Study Medicine in Spain

Spain has been a member of the European Union since 1986, and a human medicine or dentistry degree from a state-recognized Spanish university is automatically recognized across EU member states. For international applicants, two very different locations in Spain are available. One requires Spanish, the other teaches in English. This decision comes down primarily to language.

Valencia: Human Medicine in Spanish

In Valencia, the Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir teaches human medicine. Tuition fees are 14,440 EUR per year. The language of instruction is Spanish — throughout: lectures, seminars, examinations, and conversations with patients at the bedside. Valencia is one of the most pleasant university cities in Spain, with beaches, a mild climate, and rents lower than in Madrid and Barcelona.

Madrid: Dentistry in English

The Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid offers dentistry in English for 10,650 EUR per semester, so 21,300 EUR per academic year. For prospective dentistry students without a Spanish background, Madrid is the obvious route.

Language is the real hurdle

Those who want to study human medicine in Valencia need Spanish at a level sufficient for anatomy lectures, examinations, and patient history-taking. Realistically, this means a preparation year or intensive course for those beginning without prior knowledge. Those who cannot invest this time should honestly consider dentistry in Madrid or an English-language country instead.

The Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir charges 14,440 EUR per year for human medicine. The Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid lists 10,650 EUR per semester for dentistry, or 21,300 EUR per academic year. The gap between the two is just under 7,000 EUR per year — explained less by the city than by the subject, as dentistry is more expensive everywhere due to materials and equipment.

For living costs, a realistic estimate is 800 to 1,100 EUR per month. A rough estimate for one academic year of human medicine in Valencia: approximately 25,500 EUR. For dentistry in Madrid: approximately 33,500 EUR. The language course before Valencia is an additional cost that should be planned early.

Spain does not apply grade-based entry restrictions to international applicants at these private universities. The selection process consists of an application with academic documents, a selection interview, and a subject-specific test in science fundamentals. For human medicine in Valencia, Spanish is required at a sufficient level; for dentistry in Madrid, English proficiency is demonstrated.

The academic year begins in autumn. Both universities have limited places per year group. Medschool Experts takes you through the specific process, assesses your qualifications, and prepares you for the interview. The first consultation is free.

Teaching runs in smaller groups with attendance taken seriously and continuous assessment throughout the semester. In dentistry in Madrid, patient treatment takes place in Spanish even in the English-language program, so Spanish should be learned in parallel. Most students live in shared apartments. Valencia is compact and beach-close; Madrid is larger with excellent metro connections but higher rents. There are German-speaking students at both locations, though in smaller numbers than in Eastern Europe.