Spain : Postgraduate study

How does the higher education system work?

Full details of the higher education system in Spain are available from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

The higher education system was reformed in 2007 to fall in line with the Bologna Process and the rest of the European Union (EU).

Undergraduate degrees (grados) may take three years (diploma) or five years (licenciatura). They are based both on theory and practice and a dissertation is required as part of the assessment.

The majority of Spanish universities are public, though some are private or religiously funded.

Courses are mostly taught in Spanish, though some may use other official regional languages (e.g. Catalan, Basque). A small number of Masters programmes are taught in English.

What courses are available?

Options are largely similar to the UK with a choice of Masters courses or Doctorates.

• Masters (Máster): You need an approved first degree. The programme of study usually takes one to two years (60-120 credits) and may be research based or professional training. Assessment includes a dissertation and oral presentation.
• Doctorate (Doctorado): You need an approved first degree or equivalent (a minimum of 240 European credits or equivalent). A doctorate takes at least two years of research and you must complete a thesis and defend it in a viva. The approved thesis is published online in the database of theses on the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

Where can I study?

A full list of universities is available from the Ministero de Education and you can find university rankings at Webometrics.

You can find Masters courses at Buscador Colon  , where you can search by the language of instruction, including English. For information on MBA programmes, visit Todo MBA.

There is an annual postgraduate study fair for Spanish universities. See Feria Internacional de Estudios de Postgrado.

What are the entry requirements for postgraduate study?

Students from European Union educational systems are applying for postgraduate studies in Spain will face entry requirements equivalent to those in their own educational system.

Contact the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) to find out how qualifications will be recognised in Spain.

When do I apply?

You should check with individual institutions. Courses usually start in September or October, but some begin in December.

How do I apply?

All the applications are made direct to individual universities, either in person, by registered post, or sometimes online.

Application forms and procedures vary. For some postgraduate courses, you only need to provide your personal details, a CV and a certificate of your previous studies.

How much will it cost?

The average cost is €3,000-€9,000 per year, but some specialist courses cost as much as €60,000.

Are any scholarships available?

You may secure EU funding from the European Commission. Official scholarships are available from the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID)   (website in Spanish).

Are there any exchange programmes?

Visit the European Commission's education and training pages for details of the range of European study programmes available to EU nationals. These include the Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus (advanced integrated courses by at least three universities from different European countries) exchange programmes.

Will my qualification be recognised in the UK?

As part of the Bologna Process, a Spanish postgraduate course is directly comparable to the UK equivalent. Full details on comparing international qualifications are available from the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)