Autonomous University of Barcelona
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
A self-contained campus university in the hills outside Barcelona, with public fees of 17.69 euros per credit.
- Students
- 35,696
- 27,540 undergraduates
- International
- 13%
- of students
- Tuition
- €1,061
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1968
About UAB
The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona was created by decree in June 1968 and built as a campus university on open land at Bellaterra, in Cerdanyola del Vallès, just outside Barcelona and linked to the city by train. Almost all of its faculties, research institutes, libraries and the Vila Universitària student village sit together on one campus beside the Collserola natural park, which gives it a different feel from Barcelona's city-centre universities.
In 2025/26 UAB had 27,540 bachelor's students, 3,072 master's students and 5,084 PhD candidates in its own centres, plus more in affiliated schools. It offers 107 bachelor's degrees through faculties including Biosciences, Science, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Economics and Business, Law, Communication, Translation and Interpreting, and Engineering. Most teaching is in Catalan and Spanish, but eleven bachelor's degrees are taught in English, including Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Economics and Contemporary History, Politics and Economics.
Admission works through the Catalan public system: places go by entrance mark (PAU results or a UNEDasiss accreditation for international qualifications) through a single regional pre-enrolment in June. Public fees are low at 17.69 euros per credit. AQU Catalunya found 90% of UAB bachelor's graduates employed in its 2023 survey. It suits independent students who like a green, self-contained campus with Barcelona within easy reach.
Why students choose UAB
First-time credits cost 17.69 euros each, so a 60-credit year is about 1,061 euros before small administrative charges for students paying the public price.
Eleven bachelor's degrees are taught in English, including Artificial Intelligence (40 places), Business Administration (70) and Economics (40).
AQU Catalunya's 2023 survey found 90% of UAB bachelor's graduates and 91% of master's graduates employed.
Students can live on campus in the Vila Universitària, next to the Collserola natural park.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (autumn 2027)
Selectivity
UAB does not publish an overall admission rate. Places in each degree are allocated by entrance mark through Catalonia's centralised pre-enrolment, so selectivity varies widely by programme; English-taught degrees have small intakes (30 to 80 places).
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | Entrance mark above the programme's cut-off, which varies by degree each year |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA or bilateral-agreement qualifications (e.g. IB, European Baccalaureate) | UNEDasiss accreditation, then pre-enrolment through the Catalan government's university access office |
| Non-EU qualifications | Recognition (homologación) of the diploma by the Spanish Ministry of Education, plus optional PAU through UNED |
Deadlines
- Catalan university pre-enrolment, June call (2026/27 intake, for reference) Non-binding Passed26 June 2026
Past cycle. Pre-enrolment ran 2 to 26 June 2026; first allocation of places published 10 July 2026; enrolment of students assigned their first choice 14 to 17 July 2026.
The 2027 pre-enrolment calendar had not been published by 29 September 2026. In 2026 the June call ran 2 to 26 June, with a September call for remaining places. Allow time before June to get your UNEDasiss accreditation or diploma recognition.
How to apply
Apply through Catalonia's single online university pre-enrolment (Accés Universitat portal), listing up to eight degrees in order of preference. International applicants must first obtain their UNEDasiss accreditation or ministry recognition of their diploma. Places are assigned by entrance mark, then you enrol at UAB.
What admissions looks for
- A high enough entrance mark (PAU or UNEDasiss-accredited grades) to clear the programme's cut-off.
- A valid, recognised school-leaving qualification.
- Personal aptitude tests only for the few degrees that require them.
Tips for applying to UAB
- 1 Start the UNEDasiss accreditation well before the June pre-enrolment window.
- 2 Rank up to eight degrees in the pre-enrolment; you can change the order until the deadline.
- 3 Check the English-taught list: Artificial Intelligence has only 40 places, Business Administration 70.
- 4 Non-EU applicants should start diploma recognition early, since it goes through the Spanish ministry.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Fees are set each year by the Government of Catalonia. Students can apply for Spanish government and Catalan grants during enrolment, and repeated credits cost more (21.85 euros on second enrolment). Fees for non-resident non-EU students are set separately each year by UAB's Board of Trustees.
- 17.69 euros
- Price per credit (first enrolment)
- 156 euros a year
- Sports service (SAF) membership
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Artificial Intelligence (English-taught)
An English-taught degree from the School of Engineering with just 40 places.
Bioinformatics (UAB/UPC/UB/UPF)
A joint English-taught degree run with three other Barcelona universities; 50 places.
Business Administration and Economics (English groups)
English-taught groups in the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies (70 and 40 places).
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics
An English-taught interdisciplinary degree in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities with 60 places.
Veterinary Medicine
Taught in UAB's own Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on the Bellaterra campus.
Translation and Interpreting
UAB has a dedicated Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.
Research
- In 2025, 407 research projects were granted and UAB researchers published 6,870 Scopus-indexed papers, 58.4% with international co-authors.
- Research funding for research and transfer reached 122.8 million euros in 2025.
- The campus hosts 9 university research institutes and 41 associated research centres.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Biosciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Communication Studies
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Political Science and Sociology
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics and Business Studies
- School of Engineering
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy
- Faculty of Translation and Interpreting
AQU Catalunya (2023): 90% of UAB bachelor's graduates and 91% of master's graduates employed. Bachelor's degree performance rate (credits passed vs enrolled) was 87% in 2024/25.
Student life
UAB is one of Spain's few true campus universities: faculties, libraries, sports facilities and the Vila Universitària student village are grouped together at Bellaterra, next to the Collserola natural park. Many students commute by commuter train from Barcelona and nearby towns, while others live in the Vila's studios and shared flats. The Plaça Cívica is the social centre of campus, and the Physical Activity Service (SAF) offers sports facilities for 156 euros a year. About a quarter of graduates spend time abroad during their studies.
- Vila Universitària on campus, with studios, single and shared rooms.
- Physical Activity Service membership costs 156 euros a year.
- 25.7% of 2024/25 graduates spent time abroad; 1,559 incoming exchange students in 2025/26.
- 4,187 international students in Study Abroad programmes.
Housing. The Vila Universitària on campus offers studios and single or shared rooms; places run out, so book early.
Location
The campus is at Bellaterra in Cerdanyola del Vallès, north of Barcelona across the Collserola hills. It is linked to Barcelona by FGC and Renfe trains, buses and the AP-7 and C-58 motorways, so students get a green, quiet campus with the city within easy reach. Barcelona-El Prat airport is the nearest international airport.
Nearest airport: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Notable alumni
- XS Xavier Sala-i-MartinEconomist and Columbia University professor; economics degree (1985)
- MR Mar ReguantEnergy economist; economics degree (2006)
- CC Carlos Cordon-CardoPhysician-scientist in molecular oncology; MD (1980)
- OJ Oriol JunquerasHistorian and Catalan politician; PhD in history of economic thought (2002)
- MA Matilde AsensiJournalist and best-selling historical novelist; studied journalism
- OP Oleguer PresasFormer professional footballer; economics graduate
Frequently asked questions
How much does UAB cost?
The public price is 17.69 euros per credit for first-time credits, about 1,061 euros for a 60-credit year plus small charges. Fees for non-resident non-EU students are set separately each year by UAB's Board of Trustees.
How do international students apply to UAB?
EU and bilateral-agreement students get an accreditation from UNEDasiss; non-EU students have their diploma recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Education. Then they apply through Catalonia's pre-enrolment, which ran 2 to 26 June in 2026.
Does UAB offer degrees in English?
Yes, eleven bachelor's degrees are listed as taught in English, including Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, Economics, Bioinformatics and Contemporary History, Politics and Economics.
Is UAB in Barcelona?
Its main campus is at Bellaterra in Cerdanyola del Vallès, just outside Barcelona, connected by FGC and Renfe trains and buses.
What is UAB's acceptance rate?
UAB does not publish one. Places are allocated by entrance mark, so how hard it is to get in depends on 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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