I’ve seen a lot of questions on forums recently from newcomers to URV asking about the university’s exact location. Many get confused by the names Tarragona and Reus. Don’t worry, it’s one of the most common points of confusion for new students. I was confused myself when I first arrived, thinking the entire university was in one place. Today, as someone who’s been through it, I’m here to give you a complete breakdown of how URV is actually spread out.
URV: A “Decentralized” University
First, you need to understand a key concept: Rovira i Virgili University is not a university with a single, consolidated campus. Its faculties and campuses are spread across several cities in southern Catalonia, primarily within the province of Tarragona. Therefore, when it comes to studying at URV in Spain, which campus you’ll be on depends entirely on your major. Don’t just assume that all programs are on one main campus! Misunderstanding this can cause problems with finding accommodation and planning your daily life.
The Main Hub: Campuses in Tarragona
Tarragona is the capital of the Tarragona province and home to URV’s most important campuses. There are three main campuses here: Campus Catalunya, Campus Sescelades, and Campus URV Vila-seca. Tarragona is a beautiful Mediterranean coastal city with ancient Roman ruins, offering a very pleasant lifestyle. If your major is based here, you can focus your housing search directly on the city of Tarragona. Your student life will be enjoyable with strolls along the beach and visits to the Roman amphitheater.
A Significant Presence: Reus and Other Campuses
Another key city is Reus, located very close to Tarragona—just a ten to twenty-minute bus ride away. URV’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the School of Architecture, and part of the Faculty of Economics and Business are located here, along with some PhD programs at URV. So, if you’re a medical student, Reus will be your home base. Additionally, there are smaller campuses in Tortosa and Terres de l’Ebre. To make it easier to understand, I’ve created a simple table:
| City | Main Faculties/Fields |
|---|
| Tarragona | Arts, Law, Educational Sciences, Nursing, Chemistry, Engineering, Oenology |
| Reus | Medicine, Health Sciences, Architecture, Economics and Business |
| Other cities | Tourism, Nursing, etc. |
To sum up, before applying and arriving, make sure to check the official university website to confirm which campus your specific program belongs to
! This directly determines which city you’ll be living, studying, and renting in for the next few years. Transportation between the two main cities, Tarragona and Reus, is very convenient, but for daily living, it’s highly recommended to live in the city where your campus is located. I hope this post helps those of you who are feeling lost! If you have any more questions, feel free to leave a comment below for discussion. Senior students will be happy to help out when they see it!
