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Last modified: 2026-09-24

# Complutense University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, UCM)

Complutense is a long-established public university in Madrid: 26 faculties on two campuses, 199th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and second among Spanish universities in that table. Applicants from outside the EU who finished school at home need their school certificate recognised (homologación), a UNEDasiss accreditation backed by PCE subject exams and Spanish at B2 level, which is required even for the English-taught groups. A non-EU student without Spanish residence pays $7,750–9,300 (€6,823–8,186) per 60 credits of a bachelor's degree in 2026/27, because the Madrid region charges these students the "fourth enrolment" price per subject. In 2026 the general application window for foreign school systems ran from 5 June to 6 July, and a separate Early Admission round ran from 22 January to 1 April.

The tower of the Rectorate of the Complutense University of Madrid in the Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain. Photo: Carlos Delgado / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rectorado_de_la_Universidad_Complutense_de_Madrid_-_01.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

| At a glance | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Location | Madrid: Moncloa (Ciudad Universitaria) and Somosaguas campuses, plus buildings in the city centre |
| Founded | 1499 by papal bull in Alcalá de Henares; in Madrid since 1822 |
| Rankings | QS WUR 2027: 199; THE WUR 2026: 501–600; ARWU 2026: 201–300 |
| Languages | Spanish; some groups and master's programmes in English |
| Bachelor's fee, non-EU without residence, 2026/27 | $7,750–9,300 (€6,823–8,186) per 60 ECTS, depending on field |
| Master's fee, non-EU without residence | $5,730 (€5,044) per 60 ECTS for most programmes |
| Bachelor's admission (2026 benchmark) | Early Admission 22 Jan – 1 Apr; general round for foreign school systems 5 Jun – 6 Jul |
| Housing | 5 university-run colegios mayores (from $1,230 / €1,082 a month, full board), 28 private ones, private rentals |

## Who Complutense suits, and who should look elsewhere {#section-1}

| Pros | Cons and risks |
| --- | --- |
| A very wide range of subjects, from medicine and veterinary science to journalism and fine arts | No bachelor's admission without Spanish B2, including the English-taught groups |
| Strong QS 2027 result: 199th overall and first in Spain for graduate employment outcomes | Only 501–600 in THE 2026: rankings judge the university very differently |
| A dedicated Early Admission round for international applicants | Early Admission gives priority to native speakers of Spanish, English and Portuguese |
| Public-university pricing: even with the non-EU surcharge, $7,790–9,340 a year | The surcharge is almost seven times the base price, and a student visa does not remove it |
| Colegios mayores with full board next to the faculties | Few places, and first-year students often share a double room |

Complutense makes sense for students ready to study in Spanish who want a classic comprehensive university: law, languages, journalism, psychology, economics, earth sciences, biology or pharmacy. If you need a bachelor's degree fully in English, look closely at the [Autonomous University of Barcelona](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-autonoma-barcelona), which runs complete English-taught bachelor's programmes and does not add a non-EU surcharge at bachelor's level. The guide to [universities in Madrid](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-madrid) compares Complutense with its neighbours, and the overall route into Spain is on the [Study in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-spain) page.

## Faculties and programmes {#section-2}

Complutense has 26 faculties. Most sit on the Moncloa campus (Ciudad Universitaria): medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geology, computer science, law, philology, philosophy, geography and history, media and communication, fine arts and education. The Somosaguas campus hosts economics and business, political science and sociology, psychology and social work. Commerce and tourism and optics are taught in central Madrid.

### Bachelor's programmes in Spanish and English

Most bachelor's degrees (grados) are taught in Spanish. Complete English-taught groups (grupo E) exist in the Faculty of Economics and Business:

- ADE en inglés (Business Administration and Management);
- Economía en inglés (Economics);
- the double degree in Law and Business Administration in English;
- the double degree in Economics in English and International Relations.

These groups require English at B2 or above. If you are a national of a country where Spanish is not an official language and you studied outside a Spanish-speaking system, you must also upload Spanish B2 when you apply. Complutense is also a partner in the joint Bachelor in European Studies (BAES) of the Una Europa alliance with KU Leuven, Bologna and the Jagiellonian University; KU Leuven coordinates selection.

Other faculties offer English only as individual subjects or tracks, for example in physics, chemistry, psychology, computer science, medicine and dentistry. These are not full English-taught degrees.

### English-taught master's programmes

Only a handful of official master's degrees (máster universitario) run entirely in English: English Linguistics: New Applications and International Communication, North American Studies, Formal Methods in Computer Science & Engineering, the Erasmus Mundus master's in nuclear physics, 4Cities: Unica Euromaster in Urban Studies, and an online programme in nationalism studies. Several more have English-taught subjects or tracks, and the rest are in Spanish. If an English-taught master's is your priority, compare Complutense with the [Autonomous University of Madrid](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-autonoma-madrid), whose catalogue lists more than twenty programmes in English or in both languages. See also our guide to [master's degrees in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-spain).

## How to get in with a non-EU school certificate {#section-3}

For Spanish universities, Russia, Kazakhstan, most of Central Asia and many other countries are "non-EU systems without a reciprocity agreement". That makes the route longer than for EU applicants.

### The Madrid single-district round

Madrid's six public universities (Distrito Único de Madrid) share one application system and one calendar. To compete in the main round (group 1) you need:

1. Recognition of your school certificate (homologación) as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato. You apply to Spain's Ministry of Education. While the decision is pending, you can take part with the application receipt (volante), but you will need the final credential.
2. A UNEDasiss accreditation with a recognised "Bachillerato modality". UNEDasiss is the service run by Spain's National Distance-Learning University (UNED). The modality is earned through PCE subject exams: pass at least three subjects of the relevant modality, or average 5 across four PCEs with at least one from each block. The accreditation is valid for two years and PCE results for three academic years. Our guide to [applying to Spanish universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-spanish-universities) covers UNEDasiss and certificate recognition in detail.
3. Spanish at B2. DELE, SIELE, state language school (EOI) certificates and certificates from Madrid public universities' language centres are accepted directly; others are verified by UNEDasiss.

With homologación alone (no PCEs) you can only apply in the late-July extraordinary round, where such applicants are considered last for any places left.

Your admission score combines your school average as converted by UNEDasiss with weighted PCE results, up to a maximum of 14 points. The university's weighting tables (ponderaciones) show which subjects add points for each degree. Last year's cut-off marks (notas de corte) show how competitive a programme is, but they do not guarantee a place.

### Early Admission for international applicants

Complutense runs an early round for students from foreign education systems whose families live outside Spain. For 2026/27 it accepted applications from 22 January to 1 April 2026, with selection committees on 2 March, 10 April and 20 May. You can list up to three degrees. You need proof that you applied for homologación (or the credential), marks from your last two school years (or your latest grades), a motivation letter, proof of residence abroad and Spanish B2. Applicants from non-EU school systems do not need a UNEDasiss accreditation or PCE exams in this round, which is the main difference from the general admission route. Documents that are not in Spanish or English must come with a sworn translation. If you do not yet have the certificate, you can sign a declaration that you will provide it by 15 September. Places are limited: for example 40 in tourism and in modern languages, 5 each in law, psychology and business administration, and 2–3 in mathematics. Medicine, pharmacy and dentistry are not offered in this round.

An important caveat: the call prioritises native speakers of Spanish, English and Portuguese. Among other applicants, students of Complutense's International Foundation Program or partner foundation programmes come first. The school-leaving average accounts for at least 60% of the final score. Treat Early Admission as an extra chance, not your only plan.

### Step-by-step plan for 2027/28

1. September–December 2026. Shortlist 3–5 degrees, check which PCE subjects they weight, and book a DELE or SIELE B2 exam.
2. January–March 2027. If your grades are strong, apply for Early Admission (expect late January to early April; dates for the 2027/28 cycle have not been announced). Open your UNEDasiss accreditation application; the online form opens on 4 February.
3. March–April 2027. Register for the spring PCE session. In 2026, registration ran from 16 March to 28 April, with exams in Spain on 25–29 May.
4. June 2027. Receive your school certificate, apply for homologación immediately and upload the receipt to UNEDasiss.
5. June to early July 2027. Submit the single-district pre-registration (preinscripción). In 2026, the window for foreign school systems ran from 5 June to 6 July, 14:00.
6. July–September 2027. Admission lists (10 July in 2026), enrolment and payment, then the type D student visa at a Spanish consulate. See our guide to the [Spanish student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-spain).

## When to apply for 2027/28 {#section-4}

The university and the region have not yet published the 2027/28 calendar. The 2026/27 dates below show the rhythm to plan around.

| Stage | 2026/27 dates | What to know |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early Admission (bachelor's) | 22 Jan – 1 Apr 2026 | up to three degrees; decisions on 2 Mar, 10 Apr and 20 May |
| UNEDasiss accreditation | 4 Feb – 1 Dec every year | apply at least six weeks before university applications close |
| PCE spring session | register 16 Mar – 28 Apr 2026; exams 25–29 May 2026 | results by 22 June |
| PCE September session | register 1–22 Jul 2026; exams 2–8 Sep 2026 | useful only for late rounds |
| General round, foreign school systems | 5 Jun – 6 Jul 2026, 14:00 | lists on 10 July |
| Extraordinary round | 20–24 Jul 2026 | degrees with vacancies only; lists on 3 September |
| Master's, first window | 28 Jan – 20 Feb 2026 | results from 23 March |
| Master's, second window | 27 Apr – 22 May 2026 | results from 17 June |

PCEs can be taken outside Spain: the list of centres for the September 2026 session included Moscow. UNEDasiss shows the exact list of centres when you register for each session.

## Language requirements {#section-5}

Across the Madrid district, every bachelor's degree requires Spanish B2 from nationals of non-Spanish-speaking countries who studied in a non-Spanish-speaking system. Graduates of Spanish bilingual sections in schools in several countries, including Russia, who passed final exams under the Spanish curriculum can prove the level with documents from that programme. The English-taught groups also require English B2, which can be waived if your school studies were in English. Master's language requirements are listed on each programme page. Our guide to [DELE and SIELE](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-dele-and-siele-spanish-exams) explains the difference between the two exams.

## Master's admission {#section-6}

You apply online, separately for each programme. For 2026/27 there were three windows: 28 January – 20 February, 27 April – 22 May, and an extraordinary window on 1–4 September for programmes with vacancies. Popular programmes fill in the first window.

If your degree was awarded outside the European Higher Education Area, you do not need homologación to apply. After admission, the university checks that your degree is equivalent in level to a Spanish one (comprobación del nivel de formación). You will need your apostilled diploma and transcript, sworn translations into Spanish, and a letter confirming that your degree gives access to master's study in the issuing country. If you do not upload this decision before enrolment, you lose your place. Each programme sets its own profile, CV, motivation letter and reference requirements.

## Tuition fees {#section-7}

Fees are set by the Madrid regional government (Decreto 43/2022), and those rates still apply in 2026/27. You pay per ECTS credit, usually 60 credits a year. Non-EU students without Spanish residence pay the "fourth enrolment" price for bachelor's subjects and the "third enrolment" price for master's subjects. A student stay permit (estancia) does not count as residence. Exceptions apply to nationals of countries with a relevant agreement with Spain and students admitted under inter-university agreements.

| Programme, 2026/27 | Base price per credit (EU, residents) | Non-EU without residence | Year (60 ECTS), non-EU |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bachelor's level 1: medicine, pharmacy, biology, dentistry, veterinary science, etc. | $23 (€20.68) | $155 (€136.44) | $9,300 (€8,186) |
| Bachelor's level 2: physics, computer science, engineering, data science | $22 (€19.43) | $145 (€128.57) | $8,760 (€7,714) |
| Bachelor's level 3: law, economics, business, psychology, languages, journalism, etc. | $19 (€16.92) | $130 (€113.71) | $7,750 (€6,823) |
| Master's (most programmes) | $51 (€45.02) | $95 (€84.07) | $5,730 (€5,044) |
| Professionally qualifying master's (teacher training, health psychology, engineering) | $19–23 (€16.92–20.68) | $145–190 (€126–169.21) (fourth-enrolment price) | depends on programme length |

Small administrative charges come on top: $38 (€33.65) for opening your file and secretariat fees in the first year. You can pay in full or in six or eight instalments if the total exceeds $395 (€350). If you are paying from Russia, our guide on [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia) covers legal routes.

Online enrolment treats first-year students as non-residents by default. If you already hold Spanish residence, take the documents to your faculty secretariat and the fee will be adjusted.

## Scholarships and ways to cut costs {#section-8}

Do not count on full funding at a Spanish public university as a non-EU newcomer. Spain's national grants (becas del Ministerio) are designed for residents; check each year's call. Realistic options:

- Erasmus Mundus master's programmes. At Complutense these include nuclear physics and 4Cities. Consortium scholarships are open to all nationalities; each programme publishes amounts and deadlines.
- University and bank-funded schemes. The "Becas y ayudas" page lists current calls, including Becas Santander. Conditions change every year and many calls are only for enrolled students.
- Part-time work. Up to 30 hours a week are allowed on a student permit, provided the job fits around your studies. See [working while studying in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-in-spain).

For national and regional options, see [scholarships in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-in-spain).

## Housing: colegios mayores and other options {#section-9}

Complutense's own colegios mayores. A colegio mayor is a university hall of residence with meals, a cultural programme and community rules. Complutense runs five: Antonio de Nebrija, Diego de Covarrubias, Teresa de Jesús and Ximénez de Cisneros inside Ciudad Universitaria, and Santa María de Europa next to the campus in Moncloa. In 2026/27 the monthly fee was $1,230 (€1,081.70) for Complutense students and $1,320 (€1,159.44) for others. It includes full board seven days a week, room cleaning, laundry and an on-site doctor. The deposit is $510 (€450), and the first bill covers the first and last month. Applications for 2026/27 ran from 22 May to 17 June 2026, so expect a similar window for 2027/28. First-year residents are often placed in double rooms of at least 18 m²; from the second year a single room is normally guaranteed.

Private colegios mayores affiliated with Complutense. There are 28, almost all in Ciudad Universitaria, including Casa do Brasil, Elías Ahúja, Chaminade and Moncloa. Prices, rules and religious character vary.

Private rentals. Most international students rent a room in a shared flat. See [student housing in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-housing-spain) for how to check listings and contracts.

## Cost of living in Madrid {#section-10}

The most reliable benchmark comes from the university itself: a colegio mayor with accommodation and three meals a day costs about $1,230 (€1,082) a month. Renting a room and cooking for yourself is cheaper, but prices depend on the district and season. The Abono Joven travel pass for under-26s costs $11 (€10) for 30 days of unlimited travel on all modes across all zones. For your visa budget, add health insurance and proof of funds for the academic year. The guide to the [cost of studying in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-spain) walks through a full year.

## Strengths and weaknesses for applicants from Russia and the CIS {#section-11}

What helps:

- you can apply to the university with a homologación receipt instead of waiting for the ministry's decision;
- PCEs can be taken abroad; the September 2026 session had a centre in Moscow;
- Spanish B2 can be certified through SIELE, a computer-based exam available throughout the year;
- the non-EU fee is higher but fixed and published in advance, with no surprises tied to family income.

What makes it harder:

- the school certificate must be recognised and PCE results must be in hand by early July, just as students receive their certificates;
- Spanish B2 is mandatory even for English-taught groups;
- Russian speakers are not a priority group in Early Admission;
- the non-EU surcharge makes a bachelor's year 6–7 times more expensive than for residents;
- the visa is issued by the Spanish consulate, not by the university.

## Mistakes to avoid {#section-12}

- Relying on English alone. Without Spanish B2 your bachelor's application will not be accepted, even for ADE en inglés or Economía en inglés.
- Taking PCEs at random. Group 1 requires a Bachillerato modality, and only subjects in your degree's weighting table add points. Choose subjects for specific degrees.
- Missing the spring PCE session. September results arrive after the main round.
- Assuming a student visa makes you a resident. For fee purposes it does not.
- Looking for a hall after admission. In 2026 the main colegio mayor application window closed on 17 June, before admission lists were published. After that, only an extraordinary round for remaining places is left.
- Confusing official and in-house master's degrees. A university's own "máster propio" is not an official degree. Choose a máster universitario if you need a recognised qualification.

## Where classes take place: Moncloa and Somosaguas {#section-13}

Ciudad Universitaria in Moncloa was planned in 1927 as a single integrated campus. Today it hosts 20 faculties, an Olympic-size summer pool and four of the university's colegios mayores, on the north-western edge of central Madrid. Somosaguas, the second campus, lies in a green residential area on the western outskirts and hosts economics, business, political science, sociology, psychology and social work. A direct bus links the colegios mayores with Somosaguas in about 10 minutes. Commerce and tourism and optics are taught in the city centre. Check where your programme is taught before you sign a lease.

## Rankings {#section-14}

| Ranking | Position | Comment |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 199 | second in Spain after the University of Barcelona; 85th worldwide for employment outcomes |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 501–600 | =58 in the Arts and Humanities subject table 2026 |
| ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) 2026 | 201–300 | up from 301–400 |

Rankings weigh reputation, publications and staff ratios differently. For choosing a programme, it is more useful to check who in the department researches your topic and whether the programme includes internships.

## Working during and after your studies {#section-15}

A student permit allows up to 30 hours of work a week if it is compatible with your studies. The university runs an employment service and a jobs portal for students and graduates. After graduating, Spanish rules allow a switch from a student permit to a job-search permit; check the conditions in force when you finish. Regulated professions such as medicine, law and psychology require separate authorisation.

## FAQ {#section-16}

### Can I apply to Complutense after 11 years of school?

Yes. Spain does not require a 12th year. You need homologación of your school certificate, a UNEDasiss accreditation with a Bachillerato modality (earned through PCEs) and Spanish B2. The real difficulty is timing: all of this has to be in place by early July. See [university in Spain after 11 years of school](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-spain-university-after-11-years-of-school).

### How much does a bachelor's year cost for a non-EU student?

In 2026/27, from $7,750 (€6,823) for humanities and social sciences to $9,300 (€8,186) for medicine and life sciences, for 60 credits a year. This is the price for non-EU nationals without Spanish residence.

### Does Complutense offer bachelor's degrees in English?

There are English-taught groups in business administration, economics and two double degrees at the Faculty of Economics and Business, plus the joint Bachelor in European Studies (BAES). Spanish B2 is still required for applicants from non-Spanish-speaking systems.

### What level of Spanish do I need?

At least B2 for any bachelor's degree if you are a national of a non-Spanish-speaking country and studied outside Spanish. DELE, SIELE and state language school certificates are accepted.

### When should I apply for 2027/28?

Use the 2026 cycle as a guide: Early Admission from late January to 1 April, and the general round for foreign school systems from 5 June to 6 July. For master's programmes, the first window ran from 28 January to 20 February. The university will publish 2027 dates over the winter and spring.

### Can I live in university housing?

Yes, but places are limited. The five university-run colegios mayores cost about $1,230 (€1,082) a month with full board, and applications open in May–June. There are also 28 private colegios mayores and the private rental market.

### Can StudyU help me apply to Complutense?

Under an agreement with StudyU, we shortlist programmes, check requirements, plan homologación, UNEDasiss and PCEs, prepare documents and support the application and visa stages. Admission is decided by the university, homologación by Spain's Ministry of Education, and the consulate, as the consular authority, decides on the visa.

## Sources {#section-17}

- [Bachelor's admission: calendar and requirements (ucm.es)](https://www.ucm.es/admision-a-grado)
- [Pre-registration calendar 2026-27](https://www.ucm.es/calendario-de-preinscripcion)
- [Homologated Bachillerato with modality accreditation](https://www.ucm.es/bachillerato-homologado-con-acreditacion-de-modalidad-de-bachillerato-)
- [Spanish B2 requirement](https://www.ucm.es/requisito-de-idioma-estudiantes-sistemas-educativos-extranjeros)
- [Early Admission 2026-27 and call document](https://www.ucm.es/early-admission)
- [Bachelor's fees 2026/2027](https://www.ucm.es/informacion/precios-de-grado)
- [Master's fees 2026/2027](https://www.ucm.es/informacion/precios-masteres)
- [Foreign students and payments](https://www.ucm.es/estudiantes-internacionales-y-pagos)
- [Master's admission deadlines 2026-2027](https://www.ucm.es/plazos-generales)
- [Verification of non-EHEA degrees](https://www.ucm.es/comprobacion-nivel-formacion)
- [Colegios Mayores UCM: 2026-2027](https://www.ucm.es/curso-ccmm-2026-2027)
- [Degrees and master's programmes in English](https://www.ucm.es/pid/grados-y-masteres)
- [UNEDasiss key dates 2026](https://unedasiss.uned.es/fechas_clave)
- [UNEDasiss sessions and exam centres](https://unedasiss.uned.es/convocatorias)
- [UCM in the QS World University Rankings 2027](https://www.ucm.es/ranking-qs-world-university-2027)
- [UCM in ARWU 2026](https://www.ucm.es/ranking-shangai-arwu-2026)
- [THE World University Rankings: Complutense University of Madrid](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/complutense-university-madrid)
- [Abono Joven (Madrid Regional Transport Consortium)](https://www.crtm.es/billetes-y-tarifas/buscador/abono-joven/)

Dollar amounts use the ECB rate of 29 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355), rounded.

To compare Complutense with other Spanish universities, see [Study in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-spain). Help choosing the route that fits you — Early Admission, the general round or a master's — is provided under an agreement with StudyU; to start, [send us a request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.

## Next steps

- [DELE and SIELE Spanish Exams: 2026–2027 Dates, Fees and the Level You Need to Study in Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-dele-and-siele-spanish-exams)
- [Master's Degree in Spain: Admission with a Non-EU Degree and 2027 Costs](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-spain)
- [Studying in Spain After 11 Years of School: How to Apply with a Russian Certificate in 2027](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-spain-university-after-11-years-of-school)
- [Working While Studying in Spain in 2026: 30 Hours a Week Without a Separate Permit, Pay, Internships and Tax](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-in-spain)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in Spain for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-spain)

Updated: September 2026