Admission to UPV depends heavily on the programme. The most sought-after technical programmes (Computer Science, Industrial Technologies, Architecture, Industrial Design) have higher cut-off grades, around 9-12 out of 14, while many engineering specialisations or the programmes at the Gandia and Alcoy campuses have more accessible grades, 5-8 out of 14. For Romanians, the access grade is calculated from the Baccalaureate through UNEDasiss. A Baccalaureate average of 8 plus is enough for most programmes, while 9 plus is recommended for competitive technical programmes. To raise your grade you can sit the PCE (Pruebas de Competencias Específicas) in mathematics, physics or technical drawing.

As an EU citizen, you pay statutory EU fees: roughly EUR 1,500-2,500 per year (60 ECTS x roughly EUR 25-40 per credit, set by the Generalitat Valenciana). Total cost of a 4-year bachelor's: roughly EUR 6,000-10,000 in tuition alone. Accommodation in Valencia: EUR 350-650 per month (residence or shared apartment). Food: EUR 220-350 per month. EMT transport: roughly EUR 25-40 per month for a student pass. Total cost of living: roughly EUR 700-1,000 per month, one of the most affordable large cities in Spain. Total 4 years all-in: roughly EUR 42,000-55,000, much lower than the UK or the USA. Note: bachelor's degrees in Spain last 4 years (240 ECTS), not 3 like in the UK.

The process has two main steps. Step 1, UNEDasiss: you have your Baccalaureate recognised through the national UNEDasiss system, which issues the Credencial de acceso and calculates your access grade on the Spanish scale. You apply from February-March. Step 2, the regional portal: you apply through the preinscripció portal of the Generalitat Valenciana, not through Accesnet (that one is only for the universities in Catalonia, such as UB or UAB). For public universities in the Valencian Community, including UPV, applications are centralised at the regional level. You choose ranked programme preferences, and the system allocates you to the first option that accepts your grade. The application deadline is generally June-July.

UPV offers an increasingly wide range of programmes and courses in English, especially in engineering, business, design and telecommunications, but most bachelor's degrees are taught in Spanish or Valencian. For programmes in Spanish you need a B2 level of Spanish (DELE or equivalent). For programmes in English you need IELTS 6.0-6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80-90. Many programmes are mixed, with a core in Spanish and optional courses in English. UPV offers language courses for international students. Recommendation: check the exact language of each programme before applying, as it varies from one faculty to another.

UPV is the best technical university in Spain and, according to QS by Subject 2026, it is first in Spain for Chemical Engineering, Agricultural Sciences (number 36 worldwide), Art and Design (top 100 worldwide) and Statistics and Operational Research. It is third in Spain for Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Architecture. Overall, it is number 135 worldwide for Engineering and Technology. For Romanians interested in technology, the most attractive are Computer Science, Telecommunications, Industrial Engineering, Architecture and Design.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, with a Mediterranean climate, beach, gastronomy (the home of paella), modern architecture (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) and affordable living costs. UPV's main Vera campus is one of the largest and most modern in Spain, with green spaces, laboratories, libraries and sports facilities. UPV also has campuses in Gandia (by the sea) and Alcoy. Students move around the city by metro, the EMT bus (student pass roughly EUR 25-40 per month) or bikes (Valencia has extensive cycle lanes). International community: students from 114 countries, with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), events and trips. Everyday language: Spanish plus Valencian. English works well in the technical academic environment and in tourist areas.

Yes, as an EU citizen! Unlike the UK or the USA where you have to apply for a work visa, as a Romanian (EU) citizen you automatically have the right to work in Spain without a visa. With a technical degree from UPV you have access to a strong market: Spain is the 4th largest economy in the EU, with tech hubs in Valencia (a growing digital district), Barcelona (Glovo, Wallapop, Mediapro) and Madrid (BBVA, Santander, Telefónica, Indra). Main industries for UPV graduates: software and IT, industrial engineering, architecture, automotive, renewable energy, agrotech, telecommunications. Salaries for technical graduates: Engineering / CS roughly EUR 25-40k starting; Architecture roughly EUR 22-32k starting. With an EU degree you can work anywhere in the EU without a visa.

Technical bachelor's degrees at UPV (Grado) last 4 years (240 ECTS), in line with the European Bologna system. That means one year more than the UK (3 years). ECTS (European Credit Transfer System): 1 ECTS equals roughly 25-30 hours of total study (lectures plus individual work). A standard academic year has 60 ECTS, that is 2 semesters x 30 ECTS. To obtain the bachelor's you must accumulate 240 ECTS plus a Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG), a final-year dissertation in year 4. Advantage of the ECTS system: you can transfer credits to other European universities, useful for Erasmus exchanges. At UPV most engineering programmes also have integrated work placements (prácticas en empresa), many with partner technical companies.