navarra

Universidad de Navarra

Pamplona is the capital of Navarre province in northern Spain.

Famous for the annual festival of San Fermín (including the "Running of the Bulls") espoused by Ernest Hemingway, the city of Pamplona is also home to the Universidad de Navarra, and is an important stop on the pilgrim's route to Santiago de Compostela.

Founded in 1952, Navarra currently has a population of 13,000 students, and is currently ranked #5 in Spain, #27 in the world for business, and #270 in the top universities world-wide according to QS World Rankings for 2018. The university is also home to a rare collection of contemporary art, considered one of the top collections in Spain and home to pieces by Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and others. 

Key information

Location

Pamplona, Spain

Language

English, Spanish

Semester

Fall, Winter, Academic year

Program type

Exchange

Application information

Application status

Open October 1, 2024

 

Apply Now

2025-2026 applications

Fall 2025 and Winter 2026
Priority deadline: January 5, 2025
 

University-specific additional requirements

No reference letter required; minimum GPA 2.5. See Eligibility section below for details.

2026-2027 applications

Open October 1, 2025

Student experience

International Student Perspectives at the University of Navarra

Program details

Areas of Study:

Most courses at Navarra are taught in Spanish, although a small selection are taught in English, for a list of courses taught in English click here. Course information is available in the direct links on the subject areas above. You can click on the relevant degree program for the courses you are interested in, and select "Asignaturas" or "Plan de estudios" for a list of courses.

Course requirements:
In Europe, full-time course load is typically 30 ECTS (European credits), and at Navarra students are typically expected to take 18-30 credits per semester. 6 ECTS = 3 UCalgary units (1 half-course). 
The amount of credits each course is worth corresponds to the workload/contact hours, and can vary from 1-30 ECTS per course, so please be mindful of this in your selection.

Navarra's academic year is divided into two semesters.

  • First Semester runs from early September to late December
  • Second Semester runs from early/mid January to late May, with makeup exams over the month of June. 
  1. Costs

    Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider. 

    Housing costs for exchange students living in residences typically ranges around 220-400 euros, and the monthly estimated costs for food/meals is 110-200 euros per month. Pamplona is easily walkable, making it affordable for transit too - buses are around 1.30 euros.

    Pamplona cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here

  2. Funding

    Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.

    Our office administers the International Study Travel Grant for students travelling on approved UCalgary study programs that are credit bearing. The amount changes year to year as the money is split evenly between qualified applicants. Students may only receive the study travel grant once. Please see the exchange funding page for more information.

    Students studying in Spain may also be eligible for the Julio Peris Award, valued up to $1350 per student. 

The Accommodation Office at Navarra cannot book accommodation for you, but will advise you on your housing options, which include university residences, living with a host family, or finding private rental accommodation. A useful guide on your first days on campus, including information on housing, student cards, health care, and the Spanish university system is available online, with additional information on housing specific to exchange students.

Information for Pamplona Campus:
https://www.unav.edu/en/admission-and-financial-aid/housing 
Information for San Sebastian Campus:
https://tecnun.unav.edu/en/admision-y-ayudas/alojamiento 

Pamplona House is the most common provider of exchange student accommodation - average monthly rent is about 275 euros, plus utilities (approx. 70 euros per month). 

Navarra also provides additional resources on dining on campus and Spanish food culture, and grocery stores and banks, amongst other items. 

This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the UCalgary, who will have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level before departure, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-). Please see the "Academic Information" section for details on course restrictions. 

For Spanish-taught courses, applicants should have a command of Spanish at the B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR), or have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in Spanish. 
If you are able to take all courses in English, you should have a command of Spanish at the A1/A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) at a minimum, or have completed Spanish 203 or 205. 

Students do have the opportunity to take Spanish language courses during their stay (see FAQs for more information).

Do I have to speak Spanish?

Though there are a selection of English courses available, most courses at Navarra are mostly taught in Spanish, so you should ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements.

What options are available for improving my Spanish at Navarra?

Navarra offers an intensive language course prior to the start of the semester at the University´s Institute of Spanish Culture and Language (ILCE). Grammar, conversation and cultural courses are offered through pre-semester, semester, and year-long courses.

What resources are available to new students?

Navarra offers lots of options to get involved in various sports and outdoor clubs, and offers a unique Mentorship program which pairs international or exchange students with local Spanish or international students who have been through a similar experience and can offer advice or help to incoming students. 

What supports or services are available in Spain?

For information on accessibility of campuses across Europe, ESN has created https://inclusivemobility.eu/ which allows you to check the accessibility of universities and cities across Europe. For city-specific services and places in Europe, the Jaccede interactive platform (website and/or smartphone app - both Android and iOS) also provides a searchable user-built database to identify important accessibility information of public places and locations.


Have questions?

Global Learning 101

Please watch this short YouTube playlist before reaching out or booking an appointment. In these videos, you will learn much of the basics about Global Learning, which may answer your initial questions.

Watch Global Learning 101

Academic Advising

Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how this program might align with your degree (e.g. best time to go, what courses you need).

After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/transfer credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.

Find your academic advisor

Global Learning Advising

If you have questions, please reach out to our office! We offer drop-in advising for general inquiries, and if you have questions about this specific program or any others, you can book an appointment with the responsible advisor.

Please use the link below to find the most up-to-date information about our current advising options.

View the Global Learning Advising page

The exchange advisor for this program is: Tara Jorgensen

How to Apply

Download the application guide

This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.

Application guide

Identify three programs of interest

We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.

Check requirements and deadlines

These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.

Start your application

Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!

Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.

APPLY NOW

International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.

For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.

If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.

Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.