In today’s competitive academic environment, many students hope to attend a well-regarded university abroad. Spain is a popular option for international students because it has many internationally recognized universities and a growing range of programs taught fully or partly in English.
Spain’s university system includes dozens of public and private universities, and many institutions ask applicants to prove the language level needed for their chosen program. Requirements vary by university, level, and program, so students should always confirm the current requirement on the official admissions page before applying.
The TOEFL iBT is an English-language test used by universities worldwide. ETS states that the TOEFL iBT measures the academic English skills students use in lectures, research, and classroom discussions: reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT reports use the updated 1-6 scale, with comparable 0-120 scores still shown during the transition period. Because many university pages still list older 0-120 scores, the examples below use those comparable scores when they appear on official university pages.
The article below highlights selected universities and programs in Spain that accept TOEFL scores.
TOEFL Scores Accepted at Spanish Universities
There are several renowned Spanish universities that accept international students with TOEFL scores. Since most official pages set English-language requirements by program rather than by institution, the table below lists TOEFL iBT examples found on current official university pages.
| Institution Name | TOEFL iBT Score Found on Official Page | Level or Program Note |
|---|
| University of Barcelona | 72-94 | The MSc in International Business lists TOEFL iBT 72-94 for B2 English; other University of Barcelona programs may set different requirements. |
| Autonomous University of Barcelona | 78 | Selected Study Abroad courses taught in English list TOEFL 78 as a B2 equivalent. |
| Universidad Carlos III de Madrid | 72-94 | English-taught postgraduate programs generally list TOEFL iBT 72-94 as the B2 range. |
| Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya | 72 | Listed for selected English-taught master’s programs, including the SAHC master’s program. |
| IE University | 72 | IE University’s general English-language certificate page lists TOEFL iBT 72; applicants should confirm any program-specific rules. |
| Esade Business School | 70-100 for bachelor’s programs; 100 for MSc programs | Requirements vary by bachelor’s program; Esade MSc programs list TOEFL iBT 100. |
| University of Granada | 87 | Listed for the GEMMA master’s program language requirement. |
1. University of Barcelona
Established in 1450, the Universitat de Barcelona is a multidisciplinary university with a long academic tradition and strong research activity. The University of Barcelona offers a wide range of programs across the humanities, sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and other fields.
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, the University of Barcelona is listed at #=165 globally and is the top-ranked Spanish university in that ranking. It continues to be one of Spain’s most internationally visible public universities.
The university accepts TOEFL for some programs, but there is no single institution-wide TOEFL score for all international applicants. For example, the MSc in International Business lists TOEFL iBT 72-94 as a B2 English requirement, while other master’s programs may set different scores.
2. Autonomous University of Barcelona
Our second recommendation for a university that accepts TOEFL scores is the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, or Autonomous University of Barcelona, a leading Spanish public university. It is known for its international outlook, research activity, and broad academic offer.
According to the university’s update on the QS World University Rankings 2027, UAB is ranked #211 worldwide and third in Spain. For selected Study Abroad courses taught in English, UAB asks non-native English speakers to prove a B2 level, including a TOEFL score of 78.
3. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M)
Our third choice is Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a public university with a strong international orientation and a broad range of degree programs. It offers many English-taught undergraduate and graduate options and has developed partnerships across Europe and beyond.
UC3M is part of the YUFE alliance, one of the European University alliances selected by the European Commission. For English-taught postgraduate programs that require proof of B2 English, UC3M lists TOEFL iBT scores in the 72-94 range. Some applicants may be exempt, such as native English speakers or students who completed a previous degree fully in English.
4. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) is one of Spain’s major public universities for engineering, architecture, technology, science, and related fields. Its official facts and figures list more than 25,000 bachelor’s students, more than 5,000 master’s students, and more than 2,000 doctoral students.
UPC has a strong position in technical education and research, with programs in fields such as engineering, construction, architecture, computer science, and applied sciences. For some English-taught master’s programs, such as the SAHC master’s program, non-native English-speaking applicants can meet the language requirement with a TOEFL iBT score of at least 72.
5. IE University
IE University is an internationally oriented private university in Spain. It offers programs through several schools, including business, law, technology, architecture and design, and politics, economics, and global affairs.
IE University is authorized by the relevant Spanish authorities to award official and private degrees. Its current English-language certificate page lists TOEFL iBT 72 as the minimum score for English proficiency, while also noting that TOEFL scores must be valid and less than two years old. Applicants should always check whether their specific degree program has additional requirements.
6. ESADE Business School
Esade is a well-known business school in Spain with a strong international profile, a focus on student development, and close connections with the business community. In the Financial Times 2026 Executive Education ranking, Esade Executive Education ranked #5 for Open Programs and #13 for Custom Programs.
Esade offers master’s programs and bachelor’s programs open to students from around the world. For MSc programs, Esade lists TOEFL iBT 100 as the required English score for applicants who need to provide proof of English proficiency. At the bachelor’s level, TOEFL requirements vary by program, with some bilingual programs listing lower TOEFL scores and several English-taught programs listing TOEFL iBT 100.
7. Universidad de Granada
The University of Granada is a public university in southern Spain with a long academic history. Founded in 1531, it is based in Granada and also has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla.
From the humanities and social sciences to health sciences, engineering, and business-related fields, the University of Granada offers a broad range of programs for Spanish and international students. TOEFL requirements are program-specific. For example, the GEMMA master’s program lists a TOEFL iBT score of at least 87 as one accepted way to prove English proficiency.
Many Spanish institutions accept English as the language of instruction for selected bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, especially in internationally oriented degrees. Because TOEFL requirements vary by program, international students should always check the current admissions page for the exact degree they plan to apply to.
We hope this article points out Spanish universities that accept TOEFL scores effectively. You can also find more information on different European universities and scholarship opportunities on the Study in Spain and Available Programs for International Students!
