Universidad de Salamanca
Please find useful information below about Universidad de Salamanca as an exchange destination. Learn more about the location, the campus, courses and student life!
About
Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) is a public research university located in Salamanca, Spain. Founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX, it is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. With more than 30,000 students and a long-standing reputation for academic excellence, USAL combines a rich historical legacy with a strong commitment to innovation and research.
USAL places research at the core of its teaching philosophy, fostering a dynamic environment where students are encouraged to think critically and engage directly with research projects. The university is internationally renowned for its contributions to linguistics, philology, law, and education, as well as for its prominent Spanish language and culture programmes that attract thousands of international students each year. It hosts several prestigious research centres, such as the Cancer Research Centre and the Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León, reflecting its growing focus on scientific advancement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Consult USAL on QS world rankings to learn more about their current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Location
The University of Salamanca is located in the historic city of Salamanca, in western Spain, approximately two hours from Madrid. The city is renowned for its beautifully preserved sandstone architecture, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status. The university’s main campus is situated in the heart of the old town, surrounded by centuries-old buildings, vibrant squares, and lively cafés. Additional campuses are located in Ávila, Zamora, Béjar, and Villamayor, each hosting specific faculties and research centres, ensuring that students across disciplines benefit from dedicated facilities and resources.
Salamanca is often described as a university city — students make up a significant portion of the population. The city is compact and highly walkable, making it easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. Public transport options, including local bus services and rail connections to Madrid and other major cities, are efficient and affordable.
Living in Salamanca offers a blend of tradition and modernity. The city combines its medieval charm with a lively cultural scene, including theatres, festivals, museums, and a vibrant nightlife centred around the Plaza Mayor.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to students in the School Languages only.
- School of the Arts (Modern Languages students only): Less competitive *
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 language of instruction at USAL is Spanish, and this destination is only available to students in the department of Modern Languages.
Academic Calendar
The academic year is divided into two semesters.
- Autumn semester: early September – late January
- Spring semester: early February – mid June
Orientation: USAL holds a Welcome Orientation Day for international students at the start of each academic year, introducing exchange students to key university services, university life and the international community at USAL. Each hosting faculty also organises tailored events, so nominated students should expect and look out for communications from their host faculty relating to orientation.
Courses
The Universidad de Salamanca (USAL) offers a selection of courses available to international/exchange students each semester. Students should consult USAL’s course catalogue (“Guía Académica”) and ensure they filter specifically for courses open to incoming exchange students.
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).
At USAL the marking system is as follows:
- The grade scale runs from 0 to 10.
- Qualitative breakdown:
- 0-4.9 = Suspenso (Fail)
- 0-6.9 = Aprobado (Pass)
- 0-8.9 = Notable (Good)
- 0-10.0 = Sobresaliente (Very Good/Excellent)
- Plus, a special “Matrícula de Honor” (Honours) designation may be awarded to a very limited number of students (e.g., top ≈2%) for outstanding performance.
- To pass a course unit, a student must obtain at least 5.0 out of 10.
Find out more about Queen Mary's credit transfer and grade conversion process.
Queen Mary student feedback
Blog posts on students’ experiences on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Accommodation
The International Relations Office does not arrange accommodation. Students must arrange it by themselves according to their preferences:
Queen Mary students looking for private accommodation are advised to follow the partner’s guidance as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
Cost of living
USAL 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 Salamanca here.
Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle. 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
Support for students with additional needs is available through the Social Affairs Service (SAS), specifically the Unidad de Atención a la Diversidad e Inclusión. Exchange students are encouraged to contact the service as early as possible to arrange appropriate support:
Email: inclusion@usal.es
Website
Health and Mobility Insurance (Compulsory):
Students from the EU, EFTA, Switzerland and the UK must obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) before arrival.
Further practical guidance for incoming students, including health, safety, and administrative procedures, is available in USAL’s Information Guide for International Students.
Student life
Societies: USAL maintains an official list of Student Associations, which includes a broad range of societies. More information here.
Cultural activities: the Courses for International Students office offers complementary activities throughout the year (excursions, Spanish culture classes, social gatherings) aimed at international and exchange students.