Higher Education in Spain

Higher education in Spain is set up in three sections: undergraduate studies, graduate studies (Masters) and post-grad studies (PH.D). Spain has over 70 universities, and of those seventy are public schools. Large and important cities–like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia–have the highest number of universities. The Complutense in Madrid and the Central in Barcelona are the two largest and most respected state universities.

Undergraduate studies last for three to four years and can consist of any of the following subjects: Social Sciences and Law, Arts & Humanities, Health Sciences, Science, and Engineering and Architecture. Admission to the universities in Spain is determined by the cut-off mark, which is achieved at the end of the Baccalaureate. One or two years is expected for a Master’s degree. Graduate studies provide students with academic, professional or research specialization.

Doctoral degrees are a result of postgraduate studies. Two different terms make up most postgraduate programs. The first is theoretical study, the other is practical research. To acquire a doctoral degree, extensive research is required along with a detailed thesis. Three to four years is usually allotted to finishing a doctoral degree, but there are not any time restrictions. Higher Education in Spain can also take the form of an unofficial Masters degree, which is also offered by the Spanish universities. These can be acquired in one or two years, and improves a candidate´s job prospects. They are practical in nature, and geared towards different professions.

The academic calendar for higher education in Spain is more or less similar throughout the country. October begins higher education’s school year and June ends it. February and June mark the examination periods. International students are welcome to seek higher education in Spain. They are eligible for admissions to Spanish universities only if they have degrees that are considered valid by the higher educational system in Spain. Once their degrees are accepted, they need to pass the Spanish university entrance exams, which are given a couple times a year in several countries across the world. International students must then apply directly to the faculty of the programme they are interested in.

In the new millennium, Spain and other European countries have been trying to transform their higher education systems with the plan of creating a European Higher Education Space (EHES). The goal is to complete the process by the end of the first decade of the millennium so that there is uniformity in the academic system and the credit system for measuring academic achievement throughout Europe. This correspondence will increase student mobility and assist the assimilation of graduates into the united European job market.