Autonomous University of Madrid
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Madrid's campus university at Cantoblanco, where King Felipe VI studied law, with fees from 16.92 euros a credit.
- Students
- 30,826
- 23,407 undergraduates
- Tuition
- €6,823
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1968
- QS World Ranking
- #226
- 2027 edition
About UAM
The Universidad Autónoma de Madrid was founded by decree in 1968, alongside the Autonomous University of Barcelona, to relieve Spain's overcrowded universities. Most of it sits on the Cantoblanco campus in the north of the Madrid region, connected to the city by Cercanías commuter trains and buses; the Faculty of Medicine is next to La Paz University Hospital in the city. King Felipe VI studied law here.
In 2024-25 UAM had 30,826 students: 23,407 on bachelor's degrees, 3,239 on master's degrees and 4,180 doctoral candidates. It offers 63 bachelor's degrees and 94 master's degrees across eight centres: the Faculties of Science, Economics and Business, Law, Philosophy and Arts, Teacher Training and Education, Medicine and Psychology, and the Escuela Politécnica Superior for engineering. More than 2,500 teaching staff work across 67 departments.
Admission is centralised across Madrid's public universities through the single district (Distrito Único de Madrid), with places awarded by admission mark from the PAU or, for international students, a UNEDasiss accreditation. Public fees are low for residents and EU citizens, but non-resident non-EU students pay the higher fourth-enrolment rate. UAM suits students who want a strong research university, especially in science, law, medicine and psychology, on a large green campus near Madrid.
Why students choose UAM
Public prices start at 16.92 euros per credit for first enrolment, about 1,015 euros for a 60-credit year for residents and EU citizens.
UAM's own figures show QS subject ranks of 69th in Physics and Astronomy, 74th in Psychology and 84th in Law.
Its Faculty of Medicine sits beside La Paz University Hospital, one of Madrid's major teaching hospitals.
UAM is part of CIVIS, a European university alliance of eleven universities, which widens exchange options.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (autumn 2027)
Selectivity
UAM does not publish an overall admission rate. Places are allocated by admission mark (out of 14) through Madrid's single public university district, and each degree's cut-off mark (nota de corte) varies from year to year.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | Admission mark above the degree's cut-off |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA or reciprocal-agreement qualifications (e.g. IB, European Baccalaureate) | UNEDasiss accreditation (5 to 10 points), optionally raised with PCE subject tests |
| Other foreign qualifications | Diploma recognised as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato, plus UNEDasiss accreditation |
Deadlines
- Madrid single-district pre-enrolment, UNEDasiss applicants (2026/27 intake, for reference) Non-binding Passed6 July 2026, 14:00
Past cycle. Applications for students with foreign qualifications ran from 5 June to 6 July 2026.
The 2027/28 admission calendar had not been published by 29 September 2026. For 2026/27 the ordinary pre-enrolment for students with UNEDasiss accreditation ran from 5 June to 6 July 2026, and an extraordinary round followed, with results on 3 September. Expect a similar June-July window in 2027.
How to apply
Get your UNEDasiss accreditation (or sit the PAU), then submit a single pre-enrolment for all Madrid public universities through the Distrito Único de Madrid, listing degrees in order of preference. Places are allocated by admission mark and results are published by each university.
What admissions looks for
- An admission mark above the degree's cut-off, combining your access mark with weighted specific subjects.
- For international students, a valid UNEDasiss accreditation (a provisional one gives only conditional admission).
- Extra points from specific-subject tests (PCE or PAU voluntary phase) relevant to the degree.
Tips for applying to UAM
- 1 Take UNEDasiss PCE tests in subjects that UAM weights for your degree to add up to 4 points.
- 2 A provisional UNEDasiss accreditation only gives conditional admission; your final mark must reach the last admitted student's mark.
- 3 Check UAM's published cut-off marks from previous years before ranking your choices.
- 4 Non-EU students without Spanish residence should budget for the fourth-enrolment credit price.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Spanish Ministry of Education grants are the main source of aid for bachelor's students, and UAM publishes rules for free enrolment and fee reductions. Non-resident non-EU students pay the fourth-enrolment price set by the Madrid government's public price decree (Decreto 43/2022).
- 16.92 to 20.68 euros
- Price per credit, first enrolment
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Physics
UAM reports a QS subject rank of 69th in Physics and Astronomy and 76-100 in ARWU Physics.
Psychology
UAM reports a QS subject rank of 74th in Psychology.
Law
UAM reports a QS subject rank of 84th in Law; King Felipe VI studied law here.
Medicine
Taught at the Faculty of Medicine next to La Paz University Hospital; the degree holds a World Federation for Medical Education seal.
Computer Engineering
Taught at the Escuela Politécnica Superior and holds the EURO-INF quality label.
Mathematics
UAM reports an ARWU subject band of 101-150 in Mathematics.
Research
- Nobel laureate Severo Ochoa and molecular biologist Margarita Salas worked at UAM.
- UAM lists 642 doctoral theses defended in 2024.
- UAM's degrees in Chemistry, Computer Engineering and Medicine, and its chemical and telecommunications engineering degrees, hold international quality labels (Eurolabel, EURO-INF, WFME and EUR-ACE).
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Philosophy and Arts
- Faculty of Teacher Training and Education
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Psychology
- Escuela Politécnica Superior (engineering)
UAM reported 6,765 bachelor's and master's graduates in 2024-25; it does not state a single employment rate in its summary figures.
Student life
Life at UAM centres on the Cantoblanco campus, a large green site outside the city with faculties, libraries, sports facilities, residences and cultural and volunteering activities; most students commute from Madrid by Cercanías train or bus. Medicine students are based at the city campus by La Paz hospital. Around 1,500 international students from 50 countries join each year, and the CIVIS alliance adds European exchange options. Students can take part in UAM's sports facilities, cultural, music and art programmes and solidarity and volunteering activities.
- Cantoblanco campus in a natural setting north of Madrid, reached by commuter train and bus.
- Medicine and Nursing campus beside La Paz University Hospital.
- About 1,500 international students from 50 countries each year.
- Member of the CIVIS European university alliance.
Housing. UAM has halls of residence (colegios mayores and residencias) linked to the university, but most students live in Madrid or nearby towns and commute.
Location
The Cantoblanco campus lies north of Madrid near Alcobendas and Tres Cantos, about 20 minutes from the Puerta del Sol by Cercanías train according to the university. Students get a quiet green campus while living in or near Spain's capital, with its museums, nightlife and job market. Madrid-Barajas airport and the city's rail hubs make weekend travel easy.
Nearest airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Notable alumni
- FV Felipe VIKing of Spain; studied law
- TJ Trinidad JiménezFormer Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs; law graduate
- CG Cristina GarmendiaFormer Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation; PhD in molecular biology
- BG Belén GopeguiNovelist and screenwriter; law graduate
- CB Carlos BardemActor and writer; history graduate
- CN Cristina NevadoOrganometallic chemist at the University of Zurich; chemistry graduate (2000)
Frequently asked questions
How much does UAM cost for international students?
Residents and EU citizens pay 16.92 to 20.68 euros per credit (about 1,015 to 1,241 euros a year). Non-resident students from outside the EU pay the fourth-enrolment price of 113.71 to 136.44 euros per credit, about 6,800 to 8,200 euros a year.
How do I apply to UAM with a foreign qualification?
Get a UNEDasiss accreditation, then apply through the Madrid single-district pre-enrolment, which ran 5 June to 6 July 2026 for 2026/27 entry.
What is the UAM cut-off mark?
Each degree has its own cut-off (nota de corte) out of 14, set by the mark of the last student admitted, so it changes every year. UNEDasiss gives 5 to 10 points and specific tests can add up to 4.
Is UAM in Madrid city?
The main campus is at Cantoblanco, north of Madrid, about 20 minutes from the Puerta del Sol by Cercanías train; Medicine is in the city next to La Paz hospital.
What is UAM's acceptance rate?
UAM does not publish one. Admission depends on whether your admission mark beats each degree's cut-off.
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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