List of 22 Best Universities in Barcelona (2026 Fees)

With an estimated 1.6 million residents, Barcelona is Spain’s second most populous city and the capital city of Catalonia. Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade and cultural centres. Its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, and science reaches the farthest points of the globe.

Universities in Barcelona are a top choice for students who wish to explore the beauty and the lively culture of Barcelona.

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Table of Contents

• Facts about Universities in Barcelona
• Quick Facts about Barcelona

Facts about Universities in Barcelona

• Universities in Barcelona offer degree programs for undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate studies.
• Universities in Barcelona are categorized into public (público), private (privado), and semi-private (concertado).
• The education system in Barcelona, as with all cities in Spain, is consistent with the Bologna Process – a plan for members of the European Union and other non-EU countries on the standardisation of education requirements across the continent.
• Public universities in Barcelona maintain a positive reputation.
• Degree programs taken in universities take about 4 years. Medical degree programs in Barcelona take up to 6 years to finish.
• The University of Barcelona (UB) and the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) are the top universities in Barcelona known for their globally proficient education.
• Barcelona is also home to more than 30 international business schools and cultural centres where both local and international students can pursue higher education under the mentorship of some of the world’s top industry experts.
• Degree programs in Barcelona recognise ECTS credits. These credits are equivalent to a measure of lessons. With each course of 240 ECTS credits, 60 can be taken every year. If a student successfully acquires the 240 ECTS credits, he/she will finally get an academic grade for that particular subject.
• The most popular degree programs taught capably in Barcelona are economics, business, management and marketing, computer science, and cultural studies.
• A knowledge of Spanish is not a mandatory requirement for applying to a university in Barcelona. The Spanish language proficiency is only required for those programs taught using the Spanish language.
• The leading Spanish test accepted in Barcelona universities is the Diploma de Español Como Lengua Extranjera (DELE).
• English language programs require proficiency test scores.
• The accepted English proficiency tests are IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge Advanced.
• International students are allowed to have a part-time job provided that working hours are outside school hours. On holidays, international students may work full time.
• Living costs in Barcelona are affordable as compared to its European city counterparts.

Quick Facts about Barcelona

• Barcelona has the busiest and most expensive pedestrian street in Spain – the shopping mecca Portal de l’Àngeli.
• It is Spain’s most-visited city.
• This city is older than the city of Rome in Italy.
• Barcelona is the 4th most visited European country with about 8.5 million international tourists per year.
• Barcelona has 68 parks and 55 museums.
• It is a city ideal for biking.
• It is also considered as one of the friendliest cities when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
• Barcelona has some of the world’s best artificial beaches.
• Barcelona is home to the largest football stadium across Europe.
• History suggests that it is the originally planned location of the Eiffel Tower.

What else can be more perfect than studying in and exploring one of the most beautiful cities in the world? Share this article now with your friends!

Below is a comprehensive list of all universities in Barcelona. Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best university in Barcelona with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings.

Edarabia showcases all universities and colleges in Barcelona which can be filtered by courses and tuition fees. International students looking to get a degree in Barcelona can choose from a diverse range of programs and diplomas and obtain their Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhDs (or MBAs) from some of the top-rated institutions. Some universities also offer online courses through which students can apply for distance learning and get an online degree in certain fields.

Students who require financial aid can apply for scholarships in order to study higher education at a lower cost. Student visas and accommodation are also provided to students at many universities. There are study abroad and exchange programs offered in order to promote language development skills while giving students the opportunity to interact with other cultures around the world. Additionally, each university/college has ratings based on student reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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