La Universitat de València
Please find useful information below about La Universitat de València as an exchange destination. Learn more about the location, the campus, courses and student life!
About
Universitat de València (UV) is one of the oldest universities in Spain, founded in 1499. Located in the vibrant city of Valencia, UV combines centuries of academic tradition with a strong commitment to research, innovation, and internationalisation. The university offers a range of subjects, including the humanities, sciences, social sciences, law, medicine, and engineering.
UV has a diverse student body and a rich cultural life, offering incoming students a unique opportunity to study in a dynamic, welcoming environment. With three main campuses — Blasco Ibáñez, Tarongers, and Burjassot-Paterna — the university provides modern facilities, extensive research resources, and easy access to the city’s beaches, parks, and historic centre.
Consult UV on QS World Rankings to learn more about their current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Location
Valencia is on the Mediterranean coast of eastern Spain. It is Spain’s third-largest city, large enough to feel vibrant and urban, yet small enough to remain friendly, safe, and easy to navigate. It has a mix of beaches, old architecture, and modern urban life.
UV has several campuses across the city and region, including Tarongers, Blasco Ibáñez, and Burjassot-Paterna.
Blasco Ibáñez Campus
This is the oldest and most central campus. It sits within the city, surrounded by cafés, student housing, and cultural spaces. The atmosphere is lively and social, with a mix of historic and modern university buildings. It’s close to the beach, easily accessible by metro or bike, and always busy with students between classes and nearby parks.
Tarongers Campus
A more modern and open campus located slightly north of the city centre. The atmosphere is calm but active, and the area has student residences and good public transport links. It has more of a traditional “campus” feeling than Blasco Ibáñez.
Burjassot–Paterna Campus
This campus is focused on science and technology and lies just outside the city, in Burjassot. It has a quieter environment, with many research centres and open areas. It’s well connected to Valencia by tram and metro, but most students tend to spend the whole day there because it’s farther from the city centre.
La Nau and Other Sites
La Nau, located in the historic centre, is the symbolic heart of the university. It serves as a cultural centre, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and academic events. The university also maintains the Botanical Garden and Palau de Cerveró, which are used for research and public activities.
Valencia is well connected by public transport, and reasonably close by train to Madrid or Barcelona; the climate is Mediterranean, making year-round living pleasant.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to students studying a Modern Language in the School of the Arts:
School of the Arts (Modern Languages only): For competitiveness level, please enquire with the STA Year Abroad team.
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Language of Instruction
The Universitat de València is a bilingual university, so teaching is done in:
- Spanish
- Valencian
- English
Academic Calendar
Please visit this site for UV's academic calendar.
Courses
Please see this guide for exchange students to see how to find modules
Credits
Students must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen Mary credits for the full academic year).
Find out more about Queen Mary’s credit transfer and grade conversion process.
Accommodation
Students are responsible for arranging their own accommodation. Nevertheless, although UV has no housing office, it does offer a few options of its own:
Halls of Residence
- Colegio Mayor Rector Peset / Rector Peset Hall of Residence
UV dorm that provides residence to UV members and encourages the human, cultural and scientific training of those who live in it. It is located in the historical city centre. Please click here to access its website.
- Residencia Universitaria Damià Bonet / Damià Bonet Hall of Residence
This dorm is located on Tarongers Campus and is well communicated with buses and MetroValencia. It has single studios with bathroom and kitchen, heating and air conditioning, telephone and computer connection with internet access. Have a look at its website and at its information leaflet.
Housing stock
The UV Information Service (SEDI) maintains a catalogue with information about flats rented by private owners. Please click here to access the website.
Other options
You will find more information about accommodation by clicking here and also by checking the UV Guide for incoming students.
Cost of living
UV provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Valencia here.
Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Support services
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(As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for UV on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Activities and Societies
UV has a wide range of extra cirricular activities for students to get involved with.
Music at UV
If you want to join the UV Philharmonic Orchestra and/or the UV Orpheum, please take a look at this information leaflet created by our Music Activity Trust.
Sports at UV
UV develops a wide variety of sporting activities through its Physical Education and Sports Service. Take a look at their website and at the course enrolment guide.
UV has a popular buddy programme to help students settle in, visit this page to find out more.