Structure of Education in Spain
In Spain, education is free and mandatory for a total period of 10 years; it is imparted between 6 to 16 years old children.
The structure of Spain Education looks like as follows:
Pre-School
Also referred to as Pre-Primary Education. Comprising two cycles:
- First Cycle: Up to 3 years old
- Second Cycle: 3 to 6 years old
Pre-Higher Education
Time span of Compulsory Education:
Primary Education
School type offering Primary Education: Primary School
Duration: 6 years
Age group: 6 to 12 years old
It is broken down into 3 two-year cycles:
- First Cycle: 6 to 8 years old
- Second Cycle: 8 to 10 years old
- Third Cycle: 10 to 12 years old
Curriculum/Course of Study: General Academic
Certificate Awarded: School Graduate (Graduado Escolar )
Secondary Education
Secondary education comprises of lower and upper secondary education.
Compulsory Secondary Education (Lower Secondary Education)
- School type offering lower secondary education: Secondary Schools (In Spanish: Institutos de Educacion Secundaria), Private Schools and Colleges Regulated (In Spanish: Colegios Privados y Colegios Concertados)
- Duration: 4 years
- Age group: 12 years to 16 years old
- Curriculum/Course of Study: General Academic
- Certificate awarded: Secondary Education Graduate (Graduado en Educacion Secundaria Obligatoria)
Post-Compulsory Secondary Education (Upper Secondary Education)
Post-Compulsory education encompasses Bachillerato and Vocational training.
a. Bachillerato (Baccalaureate)
School type offering upper secondary education: Secondary Schools (In Spanish: Institutos de Educacion Secundaria), Private Schools and Colleges (In Spanish: Colegios Privados y Colegios Concertados)
Duration: 2 yrs
Age group: 16 to 18 years old
Course of Study: Philosophy, history, arts and humanities, physical education, natural and health sciences, social sciences, engineering and technology, Spanish language, and foreign language.
Students at this level, get to select among 4 academic fields of study:humanities and social sciences, arts, natural and health sciences, or technology.
Certificate awarded: Bachelor’s degree (Titulo de Bachillerato) or Associate degrees (Titulo de Tecnico)
b. Occupational or Vocational Training
Grado Medio (Middle Level)
Duration: 2 years
Age group: 16 to 18 years old
Entry Requisite: Graduate Secondary Education (Graduado de Educacion Secundaria, or ESO)
Certificate Awarded: Technical (Tecnico). Students holding this qualification can either enroll in higher technical education courses or go for jobs.
Grado Superior (Higher Level)
Duration: 1-2 years
Entry Requisite: Spanish Baccalaureate (bachillerato), or Technical Certificate (tecnico) plus work experience.
Certificate Awarded: Higher Technicial/Technician (Tecnico Superior).
Higher Education
The Ministry of Education and Culture manages and oversees educational programs at both public and private universities
- Age group: 18 years or above
University Higher Education
Higher Education provided by public and private universities. Universities are divided into University faculties (facultades universitarias), technical Colleges (escuelas tecnicas superiors), University Schools (escuelas universitarias), and University Colleges (colegios universitarios).
Non-University Higher Education
There is very slight non-university higher education in Spain. Most vocational and technical courses/programs are provided at universities. There are just a few of non-university higher education institutions in Spain-
Institutos de Fisca provides advanced course of studies in physical education
- School of Civil Marina (Escuelas de la Marina Civil) provides studies in merchant marine under the support of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
- The Ministry of Transport and Communications also administers courses/programs leading to the qualification of technical Business and Tourist Activities (Tecnico en Empresas y Actividades Turisticas), which are taught at specialized schools.
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