Flip to the back of the Economist, and you’ll see plenty of advertisements for Spanish business schools. Simply put, they are among the best places in the world to earn an MBA.
But what about undergrad? Spain not only has top graduate business school programs, but two world-leading business and international relations focused universities, as well as more broadly focused universities that move towards teaching in both English and Spanish (and Catalan!).
Noteworthy Universities
For those with a business or IR preference, IE University and ESADE are world leading. Seriously. These places are on par with Wharton, and while they are the most expensive universities in Spain, the education you’ll receive is phenomenal.
Spain’s public universities are pretty great too, with some offering degree options taught solely in English. However, if you paid attention in high school Spanish, you’ll have access to hundreds of great courses at a fraction of the price you’d find in the US.
Degrees Available
If you’re unwilling to take any courses in Spanish, you’ll be limited to business, international relations, American Studies, and some law degrees (none of which are particularly suggested for those wanting to practice in the US under normal circumstances).
However, if you’re willing to take a few courses in Spanish, suddenly your options open up considerably. Due to the Spanish government’s desire to increase bilingualism, many degrees have courses that are taught in both Spanish and English. While not every degree field has this option, plenty of them do.
Language Requirements
As was mentioned before, Spanish universities tend to want their students to speak Spanish. However, due to the decentralized nature of Spanish in Spain, some regions prefer to teach in a language other than Spanish. The most notable for these for most international students will be Catalan, the language spoken in northeastern Spain, including Barcelona.
Admissions Requirements
Spanish universities require a few extra steps to study at than most European universities, but it’s relatively straightforward. Essentially, all that is required is a review of one’s high school record, so if you’ve taken a fair number of honors classes, you should be fine. However, doing this sooner rather than later will be helpful.
Paying for It
There are a handful of Spanish universities that process American federal loans. Not surprisingly, they tend to be the more expensive ones. However, paying for a Spanish education is amazingly affordable, with tuition and fees typically under $5,000. Moreover, living expenses can be largely subsidized through working a few hours a week, as the cost of living for students is quite low.
Living in Spain
Admittedly, I’m quite biased, but Spain is perhaps the greatest country for undergrads in the world. It’s affordable, there are two world class cities in Madrid and Barcelona, and it has everything from mountains to beaches, and museums to cathedrals (and even Alhambra!), linked together with a great high-speed rail network.
The Spanish spoken in Spain is different than what is spoken in Latin America, but is relatively easy to pick up. It’s about as different as British English is from American English.