ESADE (Esade Business & Law School): Bachelor's, MBA and Admission

ESADE is a private business and law school in Barcelona, founded in 1958 with the Society of Jesus; since 1995 it has been part of Universitat Ramon Llull, and bachelor's graduates receive that university's official Spanish degree. Bachelor's programmes are taught in English or bilingually, and applications run from September to June while places last. ESADE lists the Russian school certificate among accepted education systems, but enrolment requires its homologation in Spain. The first year of a bachelor's degree for 2027/28 costs $24,190 (€21,300), a double degree $27,820 (€24,500), and the Full-Time MBA $93,680 (€82,500).

Who ESADE suits

ESADE makes sense if you want business, law or international affairs in English with a strong practical component: the BBA includes a compulsory semester abroad and a fourth-year internship. It fits an applicant with solid maths and English at around IELTS 7 who values an international class and links with employers.

It suits three situations less well. If your tuition budget is under $25,000 a year, even a scholarship leaves living costs in Barcelona to cover. If your strength is science or medicine, ESADE does not teach them. And if you want to study in the city itself, note that all business programmes, the BBA included, run in Sant Cugat; the urban Pedralbes campus hosts law. Lower-priced private options include Universidad Europea de Madrid and CEU San Pablo; the city's universities are reviewed in universities in Barcelona.

Do not confuse ESADE with EU Business School, also in Barcelona, which awards private and foreign qualifications rather than a Spanish university degree.

Bachelor's programmes and language

The BBA lasts four years and 240 ECTS, with an intake of 475 across the two sections. Students choose a minor such as Data Analytics, Finance, Consulting, Entrepreneurship or Marketing. The English section includes two compulsory foreign-language courses, Spanish by default.

How to apply for a bachelor's degree

ESADE uses rolling admission with a committee every two weeks, and places are limited, so applying in the autumn of your final school year is safest.

1. Submit the online application and pay the $170 (€150) fee.
2. Sit the ESADE test, about three hours: information sufficiency, numerical analysis, logical reasoning and a separate English test with an essay. The SAT (minimum 1200, admitted average 1350) or ACT (minimum 24) can replace the internal test.
3. Upload documents: final grades for the last three school years, current final-year grades and an English certificate if you have one.
4. Committee decision, with an interview if requested.
5. Reserve your place: 25% of the annual fee by the date in the admission letter, usually two to three weeks.
6. Pay the remaining 75% and enrol by early July.

The reservation is refunded in only one case: if the applicant fails to complete secondary school or the final exam. If the balance is not paid on time, the place passes to the waiting list and the deposit is lost.

English and Spanish requirements

A certificate is optional if you take the ESADE test, which includes an English assessment. Applicants slightly below the threshold may be asked to complete a preparatory English course before starting. In Russia, IELTS is offered by official IDP test centres.

School certificates from Russia, Kazakhstan and the CIS

ESADE's list of accepted education systems names the Russian "Attestat o Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii" explicitly. Kazakhstan is not on the list, so ask the admissions office for written confirmation before applying. For official enrolment the general ministry rule applies: a certificate from a non-EU country without an education agreement must be homologated, that is, recognised as equivalent to the Spanish Título de Bachiller. The procedure, timing and grade conversion are explained in Spanish university admission after 11 years of school.

Fees and scholarships

Bachelor's fees cover teaching, language courses and academic rights on exchanges; travel, housing and living costs are extra. ESADE may raise fees annually by no more than the inflation rate.

ESADE's scholarship programme includes several forms of aid:

• Talent scholarships covering 60–100% of tuition for strong students with demonstrated need;
• lodging scholarships covering 50–100% of the Sarrià or Roberto de Nobili residence for students from outside Barcelona province;
• living scholarships of $511 (€450) a month for transport and daily expenses;
• academic merit awards regardless of family income;
• an Income Share Agreement to fund the last two years.

Need-based awards assess family income and assets, with a reference ceiling of €118,000 gross a year for a family of four. You can apply only after admission. ESADE reports that roughly half of applicants received aid (46–53% depending on the page). The ESADE scholarship committee decides. Other options are in scholarships in Spain.

Master's and MBA

After the bachelor's level ESADE offers a range of MSc programmes and MBAs. The Full-Time MBA takes 12 months; applicants need at least two years of full-time work after their first degree and the ESADE test, GMAT or GRE. The Financial Times 2026 ranking puts it seventh worldwide. The application fee is $170 (€150), and confirming a place after admission requires a non-refundable $9,080 (€8,000). Round deadlines are published on the MBA site. We do not quote MSc fees, which could not be checked on an official page at the review date. For a comparison with another market, see MBA in the UK.

Housing and budget in Barcelona

ESADE has no housing of its own. The Sarrià residence is near the Pedralbes campus and Roberto de Nobili sits on the Sant Cugat campus; both are booked with their operators. ESADE estimates a room in a shared flat at $570–795 (€500–700) a month and a total student budget in Barcelona at $1,530–2,540 (€1,350–2,240) a month. Sant Cugat is served from Barcelona by suburban buses (A4, A6 and others) and FGC trains; the Pedralbes campus is near FGC Reina Elisenda and metro María Cristina. Search tips are in student housing in Spain.

Visa

A non-EU student needs a national study visa. The Consulate General of Spain in Moscow accepts applications through BLS visa centres no later than two months before classes: the admission letter, proof of funds of at least 100% of IPREM ($680, or €600, per month), health insurance meeting Spanish requirements and, for stays over 180 days, an apostilled criminal record certificate. Citizens of Kazakhstan follow the Spanish Embassy in Astana. The consulate decides. Details are in the Spanish student visa guide. ESADE takes payments through Flywire; the legal transfer options from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

ESADE compared with other private universities

More in the profiles of the University of Navarra and Universidad Europea de Madrid. All Spanish profiles are in the Spain catalogue.

Timeline for a September 2027 start

1. September–October 2026: choose the programme and section; assess your English and maths.
2. October–December: apply, take the ESADE test or SAT, upload three years of grades.
3. Two to three weeks after the decision: pay the 25% reservation, then apply for a scholarship.
4. Spring 2027: apply to residences and prepare for final school exams.
5. June–July: certificate, apostille, translation, homologation request; pay the 75% balance and enrol by early July.
6. July: visa, no later than two months before classes.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until spring. Admission is rolling, and popular programmes fill before June.
• Looking only at IELTS. Maths matters for the BBA: ESADE sets maths requirements for several programmes, and the minimum school average is 7 out of 10 (8 for a double degree).
• Treating the reservation as refundable. It is returned only if you fail your final school exams.
• Confusing BBA with MBA. The BBA is a bachelor's after school; the MBA is for professionals with work experience.
• Applying for a scholarship before admission. Applications are accepted only from admitted students.

FAQ

How much does ESADE cost?

A single bachelor's degree is $24,190 (€21,300) a year in 2027/28 and a double degree $27,820 (€24,500). The 12-month MBA starting in autumn 2027 totals $93,680 (€82,500). Housing and living costs in Barcelona are extra.

Can I apply to ESADE with a Russian school certificate?

Yes, the Russian certificate of secondary general education is on ESADE's list of accepted systems. For enrolment it must be homologated by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and English and maths are assessed through the ESADE test or SAT/ACT.

Do I need Spanish to study at ESADE?

Not for the English section of the BBA, the AI programme or Global Governance. The bilingual BBA requires C1 Spanish and the Bachelor in Law C2, assessed at interview.

What IELTS score does ESADE require?

English-taught programmes require IELTS Academic 7 with no component below 6; bilingual ones require 6. You can skip the certificate because the ESADE test includes English. For scores slightly under the threshold, the school's language department decides.

Is ESADE part of Ramon Llull University?

Yes. ESADE has belonged to Universitat Ramon Llull since 1995, so its bachelor's diplomas are official URL degrees. The business school holds AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation.

How does StudyU help with ESADE applications?

Choosing the programme and section, test preparation, essays, document checks, homologation and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by ESADE's admissions committee, scholarships by the school's scholarship committee, and the visa by the Spanish consulate.

Sources

• ESADE: bachelor's tuition fees
• ESADE: bachelor's admission process
• ESADE: requirements by education system and language
• ESADE: admission test
• ESADE: BBA programme
• ESADE: scholarships
• ESADE: campuses and housing in Barcelona
• ESADE: accreditations
• ESADE: history and status
• ESADE: Full-Time MBA fees
• Consulate General of Spain in Moscow: study visa

Fees and rules checked on 01.10.2026. ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355; amounts rounded to $10, amounts under $1,000 to $1–5.

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