The best universities in Spain

Spain has 55 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. Some of the most highly ranked and popular universities are located in Madrid, Barcelona and the smaller cities of Seville and Granada. Each region of Spain is different, so students should base where they want to study not just on the university but also on the region.

1.    University of Valencia (La Universitat de València)
The University of Valencia (La Universitat de València) is one of the best universities in Spain. It is a public research university located in Valencia, Spain. The university was founded in 1499 and is one of the oldest surviving universities in Spain1. It is also one of the largest universities in Spain with more than 55,000 students. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more1. The admission process for the University of Valencia’s official degree programs is a procedure in which places are distributed each academic year to students who have applied and have met the entrance requirements.
2.    Pablo de Olavide University (Universidad Pablo de Olavide)
Pablo de Olavide University (Universidad Pablo de Olavide) is a public university located in Seville, Spain. It was founded in 1997 and is one of the newest public universities in Spain. The university is named after the Spanish-Peruvian politician Pablo de Olavide (1725–1803), who contributed notably to planning the city of Seville. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more. The university has over 10,000 students and is growing constantly since its inception.
3.    The University of Granada (Universidad de Granada)
The University of Granada (Universidad de Granada) is a public university located in the city of Granada, Spain. It was founded in 1531 by Emperor Charles V through a papal bull by Clement VII2. With more than 60,000 students, it is the fourth largest university in Spain.  The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more2. The university has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla apart from the city of Granada.
4.    The University of Salamanca (Universidad de Salamanca)
The University of Salamanca (Universidad de Salamanca) is a Spanish higher education institution located in the city of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX and is the oldest university in the Hispanic world and one of the oldest in the world in continuous operation. The university has been dubbed the “Oxford of Spain” and is an important center for the study of humanities. It teaches about 30,000 students.
5.    University of Deusto (Universidad Deusto)
The University of Deusto (Universidad de Deusto) is a private university located in Bilbao and San Sebastian, Spain. It was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more. It has campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastian.
6.    Nebrija University (Universidad Antonio de Nebrija)
Nebrija University (Universidad Nebrija) is a private university located in Madrid, Spain. It was founded in 1995 by Antonio de Nebrija. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more. It has campuses in Madrid.
7.    Complutense University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
The Complutense University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) is a public research university located in Madrid, Spain. It was founded in 1499 by Cardinal Cisneros as the Universidad Complutense de Alcalá. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, health sciences and more. It has campuses in Madrid.