Most people know Barcelona for its football clubs and tourist attractions. It is also home to several universities. If you want to study in a large Mediterranean city with a wide range of academic options, Barcelona is worth considering.
Located on the northeastern coast of Spain, Barcelona had around 1,732,000 residents as of January 1, 2025. Its universities attract students from around the world.
In this article, we list seven universities in and around Barcelona that international students can consider. Tuition varies by program, degree level, nationality, and residence status, so students should confirm the latest fees on each university’s official website before applying. Let’s take a look at these affordable universities in Barcelona for international students.
Affordable Schools in Barcelona for International Students
1. University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona or UB) is a public university founded in 1450. It has 16 faculties across six campuses, the Barcelona Science Park, and nine affiliated centers. UB offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s and postgraduate courses, and doctoral programs.
Tuition depends on the chosen program and the student’s status. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UB is ranked #160 worldwide. Students should review the official program page and the available scholarship information before applying.
2. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (also known as the Autonomous University of Barcelona or UAB) is a public university created in 1968. Its main Bellaterra campus is in Cerdanyola del Vallès, outside central Barcelona. UAB has 57 departments and offers programs across a broad range of fields. It lists more than 65 doctoral programs.
Applicants should check the official page for their chosen degree because tuition and program details vary.
3. Pompeu Fabra University
- Admissions | Bachelor’s Tuition | Master’s Tuition | Scholarships
- Tuition Fees: €1,202.32-€1,237.70 (EU citizens, first-year bachelor’s) | €6,800.32-€7,022.30 (non-EU citizens who are not residents in Spain, first-year bachelor’s) | Most master’s programs: €1,302 (EU) or €5,749.80 (non-EU)
Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) is a public university founded in 1990. It operates across three campuses in Barcelona and covers eight disciplines. UPF received the Campus of International Excellence distinction in 2010.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, UPF lists 29 bachelor’s degree programs, 35 master’s degree programs, and nine doctoral programs. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UPF is ranked #265 worldwide and sixth among Spanish universities. Tuition depends on the program and the student’s status.
4. Polytechnic University of Catalonia
The Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech or UPC) is a public institution of research and higher education in engineering, architecture, sciences, and technology. Its current website lists 70 bachelor’s degrees, 100 master’s degrees, and 46 doctoral programs.
UPC’s website also lists 3,703 teaching and research staff. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, UPC is ranked #96 worldwide in Engineering and Technology and #19 in Architecture. Tuition depends on the degree, number of credits, and residence status.
5. Abat Oliba CEU University
- Admissions
- Tuition Fees: Program-dependent; for 2026-2027, first-year bachelor’s examples range from €3,375 for Philosophy to €10,995 for Business Management.
Abat Oliba CEU University is located in Barcelona and is one of the four universities in the CEU group. Its official website states that it has been training professionals for more than 50 years and that more than 15,000 students have studied in its classrooms. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields including law, political science, business, communication, education, and the humanities.
Tuition varies by program. The university’s website reports an overall graduate employability rate of 95.3% based on the AQU 2020 survey.
The universities listed above could be your gateway, as an international student, to a fulfilling career. If you already know the program you want to pursue, compare the official program pages carefully, including tuition, admission requirements, scholarship conditions, and the language of instruction. Then, choose the university that suits you best. All the best!
We hope this article on cheap universities in Barcelona was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Spain and Available Programs for International Students in Europe pages for more informative articles.
