66 Best universities for Development Studies in Spain

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Spain ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 1.86M citations received by 82.8K academic papers made by 66 universities in Spain was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain | Cerdanyola del Valles

For Development Studies

#55 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 30,926

2. University of Barcelona

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#75 in Europe

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 64,236

3. Pompeu Fabra University

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#81 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 15,801

4. University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#101 in Europe

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 58,390

5. University of Granada

Spain | Granada

For Development Studies

#113 in Europe

#370 in the World

Enrollment: 56,842
Founded: 1531

6. Complutense University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#114 in Europe

#373 in the World

Founded: 1508

7. Carlos III University, Madrid

For Development Studies

#134 in Europe

#429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1989

8. University of Seville

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#135 in Europe

#430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1505

9. University of Saragossa

Spain | Zaragoza

For Development Studies

#157 in Europe

#476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1542

10. University of the Basque Country

For Development Studies

#169 in Europe

#515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,000

11. Autonomous University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#174 in Europe

#526 in the World

Founded: 1968

12. Polytechnic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#178 in Europe

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 28,450
Founded: 1968

13. Technical University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#188 in Europe

#557 in the World

Enrollment: 29,812

14. Technical University of Madrid

For Development Studies

#221 in Europe

#651 in the World

Founded: 1971

15. University of Murcia

For Development Studies

#226 in Europe

#667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1272

16. University of Malaga

For Development Studies

#228 in Europe

#673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 36,054
Founded: 1972

17. University of Oviedo

For Development Studies

#231 in Europe

#680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1604

18. University of Alicante

Spain | San Vicente del Raspeig

For Development Studies

#233 in Europe

#682 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1979

19. University of Castilla La Mancha

Spain | Ciudad Real

For Development Studies

#246 in Europe

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1982

20. University of Santiago de Compostela

Spain | Santiago de Compostela

For Development Studies

#257 in Europe

#743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,095
Founded: 1495

21. University of Navarra

Spain | Pamplona

For Development Studies

#276 in Europe

#802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 13,835
Founded: 1952

22. University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Development Studies

#292 in Europe

#844 in the World

Founded: 1218

23. University of Valladolid

Spain | Valladolid

For Development Studies

#300 in Europe

#865 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1346

24. James I University

Spain | Castellon de la Plana

For Development Studies

#304 in Europe

#875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,343

25. Rovira i Virgili University

Spain | Tarragona

For Development Studies

#336 in Europe

#970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,621

26. University of Alcala

Spain | Alcala de Henares

For Development Studies

#341 in Europe

#982 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,067
Founded: 1499

27. University of Vigo

For Development Studies

#350 in Europe

#1010 in the World

Enrollment: 18,577
Founded: 1989

28. University King Juan Carlos

Spain | Mostoles

For Development Studies

#353 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1996

29. University of Cantabria

Spain | Santander

For Development Studies

#360 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1972

30. University of Almeria

Spain | Almeria

For Development Studies

#361 in Europe

#1053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1993

31. University of Extremadura

Spain | Badajoz

For Development Studies

#377 in Europe

#1114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1973

32. University of La Rioja

Spain | Logrono

For Development Studies

#387 in Europe

#1149 in the World

Founded: 1992

33. University of Girona

For Development Studies

#391 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 15,336

34. Public University of Navarre

Spain | Pamplona

For Development Studies

#395 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1987

35. University of La Laguna

Spain | San Cristobal de La Laguna

For Development Studies

#396 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1927

36. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#397 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1997

37. University of Cadiz

For Development Studies

#405 in Europe

#1229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 1979

38. Miguel Hernandez University of Elche

For Development Studies

#420 in Europe

#1274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 19,900
Founded: 1996

39. University of A Coruna

Spain | A Coruna

For Development Studies

#424 in Europe

#1288 in the World

Enrollment: 17,304
Founded: 1989

40. University of Deusto

For Development Studies

#426 in Europe

#1294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1886

41. University of the Balearic Islands

Spain | Palma de Mallorca

For Development Studies

#440 in Europe

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,359
Founded: 1978

42. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Spain | Las Palmas

For Development Studies

#447 in Europe

#1360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

43. University of Jaen

For Development Studies

#451 in Europe

#1370 in the World

Founded: 1993

44. University of Cordoba

Spain | Cordoba

For Development Studies

#456 in Europe

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1972

45. University of Huelva

For Development Studies

#473 in Europe

#1468 in the World

Founded: 1993

46. University Ramon Llull

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#478 in Europe

#1493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 21,253

47. University of Lleida

For Development Studies

#528 in Europe

#1691 in the World

Enrollment: 10,674

48. Polytechnic University of Cartagena

Spain | Cartagena

For Development Studies

#546 in Europe

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1998

49. University of Leon

For Development Studies

#569 in Europe

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1979

50. IE University

Spain | Segovia

For Development Studies

#624 in Europe

#2153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1997

51. International University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Development Studies

#639 in Europe

#2229 in the World

Enrollment: 4,323

52. Comillas Pontifical University

For Development Studies

#682 in Europe

#2420 in the World

Founded: 1890

53. University of Burgos

For Development Studies

#697 in Europe

#2500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

54. University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia

For Development Studies

#714 in Europe

#2591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment: 22,266

55. European University of Madrid

Spain | Villaviciosa de Odon

For Development Studies

#724 in Europe

#2637 in the World

Founded: 1995

56. Loyola University Andalusia

Spain | Seville

For Development Studies

#751 in Europe

#2804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 2011

57. Saint Anthony Catholic University

Spain | Guadalupe

For Development Studies

#813 in Europe

#3168 in the World

Founded: 1996

58. San Vicente Martir Catholic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Development Studies

#835 in Europe

#3277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 2003

59. CEU University of San Pablo

For Development Studies

#859 in Europe

#3462 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1993

60. Nebrija University

For Development Studies

#866 in Europe

#3541 in the World

Founded: 1995

61. Francisco de Vitoria University

For Development Studies

#867 in Europe

#3546 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. Camilo Jose Cela University

Spain | Villafranca del Castillo

For Development Studies

#943 in Europe

#3906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1999

63. CEU Cardenal Herrera University

Spain | Moncada

For Development Studies

#957 in Europe

#3987 in the World

Founded: 1999

64. Catholic University of Avila

For Development Studies

#1016 in Europe

#4323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1996

65. Mondragon University

Spain | Mondragon

For Development Studies

#1048 in Europe

#4499 in the World

66. Pontifical University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Development Studies

#1192 in Europe

#5251 in the World

Founded: 1940

The best cities to study Development Studies in Spain based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Valencia, and Granada.

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