Complutense University of Madrid
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
A 26-faculty public university on Madrid's Ciudad Universitaria: grade-ranked entry, fees from 17 euros per credit.
- Students
- 64,407
- 47,353 undergraduates
- Tuition
- €6,823
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1293
- QS World Ranking
- #199
- 2027 edition
About UCM
The Complutense University of Madrid traces its origins to a general school of studies founded in 1293 at Alcalá de Henares, refounded as a university by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499 and moved to Madrid in 1836. Today it is one of Spain's largest universities, with 64,407 students enrolled in 2025-26, including 47,353 bachelor's students at its own faculties, and 6,826 teaching and research staff.
The university has 26 faculties and 133 departments, mostly on the Moncloa campus (Ciudad Universitaria) in north-west Madrid, with the Somosaguas campus for social sciences. For 2025-26 it offered 74 bachelor's degrees, 22 double degrees and 16 international degrees, such as Law with the Sorbonne and Business with HWR Berlin; Business Administration and Economics can be studied in English.
Admission is centralised through the Madrid public universities' pre-enrolment, with places allocated strictly by admission grade out of 14, so competition depends on the degree: Medicine had a cut-off of 13.053 for 2026-27, while some humanities degrees had spare places. UCM suits students who want a large, affordable public university in Spain's capital and can study in Spanish.
Libertas perfundet omnia luce
“Freedom will flood all things with light” — university motto
Why students choose UCM
First-enrolment tuition is 16.92 to 20.68 euros per credit in 2026-27, roughly 1,000 to 1,250 euros for a 60-credit year.
Business Administration and Economics are offered in English, alongside international degrees with partners such as the Sorbonne and HWR Berlin.
Alumni include Nobel laureates Severo Ochoa and Mario Vargas Llosa, and the molecular biologist Margarita Salas.
26 faculties, 15 university clinics and hospitals and 27 libraries on a single large campus network in Madrid.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (dates below are from the 2026-27 pre-enrolment)
Selectivity
No overall admission rate is published. Places are allocated by admission grade (out of 14); 2026-27 ordinary-phase cut-offs included Medicine 13.053, Mathematics-Physics 13.715, Biotechnology 12.366, Physics 11.625, Business Administration in English 10.667, Psychology 10.544, Computer Engineering 10.492, Economics in English 9.615 and Law 8.154.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | Admission grade above the degree's cut-off, e.g. 13.053 for Medicine or 8.154 for Law (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| IB, European Baccalaureate or EU/agreement-country qualification | UNEDasiss accreditation of the admission grade; PCE tests to add weighted subject points |
| Non-EU secondary qualification | Homologation by the Spanish Ministry of Education plus UNEDasiss accreditation and PCE tests; without an accredited Bachillerato track, only degrees with vacancies after both admission phases are open |
| English language | Students from non-Spanish-speaking countries and education systems must prove Spanish at B2 (DELE, SIELE or equivalent) unless the degree sets a different level. English-taught degrees set their own English requirement. |
Deadlines
- Law UCM-Sorbonne international degree Non-binding Passed18 June 2026, 14:00 (2026-27 cycle)
Requires a specific entrance test.
- Ordinary pre-enrolment (general) Non-binding Passed26 June 2026, 23:59 (2026-27 cycle)
Opened 5 June 2026; admission lists published 10 July 2026.
- Ordinary pre-enrolment (foreign education systems) Non-binding Passed6 July 2026, 14:00 (2026-27 cycle)
Opened 5 June 2026 for students from foreign education systems.
- Extraordinary pre-enrolment Non-binding Passed24 July 2026, 23:59 (2026-27 cycle)
Opened 20 July 2026 for remaining places; lists published 3 September 2026.
The 2027-28 calendar is not yet published; dates shown are for 2026-27. UNEDasiss accreditation and PCE tests take place months earlier, so plan from the start of your final school year.
How to apply
Apply online in the UCM pre-enrolment, choosing up to 12 degrees in order of preference across the six Madrid public universities. International applicants attach their UNEDasiss accreditation (or proof of having requested it) and Spanish B2 certificate; places are allocated by admission grade.
What admissions looks for
- An admission grade (out of 14) above the cut-off for the chosen degree; allocation is strictly by grade.
- Strong results in the specific subjects that UCM weights for each degree, from the PAU or UNEDasiss PCE.
- Spanish at B2 level for applicants from non-Spanish-speaking systems.
- Properly recognised school qualifications (UNEDasiss accreditation, and homologation for non-EU systems).
Tips for applying to UCM
- 1 Check UCM's subject weighting tables (ponderaciones) and take the PCE subjects that count most for your degree: they can add up to 4 points.
- 2 Non-EU applicants should accredit a Bachillerato track through PCE; without it you can only enter degrees that still have vacancies after both admission phases.
- 3 Rank up to 12 choices carefully across the six Madrid public universities; your order cannot be changed after the deadline.
- 4 Budget for non-EU fees: students without Spanish residence pay the fourth-enrolment rate of 113.71 to 136.44 euros per credit.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Fees are set by the Community of Madrid's public price decree and vary by the degree's experimentality level. Non-EU students with Spanish residence, or from countries with bilateral agreements, pay the standard first-enrolment price. Exemptions and discounts (for example for large families) are listed on the UCM exemptions page, and Spanish government scholarships are available to eligible students.
- 16.92 to 20.68 euros
- First-enrolment price per credit (2026-27)
- 113.71 to 136.44 euros
- Non-resident non-EU price per credit (2026-27)
- 27.54 euros
- Account opening fee (new students)
Academics
Medicine
UCM's most competitive single degree, with a 2026-27 cut-off of 13.053 out of 14.
Mathematics - Physics (double degree)
The highest cut-off listed, 13.715 out of 14, for 2026-27.
Business Administration and Management (in English)
Taught in English, with a 2026-27 cut-off of 10.667 and an international version with HWR Berlin.
Law, UCM-Sorbonne international degree
A joint international law degree with its own entrance test and an earlier application deadline.
Biotechnology
A level-1 science degree with a 2026-27 cut-off of 12.366.
Research
- UCM has 27 university research institutes and 15 university clinics and hospitals (2025-26).
- Severo Ochoa, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1959, and molecular biologist Margarita Salas studied at the university.
- The university's budget for 2025 was 632.4 million euros.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences
- Faculty of Philosophy
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences
- Faculty of Mathematical Sciences
- Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Information Sciences
Student life
Most UCM students study on the Moncloa campus, the Ciudad Universitaria, a large green campus of faculty buildings in north-west Madrid, while social sciences are on the Somosaguas campus. The university has 113 registered student associations and 5 of its own halls of residence (colegios mayores), plus 27 libraries. With over 64,000 students, it is a big, busy university, and many students live in shared flats across the city.
- 113 student associations (2025-26).
- 5 UCM colegios mayores (halls of residence).
- 27 libraries across the campuses.
- International degrees with the Sorbonne, HWR Berlin and other partners.
Housing. UCM runs 5 colegios mayores, but most students rent privately in Madrid.
Location
Madrid is Spain's capital and largest city. The Ciudad Universitaria sits in the Moncloa district in the north-west of the city, close to the Parque del Oeste and connected to the centre by metro. Madrid offers museums, a huge student population and an active nightlife, but rents are high, so budget for housing.
Nearest airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Notable alumni
- SO Severo OchoaBiochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1959; studied medicine in Madrid
- MV Mario Vargas LlosaNovelist, Nobel Prize in Literature 2010; doctorate from the Complutense
- MS Margarita SalasMolecular biologist who discovered phi29 DNA polymerase
- JO José Ortega y GassetPhilosopher; PhD 1904
- QL Queen Letizia of SpainQueen consort of Spain and former journalist; studied journalism
- JS Javier SolanaPhysicist, NATO Secretary General and EU foreign policy chief
- PS Pedro SánchezPrime Minister of Spain; graduated from a college attached to the Complutense
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Complutense cost for international students?
EU and resident students pay 16.92 to 20.68 euros per credit (about 1,000 to 1,250 euros a year). Non-EU students without Spanish residence, from countries without a bilateral agreement, pay the fourth-enrolment rate of 113.71 to 136.44 euros per credit, about 6,800 to 8,200 euros for 60 credits (2026-27).
What grade do I need to get into the Complutense?
It depends on the degree. For 2026-27 cut-offs (out of 14) included 13.053 for Medicine, 10.544 for Psychology, 10.667 for Business Administration in English and 8.154 for Law.
How do international students apply to the Complutense?
Get UNEDasiss accreditation (plus homologation for non-EU systems), take PCE subject tests to raise your grade, prove Spanish B2 if needed, and apply in the UCM pre-enrolment, ranking up to 12 degrees.
When is the Complutense application deadline?
In 2026 the ordinary pre-enrolment ran from 5 June to 26 June, with students from foreign education systems allowed until 6 July; an extraordinary phase ran 20-24 July. The 2027 dates are not yet published.
Does the Complutense teach in English?
Most degrees are taught in Spanish, but Business Administration and Economics are offered in English, and some international degrees use English.
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.
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