🇪🇸 Public University · Bellaterra, Barcelona

Veterinary Medicine at UAB — Autonomous University of Barcelona

Catalonia's only EAEVE-accredited veterinary faculty, ranked in the QS top 30 worldwide for Veterinary Science — the highest-ranked Spanish vet school in international rankings.

QS Top 30 Veterinary Science global
EAEVE Only in Catalonia
115 places per academic year
≈ €1,061 Tuition/year (EU/Home)
5 years 300 ECTS

About the school

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is the only veterinary school in Catalonia to hold full EAEVE accreditation and Spain's highest-ranked veterinary faculty in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (Veterinary Science, ≈ top 30 globally). It offers a 5-year Grau en Veterinària (300 ECTS).

Classes are taught mainly in Catalan (~69%), with some in Spanish (~30%) and a small portion in English (~1%). With only 115 places per year, admission is among the most competitive of any Spanish veterinary school.

🏆 EAEVE Accreditation

Full EAEVE accreditation — the only veterinary faculty in Catalonia to hold this recognition. Degree valid across the EU.

🏥 Year-round Teaching Hospital

The HCV is open year-round with 24h emergency, MRI, scintigraphy and CT. Clinical training from year 4.

🔬 Spain's Top-Ranked Vet Faculty

Highest QS Veterinary Science ranking of any Spanish faculty (≈ top 30 worldwide — verify at topuniversities.com).

🌆 Self-Contained Campus

263-hectare autonomous campus in Bellaterra, 40 min from Barcelona by FGC commuter train. Teaching farms and residences on site.

Degree details

Official nameGrau en Veterinària (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine)
Duration5 years (300 ECTS)
LanguageCatalan (~69%) + Spanish (~30%) + English (~1%)
CampusBellaterra, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès · FGC R7/R8 from Pl. Catalunya
Places115 per academic year
Approx. tuition≈ €1,061/year (public rate · €17.69/ECTS, subject to annual revision)
Cut-off grade 2025-26≈ 11.994–12.024 / 14

Cut-off grade 2025-26 (11.994–12.024) verified at educaweb / uab.cat, June 2026. Places: 115. Per-credit price: €17.69 (uab.cat, 2025-26); subject to annual revision. QS Veterinary Science ranking ≈ top 30 globally (TO VERIFY at topuniversities.com).

Campus & Facilities

UAB Veterinary Faculty is located on the Bellaterra campus (Cerdanyola del Vallès, 20 km north of Barcelona), a fully self-contained 263-hectare campus with all facilities in one place:

  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HCV) — 24h emergency, advanced imaging (MRI, scintigraphy, CT) and specialist clinics for small animals, equine and exotic animals
  • Teaching farm (cattle, pigs, sheep/goats, horses) for livestock medicine practice
  • CReSA Animal Health Research Centre — internationally recognised research in animal health and zoonoses
  • Microbiology, Pathology, Parasitology and Animal Nutrition laboratories
  • University residences, sports facilities and campus services

The campus is connected to Barcelona by FGC commuter train (lines R7/R8, ~40 min from Plaça Catalunya). UAB also runs shuttles from nearby train stations.

Academic requirements

  • Catalan Batxillerat (Science track) + PAU (PBAU) passed — or equivalent from other Spanish regions (same national cut-off applies)
  • Admission grade (nota de admisión) ≥ cut-off grade (≈ 11.994 in 2025-26; varies each year)
  • Optional subject weightings (fase específica): Biology (0.2), Chemistry (0.2), Mathematics II (0.2), Physics (0.2) — verify exact weightings at uab.cat each year
  • International Bachillerato or foreign qualifications: access via credential recognition or UNED-PCE process

Cut-off grade 2025-26: 11.994–12.024 (first round); 2024-25: 11.930. Source: educaweb / uab.cat, June 2026.

Work experience

No prior animal experience is required for admission. Practical contact begins from Year 1 through the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the campus teaching farms.

Admission

Places 115

No interview. Admission based entirely on PAU nota de admisión. Cut-off grade 2025-26: ≈ 11.994/14.
  1. Batxillerat (Science track)

    Complete Year 2 of Batxillerat in the Science stream. Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics II carry the highest weightings for Veterinary at UAB.

  2. Sit the PAU (PBAU)

    Take the Catalan university entrance exam. In the optional specific phase, choose the two highest-weighted subjects to push your nota de admisión towards 14.

  3. Apply via Catalan pre-enrolment system

    List Grau en Veterinària (UAB) in order of preference through the Generalitat pre-enrolment portal (preinscripcio.gencat.cat), usually in July.

  4. Place allocation

    The 115 places are allocated in strict descending order of nota de admisión. Multiple allocation rounds run from July to September.

  5. Enrolment

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

Catalan Batxillerat (Science track) + PAU (PBAU) passed. Nota de admisión ≥ nota de tall (≈ 12/14).

Interview & exam format

No interview. Admission is based entirely on the PAU nota de admisión (Bachillerato average × 40% + PAU general phase × 60% + optional subject weightings). The 115 places are allocated in strict descending order of nota de admisión.

Tuition fees

Student profile Annual fees 5-year total
🇪🇺 EU/EEA students €1.061 €5.305
🌍 Non-EU (estimate) €1.300 €6.500

⚠️ Public prices set by Generalitat de Catalunya, revised annually — verify at uab.cat

Scholarships & financial aid

UAB own grants

Mobility, excellence and social emergency. uab.cat/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. becas.educacion.gob.es
  • Beques Equitat (Generalitat de Catalunya): tuition reduction by income bracket — highly relevant for public Catalan universities. gencat.cat/bequitat
  • UAB own grants: mobility, excellence and social emergency. uab.cat/becas
  • Honours exemption: Students with matrícula de honor in Bachillerato are exempt from tuition fees in year 1

Cost of living

Shared room (Bellaterra/Cerdanyola area) €400 –€600 / mo
Transport (T-Jove FGC/Metro, <30 years) €30 –€60 / mo
Food (cooking at home) €200 –€280 / mo
Leisure, phone and misc. €120 –€200 / mo
Total estimated monthly €750 –€1140 / mo

Application timeline

  1. Nov–Feb 2026
    UAB Open Days

    Visit Bellaterra campus. Check dates at uab.cat/veterinaria. A chance to experience the Catalan-language teaching environment before sitting PAU.

  2. ~Mar 20 – Apr 3, 2026
    PAU registration deadline (Catalonia)

    Deadline to register for the Prova d'Accés a la Universitat through your secondary school. Select Phase 2 subjects (Biology, Chemistry) at registration. Info at universitats.gencat.cat.

  3. ~Jun 9–12, 2026
    PAU ordinary sitting (Catalonia)

    Phase 1 (compulsory): ~Jun 9–10. Phase 2 (specific subjects): ~Jun 11–12. Biology ×0.2 · Chemistry ×0.2. Results: ~Jun 19–20. Resit: ~Jul 7–9. Exams are longer than most regions as they include Catalan language.

  4. ~Jun 20 – Jul 24, 2026
    UAB pre-enrolment + allocation rounds

    Pre-enrolment opens ~Jun 20. 1st allocation ~Jul 17 · 2nd ~Jul 24. Portal: accesua.gencat.cat. 2025 cut-off: 11.994 — highest of any Spanish vet school. The entire process happens within the same calendar year.

  5. Aug–Sep 2026
    Enrolment and MEC grant

    Enrolment: August. MEC grant application: July–Sep. Note: ~69% of teaching in Catalan, ~30% Spanish. Term starts: September 2026.

FAQ

Is UAB the best veterinary faculty in Spain?
UAB is Spain's highest-ranked veterinary faculty in the QS World University Rankings by Subject — Veterinary Science (≈ top 30 globally; exact position to confirm at topuniversities.com). It is also the only faculty in Catalonia with full EAEVE accreditation.
What language are classes taught in?
Teaching is mainly in Catalan (~69%), with some courses in Spanish (~30%) and a small proportion in English (~1%). A basic to intermediate level of Catalan makes day-to-day academic life much easier, although it is not a formal admission requirement.
Is there a specific test or interview?
No. Admission is based entirely on the PAU (PBAU) nota de admisión score. The 115 places are allocated by grade, with no interview or university-specific test.
How many places are available and what is the cut-off grade?
UAB offers 115 places per year. The 2025-26 cut-off grade was approximately 11.994–12.024/14 — one of the highest of any Spanish veterinary school. Boost your score by choosing Biology and Chemistry in the specific phase.
What is the Bellaterra campus like?
It is a self-contained 263-hectare campus 20 km from Barcelona, with all facilities in one place: the veterinary teaching hospital, teaching farms, laboratories, university residences, sports facilities and shops. The FGC commuter train connects to Barcelona in ~40 minutes.

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