The 7 best university cities in Spain

Endless study sessions in the library, time spent in the cafeteria, the stress of exams or the countless parties often leave us with indelible memories of university life.

It is important to carefully choose the university where you will spend so much time during the first stage of your adult life.With more than 80 universities, both public and private, present in almost every province, Spain offers a large number of study options.

If we add to this factors such as tuition fees, scholarships specific to each Autonomous Community, food costs or the university environment and social life, it is understandable that the search for the university city that best suits your preferences can reach biblical proportions.

In today’s article we have prepared a list of the 7 most recommended Spanish cities to live a university experience that you will remember until your retirement.

1. Valencia

Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, this city is the perfect synthesis between the great number of options offered by a big city and the tranquillity of life in a coastal city.

In Spain’s third largest city there are 50,000 university students who are divided between three public universities and two private centres, so the university offer is very wide and it will not be difficult for you to find the degree of your dreams.

Its pleasant climate, its proximity to cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, its atmosphere with its well-known Fallas and its excellent gastronomy, make it more than worthy of the first place on our list.

Public transport: holders of the Carné Jove (for young people aged between 14 and 30) can apply for the Abono Transporte Joven (Youth Transport Pass ) which costs €38.25 per month for zone A. A single ticket for travel within one zone costs €1.50.
Accommodation: Those who want to stay in a residence or a college in Valencia should be careful, as the monthly cost varies between €320 and €3,200. On the website of the Polytechnic University of Valencia you will find a list of the main residences in Valencia. If you prefer to rent a room in a shared apartment with other students, you can find rooms for around €300.
Academic offer: in addition to degrees such as Primary Education or Business Management, in Valencia you will find double degrees such as Human Nutrition and Dietetics + Nursing, Advertising and Public Relations + Audiovisual Communication.

2. Salamanca

This beautiful city in Castilla y León, located just over an hour from Portugal, could not be missing from our selection.

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It is home to the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest in Europe and is one of the most popular destinations among Erasmus students visiting our country.

More than 25,000 university students have chosen this comfortable and peaceful city to study at universities such as USAL (University of Salamanca), the Universidad Tecnológica or the Universidad Pontificia.

Public transport: although Salamanca is a size that allows you to get around comfortably on foot or by bike, you can travel on its bus network for €1.05 for a single ticket and €22.05 per month for the city bus card.
Accommodation: the price of a room in a shared flat is around €200 per month. There are also a large number of residences with affordable rents.
Academic offer: in Salamanca you will find a wide variety of study options. You can study courses such as Translation and Interpretation, Social Work, Labor Relations and Human Resources or Commercial Airline Pilot.

3. Oviedo

The University of Oviedo offers a wide variety of university courses in its curriculum. It is a small and quiet city that boasts of being the cleanest and second safest city in Spain.

Its geographical location will delight beach and mountain lovers. So, if you are looking to spend the next few years of your life in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature and enjoying the magnificent Asturian cuisine, Oviedo is your city.

Public transport: With the pedestrianisation of the historic city centre, cars are now banned from the old town. If you decide to travel by bus, you will have to pay €1.20 for a single ticket.
Accommodation: you can find rooms in shared apartments starting at €150 per month and rooms in residences and colleges for €360 per month.
Academic offering: Among the various study options available in the city, you will find classic courses such as Law, Tourism or Psychology or degrees in Industrial Electronic and Automatic Engineering, Product Design or Public Management and Administration.

4. Seville

It is one of the cities that attracts the most national and international students every year and it is not surprising, since it has a varied academic offering with prestigious centers such as the University of Seville or the Pablo Olavide University and an unrivaled social life and quality of life.

Public transport: the student card costs €190 from September to July or €19 per month. If you opt for a single-trip ticket for TUSSAM buses and trams, you will have to pay €1.40 per trip or €1.35 for a single ticket on the Seville metro.
Accommodation: rent for a room is around €300. If you choose a student residence or a college, prices range from €200 to €900 per month.
Academic offer: on the educaweb portal you can find double degrees in Psychology and Criminology, Bilingual Business Administration and Management + International Relations or degrees in Mechatronics and Robotics, Musical Creation and Production and even a degree in Flamenco.

5. Barcelona

The capital of Catalonia hardly needs an introduction. It is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for students and the millions of tourists who visit it every year.

Barcelona is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city located on the Mediterranean coast with around thirty universities and countless courses to choose from and an inimitable cultural life.

Public transport: For those under 25, a three-month public transport pass costs €80. If you already have an extra pass, you can travel unlimitedly on the Barcelona public transport network for €40 a month. A single ticket costs €2.40.
Accommodation: Finding a room for less than €400 a month is not exactly child’s play, but staying in a shared flat is usually cheaper than in student residences or halls of residence.
Academic offering: In Barcelona you will find a wide range of degrees to complete your studies. Find the degree that best suits your aspirations among degrees as diverse as Literary Studies, Mathematics, Bioinformatics or Arabic and Hebrew Studies.

6. Bilbao

If you are looking for a different experience, Bilbao is made for you. The cultural, gastronomic and leisure offer of this city make it an ideal destination for lovers of nature and good food.

You should, however, bear in mind that its high quality of life is accompanied by equally high prices.

The University of Bilbao is part of the Basque University System, so you should expect to find some differences with respect to studies in the rest of the country.

Public transport: Barik card holders can top up their balance up to €90 and travel in one zone for €0.93 or in two for €1.10.
Accommodation: while room rentals range from €350 to €600, residence rentals range from €300 to €700.
Academic offering: you can find degrees in Marine Science, Trilingual Primary Education, Nautical Science and Maritime Transport, Environmental Engineering or Business Management.

7. Madrid

The country’s capital has more than 3 million inhabitants, which explains, along with other factors, the large number of university training centres to choose from.

Although it does not have a sea, the nightlife, the varied cultural offer with museums such as the Reina Sofía and the Prado Museum and its immense parks make Madrid a fantastic option for those who want to spend little time at home.

Public transport: If you are under 26, you can travel on Madrid’s public transport network for €20 per month. A standard 30-day pass costs €54.60 and a single ticket costs €1.50.
Accommodation: Rooms in shared flats cost an average of €400 per month, and rooms in residences cost between €400 and €1,000 per month.
Academic offering: choose from the countless study options available in Madrid. You can choose between degrees such as Protocol and Event Organization, Software Development Engineering and Journalism or double degrees in Performing Arts + Audiovisual Communication or Law + Security.