Spain is a nation rich in history and culture, making it a major destination for both tourists and students. Its educational background is also as rich as its beautiful sites: the University of Salamanca, the oldest university in Spain, was founded in 1218, more than eight centuries ago.
If you dream of earning a degree in Spain but are not fluent in Spanish, many options are still available. Several universities offer English-taught programs and courses, which you can take while studying Spanish. This can make the transition easier for many international students.
In the guide below, we highlight universities in Spain with noteworthy English-taught study options.
Top Universities for English-taught Programs in Spain
1. University of Barcelona
The Universitat de Barcelona, or the University of Barcelona, is a large public university located in Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1450, it teaches more than 60,000 students each year.
Various subject areas are covered by the programs offered at the University of Barcelona, including humanities, sciences, health sciences, social sciences, engineering, and more. The institution describes itself as a national leader in teaching, research, and innovation, and it has been the only Spanish member of the League of European Research Universities since 2010.
The Universitat de Barcelona offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study options in English, as well as individual bachelor’s-level subjects taught in English. Some programs are taught entirely in English, while others include a portion of English-language instruction. Examples of bachelor’s degrees with English-language instruction include Bioinformatics, English Studies, International Business, Biomedical Engineering, Business Administration and Management, and Economics. English-taught master’s options include Economics, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Plant Biology, Genomics and Biotechnology, Public Policy, and Pure and Applied Logic.
2. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The Autonomous University of Barcelona, or Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, was created in 1968. It is among Spain’s leading public universities, with more than 40,000 students and a strong international profile.
The Autonomous University of Barcelona offers many English-language study opportunities, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, Ph.D. programs, lifelong learning programs, and more than 300 bachelor’s-level subjects taught in English.
Some of the institution’s English-taught undergraduate programs include Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics, Business Administration and Management, Contemporary History, Politics and Economics, Economics, English and Spanish, English Studies, and Primary Education. UAB also offers more than 80 English-taught master’s degrees, graduate diplomas, and specialization courses, including Advanced Genetics, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Specialized Economic Analysis, and Computer Vision. There are also more than 65 Ph.D. programs organized into arts and humanities, sciences, social and juridical sciences, health sciences, and engineering.
3. Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona)
The creation of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), or Pompeu Fabra University, can be traced to 1990. Since then, the institution has remained dedicated to its principles and objectives, training individuals with values and contributing to research. It has grown into seven schools, an engineering school, and eight departments.
The programs at Universitat Pompeu Fabra are centered on three areas: social sciences and humanities, health and life sciences, and ICT and communication sciences. UPF’s current academic portfolio includes 29 bachelor’s programs, 35 master’s programs, and nine doctoral programs, along with dozens of undergraduate and master’s programs offered in English.
The university offers eight English-taught bachelor’s programs: Audiovisual Systems Engineering; Computer Engineering; Global Studies; Industrial Technologies and Economic Analysis; International Business Economics; Laws, with King’s College London, and Law, with UPF; Telecommunications Network Engineering; and Mathematical Engineering in Data Science. At the master’s level, its programs are grouped into areas such as economic and business sciences, political and social sciences, communication, law, engineering, humanities and history, translation and language sciences, and medicine and life sciences. Doctoral students may choose from nine Ph.D. programs, including Biomedicine; Communication; Economics, Finance and Management; History; Humanities; Information and Communication Technologies; Law; Political and Social Sciences; and Translation and Language Sciences.
4. IE (Instituto de Empresa) University
Another one of the best English-taught universities in Spain is IE University, a private university whose roots go back to IE Business School, which opened in Madrid in 1973. It currently has campuses in Segovia and Madrid. IE Business School holds major international business accreditations, and IE University’s Bachelor in Business Administration page states that the program and IE Business School are accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. IE University also continues to rank highly for employability.
The university has seven learning pathways: business and management; design and architecture; finance, economics, and trade; law, international affairs, and public policy; leadership and talent development; marketing, communication, and sales; and science, technology, and data. These pathways help group related programs and subject areas, allowing you to decide on one that fits your career goals.
Many bachelor’s degree programs are available at IE University, including Business Administration, Economics, Applied Mathematics, International Relations, Behavior and Social Sciences, and Design. Master’s options include programs in management, finance, marketing and branding, business innovation and technology, sustainability, and related fields. IE Business School lists two doctorate options: Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) and Doctor in Management (Ph.D.); the Ph.D. program page specifies English as its language of instruction.
If Spain is your dream education destination and you have been wondering whether you can study without Spanish fluency, we hope this article has answered your questions. From the universities mentioned above, you can see that there are many English-taught options. Do not hesitate to start your application process!
We hope you found this article on the best English-taught universities in Spain informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Spain and Available Programs for International Students in Europe!
