University in Spain: language certificates, entry to public universities and fees

Is Spanish required?

Older guides carry general statements such as "most master's programs are in English, most bachelor's programs are in Spanish". We could not find an official number that confirms this. We suggest you check the language of the program and the required level on each program's own page.

For those who want a Spanish certificate, Instituto Cervantes holds the DELE exam in 2027 in February, April, May, July, September, October and November. The sessions that offer all levels are 22 May and 13 November 2027. Not every center opens every session, so we suggest you ask the centers in Istanbul and Ankara separately.

Two separate routes for a bachelor's

A student who wants to enter a public university first gets the Turkish high school diploma recognized as equal to the Spanish Bachillerato (homologación). Then UNEDasiss issues a document showing the admission grade. With high school grades only, this grade can reach at most 6 points. A student who wants to raise the grade takes the PCE exams, and the grade is calculated out of 14.

The UNEDasiss application is open every year from 4 February to 1 December. The PCE exams in Spain in 2026 were held on 25 to 29 May and 2 to 8 September. The 2027 dates have not been published yet.

Private universities admit students in their own rounds. At IE University, round 1 closes on 6 November 2026, round 2 on 15 January 2027 and round 3 on 5 March 2027.

Tuition fees: residence status makes a difference

At public universities in Madrid, a student who is not an EU citizen and has no residence status pays a higher per-credit rate. A student stay permit does not count as residence. The rule is different in Asturias and Catalonia. So we suggest you check the tuition fee separately for each city and university.

A bachelor's at a public university is 240 ECTS, and you take 60 credits a year. So it takes four years for a full-time student.

Visa, funds to show and working while studying

For study longer than 90 days, you get a student visa (visado de estudios) from the Spanish consulate. For each month of stay, you show funds equal to 100 percent of IPREM. IPREM is €600 a month in 2026, so for a nine-month school year this comes to €5,400. We suggest you check the consulate's current list before applying.

Under the Foreigners Regulation that came into force in 2025, a higher education student can work up to 30 hours a week. A separate work permit is not needed for this. Language courses are outside this rule.

A student who completes a program at bachelor's level or above can get a 24-month residence permit to look for work or start a business. This permit cannot be extended. You apply within 60 days before the study permit ends.

For details, see our Spain page.