Mornings in a lecture hall at the University of Girona, afternoons on a terrace by the Onyar, weekends on the Costa Brava. For thousands of international students, studying in Girona is the best of both worlds: a real university city at a human scale, under 40 minutes from Barcelona.
Whether you are an Erasmus student, a graduate applying for a master’s or a parent enrolling children in school, here is what you need to know, including the residence permit that lets non-EU students live, study and even work in Spain.
Study Options in Girona
University
WhereUniversity of Girona: sciences, engineering, humanities, tourism, health WhoDegree, master’s and PhD students, researchersExchange
WhereErasmus and bilateral agreements WhoStudents spending one semester or a yearSchools
WherePublic, semi-private and international schools WhoChildren of families moving to the provinceThe Student Residence Permit
EU citizens only need to register as EU residents. Non-EU students need a stay authorisation for studies. Since Royal Decree 1155/2024, it works like this:
- Get admittedAn acceptance letter from an authorised centre, for full-time studies.
- Prove your means and insuranceSufficient financial means for the stay and health insurance valid in Spain.
- Clean recordCriminal record certificates from the countries where you lived in the last five years.
- ApplyAt the Spanish consulate before travelling or, if you are already in Spain legally, from inside Spain.
- Arrive, register and collect your TIEThe permit covers the length of your studies and can be extended while you keep studying.
The permit allows you to work up to 30 hours a week, as long as it is compatible with your studies. When you finish, there are routes to stay and work in Spain or search for a job.
Example
Camila, from Colombia, was accepted onto a master’s in tourism at the University of Girona. She applied for her permit at the consulate in Bogotá with her admission letter, bank statements and insurance, and now works part time in a hotel in the old town while she studies.
Degree Recognition
To access Spanish university or regulated professions, foreign qualifications may need recognition (homologación or equivalencia) from the Ministry. Non-EU secondary-school graduates usually go through a recognition of their school diploma or the university entrance tests (PCE). Start early: these procedures can take months.
Student Life
- Affordable compared with Barcelona, with shared flats and student residences
- Festivals like Temps de Flors and Temporada Alta, and a lively old town
- Cycling, hiking and beaches within easy reach. Read more about living in Girona
Why Student Files Go Wrong
- Enrolling in a part-time or online course that does not qualify for the permit.
- Travel insurance instead of full health cover valid in Spain.
- Starting degree recognition too late for the academic year.
- Working more hours than allowed, which can put the permit at risk.
The lecture hall, the river terrace and the weekend on the coast are waiting. The right permit, filed on time, is what gets you there.
Talk to a Lawyer Before You Apply
If you are planning to study in Girona, or moving with children who will go to school here, that is exactly what a consultation is for. At MigratioLex, we review your specific case, not a generic checklist. We respond within 24 hours, in English, French or Spanish.
Book Your Initial ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Based on Organic Law 4/2000 and Royal Decree 1155/2024. The example is illustrative.
