University of Alicante
Universidad de Alicante / Universitat d'Alacant
A single garden campus on a former airfield near Alicante, where CRISPR was first described.
- Students
- 26,521
- 22,445 undergraduates
- International
- 9%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.4:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- €1,535
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1979
About UA
The University of Alicante was established in 1979 on the basis of the Centre for University Studies founded in 1968, and sees itself as heir to the old University of Orihuela (1610-1808). Its main campus sits in San Vicente del Raspeig, on the northern edge of Alicante, on land that was once the La Rabassa airfield; a second campus is in Alcoy, and the university runs a network of 13 study centres across the province.
In 2024/25 it had 26,521 students on official programmes: 22,445 undergraduates, 2,390 master's students and 1,686 doctoral candidates. Teaching is organised in seven faculties and schools (Arts, Science, Economics and Business, Law, Education, Health Sciences and the Polytechnic School), 58 departments and 13 university research institutes. Most classes are in Spanish, with some in Valencian and some in English.
UA is best known in science for Francisco Mojica, who did his PhD and has spent his career at Alicante and first described the DNA repeats he named CRISPR, now the basis of genome editing. It also hosts the Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, a large open-access library of Spanish-language texts. It suits students who want a large public university with low fees, a Mediterranean climate and competitive degrees such as Medicine and Aerospace Engineering.
Why students choose UA
Public fees for 2026/27 are 12.79 to 18.00 euros per credit, about 767 to 1,080 euros for a full 60-credit year.
Competitive, newer degrees such as Aerospace Engineering (2026/27 first-round cut-off 12.878 out of 14), Biomedical Engineering (12.164) and Artificial Intelligence Engineering (10.981).
Medicine admits 86 students a year, with a 2026/27 first-round cut-off of 13.172 out of 14.
A single main campus with gardens and public art, next to Alicante and a short trip from Alicante-Elche Airport.
Admissions
2027/28 entry (dates below are from the 2026/27 round)
Selectivity
UA does not publish an overall admission rate. Places in every bachelor's degree are allocated through the Valencian pre-enrolment system by admission grade (out of 14). 2026/27 first-round cut-offs ranged from 5 in some humanities degrees to 13.172 for Medicine, 12.878 for Aerospace Engineering and 12.403 for Mathematics.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU | 2026/27 first-round cut-offs: Medicine 13.172, Aerospace Engineering 12.878, Mathematics 12.403, Biomedical Engineering 12.164, Artificial Intelligence Engineering 10.981, Biology 10.578, Business Administration 7.325 |
|---|---|
| EU / IB / European Baccalaureate | UNEDasiss accreditation with an admission mark of 5-10, raised up to 14 with PCE tests or recognised national exams |
| Non-EU secondary qualifications | Recognition (homologation) of your qualification as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato by the Ministry of Education, plus UNEDasiss verification and admission mark |
| Spanish language | B2 Spanish, recorded in the UNEDasiss credential, for non-Spanish speakers applying to Engineering and Architecture, Tourism and Labour Relations degrees |
| English language | Undergraduate teaching is mainly in Spanish (some Valencian and some English), so UA publishes Spanish rather than English requirements for bachelor's admission. |
Deadlines
- Pre-enrolment, single phase (Valencian university district) Non-binding Passed3 July 2026, 14:00 (2026/27 round)
Opened 15 June 2026. Places allocated on 10 July 2026.
- Pre-enrolment for applicants with foreign qualifications (UNEDasiss route) Non-binding Passed7 July 2026, 14:00 (2026/27 round)
Extended initial deadline for foreign-system students; UNEDasiss accreditation can be submitted until the end of July.
The 2027/28 calendar has not been published; dates shown are from the 2026/27 single-phase pre-enrolment and are likely to be similar (mid-June to early July).
How to apply
Get your UNEDasiss accreditation (and, for non-EU systems, apply for homologation), then submit the online pre-enrolment application for the Valencian university district, listing degrees at UA, Valencia, UPV, Jaume I and Miguel Hernández in order of preference and uploading documents. Places are allocated in a single round in July, followed by waiting lists; admitted students then register online and pay per credit.
What admissions looks for
- A qualification giving access to Spanish universities, verified through the PAU or UNEDasiss.
- An admission grade above the degree's cut-off, since places are allocated strictly by grade.
- Strong results in subjects weighted for your degree, via PAU specific exams or UNEDasiss PCE tests.
- B2 Spanish for non-Spanish speakers in some degree areas.
Tips for applying to UA
- 1 If you are applying from abroad, open your UNEDasiss application early and sit the PCE tests in subjects your target degree weights at 0.2 to push your grade towards 14.
- 2 Non-EU applicants can start UNEDasiss verification as soon as the homologation application is submitted, without waiting for the decision.
- 3 Use UA's cut-off mark simulator and last year's cut-offs to build a realistic preference list across all five Valencian public universities.
- 4 UA's Language Centre runs a Pathway programme combining Spanish, PCE preparation and admission support.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Under Valencian Decree 101/2024, students from large or single-parent families qualify for 50% discounts, Generalitat scholarship holders are exempt from academic fees, and a top grade (matrícula de honor) earns a fee credit the following year. Students can also apply for Spain's national MEFP grants and Generalitat Valenciana grants. UA's housing service helps with residences, a flat database and intergenerational housing.
- 50% of public prices (general category)
- Large-family discount
- Prices doubled (for students starting from 2024/25)
- Non-EU non-resident surcharge
- 12.79 to 18.00 euros
- Credit prices, first enrolment
Academics
Medicine
86 places and the university's highest cut-off in 2026/27 (13.172 out of 14).
Aerospace Engineering
50 places with a 2026/27 first-round cut-off of 12.878, and half of its students come from outside the Valencian Community.
Biomedical Engineering
60 places and a 2026/27 cut-off of 12.164.
Mathematics and the Physics-Mathematics double degree
Mathematics had a 2026/27 cut-off of 12.403, one of the highest outside health and engineering.
Translation and Interpreting
541 students in 2025/26, about 20% of them non-Spanish nationals.
Tourism
Almost a third (31.7%) of its 397 students in 2025/26 had non-Spanish nationality, one of UA's most international degrees.
Research
- Microbiologist Francisco Mojica, who earned his PhD at UA in 1993 and has spent his career there, identified and named the CRISPR DNA repeats that led to genome editing.
- UA hosts the Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, a large open-access repository of digitised Spanish-language historical texts.
- The Apertium open-source machine translation system has been developed at UA.
- UA runs 13 university research institutes and takes part in 5 inter-university institutes.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Polytechnic School
- International Doctoral School (EiDUA)
Student life
Almost all teaching happens on the San Vicente del Raspeig campus, a landscaped site of palm-lined walkways, gardens and a pond just outside Alicante. UA's housing service points students to university residences, a flat database, the municipal 'UniverBarrio' programme and intergenerational housing in which students live with older residents. Most students are from the province; about one in six comes from outside the Valencian Community, and around 9% of undergraduates are foreign nationals, concentrated in degrees such as Tourism, Business and Translation.
- A single garden campus with palm-lined walkways and public art, on the site of the former La Rabassa airfield.
- University Museum (MUA) and a busy cultural programme on campus.
- UniverBarrio and intergenerational housing programmes as alternatives to private flats.
- UA Language Centre courses in Spanish for international students.
Housing. UA does not guarantee housing; its housing service lists residences, private flats and municipal programmes such as UniverBarrio.
Location
The campus is in San Vicente del Raspeig, bordering the city of Alicante to the north. Alicante is a Mediterranean port city with beaches close to the centre, and Alicante-Elche Airport serves the area. UA also has a campus in Alcoy, further inland, and 13 study centres across the province.
Nearest airport: Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC)
Notable alumni
- FM Francisco MojicaMicrobiologist who discovered and named CRISPR; PhD (1993)
- LP Leire PajínFormer Spanish government minister and Member of the European Parliament; sociology degree (1998)
- PL Pilar LlopSpain's Minister of Justice (2021-2023) and former President of the Senate; master's in judicial translation
- CM Carlos MazónPresident of the Valencian Government (2023-2025); law degree
- MC M. Carmen GalanChemist and professor at the University of Bristol; Licenciatura in chemistry
- ID Isabel Dorado LiñánForest ecologist studying tree rings and climate change; biology degree
- NF Nanae FujiwaraClassical guitarist and co-founder of the Lyra Guitar Quartet; master's in guitar performance
Frequently asked questions
How much are tuition fees at the University of Alicante?
For 2026/27, first-enrolment credits cost 12.79 to 18.00 euros, about 767 to 1,080 euros for a 60-credit year. Non-EU students without Spanish residence pay double, about 1,535 to 2,160 euros.
What grade do you need for Medicine at the University of Alicante?
The 2026/27 first-round cut-off for Medicine was 13.172 out of 14, for 86 places.
How do international students apply to the University of Alicante?
Get an admission mark through UNEDasiss (and homologation if your school system is outside the EU and has no agreement), then apply in the Valencian online pre-enrolment, usually from mid-June to early July.
Does the University of Alicante teach in English?
Most bachelor's teaching is in Spanish, with some classes in Valencian and some in English; B2 Spanish is required for non-Spanish speakers in engineering, architecture, tourism and labour relations degrees.
Is the University of Alicante in the city?
The main campus is in San Vicente del Raspeig, bordering Alicante to the north; there is also a campus in Alcoy.
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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