Education in Spain

Primary and secondary education in Spain

  • Pre-primary education (Educacion Infantil) from 0 to 6 years (divided into 2 cycles – from 0 to 3 and from 3 to 6 years) and is not necessary;
  • Primary education (Educacion Primaria) from 6 to 12 years (divided into 3 cycles, 2 courses) – required for all at this stage, given the basis for all subjects.
  • Compulsory secondary education in Spain (Educacion Secundaria Obligatoria) is also divided into cycles: the first cycle – 12-14 years – two courses and two second cycle – 14-16 years old – two courses and is the last link in the basic cultural, social, and technical training.

In Spain, there are special centers where you can pass the exams for this degree. School, college (Undergraduate), vocational training centers, as well as all centers have this authority. This exam can be a state, and in this case, it is held in May and October. But it can also be put in a private institution, which has on it a license.

In post-secondary education the student can: continue education (further education and obtain a bachelor’s or go on to secondary school and vocational training).

Higher education in Spain

Academic year runs from October to June.

After passing the baccalaureate, students can enter the university. It should be borne in mind that in some universities, not like two-year training, here is required to pass an additional one-year training (COU). This course is intended for university-equivalent to our preparatory courses at universities. (Usually COU needs to enroll in medical, mathematical universities).

The structure of Spanish universities are four types of training units:

  • University faculties (facultades universitarias) – universities, where we study non-technical theoretical subjects. Education for them covers all three cycles of higher education.
  • School of Engineering (escuelas tecnicas superiores) have, on the contrary, technical orientation, but also provide all three cycles of higher education.
  • University School (escuelas universitarias) have a certain orientation and able to bring the student only to the first stage of higher education.
  • University colleges (colegios universitarias) as well as schools that provide education to the program only the first level. These programs are generally similar to traditional university and do not provide professional orientation.

Entrance Exams

Entrance Exam to Universities complex, called “selectividad” and includes compulsory subjects and sample (human or technical, depending on the university and the complex part of the Spanish (for foreigners))

Postgraduate education

Postgraduate education is an additional 2-3 (in some universities more) training. Encouraged not to keep in mind that in Spain a few universities to offer graduate degrees in all subjects, so you should be prepared to continue their education in another province or city.

Entry Requirements

The definition of equivalence under the jurisdiction of Spanish Ministry of Education. For admission to the date of entrance exam in Spanish Universities, you need a positive response from the Ministry of Education. Entrance Exam selectividad – a comprehensive exam consisting of mandatory deposit Spanish (more jobs) and either human or technical parts (items can be selected incoming).

If the applicant has a diploma of passing the language exam DELE (Diploma de Espanol como Lengua Extranjera / English as a Foreign Language), for admission to the University, he may be released from the  language test.

Required language skills

For admission to the Spanish Universities you need a high level of knowledge of Spanish, otherwise it is impossible to pass the entrance exams. At some universities, there are Spanish courses for foreign students.

Financial assistance and training costs

Scholarships in Spain is practically impossible, since many universities simply can not pay for your training.

Tuition in the state university – 700-1000 dollars a year in the private sector – from 3,000 to 10,000 dollars a year. The cost of graduate – from 1000 to 7000 U.S. dollars per year. The State University tuition, usually includes classes, use of the university library (for little money you make library card), computers, language laboratories, laboratories, textbooks and books. Additionally you have to pay for dictionaries and if necessary for additional classes in Spanish. Group lessons are cheaper than  individual. One hour private lesson about 17-20 dollars + living expenses (based on $ 15 per day), transportation, clothing, food. In Spain, the food is inexpensive and of high quality. For 7 -12 dollars you can eat in any restaurant.

Accommodation (rented apartment) in Madrid, Barcelona – 350-400 dollars a month, in Salamanca, Avila – 200-300 dollars a month.