Why study in Spain?
21st October 2025 copy
Thousands of university students from across the world are attracted to Spain every year, choosing to attend one of the 83 universities in the country. If you are an international student, Spain gives you the opportunity to make new connections, and become immersed in an entirely different culture.
Education and teaching
Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and is seen as a cultural leader in Europe and Latin America. A university diploma from Spain will provide the same credential as that from the US, UK, or other countries when applying for work or further studies. And at the time of writing, Spain has over 50 universities in the Times Higher Education Top 100 (2025).
Culture and history
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Although anyone can be a tourist and spend a weekend on holiday, to really experience how to thrive in another environment, you have to spend a significant amount of time ‘living it’. Spain is a great destination to do this, boasting brilliant weather, gorgeous beaches, pretty landscapes, and lots of places to visit.
Spain has many tourist attractions that you can spend time becoming familiar with. For example, you could use your free time to explore the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
Spain also has a lot of things to do! You can attend traditional festivals and fairs, or dancing in clubs. Dance culture is heavy in Spain – there are lots of tapas bars, clubs, cocktail bars, and restaurants for you to shake a leg at. There are also great spots to shop at, with Spain boasting upmarket boutiques and bohemian stores alike.
Geography and travel
Spain's geography also makes it an ideal location to go on short-hop trips. The country makes up 85% of the Iberian Peninsula which it shares with Portugal, Gibraltar, and the Andorra in southwest Europe. It's bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on its west and the Mediterranean on its east coast. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, part of its 17 autonomous regions, are also a short flight away, while France lies to its northeast.
Cost of living
In comparison to a lot of other European countries, Spain has a lower cost of living – especially if you choose to live in the cheaper Spanish cities. For example, Caceres in the West and Teruel in the East are cheaper cities in comparison to Barcelona or Madrid.
If you choose to live in the more central cities, be aware that it may be slightly more expensive. However, Spain offers international students the opportunity to live in student accommodation, which means the cost of rent is affordable. Even cities like Madrid or Barcelona offer many budget-friendly opportunities for students.
Opportunity to learn a new language
You will need to pick up a bit of Spanish (and possibly Catalan, if you are applying to universities in Catalonia such as in Barcelona). The majority of study programmes in Spain are taught in Spanish, and while there are a number of programmes where your classes may be in English, you may still need the local language to navigate through daily life and handle your administrative affairs. Living in Spain will help improve your Spanish - a language with the second-most native speakers in the world after Mandarin Chinese - and will be useful in your future no matter what field you choose to study.
There are also degree programmes that are taught in both English and Spanish, in the event that you haven’t quite got the hang of the Spanish language just yet. This is another opportunity for you to build up your Spanish-speaking skills within your chosen programme. Bear in mind - if you are an international student from a non-English speaking country, be aware that you may need to provide proof of English proficiency when you apply.