Autonomous University of Madrid (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, UAM)

The Autonomous University of Madrid is a public research university founded in 1968. Almost all teaching takes place on the Cantoblanco campus, 20 minutes by commuter train from central Madrid, while medicine is based next to La Paz University Hospital. It ranks 226th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 301–400 in the 2026 Shanghai Ranking, where its physics is placed 51–75 in the world. Three facts matter most for non-EU applicants: Spanish B2 is compulsory for every bachelor's degree; non-EU students without Spanish residence pay $7,750–9,300 (€6,823–8,186) per 60 credits in 2026/27; and master's Early Admission for 2027/28 is already scheduled, from 1 October 2026 to 8 January 2027.

Who UAM suits, and who should look elsewhere

UAM is a good fit for students heading into physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, data science, economics or law who want campus life rather than scattered city buildings. If you prefer a broad range of humanities in central Madrid, compare it with Complutense. If you need a bachelor's in English without Spanish B2, consider the Autonomous University of Barcelona. The guide to universities in Madrid covers all the options in the capital.

Which faculties and fields does UAM offer?

UAM has seven faculties and the Higher Polytechnic School (Escuela Politécnica Superior): sciences, economics and business, law, philosophy and letters, teacher training and education, psychology and medicine. Affiliated centres include La Salle, the Red Cross and Fundación Jiménez Díaz nursing schools and the ONCE physiotherapy school. In total, UAM offers more than 50 bachelor's and double degrees.

Bachelor's degrees that also require English

Bachelor's teaching is in Spanish. English B2 is an additional requirement for four programmes where a large part of the course is in English:

• Análisis de Datos en la Empresa / Business Analytics;
• Economía y Finanzas / Economics and Finance;
• Economics, bilingual group;
• Chemistry, bilingual group.

Applicants who completed school in English and nationals of English-speaking countries are exempt from the English certificate. Spanish B2 is still required.

English-taught master's programmes

UAM's catalogue lists 97 official master's programmes: 13 are taught entirely in English and 9 in Spanish and English. Fully English-taught examples include:

• Quantitative Economic Analysis (QuEA);
• Deep Learning for Audio and Visual Artificial Intelligence;
• Erasmus Mundus in Artificial Intelligence for Image Processing and Computer Vision;
• Democracy and Government;
• Theoretical Physics;
• Advanced Materials, and Molecular Nanoscience and Nanotechnology;
• Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling, including an Erasmus Mundus version;
• Pharmacological Research;
• English Applied Linguistics, and a programme in British and English-speaking literatures and cultures;
• International Master EUROSUD South European Studies.

Bilingual programmes include bioinformatics, molecular biomedicine, biotechnology, neuroscience and nuclear physics. See our guide to master's degrees in Spain.

Bachelor's admission with a non-EU school certificate

What the main round requires

UAM belongs to the Madrid single district (Distrito Único de Madrid): one application, one calendar and shared rules for six public universities. For school-leavers from non-EU systems without a reciprocity agreement, the steps are:

1. Homologación at Spain's Ministry of Education — recognition of your school certificate as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato. To compete, it is enough to have started the procedure and hold the application receipt (volante).
2. UNEDasiss accreditation. UNEDasiss, run by Spain's National Distance-Learning University (UNED), converts your school average to a 5–10 scale.
3. PCE subject exams with a recognised "Bachillerato modality". For non-EU certificates this is a condition for the main round, not an optional top-up.
4. Spanish B2. DELE, SIELE, state language school (EOI) and Madrid public university language-centre certificates can be uploaded directly; others are first verified by UNEDasiss.

How the score is calculated

The access mark (nota de acceso) runs from 5 to 10. It combines your school average as converted by UNEDasiss (60%) with PCE results weighted at 0.1 (only exams passed with at least 5 count). The admission mark (nota de admisión) goes up to 14. It adds your two best PCEs that carry a 0.1 or 0.2 weighting for the chosen degree in UAM's ponderaciones table. PCE results remain valid for three academic years.

Without a recognised modality, or with homologación only, you can apply only in the late-July extraordinary round for places left over. With just the homologación receipt, you compete with a mark of 5.

A provisional UNEDasiss accreditation gives only provisional admission. Your final mark must be at least as high as that of the last student admitted to the degree, or the enrolment is cancelled.

Early Admission and the foundation year

UAM's bachelor's Early Admission (15 December 2025 – 26 February 2026 in the last cycle, $79 (€70) per degree) is open only to EU and reciprocity-agreement school systems and to International and European Baccalaureate holders. Russian and Kazakh school-leavers without an IB diploma cannot use it.

For students who need more Spanish or PCE preparation, the university runs Puente a la UAM. The 2026/27 Bachelor's Degree Foundation Program runs from 7 September 2026 to 14 May 2027 and costs $9,080 (€8,000). It combines 14 hours of Spanish a week from A1 to B2, SIELE preparation and the exam itself, and PCE preparation courses in mathematics, geography or chemistry, and business models or physics. Students with strong first-semester results get 10% back. The programme does not guarantee admission; you still apply under the general rules.

Timeline for 2027/28

1. Autumn 2026. Choose degrees, open UAM's ponderaciones table and note which PCEs carry a 0.2 weighting. Start preparing for Spanish B2.
2. From 4 February 2027. Apply for UNEDasiss accreditation (open until 1 December, but apply at least six weeks before university applications close).
3. March–April 2027. Register for the spring PCE session. In 2026 registration ran from 16 March to 28 April, and exams in Spain were on 25–29 May.
4. June 2027. Receive your school certificate, apply for homologación and send the receipt to UNEDasiss.
5. June to early July 2027. Apply through the Madrid single district. 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 at your faculty and a type D student visa. See the Spanish student visa guide.

When to apply: 2026 dates as a guide to 2027/28

There is no official 2027 calendar yet; the region and universities approve it in spring.

How to apply for a master's at UAM

Standard application

You apply online through UAM's system. A $31 (€27.54) fee covers up to two master's programmes in order of preference. For 2026/27 the first window ran from 4 February to 8 April, with decisions by 27 May. The second window and an additional early-summer window (4 June – 1 September) were open only for programmes with vacancies. UAM warns that most programmes fill in the first window. If you have not yet graduated, you can be admitted conditionally by signing a commitment to complete your degree.

Early Admission, already open for 2027/28

This route is designed for international students who need time for a visa or scholarship. The window runs from 1 October 2026 to 8 January 2027. You email posgrado.oficial@uam.es with the subject "Early admission máster UAM" and attach:

• your passport;
• your diploma (if already awarded) and transcript;
• a declaration of equivalence of your grade point average (declaración de equivalencia de nota media), issued online by the Spanish ministry, which converts your marks to a 0–10 scale;
• proof of an average of at least 8.70, or 7.30 for engineering master's programmes;
• a CV and any documents the programme requires;
• Spanish B2 unless the programme is taught in another language; SIELE is accepted.

If your average is below the threshold, use the standard February–April window. Our guide to master's study in Spain covers the motivation letter and other application documents.

How much does UAM cost in 2026/27?

Fees are set by the Madrid regional government (Decreto 43/2022). The rule for non-EU nationals without residence is strict: bachelor's subjects are charged at the fourth-enrolment price, master's subjects at the third, and professionally qualifying master's at the fourth. A student stay permit does not count as residence. Moroccan nationals are exempt from the surcharge.

On top of credits you pay a file-opening fee ($31 (€27.54)) and secretariat fee ($7 (€6.11)). For master's programmes, the file-opening fee is charged when you apply and deducted from your tuition if you enrol. Master's fees can be paid in four instalments, with 25% at enrolment. If paying from Russia, see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Which scholarships does UAM offer?

• Becas de Excelencia para Máster. For 2026/27 UAM offered 45 awards to students with a bachelor's average of at least 8.70 (7.30 for engineering). The award refunds the base first-enrolment price for up to 60 credits — about $3,070 (€2,701) for most programmes — but not the non-EU surcharge. Applications ran from 25 March to 15 September 2026, and you can apply only after enrolling and paying.
• A 10% refund in Puente a la UAM for high-achieving foundation students.
• Erasmus Mundus scholarships in the joint master's programmes in AI for image processing and theoretical chemistry. Each consortium publishes its own conditions.

Spain's national grants are designed for residents, so newcomers on a student visa should not build a plan around them. See scholarships in Spain for other options.

Housing: Juan Luis Vives, Erasmo and private rentals

Colegio Mayor Universitario Juan Luis Vives is UAM's own hall of residence in the north of Madrid (Calle Francisco Suárez 7). It is a public, secular, mixed hall. In 2026/27, full board from September to May costs $965 (€850) a month in a double room without bathroom, $1,010 (€888) in a single without bathroom and $1,050 (€926) in a single with bathroom. Applications are accepted from 1 February to 25 August, but places run out earlier.

Residencia Universitaria Erasmo is a private residence on the Cantoblanco campus with 765 places. A double studio starts at $630 (€554.20) a month, a single studio at $835 (€734) and a superior single studio at $1,130 (€998). Before booking, check in the contract whether the price is per bed or per studio. Utilities are billed separately by consumption, and canteen meals, cleaning and linen changes are paid extras.

Private rentals. Many students rent rooms along the commuter line to Cantoblanco. See student housing in Spain.

What does living near the campus cost?

Vives is a useful benchmark: $965–1,050 (€850–926) a month for a room and three meals a day. If you choose an Erasmo studio and cook for yourself, add groceries and utilities to rent from $630–840. The Abono Joven pass for under-26s costs $11 (€10) for 30 days across all zones, including the train to Cantoblanco. Budget separately for health insurance and the proof of funds required for the visa. The guide to the cost of studying in Spain covers a full year.

What applicants from Russia and the CIS should weigh

Helps:

• you can receive a master's offer before New Year through Early Admission and then apply for the visa without rushing;
• master's applicants do not need homologación of their degree to apply: the programme's documents are enough, plus a GPA equivalence declaration for Early Admission;
• many English-taught master's programmes in the sciences;
• Spanish and PCEs can be prepared in the university's own foundation year.

Makes it harder:

• Spanish B2 is compulsory for every bachelor's degree, including bilingual groups;
• bachelor's Early Admission is closed to Russian school certificates;
• on a student visa, the bachelor's fee is almost seven times the base rate;
• the campus is on the edge of the city, so living in the centre means a daily train ride;
• the visa is issued by the Spanish consulate; the university can only provide admission documents.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until spring to apply for a master's. With a high GPA, Early Admission before 8 January is the better route; in the first standard window places are gone by May.
• Treating PCEs as optional. Without a Bachillerato modality, non-EU applicants are left with the late-July extraordinary round only.
• Taking PCEs without the weighting table. Only certain subjects carry a 0.2 weighting for a given degree.
• Not converting your GPA. The 8.70 threshold for Early Admission and the excellence award is on the Spanish 0–10 scale.
• Confusing Vives and Erasmo. Vives is a city hall of residence with full board; Erasmo is an on-campus residence with studios.

Where classes take place: Cantoblanco and the medical campus

Cantoblanco is the main campus on the northern edge of Madrid, 20 minutes from Puerta del Sol by Cercanías commuter train, with bus links too. It hosts the faculties of sciences, economics, law, philosophy and letters, education and psychology, the Higher Polytechnic School, libraries, sports facilities and the Erasmo residence.

The medical campus sits next to La Paz University Hospital and hosts the Faculty of Medicine and nursing programmes.

Where UAM stands in the rankings

When choosing a programme, the strength of the specific department matters more than the overall rank; at UAM that means physics and mathematics above all.

FAQ

Can I apply to UAM after 11 years of school?

Yes. You need homologación of your school certificate, UNEDasiss accreditation, PCEs with a recognised Bachillerato modality and Spanish B2. If you lack the language or preparation, UAM runs the Puente a la UAM foundation year. See university in Spain after 11 years of school.

How much does a bachelor's degree at UAM cost for a non-EU student?

In 2026/27, from $7,750 (€6,823) to $9,300 (€8,186) per 60 credits, depending on the field. This is the rate for non-EU nationals without Spanish residence.

Are there bachelor's degrees in English?

There are no fully English-taught bachelor's degrees. Business Analytics, Economics and Finance and the bilingual economics and chemistry groups require English B2, but Spanish B2 is still compulsory.

When should I apply for a master's for 2027/28?

With an average of at least 8.70 (7.30 for engineering), apply through Early Admission between 1 October 2026 and 8 January 2027. Otherwise use the first window, which in 2026 ran from 4 February to 8 April.

Do I need my degree recognised for a master's?

Not to apply. Early Admission requires a GPA equivalence declaration; the standard route requires the documents listed on the programme page.

Are there scholarships for international students?

UAM offers 45 excellence awards for master's students that refund the base price for 60 credits, but not the non-EU surcharge. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are applied for through each programme's consortium.

Can StudyU help me apply to UAM?

Under an agreement with StudyU, we shortlist programmes, check requirements, plan homologación, UNEDasiss and PCEs, prepare Early Admission documents for master's programmes, and support the application and visa stages. The university decides on admission and scholarships, and the Spanish consulate, as the consular authority, decides on the visa.

Sources

• Admission from foreign education systems (uam.es)
• Madrid single-district admission calendar 2026
• Specific admission requirements: Spanish and English
• Bachelor's Early Admission
• Puente a la UAM 2026/27
• Bachelor's fees for foreign students (PDF)
• Master's fees and payment
• Official master's prices 2026-2027 (PDF)
• Master's access and admission, 2026/27 deadlines
• Master's Early Admission
• All official master's degrees with teaching language
• Master's Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027
• UAM accommodation
• Colegio Mayor Juan Luis Vives: 2026-2027 rates (PDF)
• Residencia Universitaria Erasmo (RESA)
• UAM campus
• UNEDasiss key dates 2026
• QS World University Rankings: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
• THE World University Rankings: Autonomous University of Madrid
• ShanghaiRanking: Autonomous University of Madrid
• Abono Joven (Madrid Regional Transport Consortium)

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

For other Spanish universities and the overall application route, see Study in Spain. If you want to check whether you qualify for master's Early Admission or can meet the July deadline, send us a request.

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