69 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 26.1M citations received by 934K academic papers made by 69 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. University of Barcelona

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#55 in Europe

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 64,236

2. Technical University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#73 in Europe

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 29,812

3. Autonomous University of Madrid

For Physics

#79 in Europe

#241 in the World

Founded: 1968

4. Complutense University of Madrid

For Physics

#80 in Europe

#242 in the World

Founded: 1508

5. University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Physics

#89 in Europe

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 58,390

6. University of the Basque Country

For Physics

#101 in Europe

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,000

7. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain | Cerdanyola del Valles

For Physics

#112 in Europe

#311 in the World

Enrollment: 30,926

8. Polytechnic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Physics

#123 in Europe

#333 in the World

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

9. University of Seville

Spain | Seville

For Physics

#124 in Europe

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1505

10. University of Granada

Spain | Granada

For Physics

#127 in Europe

#345 in the World

Enrollment: 56,842
Founded: 1531

11. University of Saragossa

Spain | Zaragoza

For Physics

#131 in Europe

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1542

12. Technical University of Madrid

For Physics

#161 in Europe

#412 in the World

Founded: 1971

13. University of Santiago de Compostela

Spain | Santiago de Compostela

For Physics

#172 in Europe

#447 in the World

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

14. University of Oviedo

For Physics

#200 in Europe

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1604

15. University of Alicante

Spain | San Vicente del Raspeig

For Physics

#222 in Europe

#608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1979

16. University of Vigo

For Physics

#225 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 18,577
Founded: 1989

17. Carlos III University, Madrid

For Physics

#239 in Europe

#660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1989

18. University of Castilla La Mancha

Spain | Ciudad Real

For Physics

#246 in Europe

#670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1982

19. University of Valladolid

Spain | Valladolid

For Physics

#248 in Europe

#673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1346

20. University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Physics

#265 in Europe

#722 in the World

Founded: 1218

21. University of Malaga

For Physics

#267 in Europe

#726 in the World

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

22. University of La Laguna

Spain | San Cristobal de La Laguna

For Physics

#270 in Europe

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1927

23. Rovira i Virgili University

Spain | Tarragona

For Physics

#277 in Europe

#749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 11,621

24. University of Murcia

For Physics

#278 in Europe

#754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1272

25. James I University

Spain | Castellon de la Plana

For Physics

#296 in Europe

#814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,343

26. University of Cantabria

Spain | Santander

For Physics

#308 in Europe

#848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1972

27. University of Extremadura

Spain | Badajoz

For Physics

#315 in Europe

#868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1973

28. University of Cordoba

Spain | Cordoba

For Physics

#330 in Europe

#902 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1972

29. University of Alcala

Spain | Alcala de Henares

For Physics

#342 in Europe

#933 in the World

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

30. University of the Balearic Islands

Spain | Palma de Mallorca

For Physics

#345 in Europe

#937 in the World

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

31. University of Girona

For Physics

#348 in Europe

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 15,336

32. University of Navarra

Spain | Pamplona

For Physics

#353 in Europe

#965 in the World

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

33. Pompeu Fabra University

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#365 in Europe

#1015 in the World

Enrollment: 15,801

34. Public University of Navarre

Spain | Pamplona

For Physics

#380 in Europe

#1084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1987

35. University of A Coruna

Spain | A Coruna

For Physics

#388 in Europe

#1114 in the World

Enrollment: 17,304
Founded: 1989

36. University of Cadiz

For Physics

#399 in Europe

#1162 in the World

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

37. University King Juan Carlos

Spain | Mostoles

For Physics

#402 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1996

38. University of Jaen

For Physics

#426 in Europe

#1252 in the World

Founded: 1993

39. University of Almeria

Spain | Almeria

For Physics

#428 in Europe

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1993

40. University of Lleida

For Physics

#438 in Europe

#1309 in the World

Enrollment: 10,674

41. Miguel Hernandez University of Elche

For Physics

#465 in Europe

#1405 in the World

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

42. University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Spain | Las Palmas

For Physics

#473 in Europe

#1437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1979

43. University of Huelva

For Physics

#481 in Europe

#1467 in the World

Founded: 1993

44. Polytechnic University of Cartagena

Spain | Cartagena

For Physics

#482 in Europe

#1469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1998

45. University of Burgos

For Physics

#519 in Europe

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

46. University of La Rioja

Spain | Logrono

For Physics

#562 in Europe

#1846 in the World

Founded: 1992

47. University Pablo de Olavide, Seville

Spain | Seville

For Physics

#586 in Europe

#1930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1997

48. Comillas Pontifical University

For Physics

#599 in Europe

#1977 in the World

Founded: 1890

49. University of Leon

For Physics

#600 in Europe

#1980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1979

50. University Ramon Llull

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#630 in Europe

#2110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 21,253

51. Mondragon University

Spain | Mondragon

For Physics

#673 in Europe

#2361 in the World

52. University of Deusto

For Physics

#752 in Europe

#2781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1886

53. CEU University of San Pablo

For Physics

#773 in Europe

#2880 in the World

Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1993

54. European University of Madrid

Spain | Villaviciosa de Odon

For Physics

#809 in Europe

#3049 in the World

Founded: 1995

55. International University of Catalonia

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#829 in Europe

#3140 in the World

Enrollment: 4,323

56. IE University

Spain | Segovia

For Physics

#851 in Europe

#3246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1997

57. Saint Anthony Catholic University

Spain | Guadalupe

For Physics

#852 in Europe

#3248 in the World

Founded: 1996

58. CEU Cardenal Herrera University

Spain | Moncada

For Physics

#988 in Europe

#3908 in the World

Founded: 1999

59. Nebrija University

For Physics

#1004 in Europe

#3997 in the World

Founded: 1995

60. San Vicente Martir Catholic University of Valencia

Spain | Valencia

For Physics

#1016 in Europe

#4059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 2003

61. University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia

For Physics

#1038 in Europe

#4150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment: 22,266

62. Loyola University Andalusia

Spain | Seville

For Physics

#1073 in Europe

#4378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 2011

63. Francisco de Vitoria University

For Physics

#1094 in Europe

#4487 in the World

Founded: 1992

64. Catholic University of Avila

For Physics

#1111 in Europe

#4571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1996

65. Camilo Jose Cela University

Spain | Villafranca del Castillo

For Physics

#1208 in Europe

#5047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1999

66. Miguel de Cervantes European University

Spain | Valladolid

For Physics

#1271 in Europe

#5327 in the World

Founded: 2002

67. Pontifical University of Salamanca

Spain | Salamanca

For Physics

#1311 in Europe

#5527 in the World

Founded: 1940

68. International University Menendez Pelayo

For Physics

#1372 in Europe

#5963 in the World

Founded: 1932

69. Abat Oliba CEU University

Spain | Barcelona

For Physics

#1432 in Europe

#6441 in the World

Enrollment: 1,842
Founded: 2003

The best cities to study Physics in Spain based on the number of universities and their ranks are Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Bilbao.

Physics subfields in Spain

Acoustical Engineering66

Applied/Engineering Physics37

Astrophysics and Astronomy67

Atomic and Molecular physics45

Condensed Matter Physics49

Materials Science67

Medical Physics29

Nanotechnology60

Nuclear Physics56

Optical Engineering67

Quantum and Particle physics69

Theoretical Physics47