University of Oviedo
Universidad de Oviedo
Asturias's only university, founded in 1608, with free tuition for eligible students in 2026-27.
- Students
- 21,000
- 17,000 undergraduates
- Tuition
- €2,113
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1608
- QS World Ranking
- 901-950
- 2027 edition
About Uniovi
The University of Oviedo is the public university of the Principality of Asturias and the only one in the region. It first opened for classes on 21 September 1608 and today teaches about 21,000 students, of whom more than 17,000 are bachelor's students, on seven campuses in three cities: Oviedo, Gijon and Mieres.
Teaching is spread across 17 faculties and schools and 38 departments. The university lists 60 degrees (including 3 double degrees and 19 bilingual degrees), 60 official master's degrees, 5 Erasmus Mundus master's programmes and 25 doctoral programmes. Double degrees include Business Administration and Law, Physics and Mathematics, and Civil Engineering with Mining and Energy Resources Engineering. It says it develops 80 percent of the region's R&D and has 173 recognised research groups.
Most teaching is in Spanish, with a growing menu of bilingual itineraries and courses taught in English. International students come in through Spain's national access system, with a UNED credential for those from the EU and partner countries and homologation of the secondary diploma for others. The Asturian government pays the public tuition price for eligible students in 2026-27, so the main costs for many are the administrative fee and living expenses. It suits students who want a Spanish-language degree at low cost in a green, mid-sized regional capital.
Why students choose Uniovi
In 2026-27 the Government of Asturias pays the public tuition price for eligible bachelor's and master's students, leaving mainly a 32 euro administrative fee and a 1.12 euro school insurance charge.
There are 19 bilingual degrees and double degrees such as Physics and Mathematics, plus a list of courses taught in English.
La Casa de las Lenguas teaches around a dozen languages including Spanish for foreigners, and the a-dUO programme pairs new international students with a Spanish student from the same campus.
The university is a member of the INGENIUM European university alliance and holds more than 1,000 mobility agreements.
Admissions
2027 entry (2027-28 academic year)
Selectivity
Places in Spanish public universities are awarded by admission mark (access mark plus admission-phase subject marks), so each degree has a published cut-off mark rather than an acceptance rate. The university publishes cut-off marks by degree (2025/2026) on its pre-enrolment page.
Typical entry requirements
| EU, European Baccalaureate, IB, or agreement countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, China, Colombia) | UNED credential for access to Spanish universities, valid for two years; the admission mark can be improved with UNED specific competence tests (PCE) or the admission phase |
|---|---|
| Other non-EU systems without agreements | Homologation of the baccalaureate by the Spanish Ministry of Education, plus the PAU access phase (History of Spain, Spanish Language and Literature, a foreign language, one modality subject) or equivalent UNED tests; places are conditional on vacancies after the ordinary calls |
Deadlines
- Phase A (ordinary call) Non-binding Passed16 to 30 June (2026 dates shown; extended to 7 July for European or International Baccalaureate and UNED-accredited applicants)
Previous cycle: the 2027 dates are not yet published. First allocation was 15 July 2026.
- Phase B (extraordinary call) Non-binding Passed20 to 31 July (2026 dates)
Previous cycle dates.
The 2027-28 calendar has not been published; the dates shown are the previous cycle's (2026-27 entry) from the University of Oviedo's calendar of pre-enrolment and enrolment deadlines. Expect a similar June-July pattern, and check the university's page for 2027.
How to apply
Everyone requests a place (preinscripción) through the University of Oviedo's website in the official period, then enrols online once admitted. For foreign applicants, first obtain the UNED credential or homologation of your qualification. Students with EU, IB or UNED-accredited qualifications may apply in the extended June period.
What admissions looks for
- Admission is allocated by mark: the access mark plus weighted marks for admission-phase subjects relevant to the degree.
- Places are offered in an open district, so applicants compete with those from any Spanish university district.
- Foreign applicants with non-EU qualifications are admitted conditionally on there being vacancies after the ordinary and extraordinary calls.
Tips for applying to Uniovi
- 1 Start the UNED credential or homologation procedure early: the university says the UNED credential is valid for two years.
- 2 Improve your admission mark with the UNED specific competence tests or the voluntary admission phase if your target degree has a high cut-off.
- 3 Check the published cut-off marks by degree before choosing your preferences; you can apply to as many degrees and universities as allowed but only one request per university district.
- 4 Ask whether you qualify for the Asturias free-tuition scheme and tick the box in the enrolment form if you do.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
For 2026-27 the Government of Asturias pays the public tuition price of eligible bachelor's and master's students at the University of Oviedo (matrícula gratuita), with eligibility conditions such as having applied for the national or regional scholarship and not holding a previous degree. Non-EU foreign students from countries without agreements do not get 100 percent free tuition: they still pay the part that the university sets for foreign students, that is the actual enrolment price minus the exemption calculated at the first-enrolment price for Spanish students. Nationals of the EU and of listed countries (including many in Latin America, Morocco, China, Norway and Switzerland) pay the standard price.
- 32 euros administrative fee plus 1.12 euros school insurance
- Administrative and insurance charges for free-tuition students
- About 1,595 to 2,900 euros per year. Our calculation from the Asturias 2026-27 price table (BOPA 25 June 2026) and the university's foreign-student resolution (BOPA 15 July 2026): (third-enrolment price minus first-enrolment price) x 60 credits = (35.21 - 8.63) x 60 = 1,594.80 euros for experimentality level 3; (64.04 - 15.70) x 60 = 2,900.40 euros for level 1; level 2: (50.19 - 12.30) x 60 = 2,273.40 euros. Assumes the student otherwise qualifies for free tuition; the university states foreign students pay 'the real enrolment price minus the exemption calculated at the first-enrolment price'. Not an official figure.
- Non-EU, non-resident student, net of the free-tuition offset (AdmissionAI calculation, 60 ECTS)
Academics
Medicine (six-year degree)
A six-year, 360-credit degree in the highest price level (experimentality level 1) under the 2026-27 public-price decree.
Double degree in Business Administration and Law
One of the university's three double degrees, alongside Physics and Mathematics.
Double degree in Physics and Mathematics
Listed by the university among its international double degrees.
Civil Engineering and Mining and Energy Resources Engineering
A double degree in the university's engineering offer, in a region with an industrial mining past.
Bilingual degrees
The university lists 19 bilingual degrees, taught partly in English.
Erasmus Mundus master's programmes
Five joint international master's programmes.
Research
- The university says it develops 80 percent of Asturias's R&D and has 173 recognised research groups.
- It leads clusters in Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and in Biomedicine and Health, linked to regional technology parks and the Asturian public health network.
- Research income is estimated at about 40 million euros a year, with more than 500 contracts or agreements with companies.
Schools & faculties
- Arts and Humanities
- Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Social and Legal Sciences
- Engineering and Architecture
The pages consulted publish no graduate employment rate; the university says it works with more than 250 companies and offers student guidance and job-search advice.
Student life
Oviedo is a regional capital, so student life mixes the historic centre with campuses in Gijon and Mieres. The university offers free access to sports facilities for its community, and the Sports Service runs everything from football and swimming to hiking. New international students are paired with a Spanish student through the a-dUO programme, and La Casa de las Lenguas runs Spanish courses for foreigners that attract between 500 and 800 international students a year. The university also runs its own University Extension programme of courses and workshops.
- a-dUO buddy programme for new international students
- Free access to university sports facilities, with football, swimming, hiking and basketball on offer
- La Casa de las Lenguas: language courses in about a dozen languages, including Spanish for foreigners
- University halls of residence and residence guide for international students
- University Extension programme of courses and workshops
Housing. The university publishes a guide to university halls of residence and residences, and its international office helps with accommodation options and opening a bank account.
Location
Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, is in the middle of the region's central axis, and the university's campuses stretch across Oviedo, Gijon and Mieres. The university describes Asturias as having one of Spain's highest quality-of-life indices, with about a third of its territory protected, more than 200 beaches and five UNESCO biosphere reserves. The Historic Building of the university, a 16th-century structure, stands near the city's Pre-Romanesque monuments, which are UNESCO World Heritage.
Nearest airport: Asturias Airport (OVD)
Notable alumni
- RD Rafael del RiegoSpanish liberal general; graduated in law from the University of Oviedo in 1807
- GM Gaspar Melchor de JovellanosEnlightenment statesman and writer; studied law at Oviedo before continuing elsewhere
- LA Leopoldo Alas (Clarín)Novelist and critic; began his law studies at Oviedo
- MN María NeiraPublic-health physician and World Health Organization official; studied medicine and surgery at the University of Oviedo
- SF Susana F. HuelgaPhysicist known for work on quantum effects in biological systems; MSc (1990) and doctorate (1995) in physics from Oviedo
- BR Beatriz Roldán CuenyaPhysicist in surface science and catalysis, director at the Fritz Haber Institute; studied at Oviedo before a doctorate at Duisburg-Essen
- MG Mauro GuillénManagement scholar; BA in political economy and business management from Oviedo in 1987 and a doctorate in 1991
- GL Gaspar LlamazaresSpanish politician and doctor; medical degree from the University of Oviedo
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study at the University of Oviedo in 2026-27?
Eligible students have their public tuition price paid by the Government of Asturias in 2026-27 and pay only a 32 euro administrative fee and 1.12 euro insurance. Non-EU foreign students from countries without agreements pay part of the cost: the list price is 35.21 to 64.04 euros per ECTS credit for bachelor's degrees, minus an exemption at the first-enrolment price.
How do international students apply to a bachelor's degree at Oviedo?
EU students, European or International Baccalaureate holders and students from agreement countries apply for a UNED credential and then pre-enrol; other non-EU applicants need their baccalaureate homologated and the PAU access phase or UNED tests. Places for non-EU applicants are conditional on vacancies.
When is the application deadline?
The 2027 dates are not yet published. For the previous cycle the ordinary pre-enrolment period was 16 to 30 June 2026, extended to 7 July for IB, European Baccalaureate and UNED-accredited applicants.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Most teaching is in Spanish, though the university lists 19 bilingual degrees and courses taught in English. La Casa de las Lenguas offers Spanish courses for foreigners.
Which campuses does the University of Oviedo have?
Seven campuses in three cities: Oviedo (El Cristo, El Milan, Llamaquique, Catalanes and the centre), Gijon and Mieres, plus services in Aviles.
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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