TOP-5 important things you need to know about education in Spain

Spain is one of the foreign countries with a high level of education. That is why Spain is quite popular among students from different countries. Studying abroad has long established itself as a synonym for quality education, and a correctly chosen country of study can become a source of additional benefits for foreign students, as is the case with Spain.

Here, young people can not only get a quality education in Spain, but also immerse themselves in the unique culture and life of the country. The local educational system has a number of features, due to which study in the territory of this state will differ from other European countries.

TOP-5 important things you need to know about education in Spain

1. In Spain there are no specialized rankings of educational institutions, therefore, when choosing a school or university, foreign students should better focus on the feedback of previous students and carefully study the information on the official websites of educational institutions
2. After completing high school in Spain, a student can enroll not only at a local university, but also at universities in the United Kingdom. Most private schools in Spain are accredited by the British Council, which involves passing an exam that allows a graduate to enter one of the British universities after completing their studies.
3. Some private schools in Spain organize special programs to prepare students for the Selectividad exam. This is an important test for admission to a Spanish university. Usually, for its successful completion, preliminary preparation is necessary, therefore it is recommended that such courses (annual, intensive, etc.) be taken by foreign students who want to do it for sure.
4. For younger child, it is easier to attend Spanish schools. At each new stage of education, new exams are added and the level of difficulty increases. Also, waiting lists are formed in many leading secondary schools in Spain (relevant for high school), so parents should either reserve a place in advance, or transfer their child to a Spanish school at the middle school stage or even earlier.
5. Spain is one of those countries where host families prevail in the placement of foreign students of private schools, rather than residences on the territory of the educational institution, since not every campus of secondary schools is equipped with a residential building for students.

Secondary and higher education in Spain: system, programs, conditions of admission

The educational process in Spain begins with pre-school institutions, although they are not considered mandatory. Education is divided into two sublevels: for children from 1.5 to 3 years old and for children from 3 to 6 years old. The general pastime in pre-schools in Spain is not very different from domestic kindergartens: children attend different clubs, study music, dance, gymnastics, and more. Mathematics and computer science are taught in a light form. Preschool education on the territory of this country meets the necessary European standards, so you should not worry about quality.

From 6 to 18 years begins the period of secondary education, which in Spain is recognized as mandatory for all citizens of the country, as in our homeland. The stages of obtaining secondary education are similar to the educational steps of other European states:

• elementary classes (from 6 to 11 years)
• middle classes (from 12 to 15 years)
• hign school (from 16 to 18 years).

At the same time, only the first two are considered mandatory steps, and the third is taken at the request of each student. Usually, students planning to get higher education at a university - Spain or Europe, choose high school. For high school students, the course will depend on which country the institution is focused on: in the Spanish regions you can find English, American, German, French or Scandinavian schools.

Depending on the funding, secondary schools are divided into several types:

For visiting students, it’s quite difficult to get into the Spanish schools of the first two types, because admission to such institutions takes place only at the place of residence, so students and parents will need a residence permit in some city in Spain for admission. You can immediately choose a private school, as most foreign students do. The curriculum here will be the same as in a public institution, but the general equipment is better + some schools in Spain place students on their campus.

Private schools are international, so the educational process and programs are offered in English. Starting from the age of 13, the study program includes a second foreign language (English, German, French and others). Admission to the boarding school in Spain is on a competitive basis, and foreign students have rather high chances of successfully passing the entrance tests:

• personal interview with a representative of the selection committee
• take an exam in spanish
• pass the general exam in academic subjects.

The term for preparing and submitting documents depends on the prestige of the institution. The standard term for processing the package is 1-2 years. In addition, many private schools have special programs to help the new student adapt to the new environment, both in the academic and linguistic aspects.

Higher Education in Spain

Higher education in Spain is recognized as prestigious and high-quality, because there are enough universities that are from the list of the top 100 best higher schools in the world (mainly experts are talking about the universities of Madrid and Barcelona). Foreign students can choose for themselves one of the universities included in the top ten most popular educational institutions:

• Barcelona
• Burgos
• Valladolid
• Granadsky
• Cadiz
• Madrid
• Oviedsky
• Salamanca.

After graduation, local university graduates receive two documents in their hands: a university diploma and a certificate of higher education of an international standard. Spanish universities have their own graduation of specialties, which is recognized in higher schools in other European countries. For example, the specialty of an architect at a graduate of a Spanish university will be called Arguitecto Tecnico, and the qualification of an engineer is called Ingeniero Tecnico. However, most areas are indicated quite simply - Diplomado.

The cost of obtaining education in Spain

State institutions teach students from other countries free of charge, provided that the student has a residence permit. In private boarding schools, prices range from 3,000 to 7,000 € for elementary grades, 8,000 -12,000 € for senior. This includes educational materials, performance reports for parents, the educational process itself, as well as the organization of cultural and recreational activities in the school of Spain.

The cost of studying at universities in Spain cannot be called cheap, especially in the territory of tourist-popular cities - Madrid, Barcelona, Salamanca. In other provinces, prices for foreign students are very close to the financial costs of local residents - higher education is offered by higher schools in Valencia, Andalusia, Alicante. In them, financial expenses for one academic year range from 2,000 to 3,000 €.