Living in Spain - Educational System

Pre-school Education

This level of education, which is voluntary for families, aims at giving educational attention and help to first-year children. It is directed towards children up to the age of three.

Infant education

Infant education is voluntary and free of charge, and includes those up to the age of six. Its goal is to promote the children's physical, intellectual, emotional, social and moral development.

Primary Education

This is compulsory, free of charge between six and 12 years of age and organised in three cycles of two years each. It is a compulsory, free stage of education the purpose of which is to promote the socialisation of children and their cultural inclusion, and to contribute to a progressive autonomy of action in their environment. The teaching methodology is personal in nature and is adapted to the different rates of learning of each child by means of continuous overall assessment.

Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO)

This is a compulsory, free stage of education for children of school age which lasts for four years after primary education. Pupils begin this stage at 12 years of age and finish at 16. It provides the necessary education to study for the Bachillerato (school-leaving certificate) or intermediate vocational training.

Vocational Training Programmes

From the age of 16, or exceptionally from 15. Completing a programme of vocational training gives the right to obtaining the title of Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education, which enable access to Medium Grade Professional Training or to the Bachillerato.

Bachillerato (School leaving certificate)

This final stage of secondary education is voluntary and lasts for two years, and is normally undertaken between 16 and 18 years of age. Bachillerato studies may be undertaken by students who have the Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education. It provides a general education, which favours greater intellectual and personal maturity and a greater capacity to apply a wide range of knowledge and skills. It is also intended to provide the foundation for further studies, either at university or in vocational training, and finally it enables pupils to realise their preferences and interests.

Vocational training

Medium grade vocational training may be studied by those over the age of 16 who have the title of Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education. It includes the range of studies within the education system that provide the skills necessary to work in particular occupations. At present, it comprises 139 official qualifications.

The aim of vocational training within the education system is to prepare pupils for professional activity, providing them with multipurpose training allowing them to adapt to job changes that may occur throughout their working life. 

Other aims are to:

• understand the organisation and characteristics of the corresponding sector and the mechanisms of occupational integration;

• acquire a professional identity and maturity encouraging future learning and adaptation to changes in qualifications.

There are cycles of education in the Special System such as the arts (music, dance, visual arts, design and dramatic art) and language studies.

University

The universities are autonomous bodies with the capacity to establish their own education provision. Students can study for their higher courses in the public university of their choice, irrespective of place of origin (open district).

Spain has both public and private institutions, most of the latter being State-subsidised.
After England and Ireland, Spain has become the third European destination for foreign university students. Currently, 36% of foreign students come from the American continent, 31% of whom come from Latin America. A further 29% are European students, 22% of whom are EU nationals. Arab students account for 14% of foreign students, students from Africa account for 12%, while students from Asia account for 9%.

Spain has also become one of the most popular countries for student exchanges. Following Spain's accession to the European Union, there was a constant flow of students from other EU countries, one of the reasons for which were the substantial EU grants devoted to exchanges. 

The last years have seen a gradual increase in the number of students from South American and Asian countries. Their preferred destinations are Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Granada and Seville.

Text last edited on:06/2005 

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.