#165 in the world · QS 2027

University of Barcelona

Universitat de Barcelona

Barcelona's university since 1450: 17 faculties, grade-ranked entry and bachelor's fees near 18 euros a credit.

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Public research university Founded 1450 Official website

See my chances at UB Admissions office

Photo: Mister No · CC BY 3.0

Tuition: €1,061; 2026-27
Founded: 1450
QS World Ranking: #165; 2027 edition
THE World Ranking: #145; 2026 edition

About UB

The University of Barcelona (UB) was founded in 1450 and is the city's oldest university. After being moved to Cervera in 1714, it returned to Barcelona in 1837, and its neo-Romanesque Historic Building on Plaça de la Universitat, now over 150 years old, is still its symbolic heart. It is a public university that describes itself as offering the widest range of courses of any university in Spain, and it is the only Spanish member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).

The UB has 17 faculties spread across a metropolitan network of campuses: the city centre, the Diagonal campus, Mundet, and sites in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí and Badalona, plus links with 15 university hospitals. It teaches more than 60,000 students a year, including 41,020 bachelor's students and 12,606 international students from 145 countries, with 6,479 teaching and research staff.

Entry to bachelor's degrees is through Catalonia's centralised pre-enrolment (preinscripció), with places allocated in order of admission grade from the PAU or an equivalent. The UB suits students who want a large, city-centre university with low public fees and are ready to study mainly in Catalan and Spanish.

Libertas perfundet omnia luce

“Freedom bathes everything with light” — university motto

Why students choose UB

Bachelor's tuition at Catalan public universities is 17.69 euros per credit for first enrolment, about 1,060 euros for a 60-credit year, with the UB simulator showing the same rate for non-EU students.

17 faculties range from Fine Arts and Philosophy to Medicine and Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics and Computer Science.

It is the only Spanish member of LERU and coordinates the CHARM-EU European university alliance.

The Historic Building and the Diagonal campus put students in central Barcelona, with 15 university hospitals linked to health teaching.

Admissions

2027-28 entry (dates below are from the 2026 pre-enrolment)

Selectivity

No overall admission rate is published. Places are allocated by admission grade through Catalonia's pre-enrolment; in 2024-25, 17,640 students chose the UB as their first option, a demand ratio of 1.7 applicants per place. Cut-off grades vary widely by degree.

Testing Spanish and Catalan school leavers take the PAU (university entrance exams). Students with an EU, International or European Baccalaureate need UNEDasiss accreditation; students from other systems can use UNEDasiss accreditation including its Specific Competency Tests (PCE) to raise their admission grade.

Typical entry requirements

Spanish Bachillerato + PAU	Admission grade from the Bachillerato and PAU; places allocated in order of grade, with cut-offs set by demand for each degree
IB, European Baccalaureate or EU school-leaving qualification	UNEDasiss accreditation of your qualification and grade, used in the Catalan pre-enrolment
Other foreign secondary qualifications	Recognition (homologation) of the qualification as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato, with UNEDasiss accreditation and optional PCE subject tests

Deadlines

Pre-enrolment, June call Non-binding Passed

26 June 2026 (2026 cycle; window 2-26 June)

First allocation of places published 10 July 2026; enrolment for first-preference places 14-17 July.
Pre-enrolment, September call Non-binding Passed

17 September 2026 (2026 cycle; window 16-17 September)

For remaining places; allocation published 25 September 2026.

2027 pre-enrolment dates are not yet published; the 2026 calendar ran from 2 to 26 June for the main call. UNEDasiss accreditation must be requested well before pre-enrolment so the grade is available.

How to apply

Apply through the Generalitat de Catalunya's university access portal (preinscripció universitària), ranking up to several degree preferences across Catalan public universities. International applicants first obtain UNEDasiss accreditation (and PCE tests if needed) so that their admission grade can be used in the allocation.

What admissions looks for

An admission grade high enough for the cut-off of your chosen degree: allocation is strictly in grade order.
A recognised school-leaving qualification, accredited through UNEDasiss or recognised as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato.
For some degrees, higher weighting of specific subject exams (PAU specific phase or UNEDasiss PCE) linked to the field.
Ability to follow teaching mainly in Catalan and Spanish.

Tips for applying to UB

1 Apply to UNEDasiss early: without the accreditation your grade cannot be used in the Catalan pre-enrolment.
2 Take PCE subject tests relevant to your degree (for example Biology and Chemistry for health sciences) to increase your admission grade.
3 List several degree preferences in the pre-enrolment; you are placed in the highest one your grade reaches.
4 Use the UB's online cost simulator to estimate your enrolment cost, including fees for academic record and services.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in EUR

Full-time first year (60 credits at 17.69 euros per credit, first enrolment); Catalan income bands 1 and 2 receive 80% and 70% discounts (3.54 or 5.31 euros per credit) Tuition €1,061

Financial aid

Catalan public prices are linked to household income: bachelor's students in income band 1 get 80% off the credit price and band 2 get 70%. Spanish government (Ministry) scholarships and Catalan grants require Spanish or EU nationality with residence, or a Spanish residence permit for non-EU students; student permits do not qualify.

17.69 euros
Price per credit, first enrolment (Catalan public universities): About 1,202 euros (2026-27)
UB simulator estimate, 60 credits first year incl. fees: 80% (band 1), 70% (band 2)
Income band discounts

Academics

Medicine

Taught through the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences with a network of 15 university hospitals.

Biomedical Engineering

An engineering degree housed in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Business Administration and Management

The Faculty of Economics and Business's core degree, also offered in double degrees with Law.

Pharmacy

Offered by a dedicated Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science.

Philosophy

Taught by the UB's own Faculty of Philosophy, one of 17 faculties.

Research

The UB secured 196,032,009 euros in research funds, according to The UB in Figures.
It is the only Spanish member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU).
It coordinates CHARM-EU, one of the first European university alliances.

Schools & faculties

Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Biology
Faculty of Earth Sciences
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Economics and Business
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science
Faculty of Philology and Communication
Faculty of Philosophy
Faculty of Physics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science

Student life

UB life is spread across the city rather than a single campus. The Historic Building on Plaça de la Universitat, with its courtyards and garden, anchors the university in central Barcelona, while other faculties are on the Diagonal and Mundet campuses and in neighbouring towns. There is no guaranteed university housing, so most students live at home or in shared flats. The university hosts around 2,300 exchange students a year, sends about 1,500 of its own students abroad, and has students from 145 countries.

The Historic Building, over 150 years old, and the Güell Pavilions are part of the university's heritage.
12,606 international students from 145 nationalities.
2,266 incoming exchange students and 1,502 UB students abroad in a year.
More than 3,500 agreements with institutions worldwide.

Housing. The UB does not guarantee housing; most students rent rooms or flats in Barcelona or stay in private halls of residence.

Location

Barcelona is Spain's second city and the capital of Catalonia, on the Mediterranean coast. The UB's Historic Building sits on Plaça de la Universitat in the city centre, and its other main campuses are on Avinguda Diagonal and in Mundet. The city is bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, has a large international population, and rents are high, so budget carefully.

Nearest airport: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)

Notable alumni

MC
Manuel Castells

Sociologist of the network society and Spanish Minister of Universities; studied law and economics
PM
Pasqual Maragall

Mayor of Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics and President of Catalonia; studied law and economics
LC
Lluís Companys

President of Catalonia; law graduate
JO
Joan Oró

Biochemist known for research on the origin of life; chemistry graduate
AM
Artur Mas

President of Catalonia; economics graduate
PG
Pau Gasol

Basketball player and two-time NBA champion; studied medicine at the UB for a year (1998) before basketball took over

Frequently asked questions

How much does the University of Barcelona cost for international students?

Bachelor's degrees cost 17.69 euros per credit for first enrolment, about 1,061 euros for 60 credits. The UB's 2026-27 cost simulator shows the same rate for non-EU students without a residence permit, with a first-year total of about 1,202 euros including fees.

How do international students apply to the University of Barcelona?

Obtain UNEDasiss accreditation for your school qualification (and take PCE subject tests if you want a higher grade), then apply through Catalonia's university pre-enrolment, where places are allocated by admission grade.

When is the University of Barcelona application deadline?

In 2026 the main Catalan pre-enrolment ran from 2 to 26 June, with first allocations on 10 July and a short September call. The 2027 calendar has not yet been published.

Are UB bachelor's degrees taught in English?

Most UB bachelor's teaching is in Catalan and Spanish, so plan to learn at least one of them before you start; check the language of each degree's courses before applying.

How competitive is the University of Barcelona?

The UB does not publish an overall admission rate. In 2024-25, 17,640 students chose it as their first option, a demand ratio of 1.7 per place, and popular degrees have high grade cut-offs.

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.