Study in Spain – IE University, ESADE, Carlos III, and Other Top Universities 2026

You’re sitting on a cafe terrace on Calle Gran Vía in Madrid; it’s Thursday, 9:00 PM, and the city is just coming alive. At the next table, a group of IE University students are debating a startup pitch they’re presenting tomorrow at Area 31 (the university’s entrepreneurship incubator). The waiter brings a third round of café con leche, the temperature is a pleasant 22 degrees Celsius, and you wonder how, just six months ago, you were dreaming of London in the rain for £30,000 a year. Welcome to Spain – a country quietly revolutionizing European higher education and offering international students something you won’t find anywhere else on the continent: a combination of world-class English-taught programs, incredibly affordable public university tuition, and a lifestyle people pay fortunes for on vacation.

Spain isn’t an obvious destination when you think about studying abroad. The UK dominates with Oxford and Cambridge, the Netherlands with Maastricht and Amsterdam, and Denmark with free tuition. Meanwhile, Spain offers something none of these countries provide to the same extent: public universities with tuition fees of 680–3,000 EUR per year for EU citizens, private business schools ranking in Europe’s top 10 (IE University, ESADE), a growing startup scene in Madrid and Barcelona comparable to Berlin, and all of this in a climate where 300 sunny days a year isn’t a tourist slogan but a meteorological fact.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through six universities that any international student considering Spain should explore: from the flagship IE University and ESADE, through public gems (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, and Universitat de Barcelona), to the legendary Universidad de Salamanca. We’ll cover costs, admissions, SAT requirements, English-taught programs, the equivalency of the Polish Matura Exam (and the Spanish university entrance exams, Selectividad), and career prospects. If you’re looking for a complete picture, read on.

Rankings and Reputation – Why Spain?

Let’s start with something many international candidates don’t know: Spain has four universities in the top 200 QS World University Rankings 2025: Universitat de Barcelona (149), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (159), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (164), and Universidad Complutense de Madrid (171). That’s more than Denmark, Belgium, or Austria. In addition, Spain absolutely dominates its niche in specialized rankings: IE University is consistently in the top 3 Financial Times European Business Schools, ESADE in the top 10, and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona is recognized as Europe’s best young university (QS Top 50 Under 50).

In the category of business and management, Spain plays in the continental first league. IE University and ESADE hold Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), a quality certification possessed by only about 120 business schools out of over 13,000 worldwide. This is the same level of accreditation as CBS in Copenhagen or LSE in London. The difference? At IE, a BBA program will cost you about 25,000 EUR per year, but at the public Carlos III de Madrid, a comparable Business Administration program costs about 1,500 EUR per year for an EU citizen. That’s not a typo.

What distinguishes Spain from other European countries? The flexibility of its admissions system and a growing number of English-taught programs. Just 10 years ago, studying in Spain almost exclusively meant Spanish language. Today, IE University offers over 90% of its programs in English, Carlos III provides English-taught tracks in several fields, and Pompeu Fabra has dedicated International Business Economics and Global Studies programs entirely in English. Barcelona has become, de facto, Europe’s third-largest student city (after London and Paris), with over 200,000 students in the region – and this critical mass translates into a quality of student life, networking, and career prospects you won’t find in smaller academic centers.

University Admissions in Spain – Two Paths

The admissions system in Spain is fundamentally different from the British UCAS, the Dutch Studielink, or the Danish Optagelse.dk. You must understand a key distinction: private universities (IE University, ESADE) have their own admissions processes, while public universities (Carlos III, Pompeu Fabra, Universitat de Barcelona, Salamanca) require you to go through a high school diploma equivalency system, known as the credencial de acceso issued by UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia).

Private Universities – Rolling Admission

IE University and ESADE operate on a rolling admission basis: there isn’t one rigid deadline; you apply when you wish, and the university responds within 2–3 weeks. This is a huge advantage compared to UCAS in the UK, where you submit one application per year and wait for months. IE University accepts the SAT, ACT, or its own test (IE Global Admission Test) as part of the admission process. ESADE also accepts the SAT as an alternative to its internal test. If you’re preparing for the SAT, practice on okiro.io – the platform offers full practice tests in the Digital SAT format.

Elements of an application to IE University:

1. Online form: personal data, grades, extracurricular activities
2. SAT/ACT or IE Global Admission Test – a realistic SAT score for a strong application is 1300+
3. Video essay: record your answers on the Kira Talent platform
4. Interview (30 minutes online with an admissions officer)
5. Transcripts – high school diploma and Matura exam results

You can find more about the SAT scores needed for European universities in our complete guide to SAT in Europe. A detailed guide to IE University is available in our dedicated article IE University Madrid – A Complete Guide.

Public Universities – UNEDasiss Credential and Selectividad

For public universities, you must go through the UNEDasiss system. The Polish Matura Exam is recognized in Spain but must be officially converted to the Spanish 0–14 scale (nota de admisión). The process is as follows: you submit an application on the UNEDasiss portal, send translated transcripts (with an apostille), and UNED converts your Matura results into their Spanish equivalent, known as the credencial de acceso. The base score (nota de acceso) is a maximum of 10, but you can increase it to 14 by taking additional PCE (Pruebas de Competencias Específicas) exams – these are equivalents of the Spanish Selectividad in selected subjects. For competitive fields (medicine, engineering at Politécnica), PCEs can be crucial, but for most business and humanities programs, a good Polish Matura Exam (extended levels above 70%) is entirely sufficient.

Key information about converting the Polish Matura Exam can be found in our guide to converting Matura results.

Universities – What to Study and Where?

IE University – Madrid/Segovia

IE University is undoubtedly Spain’s most international university and one of Europe’s most recognized business schools. Its Madrid campus, IE Tower (a 180-meter skyscraper opened in 2021), is one of the most iconic academic buildings on the continent. The second campus in Segovia (a historic UNESCO World Heritage city, an hour from Madrid) offers a more intimate atmosphere. IE boasts over 130 nationalities on campus – the percentage of international students exceeds 70%, meaning that a student at IE is part of a truly global community, not a minority in a sea of local students.

The flagship Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) is a program that regularly ranks in the top 5 Financial Times Global BBA Rankings. It places a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation. IE doesn’t just teach you how to work in a corporation (though graduates do go on to McKinsey and Goldman Sachs), but how to build your own companies. The Area 31 incubator on campus has helped launch hundreds of startups. The Bachelor in Data and Business Analytics combines data science with business – one of the most forward-looking programs on the continent. The Bachelor in Laws (LL.B.) offers international law in English with one of Europe’s strongest legal clinics.

Tuition at IE is high (approx. 25,200 EUR per year for a BBA), but IE offers an extensive scholarship system: the IE Excellence Scholarship (up to 50% of tuition), IE Diversity Scholarship (up to 30%), and Women in STEM Scholarship (up to 40%). It’s worth applying for a scholarship simultaneously with your university application. You can find a detailed guide to IE University on our blog.

ESADE – Barcelona

ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) is a business school founded in 1958 by Jesuits, now part of Ramon Llull University in Barcelona. Its campuses are in Sant Cugat del Vallès (15 km from the city center, green, spacious) and in Barcelona itself (Pedralbes district). ESADE holds Triple Crown accreditation and has one of the strongest alumni networks in Spain: over 60,000 alumni worldwide, with a significant concentration in the consulting and financial sectors.

The flagship Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) is a 4-year program with a mandatory exchange semester – partners include Wharton, Georgetown, HKUST, and dozens of other top universities. The program places a strong emphasis on consulting, corporate finance, and impact investing. The newer Bachelor in Transformative Business and Social Impact combines business with sustainability, ideal for those interested in ESG and responsible business. ESADE’s tuition is approximately 17,500 EUR per year – significantly less than IE, with comparable quality.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)

And here begins the magic of Spanish public universities. Carlos III de Madrid is Spain’s best young university (founded in 1989, in the QS Top 50 Under 50) and offers several programs with tuition fees below 2,000 EUR per year for EU citizens. The Getafe campus (20 minutes by metro from central Madrid) features modern buildings, libraries open late, and an atmosphere that feels more like an American campus than a European public university.

The Grado en Administración de Empresas (Business Administration) with a bilingual English-Spanish track is a flagship program, with tuition around 1,500 EUR per year. The Grado en Economía is one of the highest-rated economics programs in Spain. Carlos III also offers a Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering and a Grado en Ingeniería Informática (both with tuition below 2,000 EUR). For an international student who wants to study business at a reputable university without spending a fortune, Carlos III is an absolute gem.

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) – Barcelona

UPF is Spain’s number 1 public university according to many rankings (QS Top 200 worldwide) and definitely the best public option in Barcelona. The Ciutadella campus, right next to the park of the same name and a 10-minute walk from Barceloneta beach, is one of the most beautifully located campuses in Europe. UPF is known for its academic intensity – it’s not a party university, but a place where you genuinely work hard.

The flagship English-taught program International Business Economics is a 4-year Bachelor’s degree combining economics, management, and international business, with tuition around 2,500 EUR per year for EU citizens. UPF also offers Global Studies (international relations in English). Admission requirements for UPF are higher than for other public universities (nota de admisión typically 8.0–10.0), but in return, you get an education comparable to KU Leuven or the University of Amsterdam, for a fraction of the price.

Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Universidad de Salamanca

Universitat de Barcelona is Catalonia’s oldest and largest university, in the QS top 200, with over 60,000 students. It primarily offers programs in Spanish/Catalan, but its academic quality is undeniable, especially in humanities, medicine, and biology. Tuition: approx. 1,700 EUR per year for EU citizens.

Universidad de Salamanca, founded in 1218 (the fourth oldest university in the world), is the epitome of traditional Spanish studies. Salamanca is a true student city (170,000 inhabitants, 30,000 of whom are students), with living costs dramatically lower than Madrid or Barcelona. A room in a shared apartment: 200–350 EUR/month. Tuition: approx. 1,100 EUR/year. If you want to learn fluent Spanish in a fully immersive environment, Salamanca is an ideal choice. The university conducts most programs in Spanish but also offers English courses and exchange programs.

Costs of Studying and Living in Spain

This is the section where Spain starts to look like Europe’s best-kept secret in education. Let’s start with tuition fees at public universities: EU citizens (including those from Poland) pay the same rates as Spanish nationals. At Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, tuition for a year of Grado en Administración de Empresas is approximately 1,500 EUR. At Universitat Pompeu Fabra – about 2,500 EUR. At Universitat de Barcelona – about 1,700 EUR. At Salamanca – about 1,100 EUR. For comparison: the University of Amsterdam charges 2,530 EUR, KU Leuven – about 1,000 EUR. Spanish public universities are in the same price range as the most affordable options in Western Europe.

Private universities are in a different price league: IE University – approx. 25,200 EUR/year, ESADE – approx. 17,500 EUR/year. This is substantial, but compare it to Imperial College London (38,000 GBP) or UCL (28,000 GBP), and suddenly IE seems a more reasonable option, especially with lower living costs.

And living costs in Spain are an absolute game-changer. Madrid and Barcelona are dramatically cheaper than London, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen. A realistic monthly student budget in Madrid:

Accommodation: 450–750 EUR for a room in a shared apartment (Malasaña, Lavapiés, Chamberí – popular student districts). In Barcelona, slightly more expensive: 500–850 EUR (Gràcia, Eixample, Poble Sec). In Salamanca: 200–350 EUR. Food: 200–300 EUR per month (cooking at home + occasional menú del día for 10–14 EUR at a restaurant – three courses with a drink!). Transport: Madrid has the Abono Joven for 20 EUR/month for those under 26, unlimited metro, bus, and suburban trains throughout the region. Barcelona: T-Jove for approx. 40 EUR. Phone: 10–15 EUR (Lycamobile, Digi prepaid cards). Entertainment: 100–200 EUR. Total monthly budget in Madrid: 800–1,300 EUR. In Barcelona: 900–1,400 EUR. In Salamanca: 500–800 EUR.

Scholarships and Financial Support

Scholarships at Private Universities

IE University offers the most comprehensive scholarship program among Spanish private universities. The IE Excellence Scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition based on academic results and candidate profile. The IE Diversity Scholarship (up to 30%) rewards contributions to campus diversity. The IE Social Impact Scholarship (up to 50%) is aimed at individuals with documented social engagement. The Women in STEM Scholarship (up to 40%) supports women in technical fields. Key information: you apply for an IE scholarship simultaneously with your university application; you don’t have to wait for an admission decision.

ESADE offers a Financial Aid Program covering up to 60% of tuition based on family financial situation, plus an ESADE Academic Excellence scholarship for academic achievement. Both universities also have extensive payment plans (installments spread throughout the year).

Public Scholarships – Beca MEC

The Spanish government offers Becas Generales del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Beca MEC), a scholarship covering tuition fees at public universities plus a living allowance. Conditions: you must be a resident of Spain (which, as an EU citizen, you can obtain after registering with the local council) and meet family income criteria. Beca MEC covers full tuition plus up to 1,700 EUR per year for living costs. For a middle-income family, meeting the income criteria is realistic; the thresholds are set at a level that corresponds to middle-class earnings in Spain.

Additionally, the Comunidad de Madrid and Generalitat de Catalunya offer regional transport and housing scholarships. Erasmus+ is available for students going on an exchange semester.

Preparation for language exams (IELTS or TOEFL) is crucial for English-taught programs. Check out prepclass.io for practicing full mock tests with AI feedback.

Student Life – Madrid, Barcelona, and Salamanca

If there’s one thing Spain beats every other European country at, it’s lifestyle. This isn’t an empty slogan; it’s a fundamental difference in the daily student experience that impacts your mental health, productivity, and overall happiness. Compare: in London, you leave home at 8:00 AM in the rain, take a crowded Tube for 150 GBP a month, and eat lunch for 12 GBP. In Madrid, you leave at 9:00 AM (because classes start later), the sun is shining, the metro costs 20 EUR a month, and lunch is a menú del día for 11 EUR with three courses and a drink.

Madrid – The Capital That Never Sleeps

Madrid is the third-largest city in the EU (after Berlin and Paris), with a population of over 3.3 million. For a student, this means: an endless cultural offering (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen – with an Abono Museos pass for 36 EUR a year), 4,500+ restaurants and bars (tapas in La Latina for 3–5 EUR per portion), 45,000+ Erasmus and international students annually, and sunny weather 80% of the year. Student districts: Malasaña (hipster, cafes, vintage shops), Lavapiés (multicultural, cheapest food in the city), Chamberí (quiet, classic, close to the center). Madrid’s nightlife is legendary: Spaniards go out for dinner at 10:00 PM, to a club at 1:00 AM, and return at 6:00 AM. As a student who might typically be home by 11:00 PM, be prepared for a cultural shift.

IE University organizes IE Startup Lab, hackathons, business case competitions, and regular networking events with the Madrid startup ecosystem. Area 31 on the IE campus is an incubator that has supported over 500 startups. Carlos III has over 100 student organizations, from debates and Model UN to sports, theater, and volunteering.

Barcelona – The City That Has It All

Barcelona is a phenomenon: beach, mountains, Gaudí’s architecture, food, culture, a thriving tech scene, and a mild climate all year round. The UPF campus in Ciutadella is a 10-minute walk from Barceloneta (a beach where students relax between classes). ESADE in Sant Cugat is more isolated but has its own modern campus with a library, gym, and coworking space.

Barcelona is Europe’s #3 startup hub (after London and Berlin). MWC (Mobile World Congress) is held here annually. Companies like Glovo (delivery), Wallapop (marketplace), Typeform (SaaS), Factorial (HR tech) are headquartered in Barcelona and actively recruit UPF and ESADE students for internships. Student districts: Gràcia (charming, local, cafes in the square), Poble Sec (cheaper, near Montjuïc), Eixample (upscale, Passeig de Gràcia). Prices are higher than in Madrid, especially rent, but still 2–3 times cheaper than London.

Salamanca – The Quintessence of Spanish Studies

Salamanca is something entirely different from Madrid or Barcelona. It’s a city that exists for students: 30,000 out of 170,000 inhabitants. Plaza Mayor in Salamanca is one of Europe’s most beautiful squares; in the evenings, students sit on the steps, play guitar, and drink tinto de verano for 2 EUR. Living costs are absurdly low: a room for 200–350 EUR, dinner in the city for 8 EUR, beer for 1.50 EUR. Salamanca is also considered the place where the purest Spanish is spoken. If you truly want to master the language, there’s no better place.

Career Prospects – The Startup Scene and Beyond

Let’s be honest: Spain historically had a poor reputation for youth employment. Unemployment among those under 25 exceeded 30% between 2012–2015. But this narrative is fundamentally outdated today for graduates of English-taught programs from top universities. The unemployment rate among IE University graduates is below 5% within 3 months of graduation. ESADE graduates show similar figures. Even graduates of public UC3M and UPF have significantly better prospects than the national average, thanks to the quality of their programs and their locations in Madrid/Barcelona.

The startup scene is a true game-changer. Barcelona and Madrid are in the top 10 European startup ecosystems (Startup Heatmap Europe 2025). Companies like Cabify (transport), Glovo (delivery, acquired by Delivery Hero for over 2 billion EUR), Wallapop (marketplace), Jobandtalent (HR tech, valued over 2 billion USD), Factorial (HR SaaS), Typeform (online forms) – all are headquartered in Spain and actively recruit graduates from IE, ESADE, UPF, and UC3M. IE University has one of the highest entrepreneurship rates among European business schools: over 15% of BBA graduates start their own company within 5 years of graduation.

Consulting and finance also have a strong presence. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain operate offices in Madrid and regularly recruit from IE and ESADE. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley have Madrid offices focusing on Iberian and Latin American markets. Santander, BBVA, and CaixaBank (Spain’s three largest banks) consider IE and ESADE their primary target schools. And Inditex (owner of Zara), headquartered in Arteixo, recruits graduates from Spanish universities for its global management programs.

Key information for EU citizens: as EU citizens, you have the full right to work in Spain without an additional visa or permit. Zero formalities: you finish your studies, get a job offer, and start working. You simply need to register with the local council (empadronamiento) and obtain an NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) – a formality that takes a few days. This is a fundamental advantage over post-Brexit UK, where the Graduate Route visa has limited validity and requires additional conditions.

If you’re planning to apply and need to prepare for exams, check out prepclass.io for TOEFL/IELTS with AI feedback and okiro.io for Digital SAT preparation (especially useful if you’re aiming for IE University or ESADE).

Summary – Why Consider Spain?

Spain is probably Europe’s most underrated study destination for international students. The combination of public universities with tuition fees of 680–3,000 EUR per year, private business schools in Europe’s top 10, low living costs, the right to work as an EU citizen, and a lifestyle that simply makes life better – it’s an offer that’s hard to refuse.

If you’re interested in business and entrepreneurship, IE University in Madrid and ESADE in Barcelona are universities on par with LSE and CBS, but in a better climate and with lower living costs. If you’re looking for a solid public university for a fraction of the UK price, Carlos III de Madrid and Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona offer an education comparable to the University of Amsterdam or Maastricht. And if you want to truly immerse yourself in Spanish culture and master the language for pennies, Salamanca awaits.

Next Steps

1. Check requirements (decide whether you’re aiming for private universities: IE, ESADE – rolling admission, apply from October; or public ones: UNEDasiss credential, apply from February)
2. Prepare for exams: IELTS/TOEFL on prepclass.io, SAT on okiro.io (if you’re aiming for IE/ESADE)
3. Convert your high school diploma: use our guide to converting results and register with UNEDasiss
4. Compare options: read our guides on studying in the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, and Italy
5. Start looking for accommodation (the earlier, the better, especially in Barcelona)