Universities In Spain

Information about colleges in Spain and how the system works, what degrees to get, how long they take and a list of universities across the country for all courses and subject areas

It’s time to hit the books and when it comes to post secondary education, the universities in Spain offer many options from which to choose. There are over 51 public and 21 private universities in Spain spanning the entire country with higher concentrations of universities in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Madrid has the highest number of private universities in Spain. Although the Spanish university system dates as far back as the Middle Ages, today it is based on a system inspired by the centralized French model. Since the Bologna Declaration in 1999, Spain, along with more than 30 European countries began transforming its higher educational system with the goal of creating a European Higher Education Space (EHES) which is supposed to culminate in 2010. The point of this is to harmonize and unite the credit system across Europe in order to increase student mobility and promote the integration of graduates into the European Labour Market.

Official graduate studies at universities in Spain are geared to provide students with multiple skills sets ranging from academic to professional to research. Graduate degrees in Spain are organized into 3 different cycles or stages as set out and in accordance with the EHES. The degrees obtained through these 3 stages have automatic recognition and mobility between the 30 European nations and they cover a wide variety of subjects that can be summed up in 5 areas.

• Health Sciences
• Sciences
• Social Sciences and Law
• Engineering and Technology
• Arts and Humanities

The length of study for the above subject areas differs depending on the program. The degrees usually fall into one of the three cycles within each university. These cycles include:

1. Single-Cycle Programs in Universities in Spain (or short-cycle studies): Studies for single-cycle programs are usually 3 years long with students earning a Diplomatura (Bachelor’s Degree) at the end. These studies do not continue into the second cycle. Examples of some Single-Cycle Programs: Library Studies and Nursing
2. Two-Cycle Studies with an intermediate diploma in Universities in Spain: Two Cycle programs give students the option of continuing to the second cycle after they’ve achieved either their Diplomatura (Bachelor’s Degree) or Arquitectura Técnica and Ingeniería Técnica degrees (Bachelor degree in Architecture or Engineering). Students who have completed these degrees have the option of continuing to the second cycle for the degree of Licenciatura (Masters degree), or Arquitecto and Ingeniero (Architect and Engineer). These programs are usually five or six-year programs. Examples of Some Two-Cycle Programs: Economics, Law, Architecture, Engineering
3. Two-Cycle Studies without an intermediate diploma in universities in Spain (or long-cycle studies): These studies are divided into two cycles however the difference is that for these degrees it is necessary to complete both cycles in order to obtain the degree of Licenciatura (Masters Degree). These programs are usually four or five-years.

Examples of Two-Cycle studies without an intermediate diploma are: Veterinary Science, Medicine.

In addition to these three cycles there are other specific requirements when it comes to obtaining a Master’s Degree or Doctorate Degree in Spain.

…Continue reading PART 2 of
Universities In Spain, How Universities in Spain Work

Last updated 23 08 2007