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The complete guide to universities in Madrid
Considering a move to Madrid for your studies? With so many universities in the city – including some of the best in Spain – and such a wealth of things to do, it’s no surprise the Spanish capital is a hit with students.
If you’re keen to learn more about the different universities in Madrid, you’re in the right place! Below, we run through all the major institutions. But before that, here’s a quick overview of the city’s higher education system.
Madrid’s university system explained
With as many as 10 major universities in Madrid, it can be difficult to know where to start with your search. Not only are there both public and private universities, but there are also specialised schools to consider alongside those that cover a wider range of options.
In addition, some Spanish universities based in other cities have secondary campuses in Madrid, and while these locations may not offer a huge range of courses, it’s still possible to complete your degree while living in Madrid.
To make things easier, we’ve broken down the list of universities into the two following categories:
Comprehensive universities – universities offering courses in a wide range of academic fields
Specialised institutions – universities offering courses in a specialised area, or having a reputation for a specific area
At the end, we’ve also added a couple of additional options to consider if you still haven’t found the right university! Sounds good? Let’s dive in!
Comprehensive universities in Madrid
Madrid is home to some of Spain’s biggest universities where you can study virtually any subject. One of the main benefits of these institutions is that they generally have a bigger student population, which can make for a more exciting vibe around campus.
Complutense University of Madrid
Founded in 1293, Complutense University of Madrid is one of the oldest and most illustrious universities in the country. Today, it regularly ranks in top spot among the best universities in Spain and also appears in most lists of top universities worldwide.
The main campus is based in the leafy district of Moncloa-Aravaca, not far from the city centre. Here, you can study anything from philosophy and fine art to law, engineering and computer science. Its secondary campus in Somosaguas is the main hub for social sciences.
The university is made up of a whopping 80,000 students, making it one of the biggest universities in Europe. With that in mind, a buzzing social life is pretty much guaranteed here, along with an incredibly well-respected degree that will take you far in your career.
Location(s): Moncloa-Aravaca, Somosaguas
Funding: Public
National ranking: #1
International ranking: #164
Source: QS World University Rankings
Autonomous University of Madrid
If you’re aiming high, the Autonomous University of Madrid is another excellent candidate that rivals Complutense University of Madrid as one of the best universities in the country. With 30,000 students, it’s one of the largest universities in the city, too.
Courses cover a wide range of areas, with some of the university’s strongest fields being arts and humanities, the natural sciences, business and law. It's also one of the best places in Spain to study medicine.
The main campus is based in the stunning surroundings of Cantoblanco, about 15km north of Madrid but well connected to the city centre with its own station. The prestigious Faculty of Medicine is slightly more central in the neighbourhood of La Paz.
Location(s): Cantoblanco, La Paz
Funding: Public
National ranking: #4
International ranking: #198
Source: QS World University Rankings
Carlos III University of Madrid
Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) lands just a few spots lower in the national rankings than the previous pair. Founded in 1989, it’s not the oldest university on the list but has quickly built an excellent reputation and now has around 25,000 students on its books.
UC3M has four campuses spread throughout Madrid and the wider metropolitan area, each delivering a different part of its diverse curriculum. It’s especially well known for business, economics, law and engineering, where it ranks among the best universities nationally.
Owing to its excellent support services and array of bilingual programmes, the university is popular among international students, who make up around 20% of the student population.
Location(s): Embajadores, Getafe, Leganés, Colmenarejo
Funding: Public
National ranking: #7
International ranking: #285
Source: QS World University Rankings
Comillas Pontifical University
Based in the heart of Madrid, Comillas Pontifical University is one of the best private universities in the city. It’s also Catholic institution and has a population of around 15,000 students, roughly 20% of whom are international students.
While the university does offer a broad range of programmes, it’s best known for its courses in business, law and engineering, so well worth considering if you’re looking to study in one of these areas.
Location(s): Chamberí, Cantoblanco
Funding: Private
National ranking: #17
International ranking: #544
Source: QS World University Rankings
Rey Juan Carlos University
Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) is another major comprehensive university in Madrid with a body of over 45,000 students and five campuses spread throughout the city and the wider metropolitan area – mostly in neighbourhoods south of the centre.
While not as well-known globally as the previous universities on the list, URJC has a solid reputation in Spain, particularly when it comes to law, business and environmental science. That said, its international student community is steadily growing.
Location(s): Alcorcón, Aranjuez, Fuenlabrada, Móstoles, Vicálvaro
Funding: Public
National ranking: #29
International ranking: #1,001-1,200
Source: QS World University Rankings
European University
Founded in 1995, the European University is one of the youngest universities on this list and takes great pride in its innovative, career-focused approach, with courses generally involving work placements to help students build hands-on experience.
This is a truly global university; many programmes are taught in both English and Spanish, while international students make up around 40% of the population! With nine campuses – three of which are in Madrid – it's also one of the largest university networks in Spain.
Location(s): Villaviciosa de Odón, Alcobendas, Salamanca
Funding: Private
National ranking: #31-40
International ranking: #1,001-1,200
Source: Times Higher Education University Rankings
CEU San Pablo University
CEU San Pablo University is the Madrid branch of CEU Universities – one of the largest private educational groups in Spain with other locations in Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. With around 8,000 students, CEU San Pablo is the biggest of the four.
This Catholic university has two campuses – one in Moncloa-Aravaca and the other in Montepríncipe. Its study programme is varied, with some of the strongest areas being communications, health sciences, business and law.
Location(s): Moncloa-Aravaca, Montepríncipe
Funding: Private
National ranking: #35
International ranking: #1,201-1,400
Source: QS World University Rankings
Francisco de Vitoria University
Founded in 1993, the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV) is a fast-growing Catholic university that now has around 10,000 students. The main campus is based in the western suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón, around a 40-minute journey from the city centre.
UFV’s study offering has expanded considerably since its founding. It now provides over 50 courses across the fields of law, business, communications, health, medicine, education, psychology and experimental sciences.
Location(s): Pozuelo de Alarcón, Montepríncipe
Funding: Private
National ranking: #54-55
International ranking: #1,501+
Source: Times Higher Education University Rankings
University of Navarra
If you’ve been researching universities in Spain, you may have already come across the University of Navarra. This highly-ranked institution is primarily based in Pamplona but also has a campus in Madrid where you can study a range of subjects.
Based in the northeastern neighbourhood of Salvador, the Madrid campus offers courses in architecture, banking, humanities, engineering, law, communications and health. It’s also home to the world-famous IESE Business School – but more on this later!
Location(s): Salvador
Funding: Private
National ranking: #5
International ranking: #249
Source: QS World University Rankings
Have your sights set on the University of Navarra? Along with our locations in Madrid, we also have student accommodation in Pamplona available to rent!
Specialised universities in Madrid
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for so far, Madrid also has several specialised institutions worth checking out. This is especially true if you’re studying in a field like business or engineering, where the following universities may provide better courses.
Polytechnic University of Madrid
Specialising in engineering, architecture, technology and sports science, the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) is one of the best technical schools in Spain and also ranks among the top ten universities in the country across all subjects.
Despite its technical focus, UPM is still a massive university with around 35,000 students. It has four campuses spread across the city, with the main one based in Moncloa-Aravaca where you’ll encounter lots of students from neighbouring universities.
Its study programme spans pretty much all areas of engineering, including mechanical, electrical, industrial, civil, biomedical, aerospace and software, as well as sports, fashion design and computer science.
Location(s): Moncloa-Aravaca, Vallecas, Montepríncipe, Lavapiés
Funding: Public
National ranking: #8
International ranking: #321
Source: QS World University Rankings
IE University
IE University is another high-ranking university in Madrid with a growing international reputation. While it isn’t technically a specialised university, it’s very much known for its courses in business, law and international relations.
Its crown jewel is the IE Business School, which consistently ranks among the best business schools in the world. So if you’re looking to study finance, marketing or another subject in the field, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Curiously, the main campus in Madrid is housed in a single building: a 35-storey tower that dominates the skyline. Courses are fully delivered in English, making it a popular choice for international students.
Location(s): La Paz
Funding: Private
National ranking: #11
International ranking: #435
Source: QS World University Rankings
IESE Business School
Founded in 1958 as part of the University of Navarra, IESE Business School is not only one of the best business schools in Spain but also ranks among the best places to study business globally.
This elite school has locations in New York, São Paulo, Barcelona and Munich, with the Madrid campus based in Moncloa-Aravaca, around 25 minutes from the city centre and surrounded by lush greenery.
Here you can study a range of graduate, executive, and doctoral programmes focusing on things like leadership, business strategy and entrepreneurship. But with only around 750 students accepted each year, it’s extremely competitive!
Location(s): Moncloa-Aravaca
Funding: Private
National ranking: N/A
International ranking: N/A
Other universities to consider
Still searching for the right university? We have two more options for below that will give you a slightly different university experience while still enjoying all the perks of living in Madrid.
University of Alcalá
One of the oldest universities in Spain, the University of Alcalá (UAH) is located around 35km northeast of Madrid in Alcalá de Henares, a historic city designed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The campus has some dazzling architecture dating back to the 16th and 17th, and while it's possible to get there from Madrid (the journey takes roughly an hour), you can also rent a student residence in Alcalá de Henares.
UAH offers a range of programmes but has a particularly strong reputation when it comes to humanities, social sciences and health sciences. It’s a big university, too, with around 28,000 students.
Location(s): Alcalá de Henares
Funding: Public
National ranking: #19
International ranking: #621-630
Source: QS World University Rankings
National University of Distance Education
We’ve come all this way but still haven’t covered the biggest university in Madrid – at least in terms of sheer number of students. That accolade belongs to the National University of Distance Education (UNED), an online-focused university headquartered in Madrid.
More than 200,000 students enrol at UNED every year, making it one of the biggest universities in the world. And while most of the learning is done virtually, you can still make use of its four campuses in Madrid to access facilities and get contact time with staff.
Location(s): Chamberí, Moncloa-Aravaca, Las Rozas
Funding: Public
National ranking: #41-53
International ranking: #1,201-1,500
Source: Times Higher Education University Rankings
Madrid: a university city
With its mix of top global universities and elite technical schools, few cities can compare to Madrid when it comes to the quality and diversity of its universities. Regardless of what you’re planning to study, you’re guaranteed to find a great fit in the Spanish capital.
Now that you’ve learnt about the city’s universities, why not check out guide on the best things to do in Madrid? And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your degree, take a look at our student accommodation in Madrid!
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Frequently asked questions
How many universities are there in Madrid?
There are dozens of schools and colleges offering higher education courses in Madrid, but if we’re talking about established universities with at least a few thousand students, there’s around 10 major institutions in the Spanish capital. That’s a pretty significant number and makes Madrid one of the main hubs for higher education worldwide.
Which universities in Madrid are public?
Madrid is home to five major public universities: Complutense University of Madrid, Autonomous University of Madrid, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Rey Juan Carlos University and Carlos III University of Madrid. The government-run National University of Distance Education is also headquartered in the Spanish capital.
What is the highest-ranked university in Madrid?
The Complutense University of Madrid and the Autonomous University of Madrid battle it out for the top spot when the university rankings are released each year. In the most recent rankings, Complutense University of Madrid edged out the Autonomous University of Madrid not only as the highest-ranked university in Madrid but in Spain as a whole.