Dozens of young people from Lleida, mostly from Alt Urgell, are pursuing higher education at the University of Andorra, located in Sant Julià de Lòria, 14 kilometers from La Seu d'Urgell. The proximity to the capital of Alt Urgell has made this campus a real option for students looking to continue their education without leaving home.
The flow is growing despite a significant obstacle upon finishing their studies. The Andorran university does not apply cut-off grades for admission and offers three-year degrees, but those who want to practice in Spain must later have their degree accredited through a process that graduates themselves describe as long and costly.
Spanish students rose to 63 in the 2025-26 academic year
Students from Spain represent 30.7% of the enrolled student body in the 2025-26 academic year, with a total of 63 students. A year earlier, there were 54, representing 28.57% of the total.
The majority of students still have prior education in Andorra, with 123 students, 60% of the total. Far behind are the nine enrolled French students, representing 4.39%, while students from a dozen other countries make up 4.88%.
In the case of Lleida, the weight of Alt Urgell is key due to its proximity to Sant Julià de Lòria. La Seu d'Urgell is only 14 kilometers from the university facilities, a connection that facilitates studying outside of Catalonia without undertaking long journeys to cities like Lleida or Barcelona.
Gaizka Marcianes, a resident of La Seu d'Urgell and a Nursing student, summarizes this choice in terms of the treatment and size of the institution.
"Here we are not a number, we all know each other and they make us feel good." - Gaizka Marcianes, Nursing student, University of Andorra
Marcianes adds that he wanted to continue in the healthcare field at a small institution. In his case, the possibility of orienting his future career towards Andorra also played a role, where it was useful for him to train from the beginning.
Proximity to La Seu d'Urgell weighs more than accreditation
The Andorran university organizes its first-cycle degrees into 180 credits spread over three years and calls them Bachelor's degrees. When demand exceeds available places, admission is determined by an exam, as there is no cut-off grade system.
This model attracts some local students, although the subsequent administrative integration is not always straightforward. To work in Spain, graduates must have their studies completed in Andorra accredited.
Thaïs Carreño, a graduate in Nursing from the Universitat d'Andorra and a resident of La Seu d'Urgell, chose that route for practical reasons. She explains that, due to her family situation, traveling to Lleida or Barcelona to study was not feasible.
"You can do it in France without needing to validate the degree, but to practice in Spain you must have it recognized and that's what I'm doing now, although I'm not in a hurry because I'm really very well here." - Thaïs Carreño, graduate in Nursing from the Universitat d'Andorra
Carreño also recalls that she was unemployed when she learned about the possibility of pursuing these studies and that she received feedback on their practical nature and job prospects. This balance between proximity, teaching format, and employment expectations explains part of the increase in students from Lleida at the Andorran campus.
Higher education in Andorra began in 1988 with the Nursing and Computer Science schools, and the Universitat d'Andorra was officially created in 1997, with a current staff of 34 teachers and researchers, 14 administrative and technical workers, and 288 temporary and external collaborating professors.