Spanish universities generally do not include health insurance in their fees — international students arrange their own cover. The universities we checked require insurance for the whole stay and point students to partner insurers or brokers instead: the University of Granada (UGR) has an agreement with ERGO for a health and travel policy that costs foreign students €147.38, the University of Barcelona (UB) has an agreement with an insurance broker, and IE University has agreements with Adeslas, Cigna and Sanitas that offer special prices to IE students. For the visa itself, non-EU students need a policy from an insurer authorised in Spain with no co-payments and no waiting periods — for example Sanitas International Students from €41.45/month or Adeslas Welcome from €660/year (as of October 2026).
This guide explains what universities require, what the public Seguro Escolar covers, what a visa-compliant plan includes, what it costs and how to get the right certificate. For the broader picture on healthcare options in Spain, see our Spain country guide and our Seguridad Social deep-dive for students.
Do Spanish Universities Provide Health Insurance to International Students?
No — Spanish universities do not automatically enrol international students in a full health insurance plan. What you need depends on your nationality and the length of your stay:
- EU/EEA students: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives access to necessary care in the public system. Universities may ask for more: the University of Barcelona, for example, requires EU/EEA students to add accident and repatriation cover.
- Non-EU students on a study visa: The visa requires health insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, with benefits comparable to the basic services of the Spanish public health system (SNS), valid for the whole stay. Consulates add: no co-payments and no waiting periods. You buy this policy yourself before your consulate appointment.
- Non-EU students after one year in Spain: The public Convenio Especial (€60/month under 65) is only open after one year of residence, and the regional health service decides whether holders of a study stay are accepted. See our Convenio Especial guide for details.
The practical result: virtually all non-EU international students buy private health insurance themselves — the university’s role is to set its own minimum requirements and, sometimes, to point you to a partner offer.
Which Public Universities Offer Group Insurance Deals?
Some public universities have agreements with an insurer or an insurance broker. These offers are voluntary: you decide whether to buy them, pay the premium yourself and check whether they meet your visa requirements.
Universidad de Granada (UGR) — Under the UGR International Mobility Regulations (art. 29), incoming students must have health and travel insurance for their whole study period. The required travel insurance must include medical transport or repatriation, repatriation of a deceased policyholder, travel and stay costs for a family member who accompanies a sick student, trip disruption after the death of a family member, and civil liability. UGR has an agreement with ERGO; the listed price for foreign students in Spain is €147.38 (€170.06 for Sports Sciences students).
Universitat de Barcelona (UB) — UB asks EU/EEA students for the EHIC plus accident and repatriation cover. Non-EU students from countries with a medical agreement with Spain bring the document from their home social security system, plus accident and repatriation cover. Everyone else needs private medical insurance that covers the whole stay at UB, with complete cover comparable to the Spanish health system, no waiting periods, no co-payments and an insurer authorised in Spain — travel insurance is not accepted. UB has an agreement with the insurance broker Ferrer & Ojeda Asociados Correduría de Seguros; UB does not publish prices.
Other universities: Offers, partners and prices change. Ask your university’s international office (Oficina de Relaciones Internacionales) which insurance it requires, whether it has a partner offer, and whether that offer is accepted for the visa.
Important caveat: A university’s insurance rule and the consulate’s visa rule are two different things. A policy that satisfies your university may still fail the visa check — and the other way round.
Which Private Universities Include Health Insurance in Tuition?
Private universities can set their own rules, so check before you assume anything is included.
IE University (Madrid and Segovia): IE does not include health insurance in tuition. All IE students must hold a health insurance policy with full coverage for illness and accidents during their stay in Spain. For non-EU students (and EU students who prefer private cover), IE has agreements with Adeslas, Cigna and Sanitas, which offer full-coverage policies at special prices for IE students and, according to IE, meet the consulates’ requirements for student visas and residence permits. IE also accepts international policies as long as they include full coverage and repatriation — for the visa, check the consulate’s conditions as well.
Other private universities: Ask the international office whether insurance is included, which insurer provides it, the exact cover dates and whether it comes with a certificate that your consulate accepts.
Key point: Whether your university is public or private, request written confirmation of your cover and the insurance certificate before your visa appointment.
What Is the Seguro Escolar?
The Seguro Escolar is a compulsory public school insurance run by the Seguridad Social. It protects students under 28 in official studies, from the third year of secondary school up to doctoral studies, who are Spanish or foreigners with legal residence in Spain. The student pays the fee; for university students, the enrolment receipt (resguardo de matrícula) is the proof.
- Illness: medical and pharmaceutical care in specific areas — general surgery, neuropsychiatry, obstetrics, pulmonary and bone tuberculosis — and in some cases physiotherapy and radiotherapy
- School accident: medical and pharmaceutical care, compensation for disability, burial costs
- Family misfortune: financial benefits
The Seguro Escolar covers only these specific situations. It is not full health insurance and does not replace the policy you need for the visa.
What Is Typically Covered in a Visa-Compliant Student Plan?
Spanish insurers sell policies designed for the study visa. Two examples with published conditions:
Sanitas International Students (ages 14–35, stays of 3 to 14 months):
- Primary care, specialists (e.g. cardiology, dermatology, gynaecology, psychiatry), simple and complex diagnostic tests
- Surgery and hospitalisation
- Dental cover with more than 30 services included
- Urgent care on trips abroad up to €12,000 per year
- Repatriation to your home country in case of death
- 24-hour video consultations
- Excluded: care directly related to pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn
Adeslas Welcome (up to age 70, one-year policy):
- Primary care, specialists including psychology and psychotherapy, diagnostic tests
- Surgery, hospitalisation, intensive care
- Pregnancy follow-up and childbirth
- Repatriation to your home country in case of death
- Restrictions: medicines of any kind are not covered; vaccines are paid by you; physiotherapy and rehabilitation are reimbursed at 50% up to €500 per year, podiatry at 50% up to €200 per year
Pre-existing conditions: Adeslas Welcome requires a health questionnaire; at Sanitas, the medical department reviews declared illnesses before the policy starts. Declare everything honestly.
Tip: Always read the condiciones generales (general conditions) before signing. Sanitas also publishes an English product summary for International Students.
How Much Does a Typical Plan Cost?
Prices depend on age, region and length of stay. Published prices as of October 2026:
| Plan | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| UGR agreement with ERGO | €147.38 (foreign students in Spain) | Health and travel insurance for UGR students; check visa acceptance |
| Sanitas International Students | From €41.45/month | Ages 14–35; 4% discount for annual payment |
| Adeslas Welcome | From €660/year | Single annual payment; requires a valid NIE |
| ASISA Health Students | Online quote | 2–12 months, not renewable |
| DKV Visado | Online quote | €0 co-payment for every service |
| IE University partner plans | Special prices for IE students (not published) | Adeslas, Cigna or Sanitas |
Age matters: Sanitas International Students is only available from 14 to 35; Adeslas Welcome can be taken out up to age 70. Online quotes from ASISA and DKV depend on your age.
Visa requirement: There is no single national minimum sum. Some consulates (e.g. New York, Chicago) ask for at least €30,000 of cover, Los Angeles also for medical evacuation and repatriation — check your consulate’s list.
How Do I Enroll in My Spanish University’s Plan?
Processes vary by institution. Follow these five steps:
Step 1 — Before arrival: ask your university. Email the international office as soon as you are admitted. Ask: (a) Which insurance do you require, and for which period? (b) Do you have a partner insurer or broker, and what does it cost? (c) Is that policy accepted for the visa?
Step 2 — Keep your admission letter ready. Insurers selling visa policies ask for proof of studies: Sanitas, for example, asks for the admission letter or enrolment confirmation.
Step 3 — Gather the documents. Typically: passport (or NIE), proof of studies, a Spanish address (Sanitas accepts your university’s address until you have your own) and a payment method. Adeslas Welcome requires a valid NIE.
Step 4 — Buy the policy before your consulate appointment. Make sure the start date is no later than your arrival and the end date covers your whole stay.
Step 5 — Download the insurance certificate. Sanitas issues a visa certificate instantly online; Adeslas Welcome sends its certificate for the immigration office (Extranjería) by email when you buy the policy. You need proof of insurance again for every extension of your study stay.
What If My University Doesn’t Offer a Plan?
If your university has no partner offer — or the offer does not meet your consulate’s conditions — you have three main options:
Option 1: Buy a visa policy from a Spanish insurer directly. Examples: Sanitas International Students, Adeslas Welcome, ASISA Health Students and DKV Visado. Check for no co-payments, no waiting periods, repatriation and cover for your whole stay.
Option 2: Check whether the Insurance Finder matches you with a suitable plan. Use our Insurance Finder to get a tailored recommendation based on your country of origin, age and duration of stay.
Option 3: Consider the Convenio Especial after Year 1. If you stay in Spain for 2+ years, you may be able to join the public system for €60/month (under 65) after one year of residence. Outpatient prescriptions are then paid 100% by you, and the regional health service decides whether holders of a study stay are accepted. See our Convenio Especial guide for the step-by-step process.
Are University Plans Accepted for the Spanish Student Visa Application?
Only if the policy meets the visa conditions — confirm with your consulate before you rely on a university plan.
For the study stay, Spanish immigration rules require health insurance:
- With an insurer authorised to operate in Spain
- With benefits comparable to the basic services of the Spanish public health system (SNS)
- Valid for the whole stay
Consulates add that the policy must have no co-payments, no deductibles and no waiting periods; some ask for a minimum sum or repatriation cover.
A travel insurance policy usually has cover limits and exclusions — UB explicitly does not accept travel insurance as medical insurance. If your university offers a travel or assistance policy (such as UGR’s ERGO policy), treat it as cover for the university’s own requirements and check separately whether your consulate accepts it.
Practical advice: Buy a visa-compliant policy for the consulate. After arrival, if your university requires extra cover (e.g. accident or repatriation), check whether your visa policy already includes it before buying another one.
How Does a University Plan Compare to Buying a Visa Policy Directly?
| Feature | University partner offer | Visa policy bought directly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Set by the partner; may be discounted | Published from-price or online quote |
| Purpose | Meets the university’s requirements | Designed for the visa and residence procedures |
| Visa documentation | Check with your consulate | Insurer’s certificate for the visa or Extranjería |
| Typical content | Varies — sometimes travel or accident cover | Full medical cover, no co-payments or waiting periods |
| Network access | Partner insurer’s network | Insurer’s network (cuadro médico) |
| Duration | Usually the study period | Sanitas: 3–14 months; Adeslas Welcome: one year, renews automatically |
| Who to ask | University international office | The insurer directly |
Bottom line: For the visa, buy a policy that clearly meets the consulate’s conditions. Use the university offer only if it meets those conditions too, or as extra cover the university itself requires.
Health Insurance at Selected Spanish Universities
| University | Type | Insurance included in fees | Partner offer | Published price | What the university requires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universidad de Granada (UGR) | Public | No | ERGO | €147.38 (foreign students in Spain) | Health and travel insurance for the whole study period (art. 29) |
| Universitat de Barcelona (UB) | Public | No | Broker Ferrer & Ojeda | Not published | EHIC or private medical insurance without co-payments or waiting periods, plus accident and repatriation cover |
| IE University (Madrid / Segovia) | Private | No | Adeslas, Cigna, Sanitas | Special prices for IE students (not published) | Full health insurance with repatriation for the whole stay |
FAQ
Can I use my home country health insurance instead of buying a Spanish plan?
For the visa, only if the insurer is authorised to operate in Spain and the policy meets the consulate’s conditions (cover comparable to the Spanish public system, no co-payments, no waiting periods, whole stay). Sanitas warns that “not every international insurance” is accepted. Short-trip travel insurance does not meet these conditions. Some universities, such as IE, accept international policies with full coverage and repatriation for their own rules — that does not replace the consulate’s check.
Does the university health plan cover dental treatment?
It depends on the policy. Sanitas International Students includes dental cover with more than 30 services; the Adeslas Welcome product page lists no dental cover. The public system offers only limited dental care for adults (for example extractions). Check the list of benefits before you buy.
Can Erasmus students use university plans?
EU Erasmus students use their EHIC for necessary care in the public system. Universities may require extra cover: UGR requires travel insurance with repatriation and civil liability, and UB requires accident and repatriation cover. UGR’s ERGO policy is open to international students officially enrolled at UGR — ask your host university’s Erasmus coordinator what it accepts.
What happens if I get sick before my insurance starts?
Under the rules of the Spanish public health system, urgent care is available 24/7 at any hospital — call 112 in an emergency. Non-urgent care without insurance has to be paid by you. Make sure your policy starts no later than the day you arrive.
Do I need health insurance if I am only in Spain for a summer course?
A stay of up to 90 days does not need a study visa. If your nationality needs a Schengen short-stay visa, you must have travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 of cover, including repatriation. Our Schengen visa insurance guide covers the requirements in detail.
Can I switch insurers mid-year if I am unhappy with my university plan?
Read the contract first. Sanitas International Students adapts its duration to your course (3 to 14 months); Adeslas Welcome runs for one year and renews automatically unless cancelled within the deadlines in the contract. If you switch, make sure the new policy starts the day the old one ends — your study stay requires valid insurance without gaps.
Do I need the insurance certificate again after arrival?
Yes. You need proof of health insurance again for every extension of your study stay (prórroga), which you apply for from 2 months before to 3 months after your authorisation expires. Keep a current insurance certificate — Adeslas Welcome, for example, issues a certificate for immigration procedures (Extranjería).
Related Articles
- Convenio Especial: Spain’s Public Healthcare for Non-EU Students — The public option if you stay longer than a year
- Spain’s Seguridad Social for Students: Registration, Tarjeta Sanitaria & Private Top-Up Guide — Complete guide to Spain’s public healthcare system
- How to Choose Health Insurance as an International Student — Framework for comparing any student insurance plan
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