Complete List of Spanish Public Universities
I’ve been preparing to apply to Spanish universities recently and spent considerable time organizing information about public universities in each autonomous community. Thinking that other friends might need this information, I’m sharing the collected list with everyone. Spanish public universities generally offer excellent educational quality, and Spanish study abroad universities have relatively affordable tuition fees compared to private institutions.
Key Institutions in Madrid Autonomous Community
Madrid, as Spain’s capital, hosts numerous renowned public universities. Complutense University of Madrid is the most famous among them, with a long history and comprehensive academic programs. There are also Autonomous University of Madrid, Technical University of Madrid, Carlos III University, and others. These schools have strong capabilities in their respective professional fields, particularly in science, technology, and business studies.

Distinguished Institutions in Catalonia Autonomous Community
Catalonia autonomous community, where Barcelona is located, also has many excellent public universities. University of Barcelona is definitely the crown jewel among them, performing exceptionally in international rankings. Polytechnic University of Catalonia also has a strong reputation in engineering and technology. There’s also Pompeu Fabra University, which despite being relatively new, has developed rapidly, especially in economics and communication studies.
Below is a statistical overview of public universities by major autonomous communities:
| Autonomous Community | Number of Public Universities | Notable Examples |
| Madrid | 6 | Complutense University, Autonomous University |
| Catalonia | 8 | University of Barcelona, Polytechnic University |
| Andalusia | 10 | University of Seville, University of Granada |
| Valencia | 5 | University of Valencia, Polytechnic University |
Quality Options in Other Autonomous Communities
Andalusia autonomous community has the highest number of public universities, including University of Seville, University of Granada, University of Córdoba, and others. University of Valencia and Polytechnic University of Valencia in the Valencia autonomous community are also excellent choices. The northern Basque region has University of the Basque Country, and Galicia has University of Santiago de Compostela - all important academic institutions in their respective regions.
It’s important to note that applying to Spanish public universities usually requires passing through Barcelona University study abroad corresponding entrance examinations or academic credential recognition procedures. I recommend everyone to understand specific application requirements and scheduling in advance, especially language preparation. Most courses are taught in Spanish, although there are increasingly more English-taught programs available.
I hope this list helps friends preparing to apply to Spanish universities. If you have specific questions, feel free to leave comments below for discussion. I’ll do my best to share information I’ve learned about Complutense University of Madrid study abroad.