QS World University Rankings 2021 - Top Universities in Spain
Rank | University |
1 | University of Barcelona |
2 | Autonomous University of Barcelona |
3 | Pompeu Fabra University |
4 | University of Navarra |
5 | Autonomous University of Madrid |
6 | Complutense University of Madrid |
7 | University of Granada |
8 | Rovira i Virgili University |
9 | University of Valencia |
10 | Polytechnic University of Catalonia |
1. University of Barcelona
It is a public research university located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain which was established in 1450. It is one of the biggest universities in Spain and one of the oldest universities in Catalonia and Spain. The university has 106 departments and offers more than 5000 full time researchers and the motto of the university is “Freedom bathes everything with light”. UB was the only university in Catalonia until 1971 and the university’s library is the second biggest university in Spain.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
2. Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
The university is a public research university located in Cerdanyola del Vallès, near the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain which was established in 1968. The university is divided into 57 departments in the field of experimental, life, social and human sciences. The university has nine libraries where eight of them are at Bellaterra Campus, and the one is at Sabadell Campus.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors courses
- Masters courses
- Graduate diplomas
- Specialization courses
- Doctoral programmes
3. Pompeu Fabra University
This university is a public research university established in 1990 based in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. The university was created by the government of Catalonia in 1990 and the name of the university was renamed in the honor of Pompeu Fabra. The university has been ranked in the list of top universities in the world and considered as the most prestigious university. The university offers courses in three different campuses, the social sciences and humanities in Citadels Campus and health and life sciences in Mar Campus and ICT and communication sciences in Poblenou Campus.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
4. University of Navarra
This university is a private research university located in the southeast border of Pamplona, Spain and established in 1952. This university is one of the best private universities in Spain and considered as the third in the European teaching ranking in 2019. The university has one teaching hospital and medical research center focusing on four main areas, the university was founded as a law school with 48 students and eight teachers.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
- Dual degree
5. Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)
It is one of the top universities in Spain which was established in 1968 in which the aim of the university was to provide a modern educational environment to the people in the area. It is a public research university based in Madrid, Spain and the motto of the university is “What Else Shall We Do?”. UAM is famous for its research activities and has numerous research departments mainly focused on the areas of biomedicine, nanoscience, environmental science and social science. The main campus is Cantoblanco campus and the medicine campus is located in the north part of Madrid.
Courses offered:
- Bachelors courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
- Dual degree
6. Complutense University of Madrid
It is a public research university located in Madrid established in 1293 and this university is one of the oldest universities in the world still in operation. The university got the name after the settlement of an ancient Roman city called Complutense in 1499, today this city is an archeological site. The motto of the university is “Freedom will flood all things with light” and this university enrolls more than 86000 students. By the enrollment, thi university is the eighth largest non distance European university by enrollment. It is the first and only university in Spain that got the grant from the Spanish empire for a doctorate degree. In 1909 the central university got another achievement as well, it was the first university in the world to grant a doctorate degree to women. In 1943 the university name was changed to Complutense University of Madrid.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate programmes
- Postgraduate programmes
- International degree programmes
- PhD programmes
7. University of Granada
This university is a public research university located in the city of Granada, Spain which was established in 1531. The founder of the university was Emperor Charles V and it is the fourth largest university in Spain by the student enrolments. The UGR has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla and the university has been called as the second best university in Spain and most prestigious university in Spain. The motto of the university is “Charles I, Roman Emperor always Augustus, King of Spain and founder of the University of Granada, 1531”
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
8. Rovira I Virgili University
The university is a public university established in 1991, the university has four campuses and they are located in Tarragona, Reus, Vila-seca, Tortosa and El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain. The university’s roots date back to the 16th century and it was established to provide education in grammar, arts and theology. There was no education until the half of the 20th century, the university was established after that.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
9. University of Valencia
The university is a public research university located in Valencia, Spain which was established in 1499. It is one of the oldest universities in Spain and the oldest in the Valencian Community. The university has three campuses which are Burjassot Campus, Avenida de Blasco Ibañez Campus and Tarongers and most of the courses are offered in Spanish and only a few were offered in English.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
10. Polytechnic University of Catalonia
It is the largest engineering university in Catalonia, Spain and it is also referred to as BarcelonaTech which was established in 1971. The university mainly focused on offering courses in engineering, mathematics and architecture. The university is one of the universities in Europe which has the highest number of students who do PhD and also this university has the largest enrolment of master studies.
Courses offered:
- Undergraduate courses
- Masters courses
- Doctoral programmes
