University of Málaga (Universidad de Málaga, UMA): Admission and Fees

The University of Málaga (UMA) is a public Andalusian university with its main campus at Teatinos and a historic campus at El Ejido in the city centre. Fees are those of any public university in the region: in 2026/27 a bachelor's credit costs $14 (€12.62) on first enrolment, about $860 (€757.20) for 60 credits, and from the second year Andalusia takes 99% off the price of credits passed at the first attempt in the previous year (deducted from the next payment, not paid back). A foreign student holding a student visa pays the same as a Spanish student. School-leavers from Russia, Kazakhstan and other non-EU countries apply through the spring international phase, which ran from 6 to 19 March in 2026 and ranks applicants by their homologated school grade, with no Spanish exams. Teaching is almost entirely in Spanish.

Who UMA suits

UMA is an option for students ready to study in Spanish who want one of the lowest tuition levels in Europe: even without the discount a bachelor's year costs under $1,000. The coastal city, with an international airport and the PTA technology park, also appeals to students planning internships in IT or tourism.

It suits three situations less well. Without Spanish: UMA has no English-taught bachelor's degrees apart from language programmes such as Estudios Ingleses. If you need predictability: places are allocated by score, and popular programmes have high cut-offs. If you finished school before 2023: such applicants are not eligible for the spring international phase and go through the summer competition with PCE exams.

Do not confuse UMA with Universidad Europea de Andalucía, a private university also operating in Málaga. It is the Andalusian branch of Universidad Europea de Madrid, with different fees, its own test and English-taught programmes.

Two admission routes for international applicants

All Andalusian public universities admit students through the single Distrito Único Andaluz portal: one application listing programmes at different universities in order of preference.

In the spring phase the ranking score is the grade on the homologation decision, converted to the Spanish scale. If you have not finished school by March you can still take part: you compete for remaining places and must confirm your grades and homologation request by 17 July. After allocation you must pay a $454 (€400) pre-enrolment deposit on time, or you lose your waiting-list rights. Documents are submitted with a Spanish translation; a sworn translation may be requested after enrolment. The PCE exams and accreditation are explained in applying to Spanish universities, and homologation and grade conversion in Spanish university admission after 11 years of school.

The Distrito Único commission publishes the international-phase dates for 2027/28 in a separate agreement; the 2026/27 agreement was approved in December 2025. Plan your homologation so that you hold at least the filing receipt by March 2027.

What you can study

UMA is a comprehensive university with faculties of economics and business, law, medicine, health sciences, computer science and telecommunications, industrial engineering, sciences, philology, translation, tourism, communication and fine arts. Bachelor's degrees take four years; medicine takes six. The law faculty teaches some courses in English, but no bachelor's programme is fully in English. The university's International Spanish Centre (Centro Internacional de Español, CIE) runs language courses that can be taken before starting a degree. If studying in English is essential, compare options in English-taught degrees in Spain.

Fees for 2026/27

Prices are set by Andalusian Decree 98/2023 and remain in force for 2026/27. A foreign student over 18 without a residence permit or student stay authorisation (granted through the student visa) must bring that document, or proof of application, to the faculty office before 1 November 2026. Otherwise the university may charge a supplement of up to the full cost of teaching. From the second year the Junta de Andalucía bonificación applies (Article 12 of Decree 98/2023): 99% of the price of credits passed on first enrolment in the previous academic year at an Andalusian public university. The article sets no nationality, income or residence condition. The limits: the amount is deducted from the next year's fees and never paid out; recognised credits and credits beyond those needed for the degree do not count; the first year is paid in full. If the university charged a non-resident student a higher price, the bonificación is calculated on the decree's base price, not the higher one. How Andalusia compares with other regions is shown in the cost of studying in Spain.

Master's with a foreign degree

Graduates with a non-homologated foreign degree have a separate master's admission phase in Andalusia. For 2026/27 applications ran from 13 to 29 January 2026; one application can list up to six programmes, and enrolment requires a $454 (€400) payment on account. A non-professional master's credit costs $16 (€13.68). For an overview, see master's degrees in Spain.

Housing and life in Málaga

UMA's accommodation service helps students find housing: residences in the centre and at Teatinos, plus rooms in shared flats, with prices set by each provider. For the visa the consulate requires proof of at least 100% of IPREM, $680 (€600) for each month or $8,180 (€7,200) for a year. That is the visa threshold rather than a full budget; housing benchmarks are in student housing in Spain.

Visa

A non-EU student needs a national study visa. The Consulate General of Spain in Moscow accepts applications through BLS visa centres no later than two months before classes: the admission letter, proof of funds, health insurance meeting Spanish requirements and an apostilled criminal record certificate for stays over 180 days. Citizens of Kazakhstan follow the Spanish Embassy in Astana. The consulate decides. Once in Spain, the student stay authorisation removes the risk of a fee supplement, so apply for the foreigner card (TIE) promptly. Details are in the Spanish student visa guide; legal payment routes from Russia are in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

UMA compared with other Andalusian options

See also the University of Granada and University of Seville profiles. All Spanish profiles are listed in the Spain catalogue.

Timeline for 2027/28

1. October–December 2026: choose programmes, start Spanish (B2 is needed for study), apostille grades for the last three school years.
2. December 2026 to January 2027: file the homologation request and keep the receipt.
3. March 2027: apply in the international phase on the Distrito Único portal (dates per the 2027/28 agreement).
4. April–May: allocations and the $454 (€400) pre-enrolment deposit.
5. June–July: if you have no place, enter the June competition with PCE; apply for the visa no later than two months before classes.
6. September–October: arrive, enrol, apply for the TIE and hand the stay document to the faculty office before 1 November.

Common mistakes

• Confusing UMA with the private Universidad Europea de Andalucía. They are different universities with different fees and rules.
• Waiting for graduation to apply. The spring phase closes in March, and late finishers compete only for remaining places.
• Filing homologation too late. Without the filing receipt, the international-phase application is not accepted.
• Forgetting the stay authorisation. Without it by 1 November, the university may charge up to the full cost.
• Retaking courses. A second enrolment doubles the credit price, and the 99% discount does not apply to it.

FAQ

How much does the University of Málaga cost for international students?

A first-enrolment credit is $14 (€12.62) in 2026/27, so a 60-credit year comes to roughly $860 (€757.20) plus small administrative charges. A foreign student with a student stay authorisation pays the same as a Spanish student; without it, a supplement up to full cost is possible.

Can I enter UMA without the PCE exams?

Yes, through the international phase, which ranks applicants only by their homologated school grade. For the 2026/27 intake it was open to students who finished a non-EU school no earlier than 2023 and had already applied for homologation. In the June competition a Russian school-leaver needs PCE or the PAU.

Does the University of Málaga teach in English?

Apart from English philology (Estudios Ingleses), no bachelor's degree is taught fully in English. Some faculties, such as law, teach individual courses in English. You need Spanish for your studies and can improve it beforehand at UMA's International Spanish Centre.

When should I apply to the University of Málaga?

For the 2026/27 intake the international phase took applications from 6 to 19 March 2026, with allocations on 8 and 30 April. The 2027/28 dates are published by the Distrito Único Andaluz commission, usually in December of the previous year.

Does the 99% discount apply to international students?

Yes. Article 12 of Decree 98/2023 sets no nationality or income condition: from year two, 99% of the price of credits passed on first enrolment in the previous year at an Andalusian public university is deducted from the fees. The first year is paid in full, nothing is paid back in cash, and the discount is based on the decree's base price.

How does StudyU help with University of Málaga applications?

Choosing programmes and their order on the application, homologation, PCE preparation, the Distrito Único application and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by the Distrito Único commission and the university, homologation by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the visa by the Spanish consulate.

Sources

• UMA: bachelor's fees 2026/27, Anexo C (PDF)
• UMA: bachelor's admission and the international phase
• BOJA: international-phase procedure 2026/27 (PDF)
• BOJA: bachelor's admission rules 2025/26 and routes for non-EU certificates (PDF)
• BOJA: Decree 98/2023 on Andalusian public university prices (PDF)
• Junta de Andalucía: the 99% discount
• BOJA: master's admission with a foreign degree 2026/27
• UMA: International Spanish Centre
• UMA: law courses taught in English
• Consulate General of Spain in Moscow: study visa

Fees and rules checked on 01.10.2026. ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026: €1 = $1.1355; amounts rounded to $10, amounts under $1,000 to $1.

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