Study in Valencia, Spain

Why study in Valencia?

• Strong universities. The Universitat de València and the Universitat Politècnica de València are among Spain's best-known public universities, and several private universities add English-taught and health-science degrees.
• Affordable for a big city. Rent and everyday costs are clearly lower than in Madrid or Barcelona, so your budget goes further.
• Easy to live in. The city is flat and compact, with over 150 km of bike lanes, a metro and tram network and the Turia gardens, a 9 km park running through the middle of the city.
• Mediterranean life. Around 300 days of sun a year, city beaches, the home of paella and Las Fallas, one of Spain's biggest festivals.
• A big international community. Thousands of Erasmus and international students arrive every year, so it's easy to meet people from day one.

Universities in Valencia

Most international students study at one of these universities. The two public universities are the largest and offer the widest range of degrees; the private ones tend to have smaller classes and more programmes in English.

The UV Tarongers campus and the UPV Vera campus sit side by side in the north-east of the city, which is why so much student housing is in the neighbourhoods around them.

Studying in English in Valencia

You can study in Valencia without speaking Spanish, but it depends on the university and the programme:

• Private universities such as Universidad Europea and CEU Cardenal Herrera offer full bachelor's degrees in English, including medicine, dentistry and other health sciences.
• Public universities (UV and UPV) teach mostly in Spanish and Valencian, but offer a growing number of English-taught master's programmes and some subjects or groups in English for exchange students.
• Erasmus students usually choose subjects from several degrees; check the language of each subject in the course catalogue, as some are only taught in Valencian.

Outside the classroom, you can manage in English at the universities and in the city centre, but landlords, shops and public offices mostly work in Spanish. A few months of classes will make daily life much easier.

Learning Spanish in Valencia

Valencia is also one of Spain's most popular cities for learning Spanish. You can take courses at private language schools in the city centre, many of them accredited by the Instituto Cervantes, or at the universities' own language centres, which offer cheaper semester courses for their students. Intensive courses of a few weeks are common before the semester starts. Our guide to learning Spanish in Valencia compares courses, schools and prices.

Spanish (castellano) is spoken everywhere. Valencian, a variety of Catalan, is co-official: you'll see it on street signs, in public offices and in some university courses, but you don't need it for daily life.

Living with a host family is one of the fastest ways to practise: you speak Spanish every day at home.

Cost of living in Valencia for students

Most students spend between €800 and €1,200 a month, depending on their room and lifestyle. These are typical monthly costs:

Rent is the biggest cost. Our rooms currently cost from €370 to €620 a month with all bills included, so you know your housing cost upfront. Budget too for a deposit (usually one month's rent) and, with many landlords and agencies, a one-off fee.

Tuition depends on where you study: Erasmus students pay nothing to the host university, EU students pay public fees at UV and UPV, and private universities set their own, much higher, fees.

Where students live in Valencia

Most students rent a private room in a shared flat or live with a host family. Purpose-built student residences exist too, but are usually more expensive. Popular areas include:

• Benimaclet: the classic student neighbourhood, next to the UPV and Tarongers campuses, with a village feel and cheap bars.
• Algirós and Blasco Ibáñez: between the Blasco Ibáñez and Tarongers campuses, and a short ride to the beach.
• Ruzafa (Russafa) and El Carmen: central, lively and full of cafés and nightlife, but further from the main campuses and pricier.
• Burjassot: a practical choice if you study at the UV Burjassot-Paterna campus.

Choose your area by where your faculty is: a 15-minute bike ride saves a lot of time over a year. Every ValeRoom listing shows the walking and cycling time to each university.

Rooms near the universities go quickly, especially for September. Start looking in spring, and be wary of anyone asking for a deposit for a room you haven't seen in photos or video. You can browse verified student accommodation in Valencia and reserve before you arrive.

Visa, NIE and TIE: paperwork for students

EU, EEA and Swiss students don't need a visa. If you stay longer than three months you must register as a resident and get a certificado de registro de ciudadano de la UE, which includes your NIE (foreigner identification number).

Students from outside the EU need a student visa from the Spanish consulate in their home country for stays longer than 90 days. If your stay is longer than six months, you must apply for a TIE (foreigner identity card) within one month of arriving in Spain.

Appointments (cita previa) at the immigration office and police stations are hard to get, so book as soon as you can, and ask your university's international office: many help students with the process. Rules change, so always check the latest requirements with the Spanish consulate or your university.

For healthcare, EU students should bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); non-EU students need private health insurance, which is also a visa requirement.

Bank account and phone

Many students manage with a European online bank or a multi-currency card for the first months. A Spanish bank account becomes useful for paying rent and bills; most banks ask for your passport and NIE, and some open non-resident accounts with just a passport. Compare fees: some charge monthly fees unless you're under a certain age or receive regular deposits.

For your phone, prepaid SIM cards from Spanish operators are cheap and quick to set up with your passport, and monthly plans with plenty of data cost around €8–€15.

Getting around Valencia

• Bike: the easiest way to get around. Valenbisi, the city's bike-share scheme, has an inexpensive annual subscription, and the bike lane network reaches all the main campuses.
• Metro and tram (Metrovalencia): covers the city and nearby towns, including Burjassot and the airport (lines 3 and 5).
• Bus (EMT): a dense city bus network, with night buses at weekends.

If you're under 30, youth monthly passes for buses and metro cost far less than standard tickets, usually under €30 a month. Prices have changed several times recently with government subsidies, so check the current prices on the EMT and Metrovalencia websites.

Academic calendar

• First semester: mid-September to late January, with exams in January.
• Second semester: early February to June, with exams in May and June.
• Resits: usually in June or July.
• Holidays: Christmas (about two weeks), Las Fallas in mid-March and Easter week.

Dates vary slightly by university and faculty, so check your own university's official calendar before booking flights and accommodation.

Student life in Valencia

Student life happens outdoors. Afternoons in the Turia gardens, evenings on the Malvarrosa and Patacona beaches, tapas in Benimaclet and Ruzafa, and weekends exploring the old town, the Albufera lagoon or nearby towns by train. The universities have sports facilities and student associations, and Erasmus groups organise trips and events all year.

Don't miss Las Fallas (15–19 March), when the whole city fills with giant sculptures, fireworks and street parties, and try a real Valencian paella, which is made with chicken and rabbit, not seafood.