How to Study in Spain as an International Student: Admission, Credential Recognition and Visa
If you did high school outside Spain and want to study a full bachelor's degree here, you don't take the Spanish EBAU exam: the path is different and has its own deadlines. Here's how admission works, how your academic record gets recognised, and what paperwork you need depending on your country of origin.
Your admission route: no Spanish EBAU exam
The EBAU (formerly called Selectividad) is the entrance exam for students who completed high school within the Spanish education system. If your high school diploma is from another country — whether from Latin America, Europe or any other education system — that exam doesn't apply to you: there's a specific admission route for students with foreign qualifications, managed centrally for the whole of Spain.
This doesn't mean admission is automatic just because you finished high school. What changes is the procedure: instead of sitting the EBAU, your high school academic record gets evaluated and, depending on which country you come from, you may need to sit some specific equivalent tests or the credential recognition of your grades may be enough on its own.
UNEDasiss: how your academic record is evaluated
The body that manages access to Spanish universities for students from foreign education systems is UNED (Spain's National Distance Education University), through its platform UNEDasiss. Broadly, the process consists of:
- Submitting your academic record from your high school or equivalent qualification, along with documentation proving it entitles you to access university in your home system.
- Calculating your admission grade, based on your academic record average, applying the conversion criteria UNEDasiss has established for each country.
- Specific Competency Tests (PCE), optional: if you want to raise your grade for high-demand degrees, you can sit exams in specific subjects related to the degree you want to study, similar to how Spanish students use the voluntary phase of the EBAU.
Important: the exact process and requirements vary depending on the country where you did high school — some have a direct agreement with Spain and the process is simpler, others require more documentation. It's worth starting the process on UNEDasiss several months in advance, not at the last minute.
Deadlines and how they differ from the Spanish calendar
One of the things that most confuses international students is that the UNEDasiss calendar doesn't exactly match the EBAU calendar or Spanish university pre-enrolment. In practice, this means two things:
- Your access credential needs to be resolved before the pre-enrolment period starts at the university where you want to study, so the recognition process needs to start well ahead of the start of the academic year — typically around a year in advance.
- Once you have the credential, you compete for a place in the same admission process as any other student, with your admission grade converted to the Spanish scale (0-14), just like a student who took the EBAU.
Visa, TIE and health insurance if you're from outside the EU
If you're a citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you don't need a visa to study in Spain, though if your stay exceeds three months it's worth applying for the NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) as soon as you arrive.
If you're NOT from the European Union, to study a full degree (a long-stay), you need:
- A long-stay study visa, applied for at the Spanish consulate in your home country before travelling, with your university admission letter already in hand.
- Once in Spain, if your stay exceeds 6 months, the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). Under Royal Decree 1155/2024, in force since 20 May 2024, the application for the long-stay study permit must be submitted at least two months before your studies begin.
- Full private health insurance, with no copayments or waiting periods and including repatriation cover — this is a mandatory requirement to obtain the study permit, since without an EU passport you don't have direct access to Spain's public healthcare system.
This paperwork is the same as what's required for a long Erasmus stay, so if you want the full detail on the TIE process (form, fee and appointment booking), we cover it in the Erasmus in Spain guide — it applies the same way whether you're coming for a full degree or just an exchange.
Where you can study
Once your credential recognition is resolved, choosing a university and degree works the same as for any student in Spain: comparing entry grades, price and career outcomes for each programme. Keep in mind that private universities often have their own admission processes, with more flexible deadlines and sometimes without needing your full credential recognition resolved before starting provisional enrolment — it's worth checking directly with each university if your timeline is tight.
Compare entry grades, price and career outcomes for every degree and university at Vocaria →
Frequently asked questions
Can I study at a Spanish university if I haven't taken the EBAU exam?
Yes. If your high school diploma is from a foreign country, you don't take the Spanish EBAU exam: instead you apply for the Spanish university access credential through UNEDasiss, which evaluates your academic record and, if your education system requires it, some specific equivalent tests.
What is UNEDasiss?
It's the platform run by UNED responsible for evaluating and recognising access to Spanish universities for students coming from foreign education systems, both from the European Union and outside it.
Do I need a visa to study a full degree in Spain if I'm from outside the EU?
Yes. You need a long-stay study visa processed at the Spanish consulate in your country before travelling, and once in Spain, if your stay exceeds 6 months, the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE), regulated by Royal Decree 1155/2024.