Spain is a quieter choice than Germany or Ireland for Indian students, but it has a lot going for it: public universities with regulated fees, well-known business schools, a growing list of English-taught master's degrees, and a student stay that now lets you work part-time. This guide covers what Spain costs, how the student visa works from India, and what happens after you graduate. Every rule is taken from the Embassy of Spain in New Delhi or other official pages as published at the time of writing; where only guides give a figure, we say so.
- The Embassy of Spain in New Delhi currently asks study visa applicants to show 600 euros a month (100 percent of IPREM) and to apply through BLS at least two months before the course starts
- Spain's current immigration regulation allows students in higher education to work up to 30 hours a week.
Why Should Indian Students Consider Studying in Spain?
Spain combines public university fees that are low by Western European standards with internationally known business schools, a mild climate and a lower cost of living than London or Amsterdam. Students can now work up to 30 hours a week, and graduates can stay on to look for work. Most bachelor's teaching is in Spanish.
Spain also has no German-style blocked account and no APS certificate. The trade-off is language. Most public bachelor's programmes are taught in Spanish, so the strongest options for Indian students are English-taught master's degrees and private business schools. Learning basic Spanish during your course still helps with part-time work and with jobs after graduation.
Which Universities in Spain Are Popular With Indian Students?
Indian students mostly look at large public universities in Madrid and Barcelona, such as Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and Universidad Complutense de Madrid, plus private business schools such as IE University, ESADE and IESE. Each university runs its own admissions.
There is no central application portal for international master's students. You apply on each university's website, follow its deadlines and pay its application fee where one applies. Check that the programme is an official degree (titulo oficial) if you want a recognised master's, because many schools also sell their own non-official diplomas.
- Business and management, including MBA and master's in management
- Computer science, data science and artificial intelligence
- Engineering, especially at the polytechnic universities
- Tourism and hospitality management
- Economics, finance and international relations
English-taught options are concentrated at master's level and in private schools. If a programme is in Spanish, universities usually ask for B2 Spanish; for English programmes, check the IELTS or TOEFL score on the programme page.
Study in Europe: countries, costs and options for Indian studentsRead →How Much Are Tuition Fees at Public and Private Universities in Spain?
Public university fees in Spain are set by each regional government as a price per ECTS credit, and non-EU students often pay a higher rate. Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya says its first-enrolment price for non-EU master's students is 45 euros a credit. Private universities set their own fees, which guides say usually start around 6,000 euros a year.
A full-time year is 60 ECTS credits, so you can work out the cost by multiplying the credit price by 60. At the UPC rate that is about 2,700 euros for a year of a master's, by our own calculation. Rates differ a lot between regions, between bachelor's and master's, and between programmes, and the price per credit rises if you repeat a subject. Always use the fee table on your university's own website for the year you enrol.
| Type of institution | How fees are set | Example or typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Public university | Regional price per ECTS credit; often higher for non-EU | UPC: 45 euros a credit for non-EU master's (first enrolment) |
| Private university | Set by the university | Guides say from about 6,000 euros a year |
| Business school (MBA, master's) | Set by the school | Programme specific; check the school's fee page |
What Does It Cost to Live in Spain as a Student?
The only official benchmark is the visa funds rule: the Embassy of Spain currently asks for 600 euros a month. Real costs are higher in Madrid and Barcelona. Guides say students spend about 800 to 1,600 euros a month, with rent the biggest item, while smaller cities such as Valencia or Granada are cheaper.
Guides quote shared flats at roughly 250 to 600 euros a month and student residences at 300 to 800 euros, often including utilities. Budget extra for your first month: a rent deposit, health insurance, the TIE card fee and transport passes. Treat these as estimates and compare them with the cost pages your university publishes.
How Do You Apply for a Spanish Student Visa From India?
Get your admission and pay the tuition first. Then book an appointment at a BLS Spain Visa Application Centre, the Embassy of Spain's official partner, and submit your application in person at least two months before the course starts. The embassy has one month to decide, which can be extended if it asks for an interview or more documents.
- Choose a programme and receive an admission letter showing the start date, end date and total cost
- Pay the enrolment or tuition fee and keep the receipt
- Collect your financial, insurance, police and medical documents
- Book a BLS appointment through the official BLS Spain India site
- Submit in person and pay the visa fee
- Collect your passport and, for a course over six months, apply for your TIE card in Spain within one month of arrival
The embassy accepts applications from people who live in its consular district, so check whether the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai covers your state. If a visa is refused, the embassy says you can ask it to reconsider within one month, in person at the Consular Section. The visa fee is not listed on the study visa page; guides quote it at about 8,000 rupees, so check the current amount with BLS.
Which Documents Do You Need for a Spain Student Visa?
The Embassy of Spain lists the signed application form, a photo, a passport valid for the stay with two blank pages, the admission letter, proof of tuition payment, proof of funds, health insurance and proof that you live in the consular district. For stays over 180 days you also need a police certificate and a medical certificate.
- Passport issued within the last ten years, with copies of the data page and earlier visas
- Admission letter stating start date, end date and total cost of the programme
- Receipt for enrolment or tuition fees
- Police clearance certificate from your Regional Passport Office, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs, covering the last five years
- Medical certificate from a registered doctor, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs
- Sponsor letter, sponsor's PAN card copy and six months of the sponsor's bank statements, signed and stamped by the bank
Police and medical certificates are valid for six months, so time them close to your appointment. The apostille is done through the Ministry of External Affairs and its authorised agencies, which can take a while in peak months.
How Much Money Do You Need to Show for a Spanish Student Visa?
You must show at least 100 percent of IPREM, which the Embassy of Spain currently lists as 600 euros a month, or about 7,200 euros for twelve months by our calculation. Add 450 euros a month for the first family member and 300 euros for each additional one. Accommodation paid in advance can be deducted.
The embassy asks for the sponsor's original bank statements for the last six months, a signed sponsorship letter and a copy of the sponsor's PAN card. Spain does not require a blocked account. The IPREM figure is a legal minimum, not a realistic budget for Madrid or Barcelona, so show more than the minimum if you can.
What Health Insurance Do You Need for a Spain Student Visa?
You need public or private health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, covering all the risks that Spain's public health system covers. The embassy asks for the original certificate and a copy. Guides add that the policy should have no co-payments or waiting periods, so check this with your insurer before buying.
The embassy links to the official register of insurers authorised in Spain. Many Indian students buy a Spanish student policy that runs for the whole visa period, because travel insurance usually does not meet the rule.
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Yes. Spain's current immigration regulation allows students on a study stay to work as long as the job is compatible with their studies, without a separate procedure, up to a maximum of 30 hours a week. The limit applies to employed and self-employed work together, so keep track of hours across all jobs.
Typical jobs are in hospitality, retail, tutoring, customer support and university roles. Spanish makes job hunting much easier outside international firms. Part-time income cannot replace the funds you show for the visa, so plan your budget without it.
Can You Stay in Spain to Work After Graduation?
Guides say graduates of Spanish higher education can apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business for up to 24 months after their studies. This permit is for job hunting, so once you find a job you switch to a work residence permit. Check the current rules with Spain's immigration portal before planning around them.
Business Today and other guides quote the 24-month figure, but we could not confirm it on an official Spanish page at the time of writing. Ask your university's international office how to apply before your study permit ends.
When Are the Intakes for Universities in Spain?
Guides say the main intake is in September or October, when most bachelor's and master's programmes start, and some private schools also offer a January or February intake. Because the visa needs at least two months and the police and medical certificates need apostilles, aim to have your admission letter about four to six months before the start date.
What Should You Do After Arriving in Spain?
If your course lasts more than six months, your visa is valid for one year and you must apply for a foreigner identity card (TIE) within one month of entering Spain, at the foreigners' office or the police station of your province. Register your address, open a bank account and keep your insurance active throughout.
Your TIE is renewed as long as you keep studying and meet the conditions. Keep copies of your tuition receipts, insurance and funds, because you will need them again at renewal.