Erasmus guide University of Málaga
Courses, housing, visa, campus life and exchange basics for studying at University of Málaga in Málaga, Spain.
City
MálagaCountry
SpainInternational
Official 2019-20 figure: 2,346 international students on official degrees (1,545 bachelor's, 447 master's, 354 doctoral). No official current count of incoming exchange students was found; the 2024/25 welcome meetings gathered students of about 60 nationalities.
Enrollment
35,654 students on official degrees in 2019-20 (latest total published on an official UMA page)
Study abroad at University of Málaga: overview
Study abroad at the University of Málaga if you want a large Spanish public university by the Mediterranean and are ready to study mostly in Spanish. UMA counted 35,654 students on official degrees in 2019-20, teaches mainly on the modern Teatinos campus, and listed 275 English-taught subjects for 2026/27. Strong blocks include Humanities, Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering. The main trade-off is housing: the university has no halls of its own, so you rent privately.
Enrollment
35,654 students on official degrees in 2019-20 (latest total published on an official UMA page)
International Mix
Official 2019-20 figure: 2,346 international students on official degrees (1,545 bachelor's, 447 master's, 354 doctoral). No official current count of incoming exchange students was found; the 2024/25 welcome meetings gathered students of about 60 nationalities.
Why students choose it
Best for students who can follow lectures in Spanish and want a large public university in a sunny coastal city with a short, well-documented admin path. Teatinos, the main campus with most faculties and services, is linked to the centre by metro (Universidad stop) and bus; El Ejido hosts Fine Arts, Economics and Business and Architecture beside the old town. The rectorate in the photo is a central administrative and cultural building, not a teaching campus.
Language of instruction: Spanish is the main language of instruction; B1 is recommended (B2 preferred) but no certificate is required, Limited English-taught subjects: 275 listed for 2026/27, with 69 of them restricted to students of the same faculty
Exchange & application at University of Málaga
Exchange at UMA starts with a nomination from your home university through the Algoria platform: mid-April to mid-June for semester 1 or the full year, and up to the end of October for semester 2 in the 2026/27 cycle. Medicine and Fine Arts always close in mid-June. After that you activate your UMA ID and pick subjects in Algoria.
Official links
-
Open page
Exchange page
The university’s own page for incoming exchange students.
-
Open document
Exchange fact sheet
Deadlines, requirements and contacts for exchange students, published by the university.
-
See courses
Course catalogue
The official list of courses. Check which ones are open to exchange students and taught in a language you speak.
✅Requirements
A valid agreement between your home university and UMA, an official nomination submitted by your home coordinator through Algoria, activation of your UMA ID (DUMA), personal details and passport uploaded in Algoria, a Learning Agreement (Erasmus+ students) and health cover. No Spanish certificate is required, but B1 is recommended because classes and exams are in Spanish unless a subject is listed as English-taught.
📨Nomination Process
Only your home university can nominate you, and only through the Algoria platform (relacionesi.uma.es); nominations by email are not accepted. Once nominated with your ID number, you receive an email to activate your UMA account, then you continue registration in Algoria, choose subjects there during the selection window and download your arrival certificate and transcript from the same profile.
🛂Visa Support
EU/EEA and Swiss students need no visa. Non-EU students need a Spanish student visa for stays over 3 months, applied for in person at a Spanish embassy or consulate once UMA issues the official acceptance letter in Algoria (available after nomination, personal details and passport upload). Stays over 180 days require the TIE foreigner identity card, booked at the Málaga immigration office. Non-EU students who already hold a study residence permit in another EU country do not need a visa; UMA notifies the Málaga Foreigners' Office for them.
🧭Orientation Week
🗓️Deadlines by intake
| Intake | Nomination deadline | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester And Full Year 2026 27 | Mid-June 2026 (window from mid-April to mid-June; exact dates on the Algoria homepage) | — |
| Second Semester 2026 27 | End of October 2026 (window from mid-April to end of October; exact dates on the Algoria homepage) | — |
| 2027 28 | Not yet published for 2027-28; the 2026/27 pattern was mid-April to mid-June (semester 1 and full year) and mid-April to end of October (semester 2) | — |
Arrival Checklist
- Activate your DUMA account and finish your Algoria profile as soon as the nomination email arrives.
- Non-EU: download the acceptance letter from Algoria and book the visa appointment straight away.
- Start the room search in parallel with nomination; register in the UMA Encuéntrame housing tool once your DUMA credentials work.
- Press 'Confirm stay' in Algoria (opens one week before mobility) to unlock the official arrival certificate.
- Attend the welcome meeting: 2 September 2026 in English or 3 September in Spanish (semester 1); 10 February 2027 in English or 11 February in Spanish (semester 2), 11:00 at the Telecommunication/Computer Engineering assembly hall, Teatinos.
- EU students: register at the public health centre nearest your accommodation with your EHIC.
- Buy the student bus card and sign up for the Buddy Programme and ESN Málaga in week one.
Academics & courses at University of Málaga
Expect ECTS, a 0-10 grading scale with 5 to pass, and two exam sittings per semester. Take at least half your subjects from the faculty that nominated you, and remember that a Spanish-taught subject is examined in Spanish. English places are limited and some are closed to visitors.
📝Course Registration
Subjects are chosen in Algoria during fixed windows (mid-July to mid-September for semester 1 and full year; mid-December to mid-February for semester 2). Places are limited and cannot be reserved, so a Learning Agreement signed before the window is provisional. About two weeks after classes start you get two extra weeks to change your selection. Rules: at least 50% of subjects from your nominating faculty, only subjects of your own semester, undergraduates take undergraduate subjects only, and Health Sciences and Architecture subjects need approval from those faculties when they are not your main centre.
🎓Credit System
ECTS. Minimum per semester is 6 ECTS for Erasmus+ KA131 students and 18 ECTS for other exchange students; maximum is 36 ECTS per semester or 72 ECTS for a full year.
💯Grading System
Spanish 0-10 scale with 5 as the pass mark: Suspenso 0-4.99 (fail), Aprobado 5-6.99, Notable 7-8.99, Sobresaliente 9-10, plus the exceptional Matrícula de Honor distinction. UMA publishes approved equivalence scales for Italy, Germany, France and Poland; your home university sets the final conversion.
✍️Exam Culture
Each semester ends with a first ordinary exam sitting (mid-January for semester 1, mid-June for semester 2) and a second ordinary sitting (mid-February and mid-July) that is open only to students who failed or did not sit the first. You cannot resit a passed subject to raise the grade. Exact exam dates are set by each faculty.
📚Library Access
The University Library runs the General Library on the Teatinos campus next to the Universidad metro stop, plus faculty libraries; access and online resources activate with your UMA account after enrolment.
Tuition & fees at University of Málaga
Nominated exchange students pay no tuition to UMA. Full-degree bachelor's students paid EUR 12.62 per credit in 2026/27, about EUR 757 for 60 credits, plus EUR 59.10 to open a file and EUR 5.70 for the card. Non-EU students without Spanish residence can face a top-up of up to the full real cost.
| Student Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EXCHANGE | EUR 0 tuition at UMA (you keep paying your home university) | Nominated exchange students do not pay UMA's per-credit fees. The 2026/27 Fact Sheet lists no tuition or registration charge for them; the costs it does list… |
| Full degree - EU/EEA (and non-EU residents in Spain) | EUR 12.62 per ECTS credit (first enrolment), EUR 757.20 for 60 credits | Official 2026/27 public price for every bachelor's group (humanities, sciences, engineering, health) at UMA's own centres. Second enrolment of a subject cost… |
| Full degree - non-EU/EEA without Spanish residence or study authorisation | EUR 12.62 per credit charged provisionally; a top-up of up to 100% of the real cost may follow | Non-EU students over 18 who hold Spanish residence or a study-stay authorisation pay the same EUR 12.62 per credit as EU students, but must prove it at their… |
| Administrative fees - full-degree students | EUR 59.10 file opening (first enrolment only) + EUR 5.70 data and ID card | These 2026/27 charges apply to full-degree students, not to nominated exchange students. File opening is paid once per centre and degree; the data and card f… |
EUR 0 tuition at UMA (you keep paying your home university)
Nominated exchange students do not pay UMA's per-credit fees. The 2026/27 Fact Sheet lists no tuition or registration charge for them; the costs it does list…
EUR 12.62 per ECTS credit (first enrolment), EUR 757.20 for 60 credits
Official 2026/27 public price for every bachelor's group (humanities, sciences, engineering, health) at UMA's own centres. Second enrolment of a subject cost…
EUR 12.62 per credit charged provisionally; a top-up of up to 100% of the real cost may follow
Non-EU students over 18 who hold Spanish residence or a study-stay authorisation pay the same EUR 12.62 per credit as EU students, but must prove it at their…
EUR 59.10 file opening (first enrolment only) + EUR 5.70 data and ID card
These 2026/27 charges apply to full-degree students, not to nominated exchange students. File opening is paid once per centre and degree; the data and card f…
Fees change annually — verify current rates on the official exchange office page
Student housing at University of Málaga
UMA does not house students. Most exchange students rent a room in a shared flat from about EUR 350-500 a month, while private residences with meals start around EUR 800-900. Use the Encuéntrame portal, the International Hub list and ESN Málaga, and search before the September and February peaks.
Full housing guide
Find housing in Málaga
Official contacts, student residences, private platforms, tips & red flags.
Insurance & campus support at University of Málaga
The incoming team works from Edificio Rosa Gálvez on Teatinos and answers at incoming@uma.es. Add the Buddy Programme, the CIE Spanish courses, the library, psychological support and the diversity service to your first-week list.
🛡️Mandatory Insurance
Yes. EHIC for EU/EEA/Swiss students (UK: EHIC or GHIC); private insurance for the whole stay for non-EU students.
🇪🇺EHIC Accepted
Yes
🏥Campus Clinic
UMA has no general medical clinic for students; routine care goes through the public health centre (with EHIC) or your private insurer. Emergencies: 112 or the emergency department of any public hospital.
🧠Mental Health
The UMA psychology service (UDA Psicología) offers psychological support to the university community, and the diversity support service handles disability and inclusion needs; both are linked from the international office's services page.
European Health Insurance Card (EU/EEA/Swiss and UK GHIC)
Issued free by your home system
Gives access to the Andalusian public health service (SAS) on the same terms as Spanish nationals once registered at a health centre; appointments via ClicSalud+.
Private health insurance (non-EU students)
Compulsory before arrival. UMA names Oncampus and Montymarq (Universitas Mundi) as insurers with conditions for incoming mobility students; UMA does not publish their prices.
Civil liability insurance (clinical or school placements)
Required for Practicum subjects in Medicine, Health Sciences or Education; must cover third-party damage during placements and be valid in Spain.
Campus services
International Relations Office - incoming students
Nominations, Algoria registration, acceptance letters for visas, arrival certificates and transcripts. Edificio Rosa Gálvez (first floor), Bulevar Louis Pasteur 35, Teatinos; Monday-Friday 9:00-14:00; incoming@uma.es, +34 952 134 283.
Algoria mobility platform
Single online space for nomination, course selection, stay confirmation, arrival certificate download and the final transcript of records.
UMA International Hub and Buddy Programme
Matches each incoming student with a local UMA volunteer by faculty, languages and semester for one semester; sign-up through an online form, contact buddyprogram@uma.es. The Hub also keeps a housing contact list.
International Centre for Spanish (CIE-UMA)
Erasmus Spanish course of 40 hours a month (4 ECTS), EUR 300 per month for UMA international students, with monthly start dates; also hosts DELE and SIELE exams. Avenida de la Estación s/n, El Palo; cie@uma.es.
Housing programme (Encuéntrame) and agreed residences
Free landlord-tenant matching portal for the university community, plus a list of private residences with UMA agreements.
University Library
General Library on the Teatinos campus plus faculty libraries, study space and digital resources with your UMA account.
UMA Sports
Sports activities and facilities for the university community; the sports complex presents its programme at the welcome meetings.
Diversity and inclusion support
Support for incoming students with disabilities or specific needs, in line with the Erasmus+ inclusion strategy.
ESN Málaga
Erasmus Student Network section with desks at Teatinos and El Ejido (Faculty of Economics and Business); events, trips and the ESNcard.
Student life at University of Málaga
Social life runs through ESN Málaga, the Buddy Programme and UMA's culture and sports services. The 2024/25 welcome meetings drew students of around 60 nationalities. Most came from Italy, Germany, Poland and France, so expect a large European crowd.
Student Clubs
- ESN Málaga - the main social channel for exchange students, with events, trips and the ESNcard; offices at Teatinos and El Ejido.
- UMA Culture Service - exhibitions, music, theatre and cinema at the Contenedor Cultural and other university venues.
Buddy Program
UMA Buddy Programme (International Hub): one-to-one pairing with a local student for one semester, with set tasks during the official period.
Sports & Recreation
- UMA Sports programme and facilities on campus, presented at each welcome meeting
Public Groups & Communities
ESN Málaga on Instagram (@esnmalaga) and Facebook (/esnmalaga) - event announcements and trip sign-ups.
UMA International Relations on Instagram (@rriiuma) - official deadline and meeting notices for incoming students.
Your First 2 Weeks
- Before arrival: confirm stay in Algoria, then sign the arrival certificate at the welcome meeting (2 or 3 September 2026; 10 or 11 February 2027).
- Days 1-3: get the student bus card (EUR 13.50 a month per the Fact Sheet), register at your public health centre (EU) or carry your insurance policy (non-EU).
- Days 3-7: sign up for the Buddy Programme and buy the ESNcard; find your faculty's mobility coordinator.
- Week 2: check attendance and assessment rules in each subject guide and use the two-week change window if a course does not fit.
- Non-EU staying over 180 days: book the TIE appointment at the Málaga immigration office.
Key exchange dates at University of Málaga
For 2026/27, the welcome meetings are on 2-3 September and 10-11 February. Classes run roughly from mid-September to late December and from mid-February to early June. Exams fall in mid-January and mid-June, with resits a month later. Transcripts reach Algoria from mid-March or mid-July.
-
1
Nomination window - semester 1 and full year 2026/27
Mid-April to mid-June 2026
Home university nominates through Algoria; Medicine and Fine Arts always by mid-June.
-
2
Nomination window - semester 2 2026/27
Mid-April to end of October 2026
Same Algoria process; exact dates on the Algoria homepage.
-
3
Course selection
Mid-July to mid-September (semester 1 and full year); mid-December to mid-February (semester 2)
Places are limited and cannot be reserved; two extra change weeks after classes begin.
-
4
Welcome meetings
2-3 September 2026 and 10-11 February 2027
English session first, Spanish session the next day, 11:00 at the Telecommunication/Computer Engineering assembly hall.
-
5
Classes
About 9 September-22 December 2026 and 15 February-4 June 2027
Dates vary by faculty; check the centre calendar.
-
6
Exams and resits
Mid-January and mid-February (semester 1); mid-June and mid-July (semester 2)
Second sitting only for failed or not-sat subjects; book return travel after your faculty publishes dates.
-
7
Transcript of records
From mid-March (semester 1); from mid-July (semester 2 and full year)
Downloaded from Algoria by both you and your home university.
Campus events hub: Browse all events
Interested in this university?
Would you like to study at University of Málaga?
Tell us what you have in mind in under a minute. We will write back with information on how to apply. Odisea does not handle admissions yet.