Study in Spain: where, how and how much it costs

Wednesday October 13th, 2021

Spain is one of the most comfortable countries for receiving high-quality European education, as well as relaxing and enjoying a good climate and sea. In Spain, teachers treat pupils and students of any age with respect and try to unleash everyone’s potential. You can get a student visa and go to study in Spain at any age: 30, 40, 50 and even 60 years old.

In this article we will tell you how to go to study in Spain, how much it costs study in Spain, is it possible to study for free and which educational institution to choose.

How and how long do you study at school in Spain?

Let’s talk about how and how long they study at school in Spain. In Spain, secondary education is completed from 6 to 15 years of age – it is compulsory for both children of citizens of the country and non-residents. In general, secondary education is divided into primary, middle and high school – the latter begins at age 15 and lasts until age 18, but is no longer compulsory, as it is preparation for entering university. We will tell you below about how to go to study in Spain after school.

It is interesting that in Spain there is no concept of “kindergarten” – instead there is the first stage of preschool education – Educación Infantil. It, in turn, is divided into two more steps:

for children from 0 to 3 years old – the so-called Guardería, an analogue of our nurseries;
from 3 to 6 years – preparation for school (Preescolar), when children already go to the same building as secondary school students, but the learning process itself is more similar to kindergarten than to school.
from 6 years old Primary school has already started. This stage, unlike the previous one, is mandatory. Therefore, how many years to study at school in Spain is decided by students together with their parents.

Based on our experience and clients’ stories about how their children study in a Spanish school, everyone notes that Russian students are treated very well, their classmates are friends with them, and the teachers help them with their studies. It is not uncommon for teachers to provide additional instruction to foreign students who do not know Spanish, and even go with them to some classes to help with translation.

How to move to school in Spain

There are three types of schools in Spain: private, semi-public and public. In Spanish schools you can study for free, but you will still have school expenses.

Public schools (colegios municipales)

Children of Spanish citizens and foreigners can study in Spanish public schools for free. Parents pay separately for food, transportation, textbooks and extracurricular activities. The main requirement to get into public schools is to have a Spanish residence permit, which requires you to be given a place in the school.

Semi-public schools (colegios concertados)

Such schools receive funding from the Catholic Church or the municipality on the one hand, and on the other hand, part of the cost of education is covered by parents. Therefore, to study in Spain in such schools, you need to pay 100-120 euros/month. Transport, dining and extracurricular activities are also paid additionally. Semi-public schools are very popular among Russians: the quality of education and discipline in them is better than in free schools, but the cost is much lower than in private ones.

In semi-public Spanish schools, children study in Spanish and also learn the regional dialect. The only disadvantage of these schools is that they are difficult to get into. The number of places is limited and there is often competition for entry. Some wait their turn for several years. However, it’s worth it.

Private schools (colegios privados)

Private schools have the highest level of education, discipline is developed, and students wear uniforms. A month of study at a private school costs on average 400-800 euros per month.

Private schools in Spain are equipped with everything necessary for the development of a child: there are various clubs, residences, swimming pools, courts, conservatories, canteens, hospitals, etc. Much attention is paid to sports, children are taught to play professional tennis and football. Children from other countries are sent to private schools unaccompanied by their parents. Children in Spain study and live in the same school.

Foreigners, when choosing schools in Spain where their children will study, they give preference to international schools with instruction in English or in two languages at once.

In English-speaking Spanish schools, at the end of their studies, a child can choose the A-level exam, which is an entrance exam to British universities.

Russian parents often send their children to study in Spain for 2-3 years of high school in preparation for entering university.

Where to study in Spain: higher education

Where to study in Spain? You can study in Spain for a bachelor’s, master’s or postgraduate degree.

Spanish education is of very high quality, and the European diploma is valued in many countries around the world. At the same time, the cost of higher education in Spain is significantly lower than in other European countries, and the level of teaching is the same.

In Spain there is no opportunity to study for free, even for the Spaniards themselves. There are universities where the cost of education for foreigners is higher than for citizens of the country. For example, in Madrid universities the cost for foreigners is 2 times higher than for Spaniards.

The most popular specializations worth studying in Spain are: hospitality, tourism, sports management, design, medicine.

In our company, we will help you choose a suitable study program at a higher education institution in Spain:

Подбор программы обучения в Испании для высшего образования

Where to go to study in Spain after school

To enroll in a university in Spain after school, you need to pass an entrance exam of 2 levels.

First level – general, it includes the subjects Spanish language and literature, history of Spain and a foreign language, usually English.
Second level – optional. You can take from one to 4 exams to improve your GPA. Preparation for admission usually takes about a year.

To go to study in Spain, you can also transfer to the 2nd or 3rd year or go to a university through an exchange program.

Cost of bachelor’s degree in public universities:

Universities of Valencia and Alicante – approximately 1000 € per year.
Universities of Barcelona – 1600 € per year.
Universities of Malaga – 750-800 € per year.

Study in Spain for a master’s degree

To enroll in a master’s program, you do not need to pass exams; the student must only confirm their level of proficiency in Spanish or English. Therefore, going to Spain to study for a master’s degree may be the best option.

The main requirement: a master’s degree in Spain must be similar to the program of the university where the student studied previously. If this is some kind of related specialty, then you may need to take some additional subjects. Requirements vary from university to university.

The cost of a year of master’s study depends on the region and the prestige of the university. The difference between the cost of private and public universities can differ tenfold. It is possible to study for a master’s degree in Spain for free only if the student has won a grant or scholarship, but this is not a budget-funded place as such – it is considered that the scholarship covers the amount of tuition in part or in full.

The cost of studying for a master’s degree in Spain, for example, at the University of Barcelona, will be 1500-1800 € per year, and programs in English – up to 15 thousand € per year.

Where to study in Spain: language schools

If a foreigner has the goal of going to study in Spain, getting a student residence, and then a residence permit, then he needs to choose the right language courses.

A language school in Spain, where a foreigner plans to study the language, must meet several requirements: have accreditation from the Cervantes Institute and provide a workload of at least 20 hours per week. Schools should have the opportunity to learn Spanish from scratch or brush up on Spanish before entering university.

The duration of study can be extended over 2-3 years, provided that the workload per week is at least 20 hours – this is necessary to obtain a student visa. How long to study in Spain at a language school needs to be decided right away, because a student visa is only valid for a year, then it needs to be extended.

You can view all accredited schools and study their conditions on the website of the Cervantes Institute. On the website you can select a school according to your criteria: level, workload per week, province, dates. It is easy to enroll in a language school in Spain: there are no tests or exams when submitting documents.

Tuition costs range from 120–200 euros per week. That is, a year of study will cost approximately 5000–7000 € on average. Many schools also provide housing options.

It is not possible to study in language schools in Spain for free; all schools are paid.

Alegria will help you choose the right language school and courses for studying in Spain:

Подбор языковых курсов в Испании

Where to study in Spain: preparatory courses for entering a university

To score a sufficient number of points and enter a prestigious state university in Spain, you need to pass a competition. Spanish schoolchildren spend their last 2-3 years at school only preparing for entrance exams. At the same time, their school curriculum differs from the Russian one.

In addition to the required subjects, Russian students must know Spanish well: courses and exams are held in Spanish.

Studying in Spain for preparatory courses can take 3–9 months. We recommend choosing courses that last at least 7 months, so you can immediately obtain a student visa and then simply renew it in Spain.

Where to study in Spain: MBA (Master of Business Administration)

MBAs in Spain are ranked among the best in the world and among the best in Europe. There are many business schools in the country that provide quality training for future leaders, and all programs are conducted in English. However, for those who want to continue building a career in Spain, training is also available in Spanish.

In Spain, you can also study specialized MBAs, for example, in the field of hospitality or tourism management.
MBA master’s programs are designed for entrepreneurs, employees of large companies with management experience, or future managers. You can enroll in an MBA program in Spain immediately after completing your master’s degree at the university, but some institutions have a mandatory requirement of 1-3 years of work experience.

All business schools are located mainly in Madrid and Barcelona. The cost of programs varies from 13 to 40 thousand euros.

How to get a student visa and go to study in Spain

Long-term student visa to study in Spain can be obtained directly in the country or at the Spanish consulate in the country of current residence. Typically, a student goes to study in Spain and then extends his residence without leaving the country.

In general terms, before submitting documents to the consulate you must:

find an educational institution suitable for a student visa, select a course, pay for tuition and obtain confirmation of enrollment;
find student housing in Spain: this can be a student dormitory, room or apartment, it is necessary to conclude a contract and provide it upon submission;
obtain health insurance with full coverage from a company accredited in Spain;
confirm the availability of funds for living in the country for the period of study: this can be a certificate from work, a sponsorship letter or a bank account statement confirming the presence of a sufficient amount in it. In 2021 it is 100% IPREM, that is 564.9 € per month. The money can then be withdrawn from the account.