Spain
A country rich in history and beauty, España really does have a lot to offer. As the famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, once said, 'Action is the foundational key to all success.' So what are you waiting for? Be sure to take your notepad, your thinking cap and don't forget the suncream…
There are four types of higher education institutions in Spain:
The higher education system is slowly being changed to comply with the Bologna Process. For more information, see European Commission (Education and Training) .
The Spanish academic year will be similar no matter where you study. Lectures start in October and the study year ends in June. Exams are held at the end of the first semester in February and at the end of June.
If you have any questions regarding the Spanish university system, email universidad.es@universidad.es.
Competition for places is high, as more students wish to study in Spain than there are places available. EU nationals are entitled to compete for places at Spanish universities on equal terms with their Spanish counterparts.
When applying for postgraduate study, you must be in possession of a Bachelors degree obtained in either Spain or a country in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) . You can also hold a degree attained elsewhere but the university must be satisfied with the qualification before accepting an application.
Foreign qualifications (outside of the EU or China) must be approved by the Spanish Department of Education and Culture, in a process known as homologation. For more information, visit Universidad.es - Recognition of Foreign Qualifications .
All students require a strong knowledge of Spanish but universities do provide summer language courses. To find out more about learning the lingo on arrival in Spain, you should head to Universidad.es - Studying Spanish .
EU citizens are entitled to attend university in Spain or any EU country (this means the 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The same conditions apply to all EU citizens whether a national of the country or not. This means that you are not required to pay higher course fees than Spanish students and that you are entitled to apply for any grants available to help with tuition fees.
Spanish course fees are among the lowest in Europe for residents and EU nationals. Tuition fees are calculated on a pay-per-credit format, with the amount of credits based on what course you study and which university you attend. For example, a Masters course will be worth 90 -120 credits per year, with each credit costing between 21 and 30 Euros each.
Students should expect to pay between 350 and 1,000 Euros a month for living expenses. Madrid and Barcelona are the most expensive places to live.
Grants and scholarships are available to Spanish and EU students, however they are not as numerous as in other European countries.
In April 2012, Spain's Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, announced plans to cut science-based research funding by a quarter for those in Spanish universities.
For a helpful list of funding websites and scholarships, visit Universidad - Scholarships .
Students attending UK universities can take part in the EU flagship educational exchange programme Erasmus . The scheme offers work placements, study opportunities and language assistantships, which last from three months to one academic year in EU countries.
Financial support is also available to selected Masters and Doctoral students through the Erasmus Mundus initiative.
Your university must have a formal agreement with a partner university in another EU country. Check that your university is involved in the programme and offers the Erasmus scheme in your subject.
It isn't always necessary to speak the language of your host country, although you can arrange intensive language courses before you go. Speak to the Erasmus coordinator at your university about available opportunities.
As an EU citizen, you are permitted to live in any EU country while studying as long as you:
With nearly 400,000 UK citizens currently living in Spain, according to a recent study by Eurostat, saying adios to rainy old Britain is a very popular choice
Spain has a strong tourism industry, with 60 million visitors arriving each year. Cataluña is Spain's most popular destination, followed by the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Andalucía. With a high percentage of British tourists visiting Spain during the summer months, there is always a need for English-speaking workers in many of the hotspots.
According to the National Statistics Institute, the unemployment rate hit a record high of 5.64 million in March 2012 - almost a quarter of the working population.
However, in Spain's largest region, Castilla y León, some sectors increased recruitment last year. This provided more jobs for:
To find out which sectors need workers, use the region-specific search on EURES Job Search .
For the latest skilled jobs in Spain, search Xpat Jobs - Spain .
In Spain, work experience is held in high regard. Before applying for graduate positions, students are expected to have completed two to three years of work experience.
If you're interested in training to teach English, then consider the Barcelona-based academy TEFL Iberia.
You can apply to work as an English language assistant through the British Council - Language Assistants in Spain
.
Internships and summer work placements for students can also be arranged by:
Voluntary work has become an increasingly popular option for graduates looking for work experience. Not only will it put your language skills to the test and help you understand Spanish culture, it will provide you with an opportunity to make important contacts and look fantastic on your CV.
The European Commission (EC) funds a scheme called The European Voluntary Service (EVS) , which is aimed at people aged 18 to 30 wishing to volunteer abroad. It offers young people the chance to volunteer for up to 12 months in a number of European and non-European countries.
Opportunities vary from placements concerned with sport and culture to others focused on social care and the environment. For successful applicants, accommodation, travel, food and insurance are all covered by a European grant and you even receive a personal allowance each month.
If you do not have a strong grasp of Spanish then jobs can be hard to find, other than jobs in the expat community or in the tourist areas.
There are lots of Spanish-speaking courses in the UK and many good websites exist to help you learn a language or improve your skills. To get your Spanish up to scratch, visit StudySpanish.com .
According to the EC, European Union (EU) citizens have the right to:
For more information and to check what conditions and restrictions apply, see:
EU nationals may also be entitled to have certain types of health and social security coverage transferred to the country in which they go to seek work. For country-specific information on social security entitlements, see European Commission - Your Rights Country by Country .
Depending on your occupation, your qualifications may be recognised in some countries. To find out more, visit Europa - Qualifications for Employment .