After completing their secondary education, students are provided with various educational options and programmes. Students can access these if they have passed their university entrance exams, which vary significantly by region and are governed by the LOMLOE (Organic Law Amending the Organic Law of Education).

There are 76 universities in Spain, of which 50 are public and the rest private. While universities exist in many towns, most are concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. The universities in Madrid provide a variety of study alternatives. Therefore, students who want to study law, political science, and other programmes prefer to attend there.

Higher Education Institute

In Spain, higher education is constantly expanding. International students are drawn to the country because of the top-notch educational system and affordable housing and tuition. More courses are being taught in English than in past years, particularly in marketing, tourism, journalism, economics, and communication. Additionally, most Master's degree courses are taught in English as the nation looks to expand internationally. IELTS completion with a minimum score of 6.0 in each component is required for most English-taught programmes.

Preparatory Programmes in Spain

For applicants 17 years of age and older, many universities in Spain offer a Pre-Bachelor Foundation Programme. This programme aids overseas students, with less than 12 years of education, in bringing their knowledge up to par with Spanish students who attend school for 12 years.

To enrol in preparatory programs in Spain students require:

• Proof of language proficiency in English (IELTS) or Spanish (DELE); 
• a high school certificate that enables them to enrol in a university in the country.

Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate studies in Spain:

A bachelor's degree is typically completed in four years, while degrees in medicine and architecture can take up to five years. In their final year, students prepare a thesis and present their work before a commission to be publically defended.

A Masters Degree typically lasts 1-2 years and comprises 180 ECTS. Masters degrees are classified into two types:

• A professional degree that focuses on a large amount of theory.
• A research degree that entails doing laboratory experiments and research. 

A PhD takes three years to complete. The studies are organised into two parts here: theoretical and research, with the second level including preparing a PhD dissertation. Although there is no time limit for writing a PhD dissertation, students are expected to complete it on average in 3-4 years.

Spain's Tuition Fees:

Tuition costs in Spanish institutions are calculated using the Pay-Per-Credit model, which makes it variable with each credit and allows students to enrol for the second and third time in the same programme. The Spanish General Assembly for University Policy sets the minimum and maximum fees. Here is an estimated cost structure for overseas students depending on courses and universities:

Public Universities

Tuition prices at public colleges differ depending on the degree. They can vary between 150 EUR and 3,500 EUR for a Bachelors Degree programme and 300 - 3,500 EUR for a Masters Degree programme.

Each school is free to charge whatever tuition rate suits its overseas students.

Private Universities

Spanish private universities are free to determine their tuition rates however they see fit. However, the annual tuition is typically at most 20,000 EUR. Some fields, such as an MBA, would cost students more than 30,000 EUR annually.  

Disciplines with the lowest Tuition Fees

The following fields have the lowest tuition costs for Bachelors degrees:   

• Law
• Engineering
• Social Science
• Physics

The following fields have the least expensive Masters degree tuition costs:

• Social Science
• Humanities
• Biology
• Chemistry

Tuition Fees at Spain's Top Universities

• Universitat Internacional de Catalunya: 1,350 – 9,000 EUR/year
• Pompeu Fabra University: 1,660 – 11,575 EUR/year
• University of Navarra: 8,200 – 34,300 EUR/year

Employment Opportunities after the completion of the degree

International students are frequently interested in working part-time while pursuing a degree in Spain. Part-time work helps them pay for their living needs while supporting their schooling. International students with student visas can work 20 hours weekly during classes. Students are prohibited from working during the term if part-time employment interferes with academic performance.

Only those students on a student visa are permitted to work in Spain. Part-time job ends when the student visa expires. Only college students with legitimate work permits issued by employers will be allowed to work in the country.

Obtaining employment in Spain after receiving a graduate degree is feasible for international students with a "post-study work visa" granted for a year. An application for a post-study work visa should be submitted sixty days before a student visa expires. Students must use this year to establish an employment contract before applying for a work permit because they are not permitted to work during this time.

Following are some guidelines for international students looking for employment:

• Finding employment is challenging for an overseas student because employers in the area prefer to hire locals with experience.
• The Spanish Consulate in the student's home country must issue them with a work permit.
• An international student can secure a university internship.
• The ability to speak and understand Spanish is advantageous while applying for jobs.