UNIVERSITIES GRANADA

Still, it’s worth understanding the full picture before you arrive: which campuses exist, what each one is known for, and what other options are out there beyond the public university. Here’s the complete guide.

Universidad de Granada (UGR): the main player

UGR is the institution that defines university life in the city, and for good reason: it was founded in 1531 by Emperor Charles V through a papal bull, continuing the university tradition of the old Arab Madrasah dating back to the 14th century. With over 80,000 students, it’s one of the largest universities in Spain and, on top of that, the leading European university for receiving Erasmus+ students, so as soon as you arrive you’ll be surrounded by classmates from all over the world.

Campuses and how they’re spread across the city

UGR doesn’t have a single campus, but several spread across Granada (and a couple outside it):

• Fuentenueva Campus: sciences, engineering, computer science…
• Centro Campus: humanities, arts and traditional faculties, right in the historic quarter.
• Cartuja Campus: philosophy, communication, education…
• Aynadamar Campus: somewhat further north, more removed from the centre.
• Health Campus (PTS): medicine, pharmacy and health sciences, near Zaidín.

UGR also has campuses in Ceuta and Melilla, though as an Erasmus student, your experience will normally take place in Granada city itself.

Rankings and academic reputation

If you’re wondering about academic standing, don’t worry: UGR has established itself as one of the most internationally recognised universities in Spain. In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, the university hit its best historical mark, with 36 subjects ranked among the world’s best, placing for the second year running among the top 300 universities globally across all five major fields of knowledge evaluated.

Two of its disciplines have also broken into the world’s top 50 for the first time: Library & Information Management (ranked 32nd) and Sports-Related Subjects (ranked 42nd). Also standing out strongly are Dentistry, Mathematics, Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, Education, Modern Languages, Psychology, Archaeology, Pharmacy & Pharmacology, and Computer Science, all ranked among the world’s top 200 in their field.

At a national level, UGR is also making waves: in El Mundo’s «50 Careers» ranking, it entered the national Top 10 for the first time, also leading the Andalusian ranking with eight standout degree programmes. Two of them have held the number 1 spot in Spain for several years running: Sport Science and Physical Activity, and Translation & Interpreting, both holding the top national position since 2024.

What can you study at UGR?

Its academic offering is one of the widest in the country, with 80 undergraduate degrees, 122 master’s programmes and 28 doctoral programmes. It particularly stands out in:

• Sciences: especially strong in mathematics, computer science and artificial intelligence
• Translation & Interpreting: a national benchmark
• Humanities: philosophy, history, philology
• Health Sciences: medicine, dentistry, pharmacy
• Law

Universidad Loyola: Granada’s leading private option

If you’re after a private alternative, Universidad Loyola is the go-to option in the city. It’s one of the private universities with the most reach in southern Europe, also present in Seville and Córdoba, though its Granada campus is located in the Cartuja area.

Founded in 2013, its educational model combines academic rigour with pedagogical innovation and a strong international focus: many of its programmes are bilingual or fully taught in English, with mandatory internships built into the curriculum. It offers 66 degrees and dual degrees, 25 master’s programmes and 5 doctoral programmes, standing out in business, engineering, international relations, psychology and law.

As for fees (mainly relevant if you’re enrolling directly rather than as an Erasmus student on a home-university scholarship), degrees at Loyola typically run between €7,300 and €8,500 a year, with master’s programmes ranging from €7,000 to €13,000 depending on the course.

ESIC Granada – EIG Education: the city’s leading business school

If your Erasmus is focused on the business world, EIG Granada (in partnership with ESIC University) is the most relevant business school in the city, also located in the Zaidín area. It has a very practical, employability-oriented approach, with undergraduate degrees in Global Marketing Management and Business Management, plus master’s and executive programmes in Big Data & Business Analytics, International Trade, or Human Resources Management.

What about other private universities near Granada?

It’s worth noting that Andalusia’s private university landscape has been shifting quite a bit in recent years. Universidad CEU Fernando III, for instance, has recently opened its main campus in Bormujos (Seville), though it doesn’t currently have a physical site in Granada. If your Erasmus involves the possibility of travelling around Andalusia, that’s a useful thing to know, but for studying directly in Granada, UGR and Loyola remain the real options on the ground.

How to choose an area based on your campus

As covered in the housing guide, this is key for your day-to-day life:

• Fuentenueva: live in Fuentenueva, Camino de Ronda or Zaidín.
• Centro: Centro, Realejo or Plaza de Toros-Doctores-San Lázaro.
• Cartuja (UGR or Loyola): Cartuja or the Norte/Beiro area.
• Health (PTS): Zaidín is the most logical choice.
• EIG/ESIC (Zaidín): Zaidín itself, obviously.