How to Apply

IAAC accepts applications on a first-come, first-served basis. As the number of available spaces in our programmes is limited, we highly encourage prospective students to submit their applications as early as possible to maximize their chances of securing a place in the programme and receive priority consideration for scholarships and funding.

Application Rounds for the academic year 2026-27:

• Round 1 – Early Decision: 2nd of October – 10th of January
• Round 2 –Scholarhip Priority: 11th of January – 21st of March
• Round 3 – Non-EU call : 22nd of March – 31st of May
• Round 4 : 1st of June – 9th of August

Accepted students must confirm enrolment by paying a non-refundable enrolment deposit within four (4) weeks from the date of their acceptance letter. The Enrolment deposit is deducted from the programme’s tuition fees. Places in the programme are only confirmed once the accepted student confirms their commitment by paying the enrollment deposit.

Visit our Fees and Scholarships page to review the current Enrolment deposit fees.

Pre-courses are introductory intensive courses offered to accepted applicants who may need to refine their proficiency in the software and tools central to the IAAC curriculum. In addition, pre-courses provide students with the opportunity to gain exposure to IAAC’s methodology, while also familiarising themselves with the campus and their classmates before the academic year begins

Important: Attendance at the pre-courses can be mandatory, highly recommended, or optional, depending on the technical background of the applicant. This is determined during the admission process under the purview of the academic committee of each programme.

The Academic Committee of each programme has the right to assign up to 3 mandatory pre-courses as part of the acceptance offer.
Scholarships page to review the current Enrolment deposit fees.

In exceptional cases, accepted students who have paid their enrollment deposit may request to defer their start to the following academic year, allowing them to secure their place without reapplying. Deferrals are granted only in cases of visa delays or documented medical reasons and may be approved a maximum of two consecutive times. Please note that scholarship offers are generally non-deferrable, though students may reapply for available funding in the next cycle.

How to Request a Deferral:

1. Contact the admissions team by email to request the Deferral Request Form.
2. Complete the form, clearly stating the reason for the deferral and referring to one of the above conditions.
3. Submit the completed form to [email protected] at least one month before the program starts. The email subject should be: Deferral Request – [Applicant’s Full Name]

On-campus students:

Non-EU students attending IAAC on campus for more than three months must obtain an “open”, multiple-entry student visa (Visados Nacionales – Visado de Estudios), which must be requested through the Spanish embassy or consulate in their country of residence. As visa processing times vary, applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process as early as possible. Once enrolment is confirmed, IAAC will issue an enrolment certificate and provide guidance on the application process. However, required documentation and timelines may differ depending on the consulate, so students should carefully review the specific requirements of the office where they will apply.

Important: Apostilled or legalised documents are typically required, so it is important to research and begin securing these well in advance to prevent delays.

Online students:

Students participating in online programmes do not need to process a visa as they will be attending their studies virtually from their country of residence.

To receive a Master/Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Lleida (UdL), IAAC’s accrediting institution in Spain, students need to follow these steps:

Note: It is highly recommended that students residing in countries outside of Spain complete these steps before moving to Spain as some of these diligences might take several weeks to complete in their countries of residence.

First Step: Legalisation of your Bachelor’s Degree

Legalisation involves authenticating a document by the competent authorities in the country where the document was issued.

The legalisation process differs based on the issuing country:

Documents issued within the EU countries:

Certificates from European Union countries or signatories to the European Economic Area agreement do not require legalisation. Documents from Switzerland are also exempt due to a bilateral agreement with the EU.

Documents issued in Non-EU countries:

• For Hague Convention signatory countries:
Certificates from countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 only require the Apostille from the competent authorities.
• For Non-EU & Non-Hague Convention countries:
Documents must be legalised through diplomatic channels and require the following stamps:
  a. Ministry of Education of the country where the document was issued.
  b. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the document was issued.
  c. Spanish diplomatic representation in the country where the document was issued.

Second Step: Translation of Legalised Bachelor’s Degree

If your bachelor’s degree is in a foreign language, it must be translated into Spanish.

After the successful legalisation of the certificate (bachelor’s degree), the official translation can be done through one of the following methods:

• By a sworn translator, duly registered by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs. Check the link for translators search in your country)
• By the Spanish diplomatic or consular representation in your country.

Non-EU students:

International students who are not from the European Union must secure private health insurance to apply for their student visa before coming to Spain. Ensure that your health insurance policy meets all the requirements set by the Spanish Embassy and is valid for the entire duration of your studies.

Students can review insurance options via OnCampus. If you decide to select an insurance plan with OnCampus, please ensure you select the “Healthcare” option, not the “Study” option. Accepted students will need to provide a copy of their passports and their letter of acceptance to IAAC, as well as select “Universitat de Lleida” as their host university in order to purchase an insurance plan.

Students should contact the Spanish Consulate or Embassy where they will request their student visa before taking out any insurance plan to check the specific requirements.

EU students:

Students from the European Union do not need additional insurance. However, they must request the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving their home country.

IAAC does not offer student accommodation in the city of Barcelona. Students are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements.

Students accepted into the Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction will reside at the Valldaura Campus located in the Collserola Natural Park. Accommodation at Valldaura campus is not included in the tuition fee of the programme.

Finding accommodation in Barcelona can be stressful since the number of students keeps increasing year after year. We encourage potential students to start researching options early on.