🇪🇸Study in Spain

Study in Spain for Indian Students

Spain offers well-known business schools, reasonably priced public master’s degrees and a relaxed lifestyle, and students can now work up to 30 hours a week. See the costs, visa steps and post-study options.

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Last reviewed: September 2026

Overview

Is Spain Right for You?

Spain attracts Indian students with a mix of affordable public universities, internationally known private business schools and a lifestyle that is hard to match in Europe. Most public bachelor’s degrees last four years and are taught in Spanish or Catalan, while one-year master’s degrees and private programmes offer far more English-taught choice, especially in Madrid and Barcelona.

Recent immigration reforms have made the country more practical for students: study permit holders can now work up to 30 hours a week, and graduates can apply for a 12-month permit to look for work or start a business. Budget carefully, though, because fees for non-EU students vary a lot between regions, and most jobs outside international firms expect good Spanish.

A strong fit if you are…

Business, management, hospitality and tourism students looking for a European degree.
Graduates who want a one-year master’s at a moderate cost.
Students willing to learn Spanish to improve job prospects and daily life.
Budget-conscious applicants who are open to public universities outside Madrid and Barcelona.
Students who value lifestyle, climate and travel within Europe.

Think twice if you are…

If you expect to build a career in English only, since most roles in Spain need Spanish.
If you need high part-time earnings, because competition for student jobs is stiff and wages are modest.
If you want an English-taught bachelor’s at a public university, as options are limited.
If paperwork delays worry you: apostilles, sworn translations, UNEDasiss and ID card appointments all take time.

Why Spain

Why Indian Students Choose Spain

Affordable public master’s

Public universities charge regulated per-credit prices, so many one-year master’s cost a few thousand euros even at the non-EU rate.

Well-known business schools

Madrid and Barcelona are home to private business schools with strong international reputations and English-taught programmes.

Work up to 30 hours a week

Under the immigration regulation in force since 2025, students in higher education can work up to 30 hours a week alongside their studies.

A year to find work

Graduates can apply for a 12-month residence permit to look for a job or start a business.

A global language

Learning Spanish while you study opens doors across Europe and Latin America.

Lifestyle and travel

Mild weather, lively cities and easy travel across the Schengen area make student life enjoyable.

Courses

Popular Courses in Spain

Spain is especially strong for business, tourism and a growing range of technology and sustainability programmes.

Course Area	Why Spain	Typical Roles
Business, Management & MBA	Madrid and Barcelona business schools offer English-taught master’s and MBAs with international classrooms.	Management consultant, business analyst, product manager
Hospitality & Tourism Management	Tourism is a pillar of the Spanish economy, so programmes connect closely with hotels and travel firms.	Hotel operations manager, revenue manager, events manager
Computer Science, Data Science & AI	Barcelona and Madrid have active tech and start-up scenes, with strong programmes at UPC, UPF and UC3M.	Data scientist, software developer, AI engineer
Renewable Energy & Sustainability	Spain is a major producer of solar and wind power, which supports specialist master’s programmes.	Energy analyst, project engineer, sustainability consultant
Architecture & Urban Design	Barcelona and Madrid are known for architecture and urban planning.	Architect, urban planner, BIM specialist
Marketing, Digital Business & Communication	Private universities and business schools offer practical, industry-linked programmes in English.	Digital marketing manager, brand strategist, content lead
Biomedicine & Life Sciences	Barcelona hosts a cluster of biomedical research centres linked to local universities.	Research assistant, clinical research associate, lab scientist

Universities

Top Universities in Spain

Spain’s top public universities are concentrated in Barcelona and Madrid, alongside respected private institutions.

University	City	Ranking	Known For
University of Barcelona	Barcelona	QS 2027: 165	Spain’s highest-ranked university
Complutense University of Madrid	Madrid	QS 2027: 199	One of Europe’s largest universities
Autonomous University of Barcelona	Bellaterra (Barcelona)	QS 2027: 211	Campus university; sciences and communication
Autonomous University of Madrid	Madrid	QS 2027: 226	Sciences with on-campus research institutes
Pompeu Fabra University	Barcelona	QS 2027: 263	Economics, political science and biomedicine
University of Navarra	Pamplona	QS 2027: 279	Private; medicine and communication
Carlos III University of Madrid	Madrid	QS 2027: 314	Economics, law and engineering; English-taught options
Technical University of Madrid (UPM)	Madrid	QS 2027: 364	Engineering and architecture
Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)	Barcelona	QS 2027: =434	Engineering, architecture and ICT
IE University	Segovia & Madrid		Private; business, law and tech in English

Ranks shown are QS World University Rankings 2027 and change every year; programme fit, language of teaching and cost matter more.

Budget

Cost of Studying in Spain

Public fees are set by each region, and Madrid and Catalonia charge non-EU students more, so compare carefully.

Tuition Fees

Public bachelor’s (non-EU)€1,000–€9,000 / year

Set regionally; Madrid and Catalonia at the top end

Public master’s (non-EU)€2,000–€7,000 / year

Charged per credit; a 60-credit master’s at University of Barcelona is about €6,600

Private universities & business schools€8,000–€30,000+ / year

MBAs and top business-school master’s can cost more

Living Costs

Rent (room in shared flat)€400–€750 / month

Central Barcelona or Madrid can pass €900

Food & groceries€200–€300 / month

Cooking at home saves a lot

Utilities & internet€80–€130 / month

Often shared between flatmates

Transport pass€20–€40 / month

Discounts for young people in big cities

Total monthly budget€800–€1,400 / month

Smaller cities at the lower end

Other Expenses

National (type D) visa feeAbout €80, paid in INR

Plus BLS service charge

Proof of funds100% of IPREM (about €600 / month)

For the length of stay, separate from tuition

Health insuranceVaries by insurer

Spain-authorised, full cover, no co-payments or waiting periods

Foreigner ID card (TIE)Small fee (about €16–€20)

For stays over 180 days

All figures are indicative for 2026–27 and change yearly; confirm on the university, BLS and consulate websites.

Funding

Scholarships for Indian Students

Fully funded awards in Spain are competitive, so most Indian students combine partial scholarships with savings or loans.

Scholarship	Typical Support	Best Suited For
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s	Full scholarship covering tuition, travel and a monthly allowance	Strong master’s applicants of any nationality who want to study in two or more European countries
University & business school scholarships	Partial tuition waivers based on merit or need	Applicants to private universities and business schools, often in early admission rounds
la Caixa Foundation INPhINIT fellowships	Funded doctoral fellowships at Spanish research centres	PhD candidates, mainly in science and technology

Erasmus Mundus deadlines usually fall between October and January, almost a year before the course starts.

Ask private schools about scholarship deadlines early, as awards are often tied to the first application rounds.

Plan to show visa funds without relying on a scholarship that has not been confirmed in writing.

Eligibility

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate

After Class 12

Class 12 completed with good marks and subjects that suit the course.
For public universities, UNEDasiss accreditation and often PCE subject exams to rank your application.
Private universities usually run their own application, interview or entrance test.
Spanish (often B2) for Spanish-taught degrees, or English proof for English-taught ones.
Apostilled certificates with sworn Spanish translations where required.

Postgraduate

After Your Bachelor’s

Bachelor’s degree that gives access to master’s study in India; universities assess equivalence case by case.
Transcripts, CV, statement of purpose and recommendation letters.
English or Spanish proficiency, depending on the programme’s teaching language.
GMAT, GRE or an in-house test for some business school programmes.
Interview for many private and competitive programmes.

Language tests: English-taught programmes usually accept IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Cambridge scores, commonly around IELTS 6.0–6.5. Spanish-taught programmes generally ask for DELE or SIELE at B1–B2, sometimes higher.

Documents You Will Usually Need

Valid passportAdmission letter for a full-time courseApostilled academic certificates and transcripts, translated where requiredUNEDasiss accreditation (for many public bachelor’s)English or Spanish test scoresBank statements, plus sponsor affidavit, PAN and statements if a parent sponsorsSpain-authorised health insurance with full coverPolice clearance certificate, apostilled and translated (stays over 180 days)Medical certificate, apostilled and translatedStatement of purpose and CV

Intakes

September/October (Autumn)

Sep – Oct

Main intake; almost all public programmes start here

January/February (Spring)

Jan – Feb

Limited; mostly private universities and business schools

Student Visa

Spain Student Visa, Step by Step

Student visa (visado de estudios)

Courses longer than 90 days need a Spanish student visa. Indian applicants submit through BLS International, and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh fall under the Consulate General in Mumbai.

Visa feeAbout €80 + BLS charge

Proof of funds100% IPREM per month

Decision timeAbout 1 month

Work rightsUp to 30 hrs/week

Secure admission

Get an admission letter for a full-time course and pay any deposit the university requires.

Arrange funds and insurance

Show funds of at least 100% of IPREM per month and buy health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain.

Get PCC and medical certificate

For stays over 180 days, get a police clearance and medical certificate, apostilled by the MEA and translated into Spanish.

Apply through BLS

Book an appointment and submit your file at a BLS centre for the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai, depending on your state.

Travel and get your TIE

If your stay is over 180 days, apply for the foreigner ID card within one month of arriving in Spain.

Renew each year

Your student stay is renewed yearly as long as you stay enrolled and meet the requirements.

Work Rights

Working During & After Your Studies

Spain’s reformed rules give students more room to work and a clearer path from study to employment.

Stage	What Applies
During studies	Students in higher education can work up to 30 hours a week, as long as the job fits around their studies.
Internships	Many master’s programmes include internships through university agreements with companies.
After graduation	Graduates can apply for a non-renewable 12-month permit to look for work or start a business, from two months before to three months after their student permit expires.
Moving to a work permit	Graduates who find a job can switch to a work authorisation without leaving Spain, subject to the conditions in force.

Where to Study

Popular Student Cities in Spain

Barcelona

A creative, international city with the University of Barcelona, UPF and UPC, a strong tech scene and beaches. Rents are among Spain’s highest.

Madrid

The capital and business centre, with Complutense, Carlos III, UPM and major business schools. It has the widest job market.

Valencia

A relaxed coastal city with good universities and lower living costs than Madrid or Barcelona.

Salamanca

A historic university town popular for Spanish language study, with low living costs.

Seville

The heart of Andalusia, with a large public university and warm weather, and costs well below the big two cities.

Course Finder

Shortlist Courses That Match Your Profile

Not sure which course or university in Spain fits your marks and budget? Our online student profiler asks about your study level, academics, budget and preferences, then suggests courses and universities that fit.

1
Build your profileBachelors, Masters or Doctoral — plus marks, budget and country.
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Get your shortlistCourses and universities matched to what you entered.
3
Talk it throughWe review the shortlist with you and plan the application.

Find Your Course

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FAQs

Study in Spain: Common Questions

Can I study in Spain in English?

Yes, especially at master’s level and at private universities and business schools. Public bachelor’s degrees are mostly taught in Spanish or Catalan, so check the teaching language before applying.

How much bank balance do I need for a Spanish student visa?

You must show funds of at least 100% of IPREM for each month of your stay, which is about €600 a month, separate from tuition. Parents can sponsor you with an affidavit, PAN card and six months of bank statements.

Can I work while studying in Spain?

Yes. Under the current rules, students in higher education can work up to 30 hours a week, provided the work is compatible with their studies. Most part-time jobs still expect some Spanish.

Do I need to know Spanish?

Not for an English-taught programme, but Spanish makes daily life, part-time work and job hunting much easier. Many students take classes during their first year.

What is UNEDasiss and do I need it?

UNEDasiss is the service that evaluates international school qualifications for admission to Spanish public bachelor’s degrees and runs the PCE subject exams. Many public universities require it; private universities usually do not.

Can I stay in Spain after my studies?

Eligible graduates can apply for a 12-month permit to look for work or start a business. If you find a job, you can apply to switch to a work permit, but approval depends on meeting the requirements.

Which intake should I choose?

September is the main intake with the widest choice. A spring start is mostly limited to private universities and business schools.

Fees, fund requirements, visa rules and work rights on this page are indicative, based on publicly available information as of September 2026. They change often — always confirm with the university and the official immigration website before you apply, or ask our counsellors to check the latest position for you.