Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Southern Catalonia's public university, spread across Tarragona, Reus and four other towns, with its own Faculty of Oenology.
- Students
- 16,590
- International
- 12%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €1,061
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1991
About URV
The Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) was created by the Parliament of Catalonia in 1991 from existing faculties and schools in the Tarragona area, reviving the 16th-century University of Tarragona. It is named after Antoni Rovira i Virgili, a Tarragona writer, historian and politician who was president of the Parliament of Catalonia in exile. It is the public university of southern Catalonia, with campuses in Tarragona, Reus, Vila-seca, Tortosa, El Vendrell and Vilafranca del Penedès.
URV had 16,590 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 2024-25, taught by 1,262 full-time teaching and research staff. It offers 58 bachelor's degrees, 61 university master's degrees and 26 doctoral programmes through twelve faculties and schools, including a Faculty of Oenology, a Faculty of Tourism and Geography, a School of Chemical Engineering and a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Its researchers published about 1,900 papers in 2024, 51% with international co-authors.
URV stresses small class groups, close contact with teaching staff and internships in companies, including dual degrees that combine academic study with professional training. It is a member of the Aurora European University alliance and is committed to the Catalan language and culture. It suits students who want a mid-sized public university in a Mediterranean coastal region at regulated Catalan public fees.
Sapientiae Liberi Libertati Sapientes
“For wisdom free, for freedom wise” — university motto
Why students choose URV
Regulated Catalan public fees: 17.69 euros per credit for first-time enrolment in 2026-27, about 1,060 euros for a standard 60-credit year before fixed charges.
A dedicated Faculty of Oenology in a wine-producing region, alongside a School of Chemical Engineering and a Faculty of Tourism and Geography.
Small class groups, company internships and dual degrees that combine study with professional training.
Membership of the Aurora European University alliance, with exchange and mobility options.
Admissions
2027-28 academic year entry
Selectivity
Places on each degree are allocated through Catalonia's centralised pre-registration (preinscripció) by admission score, combining the access mark with weighted subject exams; cut-off marks vary by degree and are published by the Generalitat. URV does not publish an overall acceptance rate.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato plus PAU | Access mark from Bachillerato and PAU, plus weighted specific-phase subjects for the admission score; degree cut-offs vary |
|---|---|
| EU or reciprocal-system diploma, IB or European Baccalaureate | UNEDasiss accreditation giving an access mark of 5-10; optional PAU or PCE subject exams to raise the admission score |
| Non-EU school diploma | Homologation of the diploma to the Spanish Bachillerato (or the UNEDasiss route), then pre-registration |
| English language | URV does not publish a general English requirement for bachelor's entry; teaching languages vary by degree, and the university is committed to the Catalan language. Check each degree's language information before applying. |
Deadlines
- University pre-registration, June call (2026 dates) Non-binding Passed2 to 26 June 2026
First allocation of places published on 10 July 2026; students assigned their first choice enrolled from 14 to 17 July, with further allocations through to October.
- University pre-registration, September call (2026 dates) Non-binding Passed16 and 17 September 2026
For remaining places; first allocation published 25 September and enrolment on 28 September 2026.
These are the Catalan pre-registration dates for 2026-27, the latest published. The 2027-28 calendar is set by the Generalitat and will follow a similar June window.
How to apply
Apply through the Generalitat de Catalunya's university pre-registration on the Portal d'accés a la universitat, listing URV degrees in order of preference. Students with foreign qualifications first obtain UNEDasiss accreditation or homologation. After places are assigned, you enrol online with URV.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised upper-secondary qualification giving university access (PAU, UNEDasiss accreditation or homologated diploma).
- A high admission score, including weighted marks in subjects relevant to the degree.
- For degrees with limited places, a score above that year's cut-off mark.
Tips for applying to URV
- 1 Check the Generalitat's weighting table (taula de ponderacions): the right PAU or PCE subjects raise your admission score for a given degree.
- 2 International students should apply for UNEDasiss accreditation well before the June pre-registration window.
- 3 List several URV degrees in your pre-registration in order of preference, since places are allocated by score.
- 4 Look at URV's dual degrees if you want paid professional training built into your bachelor's.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Students can apply for the Generalitat's Equitat income-based grants, which reduce the first-time credit price to 3.54 or 5.31 euros. URV publishes its own grants and awards and lists fee exemptions. Repeat enrolments cost more per credit (21.85 euros the second time, 47.34 the third).
- 17.69 euros
- Credit price, first enrolment (2026-27)
- 3.54 or 5.31 euros depending on income bracket
- Credit price with Equitat grant
- 69.80 euros
- Annual academic records fee
Academics
Oenology
Taught by URV's own Faculty of Oenology in southern Catalonia's wine country.
Chemical Engineering
Offered by a dedicated School of Chemical Engineering, alongside a separate Faculty of Chemistry.
Medicine
Taught by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; places are allocated by admission score through Catalan pre-registration.
Tourism
From the Faculty of Tourism and Geography; comedian Eva Soriano is a graduate.
Biochemistry and biotechnology
Science communicator Pere Estupinyà majored in biochemistry at URV.
Research
- About 1,900 scientific papers in 2024, 51% with international collaboration (Web of Science / Scopus).
- 33.9 million euros in research and innovation funding secured by URV and related entities in 2024, and 288 technology transfer projects.
- 211 doctoral theses defended in 2023-24.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology
- Faculty of Legal Sciences
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Oenology
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Tourism and Geography
- School of Architecture
- School of Engineering
- School of Chemical Engineering
Student life
URV is a multi-campus university, with the Catalunya and Sescelades campuses in Tarragona, the Bellissens campus in Reus, and further campuses in Vila-seca, Terres de l'Ebre (Tortosa), Baix Penedès (El Vendrell) and Vilafranca del Penedès. The Rectorate occupies a restored red-brick former municipal slaughterhouse in Tarragona. Student life includes music, cinema, theatre, debate and art programmes, URV sports, the annual URV Festa Major, volunteering and student associations, and there is an accommodation office and a housing exchange.
- Arts programmes: Aula de Música, Aula de Cinema, Aula de Teatre, Aula de Debat and Aula d'Art.
- The URV Festa Major, the university's annual festival.
- URV Sports and wellbeing and psychological support services.
- Member of the Aurora European University alliance.
Housing. URV runs an accommodation office and a housing exchange (Borsa d'habitatge) to help students find rooms near each campus.
Location
Tarragona is a coastal city and provincial capital in southern Catalonia. URV's campuses are spread across the province, so depending on your degree you may live in Tarragona itself, in the neighbouring city of Reus, or in smaller towns such as Tortosa and Vilafranca del Penedès. Barcelona-El Prat is the main international airport for the region.
Nearest airport: Reus Airport (REU); Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- PE Pere EstupinyàScience communicator; degrees in chemistry and biochemistry from URV
- JB Josep BargallóFormer Catalan Minister of Education; master's in Catalan language, literature and culture from URV
- RC Raquel Córcoles (Moderna de Pueblo)Illustrator and comic author; studied advertising, journalism and audiovisual communication at URV
- LR Lorena RoldánPolitician and Spanish senator; bachelor's and master's in law from URV
- ES Eva SorianoComedian and TV presenter; graduated in Tourism and Leisure (2013)
- MF Mayo Fuster MorellResearcher on digital commons and platform cooperativism; degree in anthropology from URV
Frequently asked questions
How much are tuition fees at Universitat Rovira i Virgili?
For 2026-27 a bachelor's credit costs 17.69 euros on first enrolment, about 1,061 euros for 60 credits, plus roughly 145 euros in fixed charges. URV applies the same bachelor's price to non-EU students; its higher price for non-resident non-EU students applies only to master's degrees.
How do I apply to URV?
Through the Generalitat de Catalunya's university pre-registration, which ran from 2 to 26 June in 2026. International students first get UNEDasiss accreditation or homologate their diploma.
Do I need to take the PAU to study at URV?
Spanish students take the PAU. EU, IB and European Baccalaureate students can enter with a UNEDasiss access mark and optionally sit PAU or PCE subject exams to raise their admission score.
Where is URV located?
Its main campuses are in Tarragona and Reus, with further campuses in Vila-seca, Tortosa, El Vendrell and Vilafranca del Penedès.
Does URV have an oenology degree?
Yes. URV has a dedicated Faculty of Oenology among its twelve faculties and schools.
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.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to URV in the QS World University Rankings 2027.