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Economics Schools and Programs in Spain

67 schools in Spain teach Economics.

Bachelor of Business Administration-Global Economics

The Bachelor of Business Administration- Global Economics is similar to the Bachelor of Business Administration, but studies are focused on international economic structures and policies. This program helps students learn the essentials of business marketing, financial management, accounting and more. Students learn how to develop entrepreneurship skills, engineer strategic marketing plans, and navigate local and global economic systems. Graduates can expect to be equipped for managerial positions in the financial, services and marketing sectors like financial controllers, auditors, and marketing managers, respectively.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid and online

Undergraduate Certificate in Global Economics

The Undergraduate Certificate in Global Economics at UIBS is an undergraduate program that provides students with the foundations of global economic markets. Students study international economics and banking and how to manage a business with cross-cultural economics in mind. Students in this program can apply their studies to immediately improve their prospects in the workforce. Recipients typically utilize their certificate to obtain entry-level positions in business, or to expand their academic credentials.
Level: Professional Development  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid and online

Economics (B.A. and B.S.)

Saint Louis University-Madrid offers a varied selection of business programs that give students a comprehensive foundation in business fundamentals. The Bachelor of Science in Economics includes a program of business subjects such as finance, marketing, accounting, management and international business and SLU-Madrid’s Bachelor of Science in Economics degree requires students to complete 120 hours of coursework. The Bachelor of Arts in Economics provides meticulous and analytical training in economics and again requires students to complete 120 hours of coursework. Economics programs at SLU prepare students for careers with financial institutions, government agencies and multi-national corporations. SLU graduates have gone on to have careers in financial centres around the world, including London, Dubai, New York City and Madrid.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid

Master in Economics and Finance

CEMFI’s Master in Economics and Finance program equips students with a rock-solid foundation in Economics. Students benefit from a vigorous, cohesive and exciting academic setting in which they are able to lay the groundwork for a productive career. The Master in Economics and Finance is a two-year degree (120 ECTS). The program is divided into workshops, coursework, and writing of a Master thesis. The program is structured around coursework, participation in workshops, and the writing of a Master’s thesis. The academic year is structured into trimester terms. The covered in the programs are mathematics, statistics, microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. Students will also take elective courses that complement their chosen field of specialization. The workshops are designed to help students learn how to read and discuss research and policy papers in applied economics. Students will also learn presentation skills. During the second year, students write a Master thesis on their field of interest. This is completed under the supervision of a faculty member.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid

PhD in Economics

The PhD in Economics program prepares students for successful careers in universities, academic centres, banks, public sector institutions or private sector institutions. Students enjoy an invigorating academic environment with approachable and encouraging faculty. The program is made up of a mixture of coursework and research. The typical period of study is five to six years. Reward for successfully completing the two stages are the degrees Master in Economics and Finance and PhD in Economics and Government. The first two years constitute the coursework stage. It is structured into coursework, workshops and the writing of a short thesis. During the summer of the first year, students can enrol in CEMFI’s research internship program. The research internship program covers a varied range of interests and fields in Economics. The research stage is subject to adequate performance in the first two years. With supervision from faculty staff, PhD students work towards their dissertation. The research stage supports the student in the move to becoming an independent researcher. Students participate in seminars, workshops, summer school courses, and conferences.
Level: Doctorate  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Madrid

Bachelor in Economics

The Bachelor in Economics program is a rigorous and challenging program. When reading Economics at IE, students study political science, behavioural science, economics and modern applied technology to examine the new reality of economics and its effects on how we live and work. IE University has a strong expertise in economics and management. This bachelor is aimed at people who are passionate about analysis and tech and who wish to make an impression in economics in this different digital era. Students who study the Bachelor in Economics, will study for the first two years in Segovia and then complete the last two years in Madrid. This program will provide the skills required to help improve lives in public and private sectors. This is achieved through a deep comprehension of human behaviour, economic environments and markets.
Level: Undergraduate Bachelors  
Language of instruction: English  
Location: Segovia

Economics Studies in Spain

Economics studies how households, firms and governments use scarce resources, how markets and prices work, and how public policy affects growth, employment and inequality. A degree in economics in Spain combines economic theory (microeconomics and macroeconomics) with mathematics, statistics and econometrics, plus applied fields such as public finance, international trade and monetary economics. It is a separate degree from business administration (ADE), which focuses more on managing companies.

How the degree is organised

The official bachelor's degree is the grado en Economía. Under Royal Decree 822/2021, Spanish bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Universidad de Granada, for example, both list their economics degree at 240 credits over four years.

  • Content: the first years cover principles of economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics for economics and statistics; later years add econometrics, public sector economics and optional subjects. At the Universidad de Granada, 42 of the 240 credits are optional, and an external work placement worth 12 credits is one of the options
  • Specialisations: the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where economics has been taught since 1944, records a specialisation (mención) on the degree certificate: economic analysis, world economy, applied economics, monetary and financial economics or public economics
  • Related degrees: a search for "Economía" in the official register of degrees (RUCT) returns 89 records, including related degrees such as International Business Economics at the Universitat Jaume I or Financial and Actuarial Economics at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

After the bachelor's degree, students can take an official master's degree and then a doctorate. One example is the Master in Economics and Finance of CEMFI in Madrid, an official two-year master's degree of 120 ECTS credits whose official degrees are awarded by the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo.

Where to study economics in Spain

Madrid has the most schools for this subject in our directory, followed by Barcelona and Valencia, and the degree is also offered in Bilbao, Murcia, Zaragoza, Sevilla and Salamanca, among other cities. Examples of official degrees listed in the RUCT:

  • Madrid area: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Getafe campus), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Somosaguas campus), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos and Universidad Europea de Madrid
  • Catalonia: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Valencian Community: Universidad de Alicante and Universitat Jaume I in Castellón
  • Navarre: Universidad de Navarra, whose degree is registered with the English name Bachelor in Economics

Language of instruction

Most degrees are taught in Spanish, and in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Galicia and the Basque Country part of the teaching may be in the co-official language. English-taught options are common in economics. Several degrees are registered in the RUCT with an English name (for example at Carlos III, Complutense, Navarra and Universidad Europea de Madrid). At Carlos III, the degree can be taken entirely in English or entirely in Spanish, and all students must certify a B2 level of English before they finish. The Complutense offers an English group.

Admission, costs and recognition

Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses the academic records of international students, and then apply to each university. Public universities charge a price per credit, which differs between universities. As an example, the Universidad de Sevilla lists €12.62 per credit for its economics degree and states that, from the second year, a 99% reduction is applied to the number of credits passed the previous year.

Spanish degrees listed in the RUCT are official qualifications. If you already hold a foreign degree, Spain distinguishes homologación, which gives access to a regulated profession, from a declaration of equivalence, which certifies the academic level of the qualification (bachelor's or master's).

Careers

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid lists career areas for its graduates that include economic consultancy, risk and financial analysis, banking regulation, international trade, international organisations and public administration, for example as a state statistician (estadístico del Estado) or state trade expert (técnico comercial del Estado). Strong quantitative skills from econometrics and data analysis are also useful in research departments of banks and companies.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an economics degree take in Spain?

Four years and 240 ECTS credits, as at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Universidad de Granada. An official master's degree adds 60, 90 or 120 credits.

Can I study economics in English in Spain?

Yes. Several economics degrees are registered with an English name, and at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid the degree can be taken entirely in English. Check each university's page, because some only offer English-taught groups or subjects.

What is the difference between economics and business administration?

Economics analyses markets, the economy as a whole and public policy, with a strong focus on mathematics and econometrics. Business administration (ADE) focuses on running companies: management, accounting, marketing and finance.

How much does an economics degree cost at a public university?

It depends on the university. As a reference, the Universidad de Sevilla lists €12.62 per credit, and a full year usually has 60 credits. Private universities set their own fees.