Throughout the years, Spain has been successful in attracting international students to attend its universities. The charming fusion of its historic past and modern outlook outweighs the fact that its universities mostly use Spanish as the medium of instruction for their courses. One of the main reasons international students choose to enroll in universities in Spain is because of the opportunity to learn Spanish (the world’s second most-spoken language), add this new skill to their resume, explore the country’s significant role in religion and world history, experience the distinct European cuisine and Spanish hospitality, and acquire world-class education. Applying to a university in Spain can be simple if you have an idea of the required documents and timelines. Luckily, you have come to the right page as we have put together a comprehensive guide on how to apply to a university in Spain.

Table of Contents

1. What are the requirements for applying to Spanish universities?
2. Steps in Applying to a University in Spain

What are the requirements for applying to Spanish universities?

Applying to a university in Spain is different for some nationalities, such as Europeans and Chinese nationals. If you are seeking admission in a Spanish university for an undergraduate or first cycle program (bachelor’s degree), the first thing to accomplish is the recognition of your academic qualifications. You need to have your previous education assessed to make sure it is consistent with Spanish requirements. Refer below for the requirements, according to specific country classifications:

European and Chinese Students
For students from China and the European Union (EU) member-countries, university applications are coursed through the Spanish National University for Distance Education (SNUDE). The admission forms are available on the SNUDE website starting April. You will need to properly complete the form or the “Solicitud de Inscripcion”, and send it to the mailing address as indicated on the website. Together with your application, you also need to submit a certified copy of your transcript for the two previous years, passport copy, and a certification of your high school completion. A successful application to the SNUDE will give you a “Credencial de Accesso”, which you will submit to your selected Spanish university.

Other Nationalities
For students whose home countries are neither China nor an EU member, university applications start with the Spanish Embassy in your home country. You will need to ask for an evaluation of your academic qualifications so that you can pursue undergraduate studies in Spain. When you finally get the recognition, you will be given a “Volante Acreditavo”, which you will submit to your selected Spanish university. You will also be required to take an entrance exam, “Selectividad” or “Pruebas de Accesso”, at your university. This exam is an important part of your application as it will determine whether you will be offered a slot in the university you choose. The “Selectividad” has four test components, namely, text analysis, Spanish history or philosophy, foreign language, and individual subject. You may refer to the table below for a brief description of each part of the examination:

International Graduate Students
If you are an international student who wants to pursue a graduate or second cycle program (master’s degree) in a university in Spain, you will need to coordinate directly with your chosen graduate school for the admission process. Typically, you will be asked to submit the following:

• College diploma or certification of a bachelor’s degree
• Valid passport
• Transcript of records

All prospective international students in Spain should submit the required documents in Spanish. Hence, if your college diploma or transcript of records is in another language, make sure you have them translated to Spanish before submitting them with your application.

Steps in Applying to a University in Spain

Applying for admission to a Spanish university does not only entail securing and sending your documents to all institutions you wish to attend. Because this is a significant milestone in your professional and academic career, the application process should be done as meticulously as possible. A lot of decisions and difficult cost-benefit analyses should happen before you hit the Submit or Send button. Don’t worry though, Edarabia has got you covered. Since we want to make your study abroad experience a most fulfilling one, we have listed below the steps you need to take in sending your university admission applications.

1. Select a city in Spain where you would want to study. Yes, we know that you want to study in Spain. But it is a large country. Where specifically in Spain would you want to live and study in for at least a year? Choosing a city is an essential step in applying for admission because the learning environment affects your overall study abroad experience. You would want to study in a city where life is convenient for a foreigner like you, where education is at its best, and where your lifestyle does not need to change dramatically. To help you explore your options, check out our article on the Best Student Cities in Spain.
2. Once you have selected a city, the next step is to check the list of universities and their respective program offerings. You can check out the Best Universities in Spain to narrow your choices down. The article will give you an idea about each top university’s tuition fees, academic programs, curricula, ratings, and community reviews. In selecting a university, it is crucial to know if they have English-taught programs (unless you want to attend Spanish-taught programs), your field of interest, and available slots for international students.
3. As soon as you are done selecting a university (or you can have a shortlist of 2 to 3 universities to apply to), check out each university’s admission requirements for international applicants. They usually have it on their websites.
   The next step is to obtain a recognition of your academic qualifications. As stated above, you will need to register in the SNUDE if you are a citizen of an EU country or China. Otherwise, you will seek recognition from the Spanish Consulate nearest you. If you need to take the “Selectividad”, make arrangements for that as well.
4. All applications for the first cycle program in Spain will be through the UNEDasiss (University Application Service for International Students in Spain) System. You can start sending your application to universities while waiting for the issued credential from the UNEDasiss. In this case, the university will confirm your credentials with the UNEDasiss.
   Check if your chosen university needs language proficiency test scores for you to qualify in their study programs. For English, the most accepted exams are TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System). For Spanish proficiency, you will need to take either the DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) or the CELE (Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso).
5. Submit your application. Make sure you have completed all the requirements. You would also need to pay an application fee for each university you will send your forms to; thus, you have to submit to institutions which you really want to attend.
6. Universities in Spain have autumn and summer semesters. If you want to start your studies in the autumn, admissions open in June. If you want to start your studies in the summer, admissions open in July. You have to decide which semester you would like to enter for your first academic year in Spain, so you can plan on your application timeline. It is better to send in your application early to allow time for the release of admission results.
7. Once your application is successful and you have a Letter of Acceptance from a university, you can start applying for a Spanish student visa. For study programs that last for a maximum of 6 months, you only have to apply for the 180 Days Type D visa. For study programs that extend for more than 6 months, you have to obtain a Student Visa (Type D).
   Once you have an approved student visa, you can make travel arrangements to Spain. Up to 30 days after arrival, you will need to go to a local police station and apply for a student residence card. Check out our guide on How to Apply for a Student Visa in Spain for further information.

We hope you got useful information for your Spanish university admissions. Best of luck on your endeavor!