University of Alcalá
Universidad de Alcalá
Cardinal Cisneros's 1499 university, reopened in 1977, with a UNESCO-listed historic campus 35 km from Madrid.
- Students
- 27,846
- 17,209 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 7.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €6,823
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1499
About UAH
The University of Alcalá was founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499 in Alcalá de Henares, building on a studium generale granted in 1293. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of Spain's great universities, where Ignatius of Loyola, Lope de Vega and Quevedo studied. In 1836 the university was moved to Madrid, where it became today's Complutense University. Alcalá reopened its own university in 1977, and UNESCO declared the University of Alcalá a World Heritage Site on 2 December 1998.
Today UAH is a mid-sized public university with 17,209 bachelor's students and 4,435 master's and doctoral students (2024-25), plus 3,948 international students. It has nine faculties and schools across a historic campus in the centre of Alcalá, a Science and Technology campus, and further sites in Guadalajara and Torrejón de Ardoz. It offers 44 bachelor's degrees, from Medicine and Pharmacy to Telecommunications Engineering and Modern Languages and Translation. Every 23 April the Cervantes Prize, the leading award for Spanish-language literature, is presented in the university's 16th-century Paraninfo.
Most teaching is in Spanish, but UAH offers English-taught options: Economics and International Business in English, English Studies, and a range of English-taught subjects in several engineering and business degrees. Admission follows the Madrid single district (Distrito Único de Madrid) system, with places allocated by admission grade. Alcalá suits students who want Madrid's opportunities within commuting distance, at regulated public fees, in a compact historic university town.
Why students choose UAH
UNESCO World Heritage campus: the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso and the historic quarter, where the Cervantes Prize is presented each year.
Low public fees: 16.92 to 20.68 euros per credit in 2026-27 for Spanish, EU and resident students, about 1,015 to 1,241 euros for a 60-credit year.
English-taught options include Economics and International Business (Docencia en Inglés) and English Studies, and UAH's 2026-27 list of English-taught subjects covers parts of Computer Engineering, Telematics and Telecommunications degrees.
About 1,415 residence places in Alcalá and 208 in Guadalajara, rare capacity for a Spanish public university.
Admissions
Entry September 2027 (2027-28 academic year)
Selectivity
There is no overall acceptance rate. Places at Madrid's public universities are allocated through the Madrid single district by admission grade (out of 14): popular degrees fill with higher grades, while others admit at the pass mark of 5.00. UAH admitted 4,309 new bachelor's students in 2024-25.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | Pass mark 5.00; higher grades needed for competitive degrees |
|---|---|
| EU / agreement-country diplomas, IB, European Baccalaureate | UNEDasiss accreditation with a Spanish-equivalent grade, which can be raised with UNED specific-competence exams (PCE) or PAU admission-phase subjects |
| Other foreign diplomas (homologated) | Homologation credential plus accreditation of the Bachillerato track; without the track you can only apply in the extraordinary round, ranked last. Non-native speakers must show Spanish at B2. |
| English language | UAH's admission pages do not set a general English test score for its English-taught tracks; check the individual degree page. Applicants whose first language is not Spanish must certify Spanish at B2 in several admission routes (for example with a homologated diploma). |
Deadlines
- Ordinary preinscription (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed5-26 June 2026
For Spanish PAU, vocational and university-graduate applicants; admissions published 10 July 2026. The 2027 dates are set in the Madrid district rules each spring.
- UNEDasiss applicants (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed5 June - 6 July 2026 (14:00)
Extended window for students from foreign education systems with a UNED accreditation.
- Extraordinary round (2026 cycle, past) Non-binding Passed20-24 July 2026
For remaining places; results 3 September 2026. Holders of homologated diplomas without an accredited track apply here.
All dates are from the Madrid single district rules for 2026-27 and have passed. The 2027 calendar is published in spring 2027; expect a similar June-July window, and start UNEDasiss accreditation early.
How to apply
Apply online through the Madrid single district (Distrito Único de Madrid) preinscription platform, which covers all public universities in the Madrid region, ranking your preferred degrees and uploading your ID, PAU card or UNED accreditation, and other documents. Results are published in July; unsuccessful applicants can stay on waiting lists, and an extraordinary round in late July fills remaining places.
What admissions looks for
- An admission grade high enough for the degree: places are allocated in grade order within each quota.
- Strong results in the PAU admission-phase subjects that UAH weights for your chosen degree.
- A valid access route for foreign applicants: UNEDasiss accreditation or homologation with the Bachillerato track accredited.
- Spanish at B2 for non-native speakers in routes that require it.
Tips for applying to UAH
- 1 Use the Madrid single district application to list UAH alongside other Madrid public universities; one form covers them all.
- 2 If you hold the IB or a European Baccalaureate, apply for UNEDasiss early and consider PAU admission-phase exams to raise your grade by up to 4 points.
- 3 If your diploma needs homologation, make sure the Bachillerato track is accredited, or you will be limited to the extraordinary round.
- 4 Non-EU students should budget for the higher non-resident fee: all credits are charged at the fourth-enrolment rate.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Spanish Ministry of Education grants (becas) are available to eligible students and are applied for during enrolment, and UAH lists fee reductions and exemptions. Nationals of Morocco and Andorra and non-EU students with Spanish residence pay the standard (not non-resident) rate.
- 1,415 in Alcalá de Henares, 208 in Guadalajara
- Residence places (2024-25)
- 350 euros (unless finishing the degree)
- Minimum total enrolment charge
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (September to June)
Economics and International Business (Docencia en Inglés)
A 240-credit degree at the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, with subjects taught in English.
Modern Languages and Translation
Taught with English-language subjects on the historic campus and in Guadalajara, at a university known for Spanish language and the Cervantes Prize.
Medicine
Taught by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; UAH also has Pharmacy, Nursing and Physiotherapy degrees.
Physics and Space Instrumentation
A distinctive physics degree built around instrumentation for space science.
Telecommunications and Computer Engineering (English-taught subjects)
Several Polytechnic School degrees, including Computer Engineering, Telematics and Telecommunication Technologies, include subjects taught in English (UAH's 2026-27 list).
Research
- In 2024 UAH had 581 active research projects worth 49.3 million euros, 188 of them newly awarded.
- It published 2,079 JCR-indexed papers in 2024 and has filed 67 patent applications in the last five years.
- 257 doctoral theses were defended in 2024; UAH works with 13 research institutes and runs a Science and Technology Park.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Philosophy and Letters
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism
- Faculty of Education
- Polytechnic School (Escuela Politécnica Superior)
- School of Architecture
UAH cites a Spanish Ministry of Education study in which 20 of its 41 degrees ranked among the five best in their field for finding employment.
Student life
Student life centres on Alcalá's historic quarter, where the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso and old colleges house the faculties of Law, Philosophy and Letters, Economics and Architecture, while science, health and engineering students are on the Science and Technology campus. UAH has around 1,600 residence places in Alcalá and Guadalajara, plus sports, culture, language courses, summer courses and student associations. The annual Cervantes Prize ceremony and the university's Spanish-language programmes give it a strong literary identity.
- The Paraninfo hosts the Cervantes Prize ceremony every 23 April.
- 3,948 international students were at UAH in 2024-25, and 559 UAH students went abroad on mobility programmes.
- An Erasmus Student Network (ESN Alcalá) section and Spanish courses for foreigners support international students.
- Campuses in Alcalá (historic and Science and Technology), Guadalajara and Torrejón de Ardoz.
Housing. UAH counts 1,415 university residence places in Alcalá de Henares and 208 in Guadalajara (2024-25).
Location
Alcalá de Henares is a historic city about 35 km north-east of Madrid and the third-largest city in the Madrid region. The university's historic buildings are in the old town, the Science and Technology campus is elsewhere in the city, and further sites are in Guadalajara and Torrejón de Ardoz. Students get a smaller university town with the capital close by.
Nearest airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Notable alumni
- IL Ignatius of LoyolaFounder of the Jesuits; studied theology and Latin at the historic University of Alcalá (1526-27)
- LV Lope de VegaGolden Age playwright and poet; studied at the historic University of Alcalá
- FQ Francisco de QuevedoGolden Age poet and satirist; studied at Alcalá from 1596 to 1600
- TM Tirso de MolinaPlaywright who created the Don Juan character; studied at the historic University of Alcalá
- JM Juan de MarianaJesuit historian and political thinker; studied at the historic University of Alcalá
- TV Thomas of VillanovaAugustinian friar, Archbishop of Valencia and saint; studied arts and theology at Alcalá and later taught there
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Alcalá offer degrees in English?
Yes, partly. UAH offers Economics and International Business with teaching in English and English Studies, and several other degrees, including Computer Engineering and Telecommunications, have some subjects taught in English. Most other teaching is in Spanish.
How much does the University of Alcalá cost for international students?
EU, EEA, UK and Swiss students pay the standard public rate of 16.92 to 20.68 euros per credit (about 1,015 to 1,241 euros a year) in 2026-27. Non-EU students without Spanish residence pay the fourth-enrolment rate of 113.71 to 136.44 euros per credit, about 6,823 to 8,186 euros a year.
How do I apply to the University of Alcalá as an international student?
Get a UNEDasiss accreditation (EU, agreement-country, IB or European Baccalaureate students) or a homologation of your diploma, then apply through the Madrid single district preinscription platform. UNEDasiss applicants had until 6 July in 2026.
When is the University of Alcalá application deadline for 2027?
The 2027 dates are not out yet. In 2026, ordinary preinscription ran from 5 to 26 June, UNEDasiss applicants could apply until 6 July, and the extraordinary round ran from 20 to 24 July.
Is the University of Alcalá the same as the Complutense?
No. The historic University of Alcalá moved to Madrid in 1836 and became the Complutense; the current University of Alcalá reopened in Alcalá in 1977 in the original buildings.
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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