Located in southwestern Europe, Spain is the continent’s fourth-largest country by area. It borders Portugal, France, Andorra, and Morocco through Spain’s North African territories of Ceuta and Melilla. Its capital and largest city is Madrid. As of April 1, 2026, Spain’s population was about 49.7 million.
Castilian Spanish is the official language of Spain. Catalan/Valencian, Galician, Basque, and Aranese are co-official in specific autonomous communities, and English is widely studied and used in international settings. Catholicism remains the largest religious affiliation, while Islam, Judaism, Protestant Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions are also practiced.
As for education in Spain, it begins with non-compulsory Infant Education, followed by Primary Education, which lasts six years. Compulsory Secondary Education then follows from ages 12 to 16, after which students may continue to upper secondary education, vocational training, or university studies.
Thomas H. Davenport and DJ Patil wrote in a Harvard Business Review article from 2012 that data scientist was the “sexiest job of the 21st century.” Their 2022 follow-up noted that the role remained in strong demand, and Spanish institutions continue to offer several data science-related programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and professional levels.
Below, we list some of the notable schools in Spain for data science.
Top Schools Offering Data Science in Spain
1. Barcelona School of Economics
Barcelona School of Economics (BSE) was founded in 2006 as an institution for scientific cooperation between four academic units. It was formerly known as the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics (Barcelona GSE) and adopted its current name in 2021.
The school specializes in economics, finance, data science, and the social sciences. It offers master’s degrees, executive education, summer and winter school programs, and in-company training. BSE has two campus locations: Ciutadella Campus and Bellaterra Campus.
At BSE’s Data Science Center, students can pursue a nine-month, full-time Master’s Degree in Data Science taught in English. The degree includes two specialized programs: Data Science Methodology and Data Science for Decision Making. The center also offers intensive short programs and in-company training.
2. University of Barcelona
Regarded as one of Spain’s leading and oldest universities, the University of Barcelona is a public institution with more than 550 years of history. The university has 17 faculties and 10 affiliated centers across seven campuses in Barcelona and nearby cities.
The university welcomes more than 10,500 international students each year and offers a broad range of official programs, UB-specific degrees, and doctoral programs.
For data science, the university offers the official Master in Fundamental Principles of Data Science, a one-year, 60-ECTS, face-to-face program taught in English through the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. The university also lists related lifelong-learning options, including Big Data & Data Science programs.
3. Barcelona Technology School
Barcelona Technology School (BTS) specializes in digital industry-related programs. Its full-time master’s programs are taught in English and are available on campus or online, with a typical duration of nine months.
BTS also offers executive master’s programs, including part-time options taught in English and designed for professionals. The school’s programs emphasize practical, project-based learning and connections with the digital industry.
For data science, BTS offers the Master in A.I. and Data Solutions. The program is full-time, taught in English, lasts nine months, carries 60 ECTS credits, and is available on campus or online.
4. University of Valencia
Famous for being a leading Spanish center of excellence, the University of Valencia (UV) is a public university established in 1499. Its centers and faculties are spread across the university’s main campuses in Blasco Ibáñez, Burjassot-Paterna, and Tarongers, along with other locations.
UV is also active in research and offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies through numerous departments, centers, and research institutes.
UV’s School of Engineering offers both a Degree in Data Science and a Master’s Degree in Data Science. The bachelor’s degree is a four-year, 240-credit, face-to-face program taught in Spanish and Valencian. The master’s degree is a two-year, 90-credit, face-to-face program taught in Spanish.
5. EU Business School
EU Business School is a private business school that has been educating future business leaders since 1973. Formerly European University, it adopted the EU Business School name in 2014. It has campuses in Barcelona, Geneva, and Munich, as well as a Digital Campus, and its Barcelona campus opened in 1989.
The school holds a 5-Star overall rating from QS Stars and appears in several business school and MBA rankings. It also lists international partners such as Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and Stamford International University.
EU Business School in Barcelona offers a Master in Business Analytics & Data Science. The program is taught in English, lasts one year, comprises 60 ECTS credits over three terms, and has start dates in October, January, and March. Current listed tuition is €5,450 per term, with a €200 application fee and a €630 business plan fee.
Apart from studies, Spain is known for its culture, history, and tourism. Popular attractions include the Royal Palace of Madrid, La Concha, the Sagrada Família, Plaza Mayor, and the City of Arts and Sciences. A visit also gives students the chance to try Spanish dishes and foods such as paella Valenciana, gazpacho, jamón, albóndigas, and churros.
We hope this article on the best schools for data science in Spain was helpful. Check out the Study in Spain and Available Data Science Programs for International Students pages to find out how you can study abroad.
