ABOUT SPAIN
Spain in the Iberian peninsula, is the largest country in extreme Southern Europe, second-largest in Western Europe and the European Union and fourth-largest country by area on the European continent. The country borders France, Portugal, Andorra and Morocco. A constitutional monarchy, it is the sixth-most populous country in Europe, and the fourth-most populous country in the European Union with a population of over 47 million. Spain’s capital city is Madrid which is also its largest and it’s financial and cultural centre. The other major urban areas include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Málaga and Bilbao. Spain’s geographically diverse landscape includes snow-capped mountains, high dry flat land with climate ranging from hot summers to cold winters. The countryside is speckled with historical architectural ruins and castles while the cities are exceedingly modern.
The country is culturally diverse with people having lived in Spain since the Stone Age. The Spanish culture is a varied mix of cultures – Castilians, Catalians, Romans, Basques, Lusitanians, Galicians, Arabs, Jews and Roma Gypsies – all adding to the customs, cuisines and artistic heritage of the country. The official language of Spain is Castilian, otherwise known as Spanish but other regional languages and dialects are also recognised. Thousands of international students come to the country each year for several reasons, the primary one being that students find it an exhilarating experience to not only study and gain knowledge but also immerse themselves in arts, history and culture.
WHY STUDY IN SPAIN ?
- The Spanish higher education system dates back to the oldest university, Universidad de Salamanca, being established in 1218. The current higher education system was reformed in 2007 by embracing the Bologna Process which ensures compatibility with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The country now has 76 universities, with 45 being state funded universities and 31 private universities. 25 universities are ranked in the QS World University Rankings with majority of these universities located at Madrid and Barcelona.
- The Spanish universities have some of the most affordable tuition fees among the European countries with the public universities having lower fees in comparison to the private universities. Usually, tuition fees are also based on other factors which include the type of higher education, the degree type, number of credits, the region and the student’s nationality.
- Some of the popular courses in Spanish universities include Law, Arts and Humanities, Languages, Visual Arts, Marketing and Finance, Science, Hospitality Management, Spanish courses and many more
- Generally, international students find living costs quite affordable and are not financially pressed to meet their food, accommodation, travel and other daily expenses.
- International students can apply for several scholarships and financial aids offered by the Spanish colleges, universities, the Spanish government and other organisations based on merit and other eligibility criteria. A notable one includes the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships.
- Although Spanish is the main language spoken in Spain, increasing number of higher education programs are being offered in English. International students are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English by undertaking IELTS, PTE or TOEFL.
- Spain is one of the most visited European countries and one of the top study-abroad destinations for international students. In fact, Spain is the third most popular country for international students with around 36% of those people from the USA. Students can immerse themselves in discovering art, culture, history, lifestyle while pursuing their academic dreams.