Spain teaches most of its degrees in Spanish. Not as a policy anyone debates, simply because that is the language the lectures, the reading lists and the exams are already in.
So universities check that you can follow them. That check is the Spanish language requirement, and it is where a lot of applicants get stuck, because they go looking for one national number and there is not one.
There is no Ministry rule that says international students need B2. Each university sets its own bar, and inside a university it can change from one degree to the next.
The short answer: For a degree taught in Spanish, expect to prove a Spanish proficiency level between B1 and B2 on the CEFR scale, usually with a DELE or SIELE certificate, or through UNEDasiss. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid requires “a B2 level or higher” (UC3M). The Spanish student visa itself asks for no language certificate at all. Check your own university’s page, because the number is theirs, not the country’s.
Spanish language requirement for Spanish-taught programmes
The level is set by the university, and sometimes by the individual degree.
Two real examples show how far apart they sit. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid tells applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries they “must accreditate a B2 level or higher of Spanish language according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” (UC3M).
Universidad Complutense de Madrid instead asks applicants to “check the level required for each Degree, Master or Doctorate”, with B1 named as the minimum for some programmes (UCM).
| What you are applying to | Spanish proficiency level usually asked for |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree taught in Spanish | B2 at many universities, B1 at some |
| Master’s taught in Spanish | B2, occasionally C1 for language or law programmes |
| Exchange or semester abroad | Often B1, set by the partner agreement |
| English-taught degree | No Spanish requirement for admission |
| Spanish language course on a student visa | None, since the course is the Spanish |
Treat that table as a map rather than a ruling. Your real Spanish language requirement lives on your programme’s admission page.
One detail catches people out. Complutense states that levels are read as completed, not partial: “if level B2 is required under no circumstances will a certificate for level B2.1 be accepted.” A half-level does not round up.
Another one costs places. The same university warns that “students who do not provide certification of the required language level at the time of application will not be admitted.” The certificate has to exist when you apply, not when you arrive.
Which Spanish certificates do universities accept?
More than most applicants realize, which helps when exam dates are tight.
UC3M accepts the B2 accreditation through UNEDasiss, or a certificate from DELE, SIELE, an Official School of Languages, or a language centre at a public university in Madrid. Complutense states a preference for SIELE and also accepts Instituto Cervantes certificates, certificates listed by ACLES, its own Centro Complutense certificates, and in some cases a certificate from your home university.
A few things worth knowing before you book a Spanish language test:
- DELE and SIELE are both from the Instituto Cervantes world and both are widely accepted. Our guide to DELE exam preparation covers how that exam works.
- ACLES matters more than it looks. UNEDasiss accredits language skills using “test results and certificates issued and/or recognized by the Spanish Association of Language Centres in Higher Education (ACLES)” (UNEDasiss). A certificate on that list travels well between Spanish universities.
- A certificate in another language needs translating. Complutense says ambiguous certificates, or ones not in Spanish and not officially translated, send the applicant back to sit SIELE.
- Native speakers are exempt. Complutense confirms that “students declaring Spanish to be their mother tongue are exempt from providing certification of their level in the language.”
If you are not sure what B1 or B2 means in practice, our guide to Spanish language levels explains each one by what you can do with it.
What is UNEDasiss, and do you need it?
UNEDasiss is the service Spanish universities use to read an international applicant’s file, and it has a language accreditation inside it.
Alongside your access score, your Bachillerato equivalence and the PCE subject exams, UNEDasiss runs a language accreditation aligned to the CEFR. UC3M names it as the first route to proving B2. So in practice, applicants often meet the Spanish language requirement through UNEDasiss rather than by sending a certificate straight to the university.
Whether you need it depends on your country and your programme. Check the UNEDasiss country page before assuming either way, and find out whether your university wants the accreditation or the certificate itself.
Do you need Spanish for the Spain student visa?
No. The visa and the university are two separate gates, and only one of them asks about language.
Spanish consulates list the documents a study visa needs: the application form, a photo, a valid passport, proof of acceptance onto the course, proof of enrolment fees, proof of financial means, health insurance with at least €30,000 of cover, a medical certificate, and for stays over 180 days a criminal record check (Consulate General of Spain).
No Spanish certificate appears on that list.
What the rules do say about language is the reverse. A Spanish course can be the reason for the visa, when it is delivered “in person at an official language school or center accredited by the Instituto Cervantes”, and only where Spanish is not already your native or official language. Requirements differ by consulate and change, so confirm with the one covering you.
Can you study in Spain without knowing Spanish?
For admission, yes, if the programme is taught in English. For living there, less so.
Spanish universities run a growing number of English-taught degrees, and those set an English requirement instead. Your Spanish proficiency level never enters that admission decision.
Then you land. Registering with the town hall, opening a bank account, signing a rental contract, reading a utility bill, finding a part-time job, talking to a doctor. All of it happens in Spanish, and an English-taught degree changes none of it. A2 or B1 is the difference between managing and depending on someone else for a year.
How to check your exact Spanish language requirement
Four steps, in this order, and they take about twenty minutes.
- Open your programme’s own admission page. The university’s general page often shows a default, while the Spanish language requirement is set per degree.
- Look for the accepted certificate list on that same page. If DELE, SIELE and UNEDasiss all appear, you have a choice of routes and can pick on exam dates.
- Check whether they want UNEDasiss accreditation or the certificate itself. These are not interchangeable at every university.
- Email the international office with your exact programme name. Ask for the level, the accepted certificates and the proof deadline. Keep the reply.
Common Spanish language requirement mistakes to avoid
Assuming B2 is the national standard
Common, yes. Universal, no. B1 clears some programmes and C1 appears on others. One university’s Spanish language requirement tells you about that university and nothing more.
Booking the exam before checking the university
People pick DELE because they have heard of it, then find their university preferred SIELE or wanted UNEDasiss. Check first, book second.
Treating a half level as the full level
B2.1 is not B2. Complutense says so outright, and other universities take the same view.
Confusing the visa with the admission
The consulate asks nothing about language. Your university asks a great deal. Clearing one tells you nothing about the other.
Leaving the certificate until after the offer
Several universities want proof at application, not at enrolment. Exam sittings are scheduled months apart, which makes this the most expensive mistake on the list.
Learning Spanish for your study plans
Start from the Spanish language requirement your programme sets, then work backwards from the application deadline.
WILA Languages teaches Spanish from A1 to C2 in live, instructor-led classes aligned to CEFR levels. If your target is B2 for a Spanish-taught degree, that is the ladder you are climbing, and starting earlier leaves you more exam sittings.
How long it takes is personal. It depends on your starting level, the languages you already speak, how often you practice, and how much Spanish you get outside class. Anyone promising a fixed number of months to B2 is guessing.
Conclusion
The Spanish language requirement you need is the one on your programme’s admission page, and nowhere else. Expect B1 or B2 for a degree taught in Spanish, expect your university to name the certificates it will take, and expect the visa to ask you nothing about language at all. So find your programme’s page this week, write down the level and the deadline, then count backwards to work out when you need to start. Everything else follows from those two numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Spanish language requirement for studying in Spain?
There is no single national one. For degrees taught in Spanish, universities commonly ask for B1 or B2 on the CEFR scale, set per programme. UC3M requires B2 or higher, while Complutense asks applicants to check the level for each degree.
2. Can I study in Spain without knowing Spanish?
Yes, on an English-taught programme, since those set an English requirement instead. You will still need basic Spanish for daily life, paperwork and part-time work.
3. Which Spanish language test should I take?
Whichever your university accepts. DELE and SIELE are both widely recognized, and some universities state a preference. Check the accepted list on your programme page before booking anything.
4. Is B2 Spanish enough to study in Spain?
For many Spanish-taught bachelor’s degrees, yes. Some programmes accept B1 and some language or law degrees ask for C1. Confirm with your own programme rather than assuming.
5. Do I need Spanish for a Spain student visa?
No. The Spanish language requirement belongs to your university, not the consulate. The documents consulates list cover acceptance onto a course, fees, funds, insurance, a medical certificate and a criminal record check for longer stays.
6. Does a Spanish certificate expire?
It depends which one you take, and some universities set their own age limit on certificates. Check the certificate’s validity and your university’s rule before you sit the exam.
