Study abroad in Spain

More about Spain

Spain's education system is well-organized and offers a wide range of college and university studies at all levels. Spain also provides opportunities for the study of Spanish as a foreign language, with a great variety of courses from which to choose. Over the last 25 years, the number of Spanish universities has dramatically increased. In addition, the founding of a large number of private universities and business schools have rapidly become internationally recognized centers of excellence. The wide range of study options at schools in Spain give students the freedom to decide what type of education they want.

Universities in Spain are distributed throughout the country but the highest number of universities is in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Several of the world's oldest universities are located in Spain. Most universities are public, supported by state funding; of the private universities, many belong to the Catholic Church.

Language - Why learn Spanish?

Learning Spanish in Spain is also one of the most popular education courses. The Spanish language is the mother tongue of nearly 400 million people around the world and is the official language of 20 countries. In addition to Spain, Spanish is the official language of many countries in South America, and is widely spoken in other countries including Canada and the United States.

The Bologna System

The Spanish schooling system is regulated by the Bologna declaration. The Bologna process was initiated in 1999 when the Ministers of Education from 29 European countries signed the Bologna declaration in the Italian city of Bologna. This agreement creates a uniform education system throughout Europe, allowing for easy transfers between schools in different European countries and improving the overall quality of European higher education.

The Spanish education is currently divided into 3 different schooling cycles, but will soon be consolidated into 2 levels (conforming to the Bologna process):

1. Short-cycle education programs: These are three-year university programs (such as Library Studies and Nursing), for which graduates are awarded the Graduado (Bachelors degree). Students concentrating on certain subjects may require an extension beyond the 3-year education, such as studies in medicine or architecture.

2. Extended two-cycle studies. This is open to students who have completed the first cycle, and leads to a Titulo de Doctor (Masters degree).

In addition to these official schooling programs, many universities in Spain offer a wide range of unofficial degrees (Maestria). Unofficial education degrees usually last for 1 to 2 years and are widely recognized for their labour market value.

Admission of international students

To be accepted to a university in Spain, international students must obtain official recognition of their previous studies and pass the official Spanish university entrance exams (Selectividad), which are given twice a year. Once students have passed the university entrance exams, they are eligible to study at any public or private university in Spain.

Academic Year in Spain

The academic calendar in Spanish universities tends to be similar throughout the country: lectures begin in October and the academic year ends in June. Examinations are usually held at the end of the first semester, in February, and at the end of the second semester, in June.

Studying in Spain provides students, whether pursuing a university degree or other type of education, the opportunity to learn in a beautiful country, while also learning the Spanish language.

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To learn more about studying abroad in Spain, check out our informative Study in Spain guide!