Comillas Pontifical University
Universidad Pontificia Comillas
A private Jesuit university in Madrid, home to the ICADE business and law schools and the ICAI engineering school.
- Students
- 16,442
- 9,467 undergraduates
- Tuition
- €3,595
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1890
- QS World Ranking
- #643
- 2027 edition
About Comillas
Comillas Pontifical University began in 1890 as a seminary founded by Pope Leo XIII in the Cantabrian town of Comillas and entrusted to the Jesuits; it became a pontifical university in 1904 and moved to Madrid in 1969. In 1978 the Jesuits merged their Madrid schools ICAI (engineering, founded 1908) and ICADE (business, founded 1956) into it, and those two brands now define its reputation. It is private and run by the Spanish Province of the Society of Jesus.
Teaching is organised in faculties and schools grouped as Comillas ICADE (Economics and Business Administration; Law), Comillas ICAI (engineering), Comillas CIHS (Theology, Canon Law, Humanities and Social Sciences) and the San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physiotherapy. It is known for double degrees such as Business Administration and Law (E-3), Law and International Relations (E-5) and Industrial Engineering with Business Administration. Most programmes are taught in Spanish, but Business Administration (E-2 English), Business Analytics (E-8) and Global Communication can be taken in English.
Admission is by the university's own process rather than the Spanish PAU score alone: your last three school years are combined with Comillas's written tests, and some programmes add interviews or a psychometric test. Students abroad can instead submit SAT or PAA scores. It suits applicants who want a demanding, career-focused private university in central Madrid.
Why students choose Comillas
Double degrees that combine business, law, international relations, analytics and engineering, such as E-3 (Business Administration and Law) and GITI+ADE.
Fully English-taught bachelor's options: Business Administration (E-2 English), Business Analytics (E-8) and Global Communication.
Its own admission tests weight school grades and test results differently by programme, e.g. 50/50 at ICADE and 35/65 at ICAI.
Need-based grants usually cover 40% to 75% of monthly fees, and Comillas students can also apply for Spanish Ministry and Madrid excellence grants.
Admissions
2027/28 entry
Selectivity
Comillas does not publish an admission rate or a fixed minimum grade. Each round, it ranks candidates on a weighted mix of school record and its own tests and distributes places based on expected applicants and past cut-offs; some degrees keep a waiting list until June.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato | Academic record from 3rd and 4th ESO and 1st Bachillerato plus Comillas admission tests; admitted students must then meet the legal requirements for Spanish university entry |
|---|---|
| International school systems (last two years abroad) | Equivalent academic record plus SAT or PAA scores, and any programme-specific tests or interviews; official Spanish translation of transcripts where needed |
| English language | For E-4, E-2 in English and E-8, applicants without a B2 or higher certificate (TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or IELTS) take an online oral English test. All candidates sit a written English test. Candidates whose mother tongue is not Spanish must show sufficient Spanish for Spanish-taught programmes. |
Deadlines
- First call (ICADE, ICAI, CIHS, MACC, INEA) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027
Applications opened on 1 October 2026; admission tests on 30 January 2027, results about 20 days later.
- Second call Non-binding In ~6 months14 April 2027
Admission tests on 8 May 2027. Comillas says candidates have the same chances in January and May.
- SAT/PAA international route Non-bindingRolling during the school year
For students finishing their Bachillerato abroad; decisions within about 20 days of receiving the application and College Board scores.
Some programmes (Education, Sport Sciences, Social Work and Criminology, Philosophy, PPE, Translation, Global Communication and Gastronomy) also hold successive admission tests later in the year. Once you choose the traditional or the international route you cannot switch.
How to apply
Apply online through the Comillas admissions portal and pay the 85 euro application fee, upload ID, certified transcripts for the last three school years (with sworn Spanish translation if not in an official Spanish language) and an optional English certificate. Once validated, you are called to the admission tests (or send SAT/PAA scores); admitted students pay a place reservation and enrol online.
What admissions looks for
- A strong academic record over the last three completed school years.
- Good results in the programme's admission tests, with mathematics weighing more for business degrees and physics for ICAI engineering.
- For CIHS degrees, a personal interview or, for Psychology, a psychometric test.
- English at B2 or above for the English-taught ICADE programmes.
Tips for applying to Comillas
- 1 Apply in the January round if you can: you get your answer by February and can reserve a place early.
- 2 If you are finishing school abroad, SAT or PAA scores can replace the written Comillas tests; send them to College Board code 12802.
- 3 Upload a B2+ English certificate (TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or IELTS) to skip the oral English test for English-taught business programmes.
- 4 Use the grant simulator before applying and request a grant with your application if you need aid.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Comillas runs its own scholarship programmes by faculty to help with monthly fees; grants generally cover 40% to 75%, and more in exceptional cases. Students can also apply for the Spanish Ministry of Education grant and the Community of Madrid excellence scholarship, and Comillas works with some halls of residence on accommodation grants for students from outside Madrid.
- 40% to 75% of fees
- Typical Comillas grant
- 85 euros
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (September to June)
Business Administration and Law double degree (E-3)
ICADE's flagship double degree, with 839 students enrolled in 2021-22; about 18,400 euros a year.
Industrial Technologies Engineering (GITI)
ICAI's largest engineering degree (918 students in 2021-22), also offered as a double degree with Business Administration.
Business Administration in English (E-2 English)
A 100% English-taught ICADE business degree for about 15,433 euros a year.
Mathematical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (iMAT)
An ICAI degree combining applied mathematics and AI.
International Relations and Global Communication double degree
Pairs international relations with an English-taught communication degree.
Psychology and Criminology double degree
One of CIHS's most popular programmes (238 students in 2021-22), with a psychometric admission test.
Research
- The Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) is attached to the ICAI School of Engineering.
- Research institutes include the Institute for Migration Research, the University Institute on the Family and the Law Innovation Center (CID-ICADE).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (Comillas ICADE)
- Faculty of Law (Comillas ICADE)
- ICAI School of Engineering
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Comillas CIHS)
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Canon Law
- San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physiotherapy
Comillas highlights high graduate employment and close ties with companies through its careers service; it did not publish a current employment rate on the pages reviewed.
Student life
Comillas is a city university with two main campuses in Madrid: Alberto Aguilera, in the city centre, and Cantoblanco in the north, where admission tests are also held. The red-brick ICADE building on Alberto Aguilera is its best-known landmark. Students live at home, in shared flats or in colegios mayores and residences, some of which partner with Comillas on accommodation grants for students from outside Madrid. Its 804 international agreements brought 1,863 incoming exchange students in 2023-24.
- Main campuses at Alberto Aguilera (central Madrid) and Cantoblanco.
- 1,863 incoming exchange students in 2023-24 through Erasmus and bilateral agreements.
- Future students' days and open days for each school through the year.
- Accommodation grants in partnership with halls of residence for students from outside Madrid.
Housing. Comillas has no guaranteed housing; it works with some colegios mayores and university residences in Madrid, including on accommodation grants.
Location
Madrid is Spain's capital and largest city, and Comillas's Alberto Aguilera campus sits in a central district within easy reach of the rest of the city by public transport. The Cantoblanco campus lies in the northern outskirts. As a private university, Comillas draws students from across Spain, many of whom need to find accommodation in the city.
Nearest airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD)
Notable alumni
- JL José Luis Martínez-AlmeidaMayor of Madrid; law degree from ICADE (1998)
- FB Fátima BáñezSpain's Minister of Employment and Social Security (2011–2018); law and business degrees from ICADE
- AM Amparo MoraledaBusiness executive; industrial engineering degree from Comillas (ICAI)
- IC Ismael ClementeCo-founder and CEO of Merlin Properties; law and business double degree from ICADE
- CL Carmen LamelaJudge of the Criminal Chamber of Spain's Supreme Court, formerly at the National Court; law degree from ICADE (1984)
- LL Luis Ladaria FerrerJesuit theologian and cardinal; studied at Comillas
- AR Arthur RocheCardinal and prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship (from 2021); theology degree from Comillas, studied at St Alban's College, Valladolid
Frequently asked questions
Does Comillas use the Spanish PAU (Selectividad) for admission?
No. Comillas admits students through its own process: your last three school years plus its admission tests (or SAT/PAA if you study abroad). Admitted students must still meet the legal requirements for Spanish university entry.
When is the Comillas application deadline for 2027?
Apply by 13 January 2027 for the tests on 30 January 2027, or by 14 April 2027 for the tests on 8 May 2027. Applications opened on 1 October 2026.
How much does Comillas cost per year?
Fees depend on the programme and are the same for all nationalities: about 7,700 euros for Psychology, 15,100 for Law, 15,400 for Business Administration in English and 16,000 for engineering, up to about 18,600 for some double degrees.
Can I study at Comillas in English?
Yes, for some programmes: Business Administration (E-2 English), Business Analytics (E-8) and Global Communication are taught in English. Most other degrees are in Spanish.
Does Comillas accept the SAT?
Yes, for students finishing school abroad: the SAT is accepted for ICADE, ICAI and CIHS programmes and the PAA for CIHS. Send scores through College Board with code 12802.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- Comillas: Undergraduate admissions information (English)
- Comillas: Información de admisión grado 2027-28 (Spanish, dates, fees and documents)
- Comillas: Información sobre las pruebas de admisión 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Comillas: Degrees catalogue with programme prices
- Comillas: Business Administration in English (E-2 English)
- Comillas: Industrial Technologies Engineering (GITI)
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Comillas in the QS World University Rankings 2027.