Application Process to Study in Spain

How to apply to universities in Spain: A popular study destination in Europe, Spain is home to popular universities, a stable economy and above all a cultural milieu that is greatly embraced by international students from across the globe. Be it the La Tomatina festival, Real Madrid or olive oil – we all have at some point in time associated ourselves with Spain. Today, the country has become one of the upcoming study-abroad destinations among Indian students. In this article, we are going to talk about the application process to study in Spain for Indian students. We will also look into the admission cycle and the top factors that make Spain a favourite study destination among Indians. 

Application Process to Study in Spain from India

In this section, we are going to be talking about how to apply to universities in Spain. There are various steps involved in the admission cycle. Let us examine them individually.

Choosing your preferred programme

Ideally, the first step would be to decide on your preferred course of study. It is important to keep your past academic performance in mind and your future goals in sight. Your academic performance would play a deciding factor in your university eligibility/admission criteria. And your future goals would be greatly influenced by your preferred programme.

Selecting your university

Spain is home to some of the top universities in the world. The country is divided into 50 provinces and the next process involves the candidate selecting the university that would best fit his study requirements. Determining factors such as university tuition fees, curriculum, ratings, and reviews play an important role in university selection.

While popular cities such as Madrid and Barcelona would be home to highly decorated universities, the country in general has a robust education system admired by all. Candidates should note that their living expenses would be highly affected by their city of stay. Barcelona, Madrid, and Donostia - San Sebastian are cities that are slightly on the expensive side and you would be shelling out more as room rent. Cities such as Zamora, Leon and Avila would have substantially lower costs of living.  

Apply Process to Study in Spain 

In this section, we are going to be looking at admission requirements for graduate studies and postgraduate studies in Spain. Indian students looking to apply to Spain are required to apply directly to a Spanish university. Students looking for assistance with university admissions are welcome to get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors for assistance with the same for free.

As part of the application process to Spain, Indian students would be required to pass an entrance exam, known as EBAU (Evaluación del Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad) entry exam or simply ‘selectividad.’ Candidates are eligible to appear for the exam twice a year from their country of residence.

Candidates are advised to strictly follow the eligibility criteria as laid down by the university on its official website. This would include submissions of documents, submission of test scores, work experience (if any) and so on.

Documents for the Application process to UG Studies

• High School Certificate from a recognized school of study (Officially translated into English or Spanish)
• High School Grade Transcripts from a recognized school of study (Officially translated into English or Spanish)
• Proof of English Proficiency (If you are not from an English-speaking country or have not previously studied in English)
• Statement of Purpose
• Copy of Passport
• Passport-sized digital photograph

Documents for the Application process to PG Studies

• 4 Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent Certificate (Officially translated into English or Spanish)
• Bachelor Grade Transcripts (Officially translated into English or Spanish)
• Proof of English Proficiency (If you are not from an English-speaking country or have not previously studied in English)
• Statement of Purpose
• Copy of Passport
• Passport-sized digital photograph

It is essential for students from outside of the EU/EEA to have their qualifications recognized also known as ‘homologación’ to be able to study in Spain. International students are required to get their documents - high school certificate recognized to be eligible for admission to Spanish universities. Students can get their documents validated at the Spanish embassy in their country.

Spanish embassies will provide the applicant with a Volante Accreditation which can be used to apply to the university of your choice. This recognition will certify that you have the necessary degree to pursue higher education studies at Spanish universities. Many universities may require documents to be translated into Spanish. Hence, if your university application documents are not already in Spanish you will need to have an official translator translate them into Spanish.

Apply Process to Study in Spain – Admission Timelines

Universities in Spain would either have rolling admissions or follow a particular intake season. Candidates are advised to apply early before seats get filled. Applicants should note that due to COVID-19 restrictions a lot of students were unable to travel abroad to pursue their study abroad dreams. Since the borders have finally opened there would be a huge influx of students looking to study abroad. Hence, it is important to apply early before seats run out.

Intake Season	Deadlines
Fall Semester (starts in October)	Early Deadline: First week of June Late Deadline: First week of September
Spring Semester (starts in February)	Single Deadline: First week of December
Rolling Admissions	Till seats are available

Apply for your Spain Study Visa

The final process includes the applicant having to apply for a Spain Study Visa. Candidates should note that a Spain study visa can only be applied for once the applicant has received their acceptance letter from the university. The acceptance letter from the university is a mandatory requirement as part of the Visa processing documents. The Spain Study Visa could take up to one month to process and should be applied early to avoid any last-minute hassles.

What is EBAU?

International students from outside of the EU/EEA are required to pass an entrance exam, known as EBAU (Evaluación del Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad) entry exam or simply ‘selectividad.’ Interested candidates can appear for the exam twice a year in their country of residence. Passing EBAU means the candidate is eligible for university admission in Spain.

The EBAU exam pattern is divided into four components: Text Analysis, Questions about Spain’s History or Philosophy, Foreign Language Exam (French, English, German, Portuguese or Italian) and a subject test related to Art, Fine Art, Dance and Music; and subjects related to Science and Technology. The choice of subject in the fourth part of the exam rests on the test taker.