Best English-Taught Universities in Spain 2025

For students worldwide, the opportunity to study abroad and experience a taste of life in a different culture is always exciting. With many possibilities available that are only expanding day by day, choosing to study abroad has become easier.  

One of the favorite study abroad destinations for international students is Spain and we don’t blame them. Spain is home to some of the best universities in the world, with a high quality of life, lots of entertainment options and of course a vibrant nightlife (key criteria for a young student studying abroad).

However, one of the main struggles and obstacles that international students face when deciding on their study abroad destination is the potential task of having to learn a new language, especially Spanish. But we have good news; although Spanish is a very charming language, you can learn it in your free time, since Spanish universities offer a wide range of programs taught in English.

Here is a list of some of the Universities in Spain that offer English-taught courses:

1. University of Barcelona

2. ESIC Business & Marketing School

3. IE University

4. University of Navarra

5. ESADE Business School

6. University Carlos III of Madrid

1. University of Barcelona

With more than 60,000 students enrolled each year, the University of Barcelona (UB) is one of the most renowned universities in the world. The UB has ranked first or second in Spain, according to most world university rankings of 2024 such as Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings.

Here are some advantages of studying at the University of Barcelona:

• High quality education.

• A wide variety of accommodation options available (public and private).

• Affordable cost of living (735€ - 1,200€ per month, excluding tuition fees).

• Access to numerous sport facilities.  

The cost of tuition at the UB depends on your nationality and the level or type of degree you choose to pursue. Master’s degrees for EU nationals range from 40€ to 66€ per credit, whereas master’s degrees for non-EU nationals the price per credit varies from 65€ - 100€ depending on the field.  

Here are some English-Taught degree programs that the University of Barcelona offers:

Bachelor Level Degrees:

1. Biomedical Engineering - 4 Years.

2. Business Administration and Chemistry - 6 Years.

3. Business Administration and Management and Sociology - 6 Years.

4. Double degree Mathematics and Computer Science and Software Engineering - 5 Years.

5. English Studies - 4 Years.

Master Level Degrees:

1. Advanced Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (Master integrated by postgraduate course that they can be processed separately) - 2 Years.

2. Advanced Clinical Practice in Clinical Practice in Implantology and Oral Prosthetics - 1 Year.

3. Advanced Maternal-Fetal Medicine - 2 Years..

4. Advanced Mathematics - 1 Year.

5. Analytic Philosophy - 1 Year..

6. Institutions and Political Economy - 2 Years.

7. International Business - 1 Year.

2. ESIC Business & Marketing School  

ESIC University is a private school located in Barcelona, Spain. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Spain with nearly 60 years of experience specialising in business and marketing areas. With more than 70 million alumni, ESIC university has one of the highest employability rates after graduation, with around 96% of graduates employed after graduating.  

If Barcelona is not for you, you can find the ESIC University at multiple other cities which are:  

• Madrid

• Barcelona

• Valencia

• Seville

• Zaragoza

• Malaga

• Pamplona

• Grenada

• Medellin

• Curitiba

From undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees, the ESIC Business School offers a wide variety of programs depending on your desire, level and qualifications. This university is highly prepared in regards to international students who wish to pursue a degree without any knowledge of Spanish.  

They offer multiple degree programs taught in English such as the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management in the Digital Field - 5 Years.

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Business - 5 Years.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration - 5 Years.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing - 5 Years.

• Master’s Degree in International Relations and Global Economy - 10 Months.

• Master’s Degree in International Business from ESIC University - 12 Months.

• Master’s Degree in International Trade & Business - 12 Months.

• Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing - 12 Months.

• Master’s Degree in Marketing Management - 13 Months.  

3. IE University  

Another private university, the IE University is located in Segovia, Spain. However there are campuses in other parts of Spain such as Madrid and León. IE University is one of the favorite study options to study abroad with over 75% of the student community comprising international students.  

One of the advantages of pursuing a degree at IE University is that they offer the opportunity to study on exchange and even intern and work at one of their many prestigious partners throughout the world. Moreover, they have one of the highest employment rates in Spain, with 95% of recent alumni who are currently employed at their dream jobs. A characteristic of IE university is the offers the students receive even before graduating, and they have many options to choose from starting small and start-up companies to multinational companies worldwide.

The tuition fees depend on the degree type and number of credits, however for a single degree with 240 ECTS credits the annual fee is around 25,000€. The good news is that at the IE University all students of all backgrounds can pursue their dreams, considering there are many scholarships and financial aid options available, thanks to the very supportive alumni and partner companies.  

For international students who want to pursue any degree at IE University, here are some English-taught programs that this university offers:

• Bachelor in Applied Mathematics - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Architectural Studies - 5 Years.

• Bachelor in Behaviour and Social Sciences - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Business Administration - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Communication and Digital Media - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence - 4 Years.

• Dual Degree in Business Administration & Data and Business Analytics - 5 Years.

• Dual Degree in Business Administration & Design - 5 Years.

• Dual Degree in Business Administration & Fashion Design - 5 Years.

• Dual Degree in Laws & International Relations - 5 Years.

4. University of Navarra

This private Roman-Catholic university is located in Pamplona, Spain and founded in 1052. It has campuses all over the country of Spain such as Barcelona, San Sebastian and Madrid. What makes the University of Navarra stand out in the list of Spain Universities is that it offers a very large variety of degree programs taught entirely in English, making this university one of the most attractive for international students who wish to study abroad in Spain.  

The benefits of studying at University of Navarra are many, but one of the most important is that they offer unique Mentorship programs meaning that international or exchange students are paired with local Spanish students or organisations to help them guide through their studies and offer advice or help on anything related to higher education studies in Spain.  

Here are a few of the many English-taught programs you can find at the University of Navarra:

• Business Communication Degree  

• Marketing Degree

• Brand Management

• International Finance

• Degree in Audiovisual Communication

• Degree in Journalism

• Degree in Applied Management

• Artificial Intelligence Engineering Degree

• Telecommunication Systems Engineering  

• Industrial Electronics Engineering  

• Mechanical Engineering

• Master's Degree in Tax Consultancy

• Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering

• Master in Economics and Finance  

• Master's Degree in Telecommunication Engineering

5. ESADE Business School

Based in Barcelona, ESADE Business School is a private university with a highly competitive acceptance rate of 60%. Firstly built as early as 1958, the ESADE university has had an MBA program since 1964. Although it is very hard to get in, the ESADE university is worth it because of its high employability rate and it is constantly ranked among the world’s best business schools according to Forbes, Times Higher Education and the Financial Times.

What makes ESADE Business School different from others and appealing is the opportunities they offer to students regardless of the program they choose, providing them with professional training and exchange programs with other first class international universities, along with internships in well known organizations.  

Here are some of the degrees you can take in English at ESADE Business School:

• Bachelor of Business Administration - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Transformational Leadership and Social Impact - 4 Years.

• Bachelor in Global Governance, Economics & Legal Order - 4 Years.

• Bachelor of Business Administration & Bachelor in Business and Artificial Intelligence - 5 Years.

• Double Degree in Business Administration + Bachelor in Global Governance, Economics & Legal Order - 5 Years.

• MSc Programs in Management - 0-2 Years.

• Executive Masters - 4 Years.

• Full Time MBA - 12,15 or 18 months.

• Executive MBA (part-time, blended: online and face to face) - 18-24 months.

You might ask yourself: what should I as a student need to possess to be considered for admission at ESADE Business school.  

Here are some of the criteria and qualifications to be admitted at ESADE:

• Take the ESADE admissions test. If unable to take the test, sending in SAT scores (minimum of 1200) or ACT scores (minimum of 24) is also accepted as an alternative.  

• English language proficiency. Those who take the ESADE admission test will be tested on their English level as well.  

• Non-native speakers of Spanish only. Those who wish to pursue their studies entirely/partially in Spanish must provide proof of proficiency in Spanish as well  

General tips for applicants:

• Have an almost excellent previous academic record

• Prepare for application essays  

• Apply in your last year of high school or immediately after you graduate because of the limited places available.  

6. University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M)

University Carlos III of Madrid or Universidad Carlos III de Madrid as the Spanish call it, has an international reputation with many accreditations that give valued recognition to programs such as business and engineering programs. This widely acclaimed reputation attracts students from all parts of the world to pursue their chosen degrees. As such, UC3M is considered one of the best universities in Spain, especially for international students.  

With around 30 programs offered entirely in English, the UC3M is the ideal study abroad destination for international students who are not comfortable completing their studies in a foreign language such as Spanish.  

Here is a list of some English-taught programs you can find at UC3M:

• Bachelor in International Studies

• Bachelor in Management and Technology

• Dual Bachelor in International Studies and Economics

• Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering

• Bachelor in Biomedical Engineering

• Master in International Advocacy

• Master in Business Administration (MBA)

• Master in Business and Finance

• Master in Human Resources Management