Seville is one of Spain's most romantic cities, with gorgeous architecture, orange blossoms, horse-drawn carriages, and a rich cultural heritage. It is also one of Spain's most inspiring university cities, alive with lots of learning opportunities in its well-organized education system that includes three public universities and several private ones.
Public and private universities in Seville
Seville's three public universities are the following:
University of Seville
The University of Seville was founded in 1505 and has a community of over 80,000 people. The campus has 26 centers and 134 departments and is continually growing. Students can take degrees and postgraduate degrees in any area of knowledge and access national and international double degrees.
Pablo de Olavide University
Pablo de Olavide University was founded in 1997 and hosts more than 11,000 students across its faculties and schools. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in all traditional subjects as well as sports sciences, social work, humanities, biotechnology, and environmental sciences.
International University of Andalusia
The International University of Andalusia was founded in 1994 and offers master's, doctorate, and specialty courses. Its subject areas include arts and humanities, social and legal sciences, engineering and architecture, and health sciences.
Among the private universities in Seville are:
Costs of studying in Seville
The regional government sets the fees for official degrees at the public universities in Seville according to guidelines laid down by the General Assembly for University Policy. Expat students within the European Union are charged the same fees as Spanish students, ranging between 500 euros and 2,000 euros per year for a bachelor's degree and approximately 1,000 euros to 3,000 euros for master's and doctorate programs.
Tuition fees vary depending on your course and the number of credits it is worth. In Spain, university tuition is calculated on a pay-per-credit formula. According to Andalusia's regional government, the costs of each credit (12.62 euros in the first enrolment) are at the minimum of the range set by the Ministry of Education.
Private universities in Seville set their own fees. These are generally higher. Depending on the course and institution, you can expect to pay between 5,000 euros and 20,000 euros or more per year.
Scholarships in Seville
The Spanish government and several private institutions and organizations in Seville provide funding support to international students. These scholarships encompass various disciplines and are offered at different levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies. The scholarships may cover tuition fees, accommodation expenses, travel costs and even monthly living expenses to help ease the financial burden.
Among the scholarships available are:
- Spanish Studies Abroad
- The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships
- UIC Barcelona – International Excellence Scholarships
- EADA Business School – EADA Scholarships
Enrolment procedures for Seville universities
If you are from a European Union country or any other country with a reciprocal agreement with Spain, you will need to have a university entrance-level qualification from your home country. If you are from outside the European Union or your country doesn't have an agreement with Spain, you may need to have your school leaving qualifications verified. You will need authenticated and translated copies of your certificates, course details and proof of identity. You can find details of the procedure on the Ministry of Education's website.
To enroll at a university in Seville, you will have to apply directly because there is no centralized system in Spain. Each university has its own set of application procedures which you can discover on their websites.
When Spanish students apply for a university place, they must pass the Selectividad exam, which tests language skills, specialty and expertise. There are also questions about Spain's history or philosophy. You will need to check with your chosen university if you need to sit this exam as an international student.
Other documents you need when applying for a university place in Seville are a student visa if you are a non-European Union student and a Spanish student residence permit. This can be obtained from the foreigner's office (Oficina de Extranjeros) at a local police station once you are in the country.
Applying for a student visa in Spain
You can apply for a Spanish student visa at the Spanish Consulate General in your country of residence. You will need to provide several documents:
- Proof of admission to an officially recognized public or private educational institution
- A completed visa application form
- Certificates of studies you have completed
- Health insurance for the length of your stay
- A medical certificate signed by a doctor
- A valid passport that doesn't expire while you´re in Spain
- Two recent passport-size photos
- Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of your studies and living expenses in Seville.
Important:
All expats no matter where they are from, must have a Foreigner's Identity Number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) or NIE. With this, you can open a bank account in Spain, work and pay taxes, and obtain a Spanish driving license.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
