University of Navarra (Universidad de Navarra): Admission, Fees and Medicine

The University of Navarra (UNAV) is a private non-profit university in Pamplona that awards official Spanish degrees; its Tecnun engineering school is in San Sebastián, and IESE Business School is part of the university as a separate unit. School-leavers from outside the EU do not take the Spanish PAU exam here: selection is based on each school's own test and your grades, and admission for 2027/28 opened on 1 October 2026. Teaching is mainly in Spanish, and B2 Spanish is required for almost every bachelor's programme, although several degrees have bilingual tracks. First-year fees for 2026/27 range from $13,340 (€11,750) to $23,160 (€20,400) for medicine, plus a $108 (€95) administration fee.

Who the University of Navarra suits

UNAV works well for students who are ready to study in Spanish and prefer a calm student city to a capital. The strengths the university itself highlights are medicine alongside its own hospital, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, communication, law and engineering. It ranks first in Spain in the 2026 CYD ranking and appears in the global top 100 in seven subjects of the QS 2026 subject rankings.

It suits three situations less well. Without B2 Spanish by the start of classes you cannot be admitted, and no bachelor's degree is taught entirely in English. If you want a big city, Pamplona will feel quiet after Madrid or Barcelona. If your tuition budget is under $10,000 a year, public universities such as the University of Granada are more realistic. For a private English-taught bachelor's in Madrid, see Universidad Europea de Madrid.

Do not confuse UNAV with the Public University of Navarre (Universidad Pública de Navarra, UPNA) in the same city. UPNA is a state university with regional fees and admission by score.

Programmes

Bachelor's degrees last four years (240 ECTS), except medicine at six years and 360 ECTS, pharmacy at five years and double degrees at five or six. Many programmes can be combined with an international track that adds English-taught courses: the International Science Program in the sciences, the International Nursing Program, the International Pharmaceutical Certificate and the International Program in Medicine.

If your Spanish is not yet strong enough, the International Foundation Program offers a preparatory year of language, culture and subject courses. Up to 15% of its credits (no more than 36 ECTS) can be recognised in a bachelor's degree, but students still apply through the regular test: there is no automatic progression. A full year costs $14,190 (€12,500.40) and one semester $7,780 (€6,850.80).

How to apply for a bachelor's degree

UNAV runs several admission rounds. The December round is for applicants at schools outside Spain; Spanish school-leavers apply from the March deadline. No minimum grade average is required in December, except for medicine.

The steps:

1. Register on the miUNAV portal, submit the application and pay the $114 (€100) fee. It is non-refundable; a second programme needs no extra payment, a third does.
2. Upload documents: grades from the second-to-last school year, a photo, passport and payment receipt.
3. Sit the school's entrance test, about three hours. Content and language level differ by programme; sample papers are on each programme's admission page.
4. Read the decision on miUNAV. You then pay the first tuition instalment of $570 (€500), $3,410 (€3,000) or $6,250 (€5,500) depending on the programme. For international students it is refunded only if the visa is refused.

Applicants who did not attend school in Spanish prove their Spanish with DELE B2. If the entrance test shows the required level, no separate certificate is needed. Those below the level can take summer courses at the university's Institute of Spanish Language and Culture (ILCE). Bilingual programmes also check English, with the level stated in each school's entrance-test description.

Medicine: a separate competition

International applicants to Medicine or Medicine + International Program apply in the December or March round, and grades matter here: the average for the second-to-last school year must be at least 7 out of 10 on the Spanish scale. The exam takes about three hours: 150 questions on biology, chemistry and physics plus a reading-comprehension test on a scientific article, with no calculator allowed. The final score is 70% exam and 30% school average. Applicants from schools outside Spain may choose another format: the international ISAT test plus an online school test in English. Admitted students pay $6,250 (€5,500), which is deducted from tuition.

Documents for school-leavers from Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries

Russia and Kazakhstan are not among the education systems that use UNEDasiss accreditation, so enrolment requires homologation of the school certificate by the Spanish Ministry of Education. At enrolment you upload to miUNAV the receipt for the homologation request, stamped by the Spanish office that accepted it; without it enrolment cannot be completed. The ministry's credential must reach the Registrar by 1 April of the following year, and until then enrolment is conditional. The certificate and transcripts need an apostille and a Spanish translation. How Russian five-point grades are converted and how long the ministry takes is explained in Spanish university admission after 11 years of school.

Fees for 2026/27

The price is the credit fee multiplied by the first-year credits. A $108 (€95) administration fee is added on top.

Fees for later years are published in a separate document. Discounts open to international students include 5% for paying the whole first year by the published date (10 February 2026 for the 2026/27 intake) and about 16% off the first year if your school certifies that your average is in the top 5% of your class. A financial aid programme supports strong students with limited means, with the amount set after a review of family income. The university decides who receives aid and how much. Other options are covered in scholarships in Spain.

Housing in Pamplona

The university favours colegios mayores, independent residence halls with their own academic and cultural programme. Places are limited, so the university advises applying to several in parallel with admission. Its recommended housing partner is CampusHome, and there are private residences and shared flats as well. Prices are not published on the university site; each residence sets its own. For price levels across Spanish cities, see student housing in Spain.

Visa and money

A non-EU student needs a national study visa. The Consulate General of Spain in Moscow accepts applications through BLS visa centres in its district no later than two months before classes begin. The file includes the admission letter, proof of at least 100% of IPREM ($680 or €600 per month, $8,180 or €7,200 for a year), health insurance meeting Spanish requirements and, for stays over 180 days, a criminal record certificate with an apostille and translation. UNAV publishes a visa kit for international students. Citizens of Kazakhstan follow the instructions of the Spanish Embassy in Astana. The consulate decides on the visa. More detail is in the Spanish student visa guide; legal ways to pay from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Navarra compared with other private universities in Spain

Profiles of the comparison schools: Universidad Europea de Madrid and ESADE. All Spanish university profiles are listed in the Spain catalogue.

Timeline for 2027/28

1. October–November 2026: choose the programme and check your Spanish; below B2, book DELE or a course.
2. By 9 December 2026: apply in the international December round; for medicine, make sure your grades are 7 or above.
3. 12 December: entrance test; 21 January 2027: decision.
4. By 23 February: pay to hold the place and enrol; apply to residences at the same time.
5. June–July 2027: school certificate, apostille, translation and homologation request.
6. July: visa application, no later than two months before classes start.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up UNAV and UPNA. The private and the public university in Pamplona have different rules, fees and admission.
• Expecting an English-taught bachelor's. Bilingual tracks exist, but B2 Spanish is needed almost everywhere.
• Skipping the December round. It is the only window reserved for international applicants and needs no grade average (medicine aside).
• Forgetting the first instalment. Between $570 and $6,250 is due straight after the decision, or the place goes to someone else.
• Leaving housing too late. Colegio mayor places run out before visas arrive.

FAQ

Can I study at the University of Navarra without Spanish?

Not at bachelor's level: B2 Spanish is required for every programme and can be shown with DELE or on the entrance test. Beginners can take the International Foundation Program or the university's ILCE summer courses first.

How much does the University of Navarra cost?

Among the main bachelor's degrees, the most affordable first year in 2026/27 is pedagogy at $13,340 (€11,750) and the most expensive is medicine at $23,160 (€20,400); a few niche double programmes, such as philosophy with theology, cost less; every programme adds a $108 (€95) fee. The bilingual business and economics tracks cost $21,860 (€19,250.40). Housing and living costs come on top.

Do I need the PAU or PCE exams?

International applicants do not need the PAU: selection uses the school's test and grades. School-leavers from Russia and Kazakhstan must have their certificate homologated by the Spanish Ministry of Education, or enrolment cannot become final.

When should I apply for 2027/28?

Admission opened on 1 October 2026. For international applicants the most convenient deadline is 9 December 2026, with the test on 12 December. The next round for everyone closes on 9 March 2027, followed by weekly Thursday tests until places fill.

Is medicine at Navarra taught in English?

There is no fully English medicine degree, but Medicine + International Program teaches part of the curriculum in English and includes international clinical rotations. Admission requires a school average of at least 7, an exam in biology, chemistry and physics, and Spanish.

How does StudyU help with Navarra applications?

Choosing the programme and round, test preparation, document checks, homologation and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by UNAV's admissions office, homologation by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the visa by the Spanish consulate.

Sources

• UNAV: first-year fees 2026/27
• UNAV: admission deadlines 2027/28
• UNAV: admission procedure, language, homologation, first instalment
• UNAV: medicine admission
• UNAV: scholarships and discounts
• UNAV: housing
• UNAV: degree list
• Consulate General of Spain in Moscow: study visa

Fees and dates 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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