Leonor, Princess of Asturias, is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and the first in line to inherit the Spanish throne. After completing her military training in July 2026, and shortly before her 21st birthday that October, Leonor is set to begin a new and very different chapter: full-time university study. This article covers everything currently known about her university plans: which institution she chose, what she will study, when the programme begins, and how it fits into the broader arc of her education so far.
Quick Facts: Leonor’s University Studies
| Fact | Detail |
| Full name | Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Ortiz |
| University | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) |
| Campus | Getafe campus, south of Madrid |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Political Science |
| Programme length | Four years |
| Start date | Third term of 2026 (autumn intake, September) |
| Curriculum | Political science, law, economics, sociology, history, humanities, international relations |
| Admission route | Standard admissions process for students educated abroad, plus Evaluation Committee approval |
| Father’s university path | King Felipe VI studied Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) |
Who Is Leonor, Princess of Asturias?
Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz is the heir presumptive to the Spanish crown and holds six historic titles, including her primary title, Princess of Asturias, covered in full in our companion article, Leonor, Princess of Asturias: Her Full Royal Titles. She is the elder of two daughters born to King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia; her younger sister, Infanta SofÃa, was born in 2007.
Before beginning university, Leonor completed three years of military training across the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, finishing in July 2026. Her move to university marks the first time since 2021 that she has returned to full-time civilian academic study.
Which University Will Princess Leonor Attend?
Leonor will study at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), a public research university founded in 1989, on its Getafe campus, located just south of the Spanish capital. The Spanish Royal Household confirmed the decision in an official statement on 27 April 2026, announced jointly by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
- Institution: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), a public university.
- Campus: Getafe, a town just south of Madrid.
- Faculty: Faculty of Social and Legal Sciences.
- Founded: 1989, making it one of Spain’s newer public universities.
The choice of a public university echoed the path taken by her father decades earlier: King Felipe VI studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid before becoming king, also opting for a public institution over a private one.
What Will Princess Leonor Study?
Leonor will pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science, a four-year undergraduate programme with a multidisciplinary curriculum that extends well beyond political theory alone.
- Political Science core theory and analysis of political systems and institutions.
- Law: foundational legal principles relevant to governance and the state.
- Economics, including the macroeconomics coursework widely described by students as one of the toughest parts of the programme.
- Sociology: study of social structures and behaviour.
- History: historical context for modern political and institutional development.
- International Relations: diplomacy, foreign policy, and global institutions.
This choice of curriculum is widely seen as closely aligned with Leonor’s future constitutional role as head of state, offering formal academic grounding in the institutions, governance structures, and international relationships she will eventually be expected to understand in depth.
The multidisciplinary structure also mirrors similar degree paths chosen by other European royal heirs preparing for constitutional roles, many of whom favour political science, law, or public administration over more narrowly specialised fields – a reflection of the breadth of knowledge a modern head of state is generally expected to have, spanning domestic governance, economic policy, and international affairs alike.
When Does Princess Leonor Start University?
The programme is set to begin in the third term of 2026, described in most Spanish coverage as the standard autumn academic intake, meaning Leonor will start her classes in September 2026, shortly before she turns 21 that October.
- July 2026: completes her three-year military training at San Javier.
- September 2026: begins her first term at Carlos III University’s Getafe campus.
- 31 October 2026: turns 21, a few weeks into her first university term.
- 2030 (expected): scheduled completion of the four-year degree, assuming a standard academic pace.
How Princess Leonor Was Admitted
According to the official statement from the Royal Household, Leonor “successfully completed the selection process required of students who have undertaken their secondary education abroad and has received a favourable decision from the Evaluation Committee in the admissions process”, a standard route for students, like Leonor, who completed their International Baccalaureate outside Spain, in her case, at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
This detail matters because it clarifies that Leonor went through the same formal evaluation process required of any student with an international qualification, rather than receiving a bespoke or informal path into the university.
Spanish universities typically require this kind of equivalence review for applicants holding non-Spanish qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate, to confirm their academic record meets the standard expected for admission, a process that applies equally to any student, royal or otherwise, arriving from an international secondary school.
Why Carlos III University Instead of Another Option?
Spanish commentators have offered several explanations for the choice of Carlos III over other Madrid universities, including the more traditional Complutense University, where the political science faculty carries different political associations.
- Public over private: choosing a public university echoes her father’s own path and signals accessibility rather than privilege.
- Political neutrality: Carlos III is generally viewed as less associated with any particular political tendency than some alternatives.
- Academic prestige: UC3M is a well-regarded research university, particularly in social sciences and law.
- Proximity to real issues: studying in Getafe, outside central Madrid, is seen as connecting her more directly to concerns like housing and transport that affect ordinary young people.
Some royal analysts have also framed the decision as part of a broader strategy to rebuild public visibility after years spent largely outside Spain, first at boarding school in Wales, then across three separate military academies, a period during which Leonor was rarely seen in ordinary, everyday settings.
Others have pointed out the practical benefit of remaining close to Zarzuela Palace and central government institutions in Madrid throughout her four-year degree, allowing her to continue attending official engagements without the added complexity of coordinating regular travel from a university based abroad, as some other young European royals studying overseas must do.
What Student Life Will Look Like for Princess Leonor
Spanish media reports suggest Leonor will be treated, as much as possible, like any other student once term begins. Coverage from within the Faculty of Social and Legal Sciences described a wave of excitement when the announcement broke, with students gathered for a traditional courtyard lunch at the time.
- Welcome events: a welcome party for incoming students kicks off the academic year, with faculty social dinners around Christmas.
- Local student life: nearby bars and cafés near the Getafe campus are popular with UC3M students after lectures.
- Sports: Leonor has shown interest in fencing, volleyball, and rowing, activities that may continue alongside her studies.
- Coursework challenges: students describe statistics and macroeconomics exams as especially demanding parts of the programme.
According to the Royal Household’s own statement, Leonor will combine her studies with her institutional commitments as heir to the Crown, following the same pattern she maintained during secondary school and her three years of military training, meaning she is not expected to disappear from public duties simply because she is now a full-time student.
University staff and classmates have generally described her expected arrival as a source of excitement rather than disruption, with early reporting suggesting security arrangements will be handled discreetly, in a manner intended to minimise disruption to ordinary campus life rather than transform it around her presence.
Public and Political Reaction to the Announcement
The announcement generated broad discussion in Spain, in part because studying abroad or at a private university had reportedly been under consideration, either of which could have prompted a more mixed public reaction.
Commentators noted that opting for a domestic, public institution also aligned with a broader pattern in how the monarchy has managed Leonor’s public image since her return from service.
Training: favouring choices that emphasise ordinariness and rootedness in Spanish society over options that might read as distant, exclusive, or disconnected from the everyday concerns of the citizens she is expected to one day represent.
King Felipe VI also personally informed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the decision, though the Royal Household noted that, unlike some previous milestones in Leonor’s life, formal coordination with the government was not required for this particular announcement, underscoring that her choice of university, while widely reported, remained a personal and academic decision rather than a constitutional one.
What Comes Next?
With university now set to begin in September 2026, Leonor’s next few years are expected to blend full-time academic study with a steadily growing calendar of public duties, alongside the final steps toward her full military commissions in 2027, detailed in our article on her military training. Her four-year political science degree is expected to run until around 2030, positioning her to complete it well before any anticipated future transition in the Spanish monarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which university will Princess Leonor attend?
She will attend Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), a public university, on its Getafe campus south of Madrid.
What will Princess Leonor study at university?
She will pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree in political science, with coursework also covering law, economics, sociology, history, humanities, and international relations.
When does Princess Leonor start university?
Her programme begins in the third term of 2026, generally understood as the autumn intake starting in September 2026.
Did Princess Leonor get special treatment in university admissions?
No. She went through the standard admissions process for students who completed secondary education abroad, including a favourable review from the university’s evaluation committee.
Why did Princess Leonor choose a public university?
Choosing a public university echoes the path taken by her father, King Felipe VI, who studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid, and is seen as reinforcing an image of accessibility.
Will Princess Leonor keep doing royal duties while at university?
Yes. The Royal Household has confirmed she will combine her studies with her institutional commitments as heir to the Crown, as she did during secondary school and military training.
Conclusion
Leonor’s move to Universidad Carlos III de Madrid marks the next deliberate stage in a long, carefully sequenced preparation for the throne following her international secondary schooling and three years of military training, arriving just weeks before her 21st birthday in October 2026. A four-year political science degree at a public university, chosen over private or international alternatives, signals both academic seriousness and a deliberate effort to stay visibly rooted in Spanish public life as she edges closer to her eventual role as the country’s head of state.
References
HOLA! US. “Future Queen Princess Leonor turns the page after military training.” (April 2026) https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20260427898128/future-queen-princess-leonor-next-step-after-military/
Hello Magazine. “Inside Princess Leonor’s new life at university, where she’s treated ‘like everyone else’.” https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/898409/princess-leonor-spain-university-life-madrid-degree-details/
Euro Weekly News.” Spain’s Princess Leonor heads to public university after three years of military training.” https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/27/spains-princess-leonor-heads-to-public-university-after-three-years-of-military-training/
Democrata.es. “Princess Leonor will study political science at the Carlos III University of Madrid.” https://www.democrata.es/en/politics/leonor-will-study-political-science-at-uc3m/
The Royal Correspondent. “Princess Leonor, Princess of Asturias, to Study Political Science in Madrid.” https://royalcorrespondent.com/2026/04/27/princess-leonor-princess-of-asturias-to-study-politica
Wikipedia. “Leonor, Princess of Asturias.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonor,_Princess_of_Asturias
About the Author
This article was researched and written by the Royals & Culture Desk, a team focused on producing accurate, up-to-date explainers on European royal families, their history, and their public roles. All facts in this piece were verified against publicly available sources, as of August 2026.
