Universidad del País Vasco logo

Universidad del País Vasco

Bilbao, ES · Ranking #18

The University of the Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, UPV/EHU) is a public university serving the Basque Autonomous Community in northern Spain. Legally created in 1980 (with roots back to 1968), it is a multi-campus institution with three main campuses: Bizkaia (Leioa–Bilbao area), Gipuzkoa (San Sebastián/Eibar) and Álava (Vitoria-Gasteiz). UPV/EHU enrolls around 45,000 students and offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in engineering, sciences, health sciences, law, economics and business, humanities, social sciences and arts. It appears in major global rankings around the 800–1000 band and ranks roughly 10th nationally. Teaching is mainly in Spanish and Basque, with some English-taught courses and programs.

Universidad del País Vasco logo

Universidad del País Vasco

About the university

The University of the Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, UPV/EHU) is a public university serving the Basque Autonomous Community in northern Spain. Legally created in 1980 (with roots back to 1968), it is a multi-campus institution with three main campuses: Bizkaia (Leioa–Bilbao area), Gipuzkoa (San Sebastián/Eibar) and Álava (Vitoria-Gasteiz). UPV/EHU enrolls around 45,000 students and offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in engineering, sciences, health sciences, law, economics and business, humanities, social sciences and arts. It appears in major global rankings around the 800–1000 band and ranks roughly 10th nationally. Teaching is mainly in Spanish and Basque, with some English-taught courses and programs.

Key information

  • Location: Bilbao, ES
  • Ranking #18
  • QS #1001
  • THE #1001
  • National ranking #10
  • Institution type: public

Popular faculties

  • Engineering
  • Science
  • Health Sciences
  • Medicine and Nursing
  • Economics and Business
  • Law
  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Fine Arts

Programs (36)

  • Law
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Philology and Languages
  • Fine Arts
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Dentistry
  • Veterinary Science
  • Psychology
  • Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Telecommunications
  • Medicine
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Marketing
  • Tourism and Hospitality
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Environmental Science
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Education
  • Music

Student body

  • Total students: 45,000
  • Undergraduate: 38,000
  • Graduate: 5,000
  • International students: 8%

Campus life

UPV/EHU’s three main campuses (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Álava) offer a diverse student experience in the Basque Country’s main cities. Students benefit from vibrant local cultures, bilingual (Spanish–Basque) environments and access to nature and coastline. Employment and company-presentation days, such as the Employment and Presentation of Companies Day at the Bilbao School of Engineering, connect students with regional industrial and technology companies.

Housing & accommodation

Housing cost: €280 - €800 / per month

Housing options

  • University residences
  • shared student apartments
  • private studios
  • homestay with local families
  • off-campus rented apartments

Student clubs and organizations

  • Faculty and degree student associations
  • cultural and language clubs
  • sports clubs
  • social activism and volunteering groups

Sports

  • University football teams
  • basketball teams
  • rugby teams
  • other sports teams organized through UPV/EHU sports services

Career & internships

Employment rate: 85%

Partner companies

  • ABC Compressors
  • Aernnova
  • AFM Cluster
  • Álamo Consulting
  • Alterity
  • Aludium
  • Arania

Internships: UPV/EHU organizes employment fairs and company-presentation days (e.g. JEPE at the Bilbao School of Engineering) where firms such as ABC Compressors, Aernnova, AFM Cluster, Álamo Consulting, Alterity, Aludium and Arania present opportunities and recruit engineers and graduates. Many degrees include internships in companies across the Basque industrial and technology sectors.

Admission requirements

Required documents

  • Spanish secondary school certificate or equivalent
  • university entrance exams (EBAU) or recognized international qualification
  • ID or passport
  • regional pre-enrolment; for international students: UNEDasiss accreditation and required subject exams
  • language proficiency (Spanish/Basque
  • or English for specific programs)

Tuition costs

  • €1,000 - €4,000 / per year
  • Acceptance rate: 50.00%
  • Scholarships available: UPV/EHU students can access Spanish national grants and Basque Government scholarships to support tuition and living expenses. The university also manages its own aid schemes and participates in mobility programs such as Erasmus+. International students may receive funding via their home universities or external agencies. Specific calls and criteria are listed on the UPV/EHU financial aid and international offices’ webpages.
  • Additional costs: Books €100-200/year, Laboratory fees €50-100/year

Quick facts

  • Founded: 1980
  • Teaching languages: Spanish, Basque, English, spanish, basque
  • Study formats: offline, hybrid

Contact