Science and Technology, Medicine and Nursing, Law, Economics and Business, Engineering, Education, Psychology, Pharmacy, Fine Arts
The University of the Basque Country, known as UPV/EHU from its Spanish and Basque names, was officially designated in 1980. Its roots go back to the University of Bilbao, which opened in 1968. The Summer Courses began in 1981 at the Miramar Palace in San Sebastián. The motto, Eman ta zabal zazu, comes from the nineteenth-century anthem Gernikako Arbola. The rector is Joxerramon Bengoetxea, in office since 2024.
The main complex is at Leioa, in Biscay. The university works on three campuses, one for each Basque province. The Biscay campus is the largest and includes Leioa, Bilbao, Portugalete and Barakaldo. The Gipuzkoa campus is at San Sebastián and Eibar, and the Álava campus at Vitoria-Gasteiz. This layout brings higher education close to the three main cities of the region.
The figures for the academic year 2009 to 2010 give 44,921 students, of whom 42,026 were undergraduates and 2,895 were postgraduates. The faculty numbered 3,420, and the budget was 478 million euros. These are the figures available in the public record, and the current ones may differ.
About 30 centres are spread over the three campuses. They include Fine Arts, Science and Technology, Medicine and Nursing, Law, Economics and Business Studies, Engineering, Education, Psychology and Pharmacy. Five affiliated schools complete the group, among them the Elias Querejeta FilmSchool in San Sebastián. The university offered 78 degrees in 2005, and most courses can be followed in Basque.
Research is a clear strength. The university is described as the main research institution of the Basque Country and as the source of about 90 percent of its basic research. The Euskampus project was named a Campus of International Excellence in 2009. The language of teaching is a choice for each student, among Basque, Spanish and, for some programmes, English. Check the official pages for the programmes available in each language. Public tuition fees in Spain are set by each region. Check the current tariff.
Three campuses in Biscay, Gipuzkoa and Álava, Euskampus Campus of International Excellence, Elias Querejeta Film School.
Research:
Science and technology, medicine, engineering, social sciences and humanities, about 90 percent of the basic research of the Basque Country.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3420
Current students***:
44921
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Main research institution of the Basque Country, three campuses, about 30 centres, courses available in Basque, Spanish and English.
Cons
Campuses spread over three provinces, many courses mainly in Basque, large student body.
Best For
Students who want a large public research university in the Basque Country, with teaching in Basque and Spanish.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
University of Granada works in much the same fields, chiefly chemistry, physics and mathematics, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers astroscience and data analytics as well.
Another national school that puts chemistry, physics and mathematics at the centre is Autonomous University of Madrid, and it is slightly smaller, at about 31,722 students against roughly 44,921 here, and is also a public institution.
Complutense University of Madrid is the closest domestic counterpart for chemistry, physics and mathematics; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers finance and microbiology and genetics as well.
University of Valencia offers a comparable education in chemistry, physics and mathematics: it is slightly larger, at about 55,000 students against roughly 44,921 here, and is also a public institution.
Both schools build their programmes around chemistry, physics and mathematics, and University of Seville is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Henan University in China is the nearest foreign match on chemistry, physics and mathematics; it has almost the same size, at about 50,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Abroad, University of Szeged (Hungary) covers chemistry, physics and mathematics in a comparable way, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
For a study option in the Czech Republic with a comparable spread of chemistry, physics and mathematics, Masaryk University is the reference point: it is slightly smaller, at about 35,115 students against roughly 44,921 here, and is also a public institution.
Seen from abroad, Zhengzhou University (China) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, mathematics and materials are central to both, and it is larger, enrolling about 72,600 students against roughly 44,921 here, and is also a public institution.
Seen from abroad, Dresden University of Technology (Germany) is a close relative on subject matter, since chemistry, physics and mathematics are central to both, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers civil engineering and electrical and electronics as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of the Basque Country?
Its main complex is at Leioa in Biscay, with campuses also in Gipuzkoa and Álava.
When was it officially designated?
In 1980.
What are its roots?
The University of Bilbao, which opened in 1968.
How many campuses does it have?
Three, one for each Basque province.
Which is the largest campus?
The Biscay campus.
What is its motto?
Eman ta zabal zazu.
What is Euskampus?
A project named a Campus of International Excellence in 2009.
Which film school is affiliated?
The Elias Querejeta Film School in San Sebastián.
What languages are used for teaching?
Mostly Basque and Spanish, and English in some programmes.
What does it cost?
Public tuition fees in Spain are set by each region. Check the current tariff.
Chemistry, Engineering, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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