Every year, thousands of students from across the world make their way to Spain to attend language schools and the 76 universities located in the country. Statistics from the academic year 2021–22 show that nearly 250,000 international students enrolled in Spanish universities, out of which over 50,000 were on exchange programs. They come to the country for numerous reasons, with the knowledge that studying here is a truly enlightening experience. Spain offers its international students the opportunity to create new attitudes and concepts about life. It gives students a fresh perspective on the world around them.
Spain offers a stable and consolidated political democratic framework, supported by the 1978 Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights and public freedoms. Crucial to the diversity of the nation is the Constitution’s protection of regionalism though its creation of 17 autonomous regions and two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast). Each region has its own distinctive personality and characteristics, as seen in their architecture, their fiestas and traditions, their local cuisine, and even their own languages, including Catalan (Catalunya), Euskadi (Basque Country), and Gallego (Galicia).
Following the peaceful end to Franco’s dictatorship nearly 50 years ago, Spanish society embraced social change and now stands out in Europe for its accepting spirit, respect for sexual freedom, and coexistence between religions. Maybe as a result of the coexistence for centuries of different cultures, the Spanish personality is open, cheerful, tolerant, and respectful. Citizens from other countries are welcomed.
Spain is a healthy country, with the second-highest life expectancy of OECD nations. According to the Bloomberg Index, Spain’s health system is the third most efficient in the world (behind Hong Kong and Singapore). According to the Index published by the medical journal The Lancet, in terms of quality, Spain has the eighth-best health system in the world.
The weather is one of the main attractions in Spain. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe but is full of contrasts, from the tree-lined mountains of the north across Don Quixote’s central mesa to the southern beaches. Extensive beaches of white or golden sand, hidden coves, and beaches surrounded by forest run along all the Spanish coast, from the Costa Brava in the north to the Costa del Sol in the south. As well as beaches, Spain has the most biosphere reserves of any country.
The country’s transport network is one of the best on the planet. Spain has the second-longest high-speed rail network in the world and the longest in Europe, with the most modern and technologically advanced train fleet in the continent. On top of this, it ranks ninth in the world in air connectivity and has the largest highway map of Europe.
The Spanish food scene relies on fresh products and quality raw materials renowned worldwide, with more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else, as well as literally thousands of affordable top-quality restaurants frequented by locals and visitors alike.
Fish, seafood, Iberian ham, olive oil, cheeses, and wine are part of the Mediterranean diet. From the most traditional recipes—tortilla de patatas, paella, sopa de fideos—to the most avant-garde cuisine, Spanish gastronomy is synonymous with quality, and don’t forget that Spain is the birthplace of that international phenomenon—tapas.
Spain has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. It is the third-safest country in the European Union, behind Luxembourg and Slovenia. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, Spain ranks as the 15th country in the world in national and personal security.
It is an authentic cultural, historical, and monumental melting pot, as evidenced by emblematic monuments such as its palaces, like La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia; cathedrals, like those in Burgos or Santiago de Compostela; medieval castles in Xàtiva; Roman ruins in Mérida; and museums, such as Prado in Madrid and Guggenheim in Bilbao. Spain is also home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites. In addition to treasures like the Alhambra in Granada or the Camino de Santiago, Spain can boast of being home to many artists and writers, like Cervantes, Goya, Velázquez, Picasso, Dalí, and Gaudi.
Soccer, tennis, and golf are just some of the sports in which Spanish players excel, thanks to an impressive infrastructure of facilities and training programs where students can really develop relationships, as sport is considered a great way to promote cooperation, integration, and cultural exchange.
Take the opportunity to study in Spain—you won’t regret it.