Make Madrid your choice
Madrid has the highest population of university students in Spain and achieves one of the top positions in Europe
Study in Madrid
The Community of Madrid lies at the centre of Spain, wich is the second largest country in the European Union. It hosts 6 public universities (Alcalá, Autónoma, Carlos III, Complutense, Politécnica and Rey Juan Carlos), 11 private universities (Alfonso X el Sabio, Antonio de Nebrija, Camilo José Cela, CEU-San Pablo, CUNEF Universidad, ESIC Universidad, Europea de Madrid, Francisco de Vitoria, Internacional de la Empresa, Internacional Villanueva and Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UDIMA), and 1 catholic university, Pontificia Comillas), as well as the headquarters of Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED).
In the 2022-2023 academic year, 353.275 university students were enrolled in the Community of Madrid as follows:
- 204.074 in public universities.
- 14.106 in affiliated centres linked to public universities.
- 97.897 in private and catholic universities.
- 7.701 in the Open University of Madrid (UDIMA)
- 29.497 in the headquarters of Universidad Nacional de Eduación a Distancia (UNED), sited in Madrid.
Many of those university students come not only from other spanish regions but also from abroad. Our foreign students are from Europe and Latin America mainly. They come attracted by an aim of academic success, the wide range of degree options within the Madrilenian universities, its high education level and its well know prestige. The city is known as an open, fun and a friendly place, where you are likely to meet up with interesting people from all over the world and exchange experiences.
Procedure to be accepted in a Madrilenian university, depends on the education system of the student´s country:
Information for citizens of countries from the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland
How can I study in Madrid?
If you would like to study in Madrid you can apply for your admission at the university of your choice. Requirements and access regulations vary on every level (Undergraduate, Master and Doctorate degrees). Information on the University System of Madrid is available in this website. This would to help you to prepare your admission.
Some universities in Madrid offer a student information office for international students, where you could ask your questions related to legal issues.
What are the requirements?
If you have been admitted for an up to three months-course, no further procedures are needed. Only a valid identity card or passport must be hold.
If you have been admitted for a more than three months-course, you should apply for a registration in the “Registro Central de Extranjeros” within three months from your arrival date.
Information for citizens of countries different from the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland
How can I study in Madrid?
If you would like to study in Madrid you can apply for your admission at the university of your choice. Requirements and access regulations vary on every level (Undergraduate, Master and Doctorate degrees). Information on the University System of Madrid is available in this website. This would to help you to prepare your admission.
Some universities in Madrid offer a student information office for international students, where you could ask your questions related to legal issues.
What are the requirements?
Once you have been accepted by a university, you should apply for a student visa. The student visa implies the authorization for staying and studing in Spain up to the visa’s validity and with a maximum of six months.
Further information
Cursos de español para extranjeros / Spanish courses for foreigners
El español o castellano es la segunda lengua mundial por número hablantes que la tienen como lengua materna, con alrededor de 427 millones de nativos. Teniendo en cuenta aquellos que la tienen como primera y segunda lengua con dominio nativo, la cifra asciende hasta los 468 millones. De ellos, más de 21 millones son estudiantes.
El sistema universitario español cuenta con más de 75.000 estudiantes procedentes del extranjero (cifra que tiende a aumentar cada curso académico), siendo de lejos la Comunidad de Madrid la que más estudiantes extranjeros recibe, contando en sus universidades con alrededor de 19.000 estudiantes.
Todo ello refuerza la importancia del español en el ámbito académico y hace imprescindible la existencia de cursos de lengua española para este creciente grupo de estudiantes y egresados extranjeros en España. Conscientes de ello, todas las universidades madrileñas ofrecen cursos de español para extranjeros:
Spanish (or Castilian) is the world's second language in terms of number of native speakers, with around 427 million. Taking into account those who have it as their first and second language with native proficiency, the figure rises to 468 million. Of these, more than 21 million are university students.
The Spanish university system has more than 75,000 students from abroad (a figure that is increasing every academic year). Is the Community of Madrid who welcomes by far the most foreign student population, with around 19,000 students.
Over all, reinforces the role of Spanish in the academic environment and makes it essential to create Spanish language courses for this growing group of foreign students and graduates in Spain. Aware of this, all universities in Madrid offer Spanish courses for foreigners:
Otros organismos que ofrecen cursos de español para extranjeros
Any doubt?
