Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), whose history goes back to 1293, is one of the largest universities in Spain, with campuses at Moncloa and Somosaguas in Madrid. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 199th in the world, the second-highest-ranked university in Spain and the highest in the Madrid region, and it ranked first in Spain for employability. It’s known for law, medicine, economics, journalism and the humanities.
Complutense has a special early admission route for international students, but most of its degrees are taught in Spanish and non-EU students pay higher fees. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Complutense’s own guidance and official Spanish government information.
1. Prove your Spanish, or choose an English-taught degree
Most Complutense degrees are taught in Spanish. If you’re from a country where Spanish isn’t spoken and your schooling wasn’t in Spanish, you must prove Spanish at B2 level. A few degrees are taught in English, such as Business Administration and Economics in English, so check the language of the degree you want.
2. Get your school qualification accredited
Spanish public universities admit students by an admission mark. If your school qualification is from an EU country, the International Baccalaureate, the European Baccalaureate or a country with a reciprocity agreement (such as the UK, China, Switzerland or Norway), you apply to UNEDasiss, run by Spain’s national distance university, for an accreditation that converts your grades to a mark of 5 to 10. If your qualification is from another country, such as the US or India, you usually need to have it officially recognised (homologated) by Spain’s Ministry of Education or go through UNEDasiss. You then apply through the Madrid region’s single admissions system (Distrito Único de Madrid). UNEDasiss.
3. Raise your admission mark with the PCE
Popular degrees have high cut-off marks (notas de corte), and the maximum admission mark is 14. You can add up to 4 points by taking UNEDasiss’s subject exams, the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), or the optional phase of Spain’s university entrance exam, in subjects that count extra for your chosen degree. PCE results stay valid for three academic years, so you can take them a year early.
4. Use the early admission route for international students
Complutense runs an early admission procedure for international students whose whole family lives outside Spain. It covers non-EU school qualifications, EU and reciprocity-agreement qualifications, and the IB and European Baccalaureate. For 2026-27, applications ran from 20 January to 1 April 2026, so expect a similar window for 2027-28. Complutense early admission for international students.
5. Otherwise, apply in the June pre-enrolment
If you don’t use early admission, you apply through the Madrid region’s pre-enrolment. For 2026-27, the ordinary round ran in June with results on 10 July 2026, and an extraordinary round followed in late July with results on 3 September. There’s also an extended period for applicants with foreign qualifications processed through UNEDasiss.
6. Prove your English for English-taught degrees
If you choose a degree taught in English, check its English requirement and have your certificate ready. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
7. Understand the fees
For 2026-27, a first-enrolment credit at Complutense costs €16.92 to €20.68 for Spanish and EU students and residents, depending on the subject, or about €1,000 to €1,250 for a 60-credit year. Under Madrid’s pricing rules, non-EU students over 18 who aren’t residents pay the much higher fourth-enrolment rate, €113.71 to €136.44 per credit, or about €6,800 to €8,200 a year. A student stay authorisation doesn’t count as residence. Complutense bachelor’s fees.
8. Budget for life in Madrid
Madrid is one of the more expensive cities in Spain, especially for rent, so start looking for accommodation as soon as you have a place, and budget for rent, food and transport on top of your fees.
9. Get your student visa
EU citizens don’t need a visa to study in Spain, but they must register as residents if they stay more than three months. If you’re from outside the EU, you apply for a student visa (a long-term stay for studies) at the Spanish consulate in your country once Complutense has admitted you. You’ll need to show that you can support yourself, normally 100% of Spain’s IPREM indicator for each month of your stay (€600 a month in 2025), or half that if your accommodation is already paid, plus health insurance. If your course lasts more than six months, you must apply for a foreigner identity card (TIE) within a month of arriving. Spanish consulate: student visa.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
Since Spain’s new immigration regulation came into force in May 2025, a long-term study authorisation for higher education automatically lets you work up to 30 hours a week, as long as the job is compatible with your studies, with no separate work permit. After you graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher, you can apply for a residence permit to look for a job or start a business. The Ministry of Inclusion’s information sheet says this permit lasts up to 24 months, but you can’t work while you hold it, so you’ll need to switch to a work permit once you find a job. Rules change, so check the latest guidance with Complutense’s international office.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Complutense?
Complutense offers a wide range of official master’s degrees, mostly taught in Spanish, and each one sets its own requirements and deadlines. Non-EU students who aren’t residents pay a higher price per credit for master’s degrees too. For a PhD, apply through Complutense’s doctoral school. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Popular degrees have high cut-off marks, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Madrid and Pompeu Fabra University. Our guide to studying in Spain explains how the Spanish system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Complutense University of Madrid’s official admissions and fee pages, UNEDasiss, Spanish government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Complutense’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Complutense University of Madrid.