Study in Spain

About Spain

Spain is a sunny, welcoming country with a relaxed lifestyle, rich culture and a lower cost of living than much of Western Europe. Madrid and Barcelona are major business hubs, and Spanish is the world's second most spoken native language. The main intake is September, with some January/February starts. The currency is the euro (EUR).

Why study in Spain

• World-ranked business schools (IE, IESE, ESADE)
• Low funds requirement: €600 a month
• Work up to 30 hours a week with no separate permit
• Up to 24 months after graduation to look for work
• Affordable living outside Madrid and Barcelona

Popular fields of study

MBA and management, international business, hospitality and tourism, marketing and design, Spanish language and humanities, and renewable energy. Top schools include IE Business School, IESE, ESADE, University of Barcelona and Complutense University of Madrid.

Student visa, step by step

Student visa: long-stay study visa.

1. Get admission from a recognised Spanish institution.
2. Show 100% of IPREM: €600 a month (€7,200 a year), plus tuition.
3. Buy health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, with no co-payments.
4. Get a police clearance (PCC) and a medical certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
5. Apply at BLS International (for the Spanish consulate) in India at least 2 months before you start.
6. Wait for the decision, usually about 1 month.

After you get your visa

• Within 1 month of arrival, apply for your TIE card (foreigner ID) at the police and get your NIE number.
• Register your address (empadronamiento) with the city.
• Higher-education students can work up to 30 hours a week, as long as it doesn't clash with classes.

Work and staying on

Working while you study

Higher-education students can work up to 30 hours a week, as long as it doesn't clash with classes.

After you graduate

Up to 24 months to look for work After a degree at Bachelor's level or above, you can apply for a job-search or business-start residence of up to 24 months. Apply before your student permit expires.

Settling long term

Work and residence permit: switch without leaving Spain once you find a job. Highly Qualified Professional permit or EU Blue Card: for graduate-level, higher-paid roles. Long-term residence: after 5 years of legal residence. Citizenship usually takes 10 years for Indian nationals.

Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.

Visa expenses

Average salary

Graduates typically start at about €25,000–€32,000 a year (approximate). Business-school graduates and tech roles in Madrid and Barcelona earn more.

Good to know

• Spanish (B1+) is important for most jobs outside multinational companies.
• Documents must be apostilled and officially translated into Spanish.