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Cost of a year
What will a year really cost?
From the country guide: tuition, living costs and the visa fee, plus the money you must show. The part you lose if the visa is refused is marked.
In short: a first year in Spain costs about EUR 10,000 to 25,100: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 7,200 before it is decided.
Last checked: 24 September 2026, against the official sources linked below.
A year in Spain
| In EUR as published | In EUR | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one year | EUR 1,500 to 8,186 | EUR 1,500 to 8,190 Public university, international student |
| Living costs, twelve months | EUR 8,400 to 16,800 | EUR 8,400 to 16,800 |
| Visa or permit feeNot refunded if the visa is refused | EUR 80 | EUR 80 |
| First year, all in | EUR 9,980 to 25,070 | |
| Money you must show for the visa | EUR 7,200 | EUR 7,200 Held in your account before you apply; most of it then pays your living costs |
Worth knowing. Public fees depend on the region, with Madrid charging non-EU students six to eight times more, and the 24-month job search permit does not allow work.
The full Spain guide, with every source →
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Spain: what a year costs next to
Tuition, living costs and the visa fee side by side, in your currency.
Leaves out flights, deposits and insurance unless the guide includes them. Currency: Rates by Exchange Rate API, 13 November 2026.
Questions
How much does it cost to study in Spain for a year?
a first year in Spain costs about EUR 10,000 to 25,100: tuition, twelve months of living costs and the visa fee. The visa also asks you to show EUR 7,200 before it is decided.
How much money do I need to show for a student visa in Spain?
EUR 7,200 a year (about EUR 7,200), from the official source in the Spain guide.