walking. 

Additionally, it is one of the safest cities in Spain and it is almost walkable everywhere, which is a good thing especially for international students who do not need to use public transportation.

Tuition fees per ECTS (depending on the degree program):

7. First registration: 9,85€ - 13,93€.
8. Second registration: 13,62€ - 19,30€.
9. Third registration: 22,04€ - 31,21€.

University of A Coruña

Amongst the cheapest universities in Spain, the University of A Coruña is located exactly where the name says, in A Coruña. It has partnerships with around 40 countries in Europe and offers students work placement in most of the European companies in those countries, giving international students the sense of security post graduation. 

Students can choose between a large number of courses offered in single majors, double degrees, international study programs along with many English taught degrees and both masters and PhD programs. Moreover, the University of A Coruña belongs to the top 3 universities in Spain in terms of welcoming international students, with the foreign student number increasing each year. 

Tuition fees per year (depending on the degree program):

• Health Sciences: 1,462€
• Engineering and Architecture: 1,462€
• Social Sciences and Legal Studies: 1,034€
• Arts and Humanities: 1,034€

Pompeu Fabra University 

Pompeu Fabra University was firstly established in 1990 as a public university located in Barcelona, Spain. It carries a reputation of being one of the most competitive universities in terms of research and providing highest-quality education for future students and academics. With one of the best campus locations a student can ask for, in the heart of Barcelona, makes this university even more attractive, with easily accessible public transport that enhances the educational experience.

With a good reputation of attracting a large number of international students, the Pompeu Fabra University welcomes around 1,500 students each year from all different parts of the world and 31% of Pompeu Fabra University students find jobs during their degree abroad. 

Tuition fees per year (depending on the degree program):

• Biomedicine: 27,67€ - 93,5€.
• Translation and Language Sciences: 27,67€ - 93,5€.
• Humanities: 27,67€ - 93,5€.
• Economics and Business Sciences: 27,67€ - 93,5€.
• Education: 27,67€ - 93,5€.

*First registration. It refers to the first time a student enrolls in a class/course.

*Second registration. It refers to the second time a student enrolls in a class/course.

*Third registration. It refers to the third (most of the time, final) time a student enrolls in a class/course. (The more times a student enrolls for a class, the more expensive the credits get. They usually do this to encourage students to finish the class on the first try.)

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