Spanish Universities Welcome Over 11,000 Moroccan Students in Academic Year 2022-2023

Spanish higher education institutions have experienced a notable influx of Moroccan students, with current enrollment reaching 11,244 students, according to recent statistics from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This figure comprises 7,263 students admitted through standard processes and an additional 3,981 Moroccan residents pursuing their studies in Spain.

The surge in Moroccan enrollment is part of a broader trend in international student growth across Spanish universities, which saw total foreign student numbers climb to 180,563 in the 2022-2023 academic year—a 6.1% increase from the previous period.

International students are distributed across various academic levels, with undergraduate programs accounting for 46.5% of enrollments, master's degrees at 38.1%, and doctoral studies at 15.4%. Master's programs demonstrated particularly strong growth, recording a 10.4% increase.

Catalonia and Madrid have emerged as premier destinations for international students, hosting 37,762 and 36,463 students respectively. Other popular regions include Valencia (25,963 students), La Rioja (19,963), Andalusia (16,112), and Castilla y León (12,471).

When examining the percentage of international students within the total student population, Navarra leads at 21.7%, followed by Castilla y León (14.3%), Catalonia (14%), Cantabria (13.6%), and the Valencian Community (12.4%).

Moroccan Ambassador to Spain Karima Benyaich, speaking at the University of Salamanca in July 2023, highlighted that Spanish universities currently host more than 20,000 African students benefiting from 11,000 scholarships. She noted that approximately 190,000 students from the established Moroccan community in Spain are engaged in various educational programs.

The academic collaboration between Morocco and Spain was strengthened during the 12th Moroccan-Spanish High-Level Meeting in February 2023, where both nations committed to enhancing university cooperation. The agreement includes measures to streamline administrative procedures for Moroccan students, promote student mobility, encourage Spanish universities to establish campuses in Morocco, and facilitate mutual recognition of educational credentials.

The international presence in Spanish academia extends to faculty as well, with 4,783 foreign professors currently teaching at Spanish universities, representing 3.5% of total faculty members. Of these international educators, 65% work in public institutions, while 35% are employed by private universities.