Lately, I’ve been researching Spanish universities for a family member and I keep coming across this Saint Anthony Catholic University (UCAM). It seems to have a notable presence, especially in sports circles and through recommendations from educational agencies. However, out of curiosity, I looked up its QS ranking and the results were a bit surprising. So, I wanted to start a discussion here to figure out what the general consensus is on this university’s quality.
Honestly, in the main QS World University Rankings, UCAM is basically nowhere to be found. For students who place a high value on global comprehensive rankings, this could be an immediate deal-breaker. But interestingly, in another evaluation system—the QS Stars Rating—UCAM has been awarded four stars, which is a pretty solid achievement for a private university. This leaves me wondering: which of these two ratings should we trust?
From what I’ve gathered, UCAM’s strengths don’t lie in comprehensive research capabilities, but rather in certain applied, specialized programs and its international teaching environment. For instance, its programs in Sports Management, Business, Dentistry, and Physical Therapy have a decent reputation locally in Spain. Moreover, the university has a very high proportion of international students, and many courses are offered entirely in English. For students who want to quickly integrate into an international setting but whose Spanish isn’t very strong, UCAM in Spain could be a significant plus.
A Breakdown of UCAM’s QS Stars Rating
To give a clearer picture of its strengths, I’ve created a simple table of its QS Stars scores for your reference. As you can see, it scores quite high in areas that directly impact the student experience, like teaching and employability.
| Assessment Category | QS Star Rating |
|---|
| Overall Rating | 4 Stars ★★★★☆ |
| Teaching | 5 Stars ★★★★★ |
| Employability | 5 Stars ★★★★★ |
| Internationalization | 5 Stars ★★★★★ |
| Facilities & Development | 4 Stars ★★★★☆ |
| Inclusiveness | 5 Stars ★★★★★ |
Here’s my take: you can’t choose a university based on a single ranking list. If your future career plan involves returning to your home country for a civil service career or joining top-tier companies that only recognize high QS overall rankings, then you should indeed think twice about choosing UCAM. However, if you prioritize local employment opportunities in Spain, the practical nature of your program, an international learning experience, or simply want to earn a European master’s degree, then UCAM might be an imperfect but worthwhile option to consider.
I’m wondering if there are any current UCAM students or alumni on this forum? I would love to hear your firsthand experiences! Feel free to join the discussion!
