Spain is one of the most suitable and ideal countries to study. On one hand, obtaining admission to study in Spain does not require presenting language proficiency certificates. On the other hand, the cost of living in Spain is considerably lower compared to other countries like the United States, Canada, Germany, and France. The moderate climate and countless attractions in Spain have led many people to be interested in studying and living in Spain.
Benefits of studying in Spain
Immigrant friendly
Spain has a high level of legal and cultural receptiveness to immigrants. The people of this country tend to have better attitudes towards immigrants compared to the people of Germany or the United States. The government of this country also supports international students. In fact, this country has opened its doors to academic migrants.
Affordability of living and studying in Spain
In general, Europe is suitable for those seeking affordable education. Studying in Europe is several times cheaper than studying in Australia, the United States, or Canada. Among them, Spain is one of the most cost-effective countries for studying and living. Spain is considered one of the cheapest countries in Europe in terms of the price of basic goods, housing, and transportation.
High quality of student life
Spain may not be comparable to a country like Germany in terms of scientific and research level; But instead, this country is one of the most attractive places in the world to live. In Spain, you have the most diverse options for recreation available to you. From historical sites and beautiful nature to modern restaurants and shopping centers. Having a student ID from the universities in this country entitles you to discounts when visiting the places we mentioned. Furthermore, transportation costs in Spain are also reduced with the presentation of a student ID card. On the other hand, universities also assist students with issues such as food and meals. Alongside all these matters, a student can also have a student job and earn up to 10 euros per hour.
Mediterranean climate
Spain is known worldwide for its moderate Mediterranean climate. The weather in Spain neither gets too cold in winter nor too hot in summer. This is while if you intend to immigrate to France or Italy, you must be prepared for very hot weather in summer, and the same conditions exist in Germany and Canada for cold weather. As a result, the moderate weather of Spain is one of the most important advantages of this country.
Post-graduation employment
When studying in Spain, the government allows you to work student jobs up to a certain limit in terms of weekly working hours. By doing so, apart from creating an income stream and facilitating savings, you increase your chances of obtaining a work visa after completing your studies in Spain. After graduation, you are usually given up to one year to find employment. Those who have worked in fields related to their studies during their student years have a better chance of finding employment after graduation. If a graduate can find a job within the specified period, their residence status changes from student to worker, and it will be extended. Ultimately, after 5 years of work and paying taxes in Spain, we can apply for permanent residency in this country.
Age requirements for studying in Spain
Generally, there are no age restrictions for studying anywhere in the world. As we see in our own country, individuals up to the age of 90 are applicants for continuing their education and participating in entrance exams. This law applies everywhere in the world, and individuals have no age requirement for entry into universities to study in any country. Studying in Spain is also not an exception to this rule. But what factor causes a lawyer handling an educational case to inform the applicant that they do not meet the age requirements for studying in Spain and cannot obtain a visa?
In this regard, it is important to note that these age requirements for studying in Spain apply to entering Spain and, essentially, to obtaining visas for individuals. Because this country seeks to receive and accept excellent and suitable students who focus all their attention on their studies, and no disruption is made to their education. So, Spain is strict about age requirements for studying in Spain through the issuance of visas to applicants. In this way, the academic gap for individuals to enter college is maximum two or three years, and for entry into the undergraduate level, the maximum gap is five years.
Studying without a language certificate
One of the requirements for studying in Spain is having a language certificate. Because initially, individuals need to understand the teaching materials at their university or college and comprehend them. Therefore, having a language certificate is one of the most important requirements for studying in Spain.
If individuals can have a language certificate in their file, whether in Spanish or English, they can increase their chances of obtaining a visa. However, there are colleges that do not require a language certificate. These colleges generally include language training in their courses. For example, in most colleges, they work with individuals on both Spanish and English languages. With knowledge of the Spanish language, individuals’ chances of acceptance into state universities increase. Another important point is that for studying in Spain at the doctoral level, one can even apply without a language certificate.
However, in general, the Spanish Institute of Education Espanito, recommends that you have at least the required level of English proficiency to increase your chances of admission to study in Spain.
Higher education in Spain
Studying in Spain bears many similarities to studying in Iran. For example, in this country, to enter universities at the undergraduate level, it is necessary to successfully pass an exam similar to the Iranian Konkur. In addition to that, there are courses in Spain that directly prepare you for the job market. In this section, we will explore the conditions for studying in Spain by course and level.
Costs of studying in Spain
Studying in Spain, like in other countries around the world, comes with expenses. However, these expenses depend on several factors. Including the university you choose, the courses you intend to take, and so on. Although the Spanish educational institutions do not provide financial aid for international students. Continuing, the Espanito Study Abroad Institute has examined the average tuition fees. Of course, the amount set for studying at different levels is fixed and determined by the Spanish authorities. Although the central government can determine the amount of university tuition fees in its region. That is, each state should determine that the universities in it will charge some fees from the students.
- A bachelor’s degree can cost between 1,000 and 3,000 euros per year at a public university. Undergraduate studies in private universities range from 5,500 euros to 18,000 euros per year.
- Master’s studies can cost around 1,000 to 3,000 euros at public universities. It is also the case that studying at these levels in private universities ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 euros.
- Doctoral studies are generally free. But the conditions we mentioned earlier must be taken into account.
Cost of living in Spain
Foreign students in Spain have several ways to find housing. In the following, we explain the types of student housing in Spain:
University’s dormitory
The university dormitory is usually a cheap and convenient option for students, and therefore there is a fierce competition for its reservation. Applicants to study in Spain can inquire about the dormitory from the desired university after receiving admission. The minimum cost of a hostel in Spain is 400 euros. One of the most important benefits of living in a dormitory is the improvement of social skills and collective spirit.
Living with a Spanish family (vivienda familiar)
This method is both economical and helps you fit into the Spanish society. In the Family Housing method, the student will rent a room from a Spanish family (who usually have a big house) and live with them. The monthly rent of this method varies from 450 to 600 euros. As we said in the previous sections, Spanish people are very accepting of immigrants. That’s why living with a Spanish family is a cost-effective way that will make you progress faster in adapting to the Spanish language and culture.
Shared apartment (Apartamentos Compartidos)
In this method, several students rent an apartment jointly, and usually everyone has a room for themselves. The cost of this method is high compared to the previous two methods and it is usually not recommended for first year students. A shared apartment in Spain costs between 150 and 300 euros per week for a student. This cost is actually the rent of a room plus the rent of common spaces.
Private apartment (apartamento privado)
In this method, the student rents an apartment alone and takes responsibility for all its costs. Private apartments are obviously the most expensive form of student housing in Spain. In addition to the cost (which varies between 600 and 100 euros per month), the responsibilities of this method will be heavier than the previous methods. For example, the student should pay attention to issues such as paying bills or charging the building. If your Spanish is weak and you are at the beginning of your studies, this method will make your work difficult and therefore we do not recommend it.
feed cost
The cost of food in Spain is lower than most of the prominent European countries. The average cost of student food for one person in Spain is estimated at 250-300 euros per month. There are many good restaurants in this country and the cost of a full meal in a typical restaurant is around 8-12 euros. If you prepare the daily food yourself, the cost of food is relatively low.
Travel costs
The cost of a one-way ticket for public transport in Spain is about 1.5 euros. A one-month ticket costs about 42 euros in Spain; Of course, the cost of these one-month tickets in big cities can reach 55 euros.
Other expenses
Additional costs of education, such as buying books and other educational materials, can reach up to 900 euros per year. Health insurance in Spain also costs 70-180 euros per year for students.