University of Salamanca
Universidad de Salamanca
Founded in 1218, the oldest university in the Spanish-speaking world, with public fees of roughly 600 to 1,100 euros a year.
- Students
- 30,000
- Tuition
- €625
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1218
- QS World Ranking
- #560
- 2027 edition
About USAL
The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX of León and is the oldest university in the Spanish-speaking world. In the 16th century its theologians and jurists, known as the School of Salamanca, laid foundations for international law and economic thought, and its carved Plateresque façade on the Escuelas Mayores is one of Spain's best-known university landmarks.
Today USAL is a public university with about 30,000 bachelor's, master's and doctoral students in 27 faculties and schools. It offers 72 bachelor's degrees and 28 double degrees across the arts and humanities, sciences, health sciences, social sciences and law, and engineering and architecture, on campuses in Salamanca, Zamora, Ávila and Béjar.
USAL markets itself as the first university in Spanish, and bachelor's teaching is in Spanish. Its Cursos Internacionales make it a major centre for learning Spanish, and thousands of international students come to the city each year. It suits students who want a traditional Spanish university town with low public fees, and who are ready to study in Spanish and compete for places on their admission grade.
Omnium scientiarum princeps Salmantica docet
“Salamanca is foremost in teaching all the sciences” — university motto
Why students choose USAL
Public fees are low: bachelor's credits cost 10.41 to 18.45 euros each in 2025-26, roughly 625 to 1,107 euros for a 60-credit year.
Salamanca is a UNESCO World Heritage city where the university's historic buildings are part of everyday student life.
There are 28 double degrees, such as Business Administration with Law or with Computer Engineering, and Translation and Interpreting with Law.
USAL has exchange agreements with more than 70 universities and institutions worldwide and more than 4,000 agreements with companies for placements.
Admissions
2027-28 entry (2026-27 dates shown; 2027-28 calendar not yet published)
Selectivity
Places in each degree are allocated by admission grade (nota de admisión, maximum 14). Popular health degrees are very competitive: in 2026-27 the final cut-off in the priority group was 12.926 for Medicine (207 places), 12.836 for Dentistry and 13.350 for the Biotechnology-Pharmacy double degree, against 8.430 for Business Administration. Many humanities degrees admit everyone who applies.
Typical entry requirements
| Spanish Bachillerato + PAU/EBAU | Admission grade out of 14 (access grade plus weighted subject tests); cut-offs vary by degree, e.g. 12.926 for Medicine in 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| EU or reciprocal-agreement school diplomas (e.g. IB, European Baccalaureate) | Accreditation from UNEDasiss with your grade; add optional UNED PCE subject tests to raise the admission grade |
| Non-EU school diplomas | Homologation credential from the Spanish Ministry of Education (or UNEDasiss accreditation); without an access exam the grade is that of the credential, placed in the non-priority group |
| English language | Bachelor's degrees are taught in Spanish; USAL does not list English-taught bachelor's degrees. Spanish courses are available through USAL's Cursos Internacionales. |
Deadlines
- Pre-registration 2026-27 (past) Non-binding Passed3 July 2026
Single, compulsory pre-registration period from 3 June to 3 July 2026. First admission list 9 July, enrolment 9 to 14 July.
- Extended pre-registration for students with a foreign baccalaureate, 2026-27 (past) Non-binding Passed7 July 2026
Applications from 4 to 7 July on a paper form through the registry; access-grade accreditations submitted by 31 July 2026 were still considered.
The 2027-28 calendar has not been published. USAL has used a single June to early July pre-registration window, with admission lists and enrolment in July; the 2026 dates above are past and shown for reference.
How to apply
Apply online through USAL's single pre-registration (preinscripción) for bachelor's degrees, ranking your choices. Students from foreign systems first obtain a UNEDasiss accreditation or a homologation credential, and can take UNED PCE tests to improve their admission grade. Admitted students must enrol in the matching period or lose the place, and can stay on waiting lists for higher-ranked choices.
What admissions looks for
- An admission grade above the degree's cut-off: places are allocated strictly by grade within each admission group.
- For foreign-system applicants, a UNEDasiss accreditation or homologation credential that gives access to Spanish universities.
- Strong results in the weighted subjects for your degree, which can add up to 4 points through the PAU/EBAU or UNED PCE.
- Timely enrolment once admitted, and confirmation of your place on waiting lists in each period.
Tips for applying to USAL
- 1 If you have a foreign school diploma, take the UNED PCE tests: without them you are placed in the non-priority group for limited degrees.
- 2 Check USAL's published cut-offs and subject weightings (ponderaciones) before choosing, as they vary hugely between degrees.
- 3 Put your preferred degree first: if you are admitted to a lower choice and enrol, you can still stay on the waiting list for higher ones.
- 4 Start the UNEDasiss or homologation process months ahead, since you need the accreditation to complete pre-registration in June.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in EUR
Spanish state scholarship holders, large families, students with a disability of 33% or more and several other groups are exempt from academic fees under the Castilla y León decree. Fees can be paid in one go or in six instalments.
- 10.41 to 18.45 euros
- Price per credit, first enrolment (2025-26)
- Up to six payments
- Payment in instalments
- 12.926 out of 14
- Medicine cut-off grade 2026-27
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Medicine
207 places a year and one of USAL's highest cut-offs, 12.926 out of 14 in 2026-27.
Translation and Interpreting
Offered by a dedicated Faculty of Translation and Documentation, also as a double degree with Law or Business Administration.
Law
Salamanca's law and theology scholars of the 16th-century School of Salamanca helped found modern international law.
Biotechnology-Pharmacy (double degree)
Ten places a year and the highest cut-off listed for 2026-27, 13.350.
Business Administration and Law (double degree)
One of USAL's 28 double degrees, with 30 places and a 2026-27 cut-off of 11.311.
Research
- The School of Salamanca, founded by Francisco de Vitoria in the 16th century, laid groundwork for international law and early economic thought.
- USAL runs university research institutes, a science park and a technology transfer office (OTRI).
- USAL is a member of the Coimbra Group of European universities.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Philology
- Faculty of Geography and History
- Faculty of Fine Arts
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Translation and Documentation
- Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila
- Higher Polytechnic School of Zamora
- Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering of Béjar
- Faculty of Education and Tourism of Ávila
USAL reports being among the top 300 institutions in the world for employability in the QS ranking, with more than 4,000 agreements with companies.
Student life
Salamanca is a classic student city: the university's historic Escuelas Mayores, the Patio de Escuelas and colleges are woven into the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Students live mostly in shared flats, in one of USAL's five halls of residence or in its colegios mayores, and eat in university dining halls. Every year thousands of students from more than 50 countries come to study, many of them for Spanish courses, and USAL runs an International Student Ambassadors programme to help newcomers settle in.
- Five university halls of residence and several university dining halls.
- International Student Ambassadors programme.
- Cursos Internacionales, a large Spanish-language school for foreign students.
- Cultural and sports activities run by the university.
Housing. USAL has five residences and colegios mayores, an intergenerational shared-housing programme and a noticeboard of private accommodation.
Location
Salamanca is a mid-sized city in Castile and León, north-west Spain, whose historic old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is walkable and relatively affordable, with a continental climate: winters range from about -2 to 15 °C and summers from 20 to 35 °C. USAL also has campuses in Zamora, Ávila and Béjar.
Nearest airport: Salamanca Airport (SLM); Madrid-Barajas (MAD) for most international flights
Notable alumni
- AS Adolfo SuárezSpain's first democratically elected prime minister after Franco; studied law at Salamanca
- AN Antonio de NebrijaHumanist and grammarian, author of the first grammar of the Castilian language (1492); studied at Salamanca
- BL Bartolomé de las CasasHistorian, clergyman and social reformer; completed his canon law studies at Salamanca
- PN Pedro NunesPortuguese mathematician and cosmographer; studied at Salamanca
- MB Manuel BelgranoArgentine economist, lawyer and independence-era leader; presided over an academy of law and political economy within the university
- LL Luis de LeónAugustinian friar, lyric poet and theologian of the Spanish Golden Age; studied at Salamanca and later held a chair there
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to study at the University of Salamanca?
Bachelor's fees are set per credit by Castilla y León: 10.41 to 18.45 euros per credit in 2025-26, about 625 to 1,107 euros for a full 60-credit year, depending on the degree.
Can I study a bachelor's in English at the University of Salamanca?
USAL's bachelor's degrees are taught in Spanish, and it does not list English-taught bachelor's degrees. Its Cursos Internacionales offer Spanish courses to help you reach the level you need.
How do international students apply to the University of Salamanca?
Get a UNEDasiss accreditation (EU and reciprocal systems) or a homologation credential (other systems), then apply through USAL's pre-registration in June. UNED PCE subject tests can raise your admission grade and move you into the priority group.
What grade do you need for Medicine at Salamanca?
In 2026-27 the final cut-off for Medicine in the priority group was 12.926 out of 14, with 207 places.
When is the University of Salamanca application deadline?
For 2026-27 pre-registration ran from 3 June to 3 July 2026, extended to 7 July for students with a foreign baccalaureate. The 2027-28 dates are not yet published but are likely to follow a similar June to July pattern.
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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