Why international students choose Spain
Spain combines public universities with low regulated fees and a student visa that lets you work part time from the start of a higher education course. Its post-study rules are also generous: graduates can stay for up to two years to look for a job or start a business.
What it costs
There is no single national tuition fee. Prices at public universities are set by each regional government, and universities can charge more to foreign students who are not resident in Spain. In Catalonia, for example, the 2025/26 price for a first-time bachelor’s credit is €17.69, and a master’s that does not lead to a regulated profession costs €19.37 a credit. The same official page says universities “may set the price for credits at any academic level for non-resident foreign students”, up to 100% of the cost, and that a student permit does not count as residence for the lower price (Study in Catalonia). Check the exact fee with your university.
We found no official government figure for living costs, so we do not give one.
The student visa and proof of funds
Non-EU students need a study visa, applied for at the Spanish consulate in their country. The core requirements are:
- Money: 100% of IPREM for each month of study. Universidad Complutense de Madrid states that in 2026 this equals €600 a month (UCM). The amount is lower if your accommodation is paid in advance, and family members need an extra 75% of IPREM for the first person and 50% for each additional one (Ministry of Inclusion).
- Health insurance: public, or private from an insurer authorised in Spain, valid for the whole stay (Spanish Consulate in Beijing).
- Proof of enrolment and payment of the visa fee. The consulate page does not give the fee.
Apply at least two months before your course begins. The consulate says it decides within one month once the study stay authorisation is approved (Spanish Consulate in Beijing).
Working while you study
Students in higher education can work as employees or self-employed for up to 30 hours a week without a separate permit, as long as the work does not interfere with their studies. Language course students do not get this automatically (UCM).
After you graduate
Graduates who studied at a Spanish higher education institution at EQF level 6 or above can apply for a job search or business start-up residence authorisation. It lasts 24 months and cannot be extended. You apply in the 60 days before your student authorisation expires, or within 90 days after. You must show 100% of IPREM a month again, and the authorisation itself does not let you work: once you find a suitable job, you apply for a work authorisation (Ministry of Inclusion, info sheet 20, updated September 2025).
Scholarships for Spain
The Spanish foreign ministry’s development agency runs MAEC-AECID scholarships, but they are narrow. For 2026/27 the Africa-Med Master programme funded an in-person master’s in Spain of up to 60 ECTS credits for permanent public sector staff from countries in Africa and the Middle East, with applications open from 2 to 15 July 2026 (Embassy of Spain in Gabon). Most international students will rely instead on scholarships from their own university or home government.
