7 Best Medical Schools in Spain 2023/2024 – [Editor’s Pick]

best medical schools in spain

Hi scholar, are you an international student seeking to study medicine? After careful consultation and research, I have come up with the list of the best medical schools in Spain?

About Spain

If you are looking to acquire quality medical education at an affordable price, Spain is one of the best countries Europe for you.

Spain isn’t just a tourist nation again. It is one of the warmest parts of Europe that has open arms for international students, as such that they are increasingly teaching some of their subjects in English to accommodate the students.

In addition, their medical schools are known to be well affiliated with hospitals, med research centers, and professional staff to help you achieve balanced education.

Also, to study a medical course in Spain, you may need to learn Spanish. So it would be best if you understood the basics of the language. You should note that these medical schools are not only the best but globally renowned. They are also affiliated with reputable hospitals and med research agencies to deliver a top-notch medical education.

Best Medical Schools in Spain

1. University of Barcelona

First on our list is the best medical school in Spain which is also among the top 100 globally, the University of Barcelona. It was founded in 1450, and it is based in Barcelona, the most beautiful city in Spain.

This university is built on diversity, critical thinking, and research. In addition, they offer many benefits to students, one is scholarship, but it is very competitive. This means you must be outstanding and maintain the grade throughout your education.

Furthermore, the University of Barcelona contains about 5,000 international students. However, most of the classes are taught in Spanish and Catalonian. Only a few courses are entirely taught in English. Best of all, their education plan is very comfortable for everyone to suit in.

2. Pompeu Fabra University

The Pompeu Fabra University is one of the youngest medical schools in Spain, founded in 1990. It is well known for its three primary programs; Social sciences and humanities; Health and life sciences (in which the school of medicine falls in); and Communications and information technologies

Also known as UPF, the university is committed to providing the best practical knowledge combined with a world-class theoretical knowledge framework. Also, despite their young age, their educational possibility is wide and broad for domestic and international students.

3. University of Zaragoza

The University of Zaragoza is one of the top medical schools in Spain and one of the oldest. It was established in 1542, and apart from its renowned medical school, it has produced to its honor one of the leaders in technological innovation centers in Spain, making the university a popular one among students, tech specialties, and scientists.

To aid international students, this university offers Spanish courses for international students, making them understand the language basics. This is one of the rare universities in Spain that provide such benefits.  It has to its pride over 2,000 international students.

4. University of Granada

Ranked among the top medical schools in Spain is the University of Granada. It is one of the oldest universities in Spain, founded in 1531. The university is said to have been in existence in 1349. The origins of this university go back even more to 1349 when it was used as a school for medicine, geometry, calculus, astronomy, and logic.

The University of Grenada offers few courses in English; although the majority of its courses are taught in Spanish, you have to get a basic knowledge of Spanish.

Furthermore, the University of Grenada has a student population of 47,000 students, of which over 4,000 are international.

5. University of Navarra

The University of Navarra is a private institution established in 1952, St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. The University of Navarra is one of the best private medical schools in Spain that ranks high globally.

The university is known for its wide affiliation with other institutions. Also, it has a teaching hospital, where medical students can run their clinical practice stage under the supervision and guidelines of licensed doctors.

That combination of theoretical and practical knowledge makes it a total dose for students. Here you won’t have to look for a clinic or hospital outside to run your clinical studies.

6. University of Valencia

The University of Valencia is one of the oldest medical schools in Spain that was established in 1499. It is also one of the leading academic institutions in Spain that has three campuses, and all are located on the coastline.

Also, most of its courses are taught in Spanish, with only a few taught in the English language.

Additionally, this university is a good choice for international students as the university is constantly working on improving and accommodating modern views of medical care. Also, it has wide open arms for international students.

7. University of Seville

Today’s last on our list is the University of Seville that was established in 1505 as Colegio de Santa María de Jesús. It has been in existence for over 500 hundred years and is ranked among f the best schools in Spain, known for its high-quality education and experience.

Also, the university is known to have a museum filled with fantastic heritage and history perfected represented through artifacts.

Furthermore, the university’s motto “Equality, liberty, justice, and pluralism” has led it to have open arms to international students, professors, and staff.

They are also affiliated with many hospitals and other universities, including the No one university in the United States, Harvard University. So you see, this university is indeed a complete package.

Can I study medicine in English in Spain?

Presently, there are no medical programs taught in English in Spain (excluding the dental program). This means that you must know how to speak or have basic knowledge of Spanish before applying to study medicine here.

What’s the learning duration of the medical schools in Spain?

It takes about six years to study fully and completes a medical program in Spain, including clerkship practice.

Is studying medicine in Spain expensive?

Spain relatively offers one of the most affordable medical education in Europe that considers international students. However, if you choose Madrid or Barcelona, you may tend to spend more on living expenses.

Are international students accepted in medical schools in Spain?

Yes, international students can enroll and must rest assured that they will be accepted if they meet the requirements. The affordable prices and good education have made Spain an excellent choice for international students.

It may interest you to know that there are over 194,000 international students in Spain, and the number has increased by 27% in the past three years, thus proving that Spain is indeed a good study country for medical students. Some of the students are from European countries like Italy, France, and Hungary, but the majority are from China, Columbia, Ecuador, etc.

Additionally, Spain has unique side attractions like libraries, museums, sites, architecture, and cuisine, making your education a pleasurable and enjoyable one.

What is the educational curriculum of medical schools in Spain?

As stated earlier, medical education in Spain runs for six years. The first two years are the pre-clinical or theoretical stage, focusing on basic subjects like biology and chemistry. The remaining four years are dedicated to clinical studies, where you will acquire practical knowledge and put into practice what you have learned in the theoretical stage in a hospital under the supervision of a licensed doctor.

After completing the six years of study, you can decide to go for postgraduate specialization (MIR) to practice medicine in a given specialty, be it neurosurgery, cardio surgery, or many more. And due to the high demands of specialized doctors, there are usually very few slots for postgraduate specialization yearly. It is considered to be very competitive.

Conclusion

You will agree that Spain isn’t just a tourist nation but educationally strong with the above information. Although the only limitation here is that you can’t effectively learn in any of the medical schools in Spain if you don’t have basic knowledge of Spanish. Although some universities do translate or take some courses in English, the fact remains that you must understand Spanish to do very well here.

For more related information,  I suggest you read on the Top 5 Amazing Philadelphia Med Schools And Those That Offer Scholarships.