University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) at a glance
- City
- Leioa (Bilbao area)
- Type
- Public university
- Website
- ehu.eus/en/en-home
Key takeaways
- UPV/EHU program pages show approximate total fees such as €1,800 (Cognitive Neuroscience of Language) and €2,200 (Quantum Science and Technology).
- No separate non-EU price is shown on the program pages we checked, but confirm your rate with the university.
- Our data lists 16 English-taught masters, including 7 Erasmus Mundus joint degrees.
- For 2026/27 the priority pre-enrolment period ran 2–27 March 2026, one master per period.
- Graduates from outside the EHEA also need an authorisation from the UPV/EHU Postgraduate Commission.
On this page
The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) is one of the most affordable places in Spain for an English-taught master's. Its program pages list approximate fees such as €1,800 for the Master in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language and €2,200 for Quantum Science and Technology, and they show no separate price for non-EU students.
It also has a strong English-taught catalogue, especially in science, linguistics and Erasmus Mundus joint degrees. Here is how fees, deadlines and the extra non-EHEA authorisation work.
Why UPV/EHU is good value
- Low approximate fees: most English masters we checked list about €1,600–2,200 in total; a few cost more (Control in Smartgrids lists €4,000).
- Science and language strengths: quantum science, theoretical chemistry, neuroscience of language and computational linguistics are taught in English.
- Erasmus Mundus scholarships: 7 of the 16 English masters are Erasmus Mundus programs with consortium funding.
- No pre-enrolment fee stated: you pay only when you reserve a place.
Tuition and fees for non-EU students
| Master | Length | Approx. fee |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Neuroscience of Language | 60 ECTS | €1,800 |
| Quantum Science and Technology | 60 ECTS | €2,200 |
| Control in Smartgrids and Distributed Generation | 90 ECTS | €4,000 |
Check the official price chart
We could not read the UPV/EHU fees page itself, and program pages give approximate totals without an academic-year label or a non-EU rate. Before you budget, check the 'Official Masters price chart' in the postgraduate Fees section or ask the master's secretariat which rate applies to you.
After admission you reserve your place by paying an advance on tuition (about €300) within 3 working days. Erasmus Mundus programs set their own fees. For a full budget including visa funds, see our cost of studying in Spain guide.
English-taught programs at UPV/EHU
| Field | Example masters | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Physics and chemistry | Quantum Science and Technology; Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling | 60 ECTS |
| Language and cognition | Cognitive Neuroscience of Language; Language Acquisition in Multilingual Settings; Language Analysis and Processing | 60–90 ECTS |
| Economics and law | Economics: Empirical Applications and Policies; International Master in Sociology of Law | 60 ECTS |
| Engineering | Control in Smartgrids; Erasmus Mundus EMIMEP (microwave electronics and photonics); Erasmus Mundus Smart Cities (SMACCs) | 90–120 ECTS |
| Environment and marine | Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; Erasmus Mundus IMBRSea; Erasmus Mundus MER | 60–120 ECTS |
There are no English-taught bachelor's degrees in our data. Compare with other cities in English-taught programs in Spain.
Admission requirements
- Degree: a bachelor-level degree from outside the EHEA that gives access to postgraduate study in your country.
- Extra authorisation: non-EHEA graduates must get an authorisation from the UPV/EHU Postgraduate Commission. It can be pending when you pre-enrol, but your admission is void without it at enrolment.
- English: set per program; for example, Economics: Empirical Applications and Policies asks for B2.
- Documents: legalised or apostilled degree, official transcript with grades and hours, proof your degree gives access to master's study at home, and the Spanish ministry's Declaration of Equivalence of Average Grades.
- Translations: documents in English need no sworn translation; others need a sworn translation into Spanish or Basque.
Some programs have their own pre-selection: Cognitive Neuroscience of Language requires a prior application through the BCBL research centre. More on recognition in our Spain admission requirements guide.
Deadlines: 2026/27 dates as a guide
These are the official 2026/27 periods. The 2027/28 dates were not yet published when we checked. You may apply for one master per period, and the first period has priority.
| Period (2026/27) | Dates | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1st period (priority) | 2–27 Mar 2026 | All masters |
| 2nd period | 25–29 May 2026 | Only masters with free places |
| 3rd period | 1–3 Jul 2026 | Only masters with free places |
Apply in March
As a non-EU applicant you need time for the Postgraduate Commission authorisation and the visa. The July period is very short and very late.
Scholarships
UPV/EHU runs its own call of grants for its master's degrees, and the 7 Erasmus Mundus masters offer consortium scholarships. Carolina Foundation grants are listed too, but they target Latin America. More in our scholarships guide for Spain.
Your budget and the visa funds rule
Even with low tuition, you must prove you can live in Spain. The study visa requires funds of 100% of the IPREM per month for yourself, 75% for a first accompanying family member and 50% for each additional one. Prepaid accommodation for the whole stay reduces the amount, but tuition payments do not count toward it.
- Tuition: roughly €1,800–2,200 for many 60-ECTS English masters (approximate figures on program pages).
- Place reservation: about €300, paid within 3 working days of admission and counted toward tuition.
- Visa funds: 100% of IPREM per month; check the current IPREM value before applying.
- Health insurance: from an insurer authorised in Spain, covering the whole stay.
Your study authorisation for higher education lets you work up to 30 hours a week if the job fits your studies. The work permission is limited to the autonomous community where you study (plus bordering localities). Note that Basque and Spanish are both official languages in the region, so many local jobs ask for Spanish.
Who should choose UPV/EHU
UPV/EHU is a strong pick if you are a science or linguistics graduate looking for a research-oriented English master at a low price, or if you want to try for an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. It is less suitable if you need an English-taught bachelor's, or if you can only apply late in the year, because the useful period for visa applicants is in March.
Honest pros and cons
Benefits
- Low approximate fees for many English masters
- Wide English-taught science and linguistics offer
- Seven Erasmus Mundus programs with scholarships
- English documents need no sworn translation
Difficulties
- Extra Postgraduate Commission authorisation for non-EHEA degrees
- Only one master per application period
- Official fee chart and non-EU rate need checking with the university
- Campuses are spread across three provinces, so check where your master is taught
Applying from Afghanistan
Afghan applicants
Afghan documents need diplomatic legalization, not an apostille. Visa applications go to the Embassy of Spain in Islamabad (legal residence in Pakistan required) or Tehran (legal residence in Iran). Ask the UPV/EHU Postgraduate Commission early which documents it accepts. Read our student visa guide.
How to apply step by step
- 1
Choose one master per period
Pick your first choice for the March priority period.
- 2
Request the non-EHEA authorisation
Apply separately on the UPV/EHU website for the Postgraduate Commission authorisation.
- 3
Pre-enrol online
Submit through the UPV/EHU pre-enrolment platform with your documents.
- 4
Reserve your place
Pay the advance (about €300) within 3 working days of admission.
- 5
Apply for the visa and enrol
Apply at least two months before the start, then enrol in July (dates per faculty).
Also consider nearby Public University of Navarre or browse all Spain guides. To get reminders before March, track deadlines for free on FindUniPath.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a master's cost at the University of the Basque Country?
Program pages list approximate totals, for example €1,800 for Cognitive Neuroscience of Language and €2,200 for Quantum Science and Technology. Confirm the rate for non-EU students with the university.
Does UPV/EHU offer English-taught programs?
Yes. Our data lists 16 English-taught masters, 7 of them Erasmus Mundus joint degrees. No English-taught bachelor's is listed.
When should I apply to UPV/EHU?
In the first, priority period. For 2026/27 it ran 2–27 March 2026; later periods were only for masters with free places.
Do I need a sworn translation for UPV/EHU?
Not for documents in English. Documents in other languages need a sworn translation into Spanish or Basque.
Official sources
Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
- 1.UPV/EHU — Master's pre-enrolment and admission
- 2.UPV/EHU — Master in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
- 3.UPV/EHU — Master in Quantum Science and Technology
- 4.UPV/EHU — Master's fees
- 5.UPV/EHU — Full master's offer
- 6.Spanish Ministry of Science — Average grade equivalence
- 7.Embassy of Spain in Islamabad — Study visa
- 8.Spanish Ministry of Inclusion — Work while studying (Hoja 4 bis)
- 9.Spanish Ministry of Inclusion — Study stay authorisation