🇪🇸 Public University · Madrid, Spain

Veterinary Medicine at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)

Spain's oldest veterinary faculty (founded 1793), set within Madrid's historic university campus, with its own fully equipped veterinary teaching hospital.

1793 Spain's oldest vet faculty
155 places per academic year
≈ €1,249 Tuition/year (EU/Home)
11.8–12.3 EBAU cut-off grade
5 years 300 ECTS

About the school

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) traces its roots to the Real Escuela de Veterinaria de Madrid, founded in 1793 — making it Spain's oldest veterinary school. It offers a 5-year Grado en Veterinaria (300 ECTS), taught in Spanish (Castilian).

Admission is highly competitive and based entirely on the EBAU/PAU university entrance exam. No interview is required.

🏛 Spain's Oldest (1793)

The Real Escuela de Veterinaria de Madrid (1793) makes UCM the oldest veterinary faculty in Spain.

🏥 Teaching Hospital

The Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense (HCVC) offers 24h emergency care and specialist consultations.

🔬 Research & Public Health

Strong focus on veterinary research, food science and public health across the 5-year programme.

🏙 Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid

On the Moncloa campus, minutes from central Madrid by metro (line 6).

Degree details

Official nameGrado en Veterinaria (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine)
Duration5 years (300 ECTS)
LanguageSpanish (Castilian)
CampusCiudad Universitaria, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, Madrid
Places155 per academic year
Approx. tuition≈ €1,249/year (public rate, subject to annual revision)
Cut-off grade 2025-2611.814 / 14

Cut-off grade 2025-26 (11.814) verified at notasdecorte.es / educaweb, June 2026. Places: 155 per Ministry data (2023-24). Tuition estimated from Madrid public per-credit price (≈ €20/ECTS, 60 ECTS/year); subject to annual revision — verify at ucm.es.

Campus & Facilities

The Faculty is located on the Ciudad Universitaria (Moncloa campus) in Madrid, one of the largest university campuses in Europe. Facilities include:

  • Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense (HCVC) — 24h emergency care, advanced imaging and specialist clinics for small and large animals
  • Teaching farm (cattle, horses, pigs, sheep) for livestock medicine practice
  • Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology and Food Technology laboratories
  • Faculty library and study areas

The campus is connected to central Madrid by metro (line 6, Ciudad Universitaria stop) and city bus. Under-26 season tickets (Abono Transporte Joven) in Madrid cost approximately €10–20/month.

Academic requirements

  • Spanish Bachillerato (Science track) + EBAU/PAU passed
  • Admission grade (nota de admisión) ≥ cut-off grade (11.814 in 2025-26; varies each year)
  • Optional subject weightings (fase de admisión): Biology (×0.2), Chemistry (×0.2), Mathematics II (×0.1), Physics (×0.1) — verify exact weightings at ucm.es each year
  • Access also available via vocational training (FP, science pathway) and accredited international Bachillerato equivalents

Cut-off grade 2025-26: 11.814; 2024-25: 12.075 (first round). Source: notasdecorte.es / educaweb, June 2026.

Work experience

No prior animal experience is required for admission. Clinical contact begins from the early years through rotations at the Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense and practical sessions at faculty facilities.

Admission

Places 155

No interview. Admission based entirely on EBAU nota de admisión. Cut-off grade 2025-26: 11.814 / 14.
  1. Bachillerato (Science track)

    Complete Year 2 of Bachillerato in the Science stream, focusing on Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics II and Physics to maximise your admissions phase score.

  2. Sit EBAU/PAU

    Take the university entrance exams. In the voluntary admissions phase, choose Biology and Chemistry — these carry the highest weighting (×0.2 each) for Veterinary at UCM.

  3. Apply via Madrid pre-enrolment system

    List Grado en Veterinaria (UCM) in order of preference through the Comunidad de Madrid pre-enrolment system (usually opens in July).

  4. Place allocation

    The 155 places are allocated in strict order of nota de admisión. The cut-off is set by the last place filled. Multiple allocation rounds run between June and September.

  5. Enrolment

    Enrol within the official deadline. Apply simultaneously for the MEC grant if you meet the income criteria.

Spanish Bachillerato (Science track) + EBAU/PAU passed. Nota de admisión ≥ cut-off grade (11.814 in 2025-26).

Interview & exam format

No interview. Admission is based entirely on the EBAU nota de admisión (Bachillerato average × 40% + EBAU general phase × 60% + optional subject weightings). Places are allocated in strict descending order of nota de admisión.

Tuition fees

Student profile Annual fees 5-year total
🇪🇺 EU/EEA students €1.249 €6.245
🌍 Non-EU (estimate) €1.500 €7.500

⚠️ Public prices set by Comunidad de Madrid and revised annually — verify at ucm.es

Scholarships & financial aid

Comunidad de Madrid grants

Annual regional grants complementary to the MEC grant. comunidad.madrid

UCM own grants

Mobility, excellence and social emergency grants. ucm.es/becas

Honours exemption

Students with matrícula de honor in Bachillerato are exempt from tuition fees in year 1.

  • MEC General Grant (MEFP): income and performance-based; can cover full tuition + fixed + variable amounts. Apply at becas.educacion.gob.es
  • Comunidad de Madrid grants: complementary to MEC grant; check comunidad.madrid annually
  • UCM own grants: mobility, excellence and social emergency. See ucm.es/becas
  • Honours exemption: Students with matrícula de honor in Bachillerato are exempt from tuition fees in year 1

Cost of living

Shared room (student flat) €500 –€750 / mo
Transport (Abono Joven <26) €10 –€20 / mo
Food (cooking at home) €200 –€300 / mo
Leisure, phone and misc. €150 –€250 / mo
Total estimated monthly €860 –€1320 / mo

Application timeline

  1. Nov–Feb 2026
    UCM Open Days

    Visit the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Check exact dates at ucm.es/veterinaria. Great for seeing the facilities before sitting EvAU.

  2. ~Apr 7–10, 2026
    EvAU registration deadline

    Approximate deadline to register for EvAU through your secondary school (Comunidad de Madrid). No registration = no exam. Select your Phase 2 subjects (Biology, Chemistry) at this stage. Official dates at madrid.org.

  3. ~Jun 2–5, 2026
    EvAU ordinary sitting — General + Specific phases

    General phase (compulsory): ~Jun 2–4. Specific phase (voluntary, boosts nota): ~Jun 5. Biology ×0.2 · Chemistry ×0.2 weighting. Results: ~Jun 13. Resit: ~Jul 1–3. Max possible nota: 14.000.

  4. ~Jun 16 – Jul 27, 2026
    UCM pre-enrolment + allocation rounds

    Pre-enrolment opens ~Jun 16 (once EvAU results are out). 1st allocation ~Jul 14 · 2nd ~Jul 21 · 3rd ~Jul 27. Track the lists on the UCM admissions portal. 2025 cut-off: 11.814. The entire process — exam to uni — fits within one year.

  5. Aug–Sep 2026
    Enrolment and MEC grant

    Enrolment: August. MEC grant (covers fees + living allowance): apply Jul–Sep at becasyconcursos.mec.es. Term starts: second half of September 2026.

FAQ

Is there an interview to get into Veterinary Medicine at UCM?
No. Admission to UCM's Grado en Veterinaria is based entirely on the EBAU nota de admisión (Bachillerato grades + EBAU exam + weighted optional subjects). There is no personal interview or university-specific test.
What cut-off grade do I need?
In recent years the cut-off has ranged between 11.8 and 12.3 out of 14. For 2025-26 it was 11.814. Aim as high as possible as it varies each year. Boost your score by choosing the right optional subjects — Biology and Chemistry typically carry the highest weighting.
How many places does UCM offer for Veterinary Medicine?
UCM offers approximately 155 places per academic year according to Ministry data (2023-24). This may change — check the official announcement each year.
What language are classes taught in?
All classes are in Spanish (Castilian). No knowledge of Catalan or any other regional language is required.
Does UCM have its own veterinary teaching hospital?
Yes. The Faculty has the Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense (HCVC), where advanced-year students complete clinical rotations in small animals, equine and farm animal medicine alongside specialist veterinarians.

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