Study in Spain

Barcelona University Campus

Study in Barcelona

We present a helpful guide to Barcelona as a university destination, where you'll discover everything you need to know to feel at home in this vibrant city. You'll also learn how the Guiu Academy can be your ally in gaining admission to a Spanish university and successfully adapting to student life in Barcelona.

Do you want to go to university in Spain?

At our academy, we offer specialized programs designed to help foreign students or those with an International Baccalaureate diploma prepare for university entrance exams.

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION COMPLETED OUTSIDE OF SPAIN

At Guiu Academy we help you achieve the required level of Spanish thanks to our courses.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

If you have completed an International Baccalaureate and have questions about the admissions process for international students, you've come to the right place. Here you'll find more information to answer your questions.
BASIC ELE
ADVANCED ELE
safe and
ECOSYSTEM

You will feel welcomed and like you are at home

26 Universities
IN BARCELONA
Both public and private
due to climate and
QUALITY OF LIFE
You will feel welcomed and like you are at home
758DEGREES
IN BARCELONA
to improve
YOUR SPANISH
Apart from our ELE courses, you will improve your Spanish through daily use

safe and
ECOSYSTEM

You will feel welcomed and like you are at home
700
masters and
POSTGRADUATE
connected
to the world
And for its excellent public transport options when you're here
international reference in
RESEARCH
Top-level research centers and science parks

Catalonia university campus

Catalonia boasts a diverse and internationally recognized higher education system, comprising 12 universities: seven public, four private, and one online. This broad range of options provides students with a variety of academic and training opportunities, contributing to the prestige and quality of the region's education system.

Universities in Catalonia offer a wide range of services, including libraries, laboratories, welcome programs, language courses, sports facilities, and job placement services. They also have offices for international students, providing advice on immigration procedures, health, and leisure activities, ensuring a positive academic experience in the region.

The university system in Catalonia is characterized by its strong internationalization, with instruction in Spanish, Catalan, and English. With approximately 250.000 students and 15.000 professors, it offers 450 undergraduate and 470 master's programs, including 86 taught in English and 34 offered in collaboration with foreign universities. This linguistic diversity and educational offering enriches the academic experience and promotes excellence in higher education in the region.

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE PARKS

With 800 research groups, 25.000 researchers and 45.000 people involved in research and development, Catalan universities are well positioned in world rankings: Five among the 500 best in the world (UB, UAB, UPC, UPF and URV) and four among the 100 best with less than 50 years of history (UAB, UPC, UPF and URV).

In Catalonia, science and technology parks have emerged around some universities, where work is being done to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology between the university environment, research and the business world.

Lleida Agri-Food Science and Technology Park
Scientific and Technological Park of Tourism and Leisure
Terrassa Science and Technology Park
UAB Research Park
Barcelona Synchrotron Park
Esade Creapolis
Vallès Technology Park
TecnoCampus Mataró-Maresme
Mediterranean Technology Park
Barcelona Science Park
b_TEC Barcelona Technological Innovation
Biomedical Research Park of Catalonia
UPC Park
UPF Research Park - Social Sciences and Humanities
La Salle Technonova Barcelona

Requirements to study in Spain

Admission of international students through high school diploma.

In order to gain admission to a degree program at a university in Spain, international students must:

  • Obtain official recognition of your previous studies.
  • Take university entrance exams (PAU/SELECTIVIDAD).
    Currently, based on the LOMCE (Organic Law for the Improvement of Educational Quality), for students from educational systems other than the Spanish one, each Autonomous Community determines the minimum access conditions, exams that must be passed, calculation of the admission grade, etc., to access university studies in that community.

Recognition for international students
Mandatory Requirements:

  • High school diploma (legalized and apostilled in your country of origin)
  • Transcripts from the last 3 years of high school (legalized and apostilled in your country of origin)
  • Certified copy of your passport from your country of origin
  • Pay the corresponding fee

Tip: If your studies are not in Spanish, remember that you must have them translated.

Academy services for international students

Come to Barcelona, ​​enroll in one of our university entrance exam preparation courses, and forget about everything except studying and living in Barcelona. Focus on preparing for your university entrance exams, and we guarantee you'll pass.

We take care of all the arrangements:

  • Documentation
  • Approvals
  • Pre-registration
    and all that boring stuff.

Some of these services may be included in some of our packages.

Tutorial record and first accompaniment of the minor to NIE procedures

€200

If you are under 18 years of age, you must have a legal guardian assigned to represent you and answer to institutions and organizations on your behalf.

Search for accommodation

€280

We'll help you find accommodation so you don't have to worry about anything other than your studies.

Student support (registration and NIE)

€180

We accompany and guide you throughout the entire process of obtaining a foreigner identification number and registering your address.

Airport pickup and transfers on arrival day

€150
We will wait for you, accompany you and take you to your "residence" on the day of your arrival in Barcelona.

TOEIC

L&R 100€
S&W €129
4 Skills €179
TOEIC, the Test of English for International Communication, is the most widely used official English language certification in the world, recognized by more than 180 countries and 9.000 educational organizations. It assesses: listening and reading comprehension (L&R) + speaking and writing (S&W).

Health Insurance

€600/year

Mandatory health insurance when renewing your NIE/VISA
Minimum duration: 1 year

UNEDASIS registration management

€200

When the time comes, we will advise you and manage your registration for the university entrance exams.
*Exam fees are separate (determined by the test organizers)

University Pre-registration

€200

Answering your questions and managing your university pre-registration, which will allow you to obtain a place in your desired university degree.
*Includes 3 communities

Request more information about

Private math lessons in Barcelona

    Practical information about visas for Spain to enjoy studying in Barcelona and at the academy

    Guiu Academy

    Who needs a visa or permit to live in Spain?

    According to the Freedom of Movement Act, if you are from a country that is part of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) – which includes EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway – or Sweden, you do not need a visa or any other type of permit to visit, live, work, or study in Spain. EU/EEA and Swedish citizens coming to live in Spain will need to register with the authorities to obtain a national identity number. Nationals of other countries not listed above will need a visa to live in Spain and, in many cases, a work permit.

    Spain is one of the 26 countries that make up the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. These countries share a common visa, so there are no border controls between them. There are three types of visas that allow entry into Spain: – Airport transit visa. – Short-stay Schengen visa. – Long-stay visa.
    This document allows you to enter the international transit area of ​​a Spanish airport. However, not everyone needs it. For more information or to verify your eligibility, please consult the list at: [link missing in original text]. You will need to apply for a transit visa through the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin.

    A short-stay visa allows you to stay in Spain for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, but not to work there. If you hold a Schengen visa issued by another Schengen state, you can also travel to Spain and stay for up to 90 days. Citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand do not need a short-stay visa to enter Spain, but they will need to apply for a long-term residence visa to stay longer than three months. To find out if you need a Schengen visa, please consult our [link to relevant information]. You must complete an application form, which you can download, and apply through the Spanish Embassy or Consulate in your home country. You can renew your short-stay visa at the Immigration Office or the local police station, provided you stay in Spain for less than 90 days. You cannot come to Spain on a short-stay tourist visa and change your status to Spanish employee, student, or resident. You must return to your home country and apply for a new visa from there. Find the contact information in your country to submit the application.

    Unless you are an EU citizen, you will need a long-term national visa if you intend to live, work, study, or conduct research in Spain for more than three months. This will depend on your purpose of stay, as detailed below.
    There are several types of residence and work permits depending on the purpose of your stay, including: – Combined Residence and Work Visa, which allows you to live and work in Spain. – Student Visa, for the duration of an educational or training course. – Residence Visa, for family reunification or retirement.
    There are different types of work visas in Spain, as well as exemptions, depending on your employment status in Spain. You can find the requirements for obtaining this visa in our comprehensive guide. You cannot apply for your own work visa in Spain—Spanish Immigration Law dictates that employers must submit the application on your behalf. Work permits/visas are issued by the Spanish Immigration Authority.
    Spain is very popular with international students; in fact, a 2018 survey found it to be the number one destination in Europe for students wanting to study abroad. If you wish to study, conduct research, or undertake an apprenticeship in Spain, you must first find a course that accepts you; only then can you apply for a visa.
    The tourist visa requires completing an application form which will ask for a photograph and information about your residence, the purpose of your trip to Spain, and the type of Schengen tourist visa you need.
    Both Spanish citizenship and a Spanish (permanent) residence visa authorize you to live in Spain, but there are differences between the two. A residence visa requires you to renounce your original nationality and passport to become a Spanish citizen.
    Both Spanish citizenship and a Spanish (permanent) residence visa authorize you to live in Spain, but there are differences between the two. A residence visa requires you to renounce your original nationality and passport to become a Spanish citizen.
    After five uninterrupted years of residence in Spain, you can apply for a permanent or long-stay residence permit. If you already hold a Blue Card from another EU country and have lived elsewhere in the EU for the same period, you are also entitled to long-stay residence. This permit allows you to remain in Spain indefinitely, whether working or not, under the same conditions as Spanish citizens. You can apply for Spanish nationality after ten years of residence in Spain, or acquire it through marriage or by having Spanish parents, even if they were born outside of Spain.
    Within 30 days of arriving in Spain, all non-EU/EEA citizens or Swedish citizens who wish to stay longer than three months must apply for a residence permit (TIE) at the Immigration Office or the police station in their province of residence. You will need a valid passport/national identity card, color passport-size photos, and a completed application form. Additionally, you will need proof of registration (empadronamiento), bank statements, health insurance, and other documents related to your situation, such as an employment contract, proof of university enrollment, or academic transcripts. This temporary residence permit allows you to stay in Spain for between 90 days and five years and can be renewed.
    All foreigners, including those from the EU/EEA/Sweden, must have a Foreigner Identification Number (NIE). It is mandatory for any financial transaction, such as opening a bank account, receiving your salary, paying taxes, registering for social services, and obtaining a driver's license. EU citizens will receive an NIE when they apply for their registration certificate; others can apply for it after obtaining their residence permit from the Immigration Office. It is possible to apply for an NIE through the Spanish consulate in your country of origin (although it will take a few months to obtain it this way) if you intend to live or open a bank account in Spain. If you plan to live in Spain, you must register with the local legal authority in your place of residence.
    You must obtain a Certificate of Registration by registering in the census called Padrón at the Town Hall of your locality.
    For foreign documents to be valid in Spain, they must be translated into Spanish and legalized (certified as authentic) or bear an Apostille. Translations must be carried out by translators certified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation or by a certified translator in their country of origin.