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How to Apply to Universities in Spain

Q: Is an Apostille the same as notarization?

No. An Apostille is a specific certification issued by the competent authority in the document's country of origin (often a government ministry or court) that authenticates the document for use in countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention. Notarization is a separate step done by a notary public.

Q: What are the top cities for international students in Spain?

Madrid and Barcelona are the most popular, offering the widest range of programs and the largest international communities. Valencia, Seville, and Bilbao are excellent alternatives with lower living costs, strong universities, and vibrant culture.

Direct applications to Spanish public and private universities for international students.

Back to Spain

Application Route Direct to each university

Language Options Spanish & English

Legalization Apostille required

Visa Required Non-EU: Yes

Spain's public universities use a regional EvAU system for domestic students, but international applicants apply directly under a dedicated international admission pathway. Private universities like IE University and ESADE run rolling admissions throughout the year. The key preparation step is legalizing and translating your academic documents.

Research programs and universities

Use the Spanish university search at universidad.es and individual university websites. Madrid and Barcelona offer the widest range of programs. IE University, ESADE, and IESE are among Europe's top business schools with extensive English programs.

Legalize and translate your documents

All foreign academic documents must have an Apostille stamp (for countries in the Hague Convention) or full legalization (for non-Hague countries). Then have them officially translated into Spanish by a sworn translator (Traductor Jurado).

This step takes 4–6 weeks — start as early as possible, even before you submit applications.

Check homologation requirements

For enrollment at Spanish public universities, your foreign degree may need to be homologated (recognized as equivalent to a Spanish degree) by the Ministry of Education. This is not required for application but is needed before enrollment. The process takes several months.

Some universities allow conditional enrollment while homologation is pending.

Apply online to your chosen universities

Each Spanish public university has its own online admissions portal for international students. Private universities like IE accept applications via their own websites with rolling admissions. Submit your apostilled, translated documents with the application form.

Language test submission

Spanish-taught programs require DELE B2 or equivalent. English-taught programs require IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+. Private universities often accept internal placement tests.

Receive acceptance letter

Public university decisions come in July–August. Private university decisions vary by round, sometimes within 2–4 weeks of application. Some programs require an interview.

Apply for a student visa (non-EU)

Apply for a Spanish National Visa type D (Student) at the Spanish consulate or embassy. Required: acceptance letter, enrollment proof, financial means (€7,200/year), health insurance, accommodation proof, and clean criminal record.

Book the consulate appointment as soon as you get your offer — popular consulates have 6–8 week waits.

Obtain NIE and register in Spain

After arriving, obtain your NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) at a Comisaría de Policía. Then apply for a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE) as your residency card. Register your address (empadronamiento) at the local Ayuntamiento.