Friends who have just arrived in Spain might have had a similar experience: you ask for directions to a university by name, only to find out it’s not in one single location! Recently, a junior student asked me for the address of the University of the Basque Country, and it made me realize this isn’t something you can explain in one sentence. If you think it’s just in Bilbao or some other single city, you’d be completely mistaken.
The University of the Basque Country is the largest public university in the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. Its structure is quite unique; it’s not concentrated in a single city but is spread across the three provinces of the Basque region, forming three main campuses. Each campus has its own administrative and academic systems, with different faculties and specializations. So, when it comes to the University of the Basque Country, it’s crucial to figure out which faculty and campus you need to go to before you set off, or you’ll end up running all over the place!
Detailed Addresses of the Three Campuses
Bizkaia Campus
This is the largest and main campus of the University of the Basque Country in Spain. Although many people refer to it as the ‘Bilbao Campus,’ its core is actually in the town of Leioa, about 11 km from Bilbao’s city center. Most of the faculties and research institutes are concentrated here. Of course, there are also some faculties and facilities in downtown Bilbao, Barakaldo, and Portugalete.
Leioa Main Campus Address: Barrio Sarriena, s/n, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia
Gipuzkoa Campus
This campus is located in the picturesque coastal city of San Sebastián. The campus is primarily concentrated in the city’s Ibaeta area, which boasts a wonderful environment. Many faculties focused on theory and research are located here, such as Chemistry, Informatics, Psychology, and the School of Architecture. If you’re coming to study these subjects, then San Sebastián is your destination.
Ibaeta Main Campus Address: Paseo de Manuel Lardizabal, 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa
Álava Campus
The Álava Campus is situated in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Autonomous Community. This campus is relatively smaller, but its academic offerings are distinctive, including the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, the Faculty of Arts, and some engineering programs. Vitoria-Gasteiz is a very livable ‘green city,’ making it a pleasant place to study and live.
Vitoria-Gasteiz Main Campus Address: Calle Comandante Izarduy, 2, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava
To make it easier to understand, here’s a simple summary table:
| Campus Name | Province | Main City/Town |
|---|
| Bizkaia Campus | Bizkaia | Leioa / Bilbao |
| Gipuzkoa Campus | Gipuzkoa | San Sebastián |
| Álava Campus | Álava | Vitoria-Gasteiz |
The University of the Basque Country is a ‘one university, three locations’ system. So, the next time someone asks you where the University of the Basque Country is, you can expertly reply: ‘My friend, which specific campus and faculty are you referring to?’ Hopefully, this post will help all the friends who are about to study at or visit the University of the Basque Country!
