Education System of Spain
The information provided below has been extracted from the website of the Ministry of Education and Culture
The Spanish education regime is divided into two classes: General and special.
The levels of the general system are ordered as follows:
-Nursery education.
-Primary education.
-Secondary education, including compulsory secondary education, high school and middle vocational training.
-Vocational training.
-College education.
Teachings of the special class are as follows:
Artistic education.
Languages.
GENERAL SYSTEM
NURSERY EDUCATION
Includes up to six years of age, contributes to physical, intellectual, emotional, social and moral development of children. Nursery education comprises two cycles. The first cycle extends to three years, and second, from three to six years old.
PRIMARY EDUCATION
Primary education comprises six courses, from 6 to 12 years, organized in three cycles of two years each. This stage of education is compulsory and free. Its purpose is to promote the socialization of children and encourage their incorporation into the culture and contribute to the progressive autonomy of action in their environment. Education is organized into areas taught by teachers.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
The ESO is a new stage of education (compulsory and free) to all citizens of school age; it has replaced the last two years of EGB (7th and 8th) and the first two of the Middle courses (1st and 2nd of BUP and FP). Thus extends along four years after the stage of primary education. Provides the necessary education to study both Baccalaureate and vocational training. Students begin this stage at the age of twelve and ends at sixteen. The purpose of designing this new stage of education is basically to extend compulsory education up to sixteen years to bring it into the initial working-age and also to match the Spanish educational system with those of EU countries
BACCALAUREATE L.O.G.S.E.
The Baccalaureate is the final stage of secondary education is voluntary and lasts for two courses, normally between 16 and 18 years. The Bachelor has four different modes, which have been established to respond to the diversity of future studies as to the variety of interests, skills and attitudes that have youth in this age group. The four modes are: Arts, Natural Science and Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technology.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Vocational training in the education system, aims at preparing students for the professional activity, providing a multipurpose training to enable them to adapt to job changes that may occur throughout their life. Includes both basic training and specific vocational training for middle level and higher.
ARTISTIC EDUCATION
Artistic education is to give students a quality artistic formation and ensures the qualification of future professionals in music, dance, drama, visual arts and design.
*Music and Dance
The lessons of music and dance include three grades:
Elementary level: four years' duration.
Medium Level: three cycles of two academic year’s duration each.
High level: comprising a single cycle whose duration is determined by the characteristics of these teachings.
Elementary Level:
Entry criteria for the elementary level of teaching music and dance are set by the Government that take into account, among other circumstances, the ideal age for these teachings.
Intermediate level:
The student must be overcome to access a specific test to access the middle level of the teaching of music and dance.
Passing the third cycle of the Intermediate level entitles the holder to teach with a professional degree.
High level:
Access to high grade of music and dance lessons, requires students to meet the following requirements:
a) to be in possession of Bachelor's degree.
b) To pass exams corresponding to third cycle of medium grade.
c) To pas at test of access established by the Government, in which the applicant must demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to take to use the lessons accordingly.
Those who have successfully completed the highest grade of these teachings are entitled to the High Title for the corresponding specialty, which have same value for all purposes, to the title of university graduates.
*Drama
The training comprises just one cycle of high level and of length suited to the characteristics of these teachings. To access the lessons of drama, it is required:
-To be in possession of Bachelor's degree.
-To stand for the test set specifically for that purpose for the assessing of maturity, knowledge and skills necessary to take these lessons to good use.
- Those overcoming the drama lessons are entitled to the Drama High Title, fully equivalent to the title of university graduate.
*Art and Design
The teachings of the visual arts and design-related studies include applied arts, the crafts, the design of its various forms and the conservation and restoration of cultural property.
To access intermediate level teachings is needed:
- To hold the title of Bachelor in Secondary Education
- To demonstrate the necessary skills through a specific test.
Those who hold the Bachelor's degree and have passed the required tests can access higher levels of these teachings.
Studies for the specialty of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property are considered higher education. Students who have overcome these studies obtained the title of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, which is equivalent, for all purposes, to the title of university graduate.
Lessons of design are considered higher learning. The title of Design in the specialty in granted at the conclusion of these studies. This is equivalent, for all purposes, to the title of university graduates.
LANGUAGES
Language lessons are taught in formal schools. Requirements to access these lessons:
- To have completed the first cycle of compulsory secondary education or be in possession of the Graduate School of title, certificate of schooling or primary school.
COLLEGE STUDIES
The university is organized in cycles. There are three models:
First cycle: with clear professional orientation. No continuity in the second cycle (Library Science, Nursing, etc.)... They have got duration of three years and an academic load of not less than 180 credits. The qualifications are called first-cycle degree, Technical Architecture or Technical Engineering.
Two cycles without intermediate title. In this case, lessons are arranged by series, but once the first serie is achieved, there is no right for a title, because they not constitute a full course of academic training and they do not provide a specific professional qualification (Veterinary Medicine, etc ...). These cycles can last between four and five years, with a load of not less than 300 credits
Two cycles with an intermediate title. In this case the first cycle leads to the degree of Bachelor, Technical Architect or Engineer, the second cycle may continue to obtain the title of High Degree, Engineer or Architect.
The Spanish University System
The Spanish university system has 49 public universities, 14 private universities and 4 universities of the Catholic Church.
The content of the guarantee of University autonomy is expressed in the art. 3 of the University Reform Act of 1983 and includes the development of its statutes and internal rules of operation, the election, appointment and dismissal of its government and administration, the preparation, approval and management of their budgets, administration of property, the establishment and modification of templates and the selection, training and promotion of teaching and research staff and administrative services, the development and approval of curricula and research, admission, retention and verification regime knowledge of students, the issue of certificates and diplomas, etc ....
Precisely due this character of autonomous entities of public law, the university sets its own academic offering that may be of two types:
*Official title valid throughout the State
*Proper title of each university.
A proposal by the Council of Universities, the government sets the official titles and the general characteristic of these degrees, i.e. the minimum uniform content to be included in the curriculum. They are the so-called core subjects.
Universities develop and approve their own plans of study including, in addition to core subjects, the compulsory subjects of the university, the elective subjects for students, and materials of free election, i.e. chosen by the student.
The curricula of studies for Official Titles need to be by the Council of Universities for its validity.
In use of its own Autonomy, a University can establish own curricula, which also lead to the award of diplomas and degrees. These qualification lack full academic effects and full capacity for its official exercise throughout the whole national territory.
System for Teaching and Grading Methods
The educational system includes both lectures and practical seminars and tutored. The attendance, though not mandatory, is a key part of university education. The classes last for 50-60min and the teachers delve into the topics usually relying on audio-visual methods.
Student tests are carried out by conducting a final evaluation in February, if a semester subjects or February- June if yearly subjects. Students who do not pass the tests are the ordinary call, can use a special call in September. In some cases teachers may opt to conduct several assessments (exams, papers, etc...) along the course of the passing of which can release the realization of the final exam.
GRADING SYSTEM
Grades are awarded according to score based on 10:
0.0 - 4.9 SUSPENSE (SS)
5.0 - 6.9 APPROVED (AP)
7.0 - 8.9 NOTABLE (NT)
9.0 - 10.0 Excellent (SB)
9.6 - 10.0 REGISTRATION OF HONOR (MH)
The ECTS grading scale has been established as follows:
A - EXCELLENT: Making extraordinary only minor errors
B - VERY GOOD: Above average but with some errors
C - GOOD: Good job in general with some notable errors
D - Satisfactory: Well, but with significant shortcomings
E - Sufficient: The performance reaches the minimum criterion
FAIL-FX: We need some more work to grant credits
F - FAIL: You need a lot more work
Equivalence with the European ECTS system. Approximately equivalent mark depending on the scale corresponds to 10 Spanish ECTS grades:
9,6-10 MH Honors = A (EXCELLENT)
9,0-10,0 SB Outstanding = B (VERY GOOD)
Notable 7,0-8,9 NT = C (GOOD)
6,0-6,9 AP = Approved D (satisfactory)
5,0-5,9 AP Approved = E (Sufficient)
3,0-4,9 Suspenso SS = F (FAIL)
0-3,0 Suspenso = FX (FAIL)