Studying at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid
A private Catholic university in Madrid with English-taught Dentistry, Pharmacy and Business degrees, and a bilingual Medicine track that requires Spanish B2.
CEU San Pablo University (Universidad CEU San Pablo, often shortened to USP-CEU) is a private Catholic university in Madrid, recognized by Spanish law in 1993. It teaches on two campuses: Moncloa in central Madrid and Montepríncipe in Boadilla del Monte, where the Medicine faculty is based. Its English-taught degrees include Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Business and International Relations, and Medicine runs in a bilingual English–Spanish track.
It suits international applicants who want an official Spanish degree taught fully or partly in English and who can budget for private tuition of €9,300–23,100 a year (current price list). It suits future doctors only if they are ready to reach Spanish B2 before admission.
It is not the right fit if you need Medicine fully in English, or if your budget is closer to public university fees. For those cases, we compare other Spanish universities below.
For the full country overview, see our Study in Spain guide.
| Parameter | Universidad CEU San Pablo |
|---|---|
Type | Private Catholic university, founded by Fundación Universitaria San Pablo CEU |
Legal recognition | Recognized as a private university by Ley 8/1993 of April 19, 1993 |
City and campuses | Madrid: Moncloa (central Madrid) and Montepríncipe (Boadilla del Monte) |
Fully English-taught degrees | Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Business, International Relations and others |
Medicine | 6 years, 360 ECTS, Spanish or bilingual track, 200 places in total |
Dentistry | 5 years, 300 ECTS, Spanish or English track, 210 places |
Tuition fees at CEU San Pablo University
The university has one price list for all students, with no separate non-EU rate. Figures below are from the current official list, for 60 ECTS (one year).
| Program | Language | Tuition per year | Place reservation (one-time) | Enrollment fee (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medicine | Spanish or bilingual | €19,500 | €3,300 | €1,700 in year 1 |
Dentistry | English | €23,100 | €1,500 | €1,500 |
Odontología (Dentistry) | Spanish | €18,900 | €1,500 |
The place reservation is paid once. The enrollment fee is charged every year and is €2,000 for double degrees. For Medicine, under the current price list, the enrollment fee is €4,200 in year two and €3,300 in each later year. Tuition stays at €19,500 a year.
You can pay the year in 9 monthly installments by SEPA direct debit, or pay upfront and get a 3% discount. These are current prices. Before paying for the next academic year, we check the latest price list for your program.
Scholarships exist, but none are reserved for specific nationalities. Medicine offers 10 CEU Merit Academic Excellence scholarships for the 10 best admission scores. General CEU Merit awards range from €2,500 to €7,500, and we confirm with the university whether your case qualifies.
What a year costs at CEU San Pablo
€ per year (60 ECTS), current price list, before reservation and enrollment fees
- Dentistry (English)€23,100
- Medicine (Spanish or bilingual)€19,500
- Odontología (Spanish)€18,900
- Pharmacy (English)€15,000
- Business Administration & Management (EN)€13,500
- International Relations & EU (English)€13,200
- Physiotherapy (English)
Programs and the degree you receive
Every Grado on this page is an official Spanish bachelor's degree. Medicine is registered in the national RUCT register (code 2502164) and leads to the regulated profession of Médico. Dentistry also has an officially published study plan and leads to a regulated profession.
Medicine is not taught fully in English. The bilingual track mixes English and Spanish credits. Students train at partner hospitals such as the HM Hospitales group, Vithas Pardo-Aravaca and Hospital Beata María Ana, plus the university's own simulation hospital.
Dentistry in English lasts 5 years, with 1,300+ hours of clinical practice in 45 treatment units. Students see patients from year three.
Other English-taught degrees include Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Business Administration & Management, International Relations & EU, Computer Engineering, Data Science & Engineering, and Digital Communication. Law and Biotechnology run in bilingual format.
Some programs add "International Dual Degrees" with partners such as Boston University. The university states these foreign certificates are not official degrees; your official qualification is the Spanish Grado.
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Admission requirements for international students
Most degrees follow one path: online application, tests, faculty interview, decision. Admission becomes final only after Spain recognizes your school certificate.
How to apply to Universidad CEU San Pablo
1
Choose the program and language track. For bilingual Medicine, you need an English B2 certificate before the tests and Spanish B2 before admission.
2
Apply online and complete the steps in the applicant portal (Portal del Futuro Alumno).
3
Take the online tests. Everyone sits an English test. Depending on the program, there is also a Spanish, math, or biology and chemistry test.
4
Attend the interview with the faculty. For Dentistry, the score is 60% grade average and 40% competency test, plus the interview; manual dexterity matters.
5
Start the homologation of your school certificate to the Spanish Bachillerato. Students from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and most non-EU systems need it. The law sets 3 months to decide once the file is complete.
6
Prepare documents: the official school certificate and grades for at least the last 3 years. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain use an apostille. Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait need legalization through the education ministry, the foreign ministry and the Spanish consulate.
Medicine: selection rules and dates
For Medicine, the university publishes the selection process in advance. Your score is 60% average grade of the first year of Bachillerato (or its equivalent), 35% biology and chemistry test, and 5% English. The Spanish university entrance exam (PAU) does not count.
International applicants do not need the PAU. They need the homologation credential, plus an "Informe de Equivalencia" that converts their grades to the Spanish scale. The university refers applicants to an external service for this paid report.
| Round | Application period | Test date | Results | |---|---|---|---| | 1st | September 9 – October 8 | October 16 | October 28 | | 2nd | October 20 – January 8 | January 16 | January 28 | | 3rd | January 19 – April 1 | April 10 | April 22 |
You can take the test at Montepríncipe or online. For other programs, the university publishes deadlines closer to the intake, and we track them for you.
What to know before you apply
- Medicine needs Spanish. There is no fully English Medicine degree. The bilingual track requires Spanish B2 before admission and at least 7 in the English part of the test. If you are starting Spanish from zero, plan a language year or look at Dentistry in English.
- Payments are hard to get back. The place reservation is non-refundable if you do not complete enrollment, except in cases covered by consumer law. The enrollment fee is not refunded. If you withdraw after paying the year, tuition is refunded by month, from the month after your written notice.
- Medicine applicants who miss the document deadline lose the place without a refund. Ask the university in writing what happens to your payments if your visa is refused.
Rankings and accreditation
Universidad CEU San Pablo is recognized as a private university by Ley 8/1993. Medicine is listed in the national RUCT register, and the Dentistry plan is published in the state gazette (BOE). This makes your degree official in Spain.
We do not quote ranking positions until we verify them at the source. Recognition at home, especially for Medicine and Dentistry, depends on your national medical or dental council; check it before applying.
Housing and student life
Most first-year international students choose between the university residence and a shared flat. The Colegio Mayor Universitario San Pablo, founded in 1944, sits near Moncloa. It offers full board and single or double rooms with a private bathroom. Admission is by application form and interview; prices are not published on its website, so we request them for you.
A room in a shared Madrid flat costs around €550 a month (idealista). Medicine and Dentistry are at Montepríncipe, outside the center, so factor in the commute.
The university also sells a €600 Hospitality Package, paid with the place reservation and non-refundable except in justified cases. It covers visa and NIE/TIE help, document recognition, A1–B1 Spanish courses, a bank account, a SIM card and housing search.
Student visa
Non-EU students need a Spanish student visa (estancia por estudios). Apply at the consulate at least 2 months before classes start. Show at least €600 per month of stay (€7,200 a year), not counting tuition, plus health insurance without co-payments or coverage limits, a medical certificate and a police clearance. Your passport must be valid for at least 1 more year.
University students can work up to 30 hours a week within the Community of Madrid without a separate permit. Graduates can apply for a job-search residence permit for up to 24 months. The full process is on our Spain student visa page.
Other options
Complutense University of Madrid is public; non-EU students pay about €6,823–8,186 a year, but most teaching is in Spanish. The University of Barcelona charges about €1,061 a year plus fees, with a large share of teaching in Catalan. Private alternatives include UCAM and Universidad Europea. Planning a postgraduate degree instead? See master's in Spain.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Send us your transcripts and passport details. We check your documents against Universidad CEU San Pablo's requirements, map out homologation and legalization for your country, and compare 2–3 alternatives in Spain. The first consultation is free. Contact us through the form on our website, WhatsApp or Telegram.
