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Autonomous University of Barcelona

Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain · Public · Est. 1968

Updated 28 Oct 2026

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Established

1968

Type

Public

Location

Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

QS World University Rankings 2027

211 in the world

About the university

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) was created in 1968; the first faculties opened that October and land for the Bellaterra campus was bought in 1969. It is one of Spain's leading public research universities, recognised as a Campus of International Excellence in 2009, and its campus includes the UAB Research Park, opened in 2007 with Spain's national research council (CSIC) and IRTA.

UAB is strongest in the sciences, engineering, economics, biosciences and medicine. Its campus hosts research centres in nanotechnology, photonics, computer vision and biomedicine, which feed directly into its English-taught master's programmes.

For Indian students the main attraction is price. As a public university, UAB charges non-EU master's students €66–75 per ECTS credit in 2026/27, so most one-year, 60-credit master's cost €4,000–4,500 in tuition. UAB lists 44 master's taught in English, especially in computer vision, bioinformatics, data, telecommunications, nanoscience and economics. Most bachelor's degrees are in Catalan or Spanish.

Bellaterra is a self-contained campus outside Barcelona, linked to the city by commuter train, with the Vila Universitària student village on site. Living on or near campus is noticeably cheaper than in Barcelona city.

Founded
1968 (creation decree of 6 June 1968)
Type
Public university, part of the Catalan public university system
International students
Nearly 10,000 foreign students a year, including degree, exchange and study-abroad students
Campuses
Bellaterra (main campus, in Cerdanyola del Vallès), Sabadell and teaching units in Barcelona hospitals
Programmes in English
11 bachelor's and 44 university master's degrees listed as taught in English
Intake
September; master's pre-registration opens in winter

Rankings

  • QS World University Rankings 2027

    211 in the world

Popular courses with Indian students

View all 9 courses with filters

Fees for international students

Course fees
CourseDurationFee / year (EUR)Approx. in rupees
University Master's Degree in Computer Vision1 year (60 ECTS), School of Engineering; joint with UB, UOC, UPC and UPF€4,500≈ ₹4.8 lakh
University Master's Degree in Bioinformatics1 year (60 ECTS), Faculty of Biosciences; 26 places€4,500≈ ₹4.8 lakh
University Master's Degree in Telecommunication Engineering90 ECTS (about 1.5 years), School of Engineering, Bellaterra; 40 places€3,960≈ ₹4.2 lakh
University Master's Degree in Management, Organization and Business Economics1 year full time (60 ECTS), Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Bellaterra€4,500≈ ₹4.8 lakh
University Master's Degree in Applied Research in Economics and Business1 year (60 ECTS), Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Bellaterra€4,500≈ ₹4.8 lakh
University Master's Degree in Modelling for Science and Engineering1 year (60 ECTS), Faculty of Science; 40 places€3,960≈ ₹4.2 lakh
University Master's Degree in Applied Nanoscience: From Materials to Devices1 year (60 ECTS), Faculty of Science€3,960≈ ₹4.2 lakh
University Master's Degree in Industrial Chemistry and Introduction to Chemical Research1 year (60 ECTS), including six months in an industrial or research laboratory€3,960≈ ₹4.2 lakh

Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

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Scholarships

    Admission requirements

    Undergraduate

    • Most UAB bachelor's degrees are taught in Catalan and Spanish; 11 are listed as taught in English, including Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration and Economics.
    • Places are allocated by admission mark (the Artificial Intelligence degree's cut-off was 10.497), so international applicants need their school results accredited for Spanish university access. Check the admission tab of each degree.
    • UAB does not publish a separate non-EU bachelor's price on the degree pages we checked, so confirm fees before applying.

    Postgraduate

    • A bachelor's degree from a Spanish university or any institution inside or outside the European Higher Education Area, provided it gives access to postgraduate study in the country where it was issued.
    • A relevant subject background; each master's sets its own profile and selection criteria (for example, Bioinformatics prefers life-science, computing, mathematics or physics graduates).
    • English at CEFR B2 for English-taught master's, shown by an official certificate, previous study in English or an interview.
    • Apply through UAB's online master's pre-enrolment; places are limited (often 26–40 per master's) and pre-registration can close early.

    Documents

    • Passport
    • Bachelor's degree certificate and academic transcripts
    • CV
    • English certificate (B2 or above) or proof of previous study in English
    • Motivation letter and any documents the specific master's asks for
    • Equivalence study fee (€218.15) applies to non-EU degrees where required

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    English language requirements

    English requirements
    Test or routeTypical requirement
    English-taught master'sCEFR B2 is the usual level, certified by an official certificate (such as IELTS or TOEFL), native language, or previous study in English.
    No certificateSome master's, such as Bioinformatics, may interview applicants who do not provide an English certificate.
    Catalan or Spanish-taught degreesMost bachelor's and many master's are taught in Catalan or Spanish and need B2 in that language.

    Accommodation and living costs

    The Vila Universitària is UAB's student village on the Bellaterra campus. Off campus, shared flats in Cerdanyola del Vallès are cheaper than in Barcelona. The figures below come from the Vila's 2026/27 postgraduate handbook and UAB's international support budget page.

    Accommodation and living costs
    ItemIn EURApprox. in rupees
    Vila Universitària premium studio, shared use2026/27; linen, weekly cleaning, gym and capped water and electricity included€523per month≈ ₹55,438
    Vila Universitària premium studio, individual use2026/27; €300 deposit plus one month's rent on arrival€1,013per month≈ ₹1.1 lakh
    Room in a shared flat, CerdanyolaUAB international support estimate (Barcelona city €260–400)€180–270per month≈ ₹19,080 – ₹28,620
    FoodUAB estimate€250–350per month≈ ₹26,500 – ₹37,100
    TransportUAB estimate€60–80per month≈ ₹6,360 – ₹8,480

    Campus and location

    UAB is one of the few true campus universities in Spain. Bellaterra has faculties, research institutes, sports facilities, shops and housing in one place, linked to Barcelona by commuter train.

    • Bellaterra campus, in Cerdanyola del Vallès, hosts most faculties, the School of Engineering and the UAB Research Park.
    • The Sabadell campus hosts part of the School of Engineering and some business programmes.
    • Medicine is taught with Barcelona hospitals; Hospital de Sant Pau was UAB's first clinical training centre.
    • Vila Universitària offers furnished apartments on campus for bachelor's, master's and PhD students.
    • UAB estimates a total monthly budget of €720–1,200 for students living in the area.

    Careers and graduate outcomes

    UAB's English-taught master's are closely tied to research centres and industry around Barcelona, and several include work placements. UAB does not publish employment figures for international master's graduates that we could verify. For post-study work options in Spain, see our Spain country guide.

    Graduate outcomes
    WhatFigureSource
    Tuition for a one-year, 60-credit master's (non-EU, 2026/27)€3,960–4,500UAB master's pages 2026/27

    Studying in Spain

    Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Spain. Our country guide covers them in detail:

    Other universities in Spain

    Compare all universities in Spain

    FAQs

    How much does a master's at UAB cost for Indian students?

    In 2026/27 UAB charges non-EU students without an EU residence permit €66 or €75 per ECTS credit, depending on the master's. A 60-credit master's therefore costs about €3,960–4,500 in tuition. Programmes at affiliated schools, such as Sports Management, cost more.

    Does UAB teach in English?

    Yes, for a good number of programmes. UAB lists 44 master's and 11 bachelor's taught in English. Most other courses are taught in Catalan or Spanish.

    What English level do I need?

    Usually CEFR B2, shown by a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, or by previous study in English. Check each master's admission requirements.

    When does the master's start and when should I apply?

    Master's start in September. Pre-registration usually opens in winter (for Bioinformatics, January 2026 for 2026/27 entry) and can close early because places are limited.

    Where is UAB, and is it in Barcelona city?

    The main campus is at Bellaterra, in Cerdanyola del Vallès, outside Barcelona city and connected to it by commuter train. It has its own student village.

    Sources

    1. UAB: studies in English (opens in a new tab)
    2. UAB: University Master's Degree in Bioinformatics (opens in a new tab)
    3. UAB: Bioinformatics admission requirements (opens in a new tab)
    4. UAB: University Master's Degree in Computer Vision (opens in a new tab)
    5. UAB: official master's degrees prices (opens in a new tab)
    6. UAB: brief history (opens in a new tab)
    7. UAB: figures and rankings for international students (opens in a new tab)
    8. UAB: budget for living in Barcelona (opens in a new tab)
    9. Vila Universitària: postgraduate handbook 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
    10. QS World University Rankings (opens in a new tab)

    Official website: www.uab.cat (opens in a new tab)

    Check the latest details

    We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026. Fees, entry requirements and scholarships change every year, so confirm them on the university's website before you apply. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

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