Public Foundation for the International
Promotion of Spanish Universities

Degrees
All the university courses on offer in Spain.

Admission to bachelor’s degree studies (grado)


I. Admission to bachelor’s degree studies for students who have completed pre-university studies in countries of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or China
Students who have completed secondary education in a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or China, are not obliged to sit the Spanish university access examination (known as PAU, or "selectividad").
 
They must only meet the requirements laid down in their country of origin for gaining admission to university.
 
Procedure:
1- Candidates must apply to Spain’s University of Distance Education (UNED): (UNED) for a credencial de acceso, a certificate demonstrating that they meet the requirements for admission. For information on the documents to be presented, please consult the UNED. The application can also be made online.
 
For further information, applicants should contact the University of Distance Education (UNED) by phone (+34 913986613) or e-mail selectue@adm.uned.es
 
2- The university to which the student is applying is responsible for verifying that he/she meets the admission requirements.
 
3- Once the application has been verified and approved, the university will issue the certificate authorizing the student to pre-enrol for university studies.
 
4- The student matriculates at the university after obtaining a place via the pre-enrolment system.
 
 
II. Admission to bachelor’s degree studies for students from countries outside the EU or countries other than Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or China, who have not started university studies.
For students who have completed secondary education in a country from outside the European Union (UE), Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein or China the application procedure is as follows:
1- Applicants must have their studies officially accredited. To carry out this process, known in Spanish as “homologación”, candidates should apply to the Ministry of Education.
 
2- Applicants must sit the Spanish university admission examination (PAU, or "selectividad"). Spain’s University of Distance Education (UNED) organizes this examination for students from abroad.
The entrance exam is structured as follows:

General part: four exercises (Text Commentary in Spanish Language and Literature, History of Philosophy or History of Spain (chosen by the student), Foreign Language (either German, French, English, Italian or Portuguese) and a subject to be chosen by the student related to the university degree that he/she wishes to study (artistic, social, technical, etc).
Specialist part: This part of the exam is voluntary. It includes at least two subjects and allows students to improve their university entrance mark.
 
Foreign students wishing to sit this examination will find information on venues, dates and registration periods at the website of Spain’s University of Distance Education, UNED www.uned.es
 
For more information on obtaining official recognition of foreign academic qualifications ("homologación" and "convalidación") please consult the website of the Ministry of Education
 
3.  Complete university pre-registration. The student applies for a university place usually via the website of the university where he/she wishes to study. Once accepted, the student registers directly at the university.  
Pre-registration usually takes place in the second half of June and the start of July. The academic year starts in September. 
 
III. Admission to bachelor’s degree studies for students who have started university studies in another country and who wish to continue their studies in Spain. 
Students who have started university studies in another country and who wish to continue their studies in Spain must apply for the partial recognition of the studies they have already completed abroad (in Spanish, “convalidación de estudios parciales”). This procedure will be carried out at the Spanish university where they wish to study.
 
The effect of the partial recognition of studies is solely academic, given that it allows students to pursue their studies inside the Spanish university system.
 
Applicants should present the following documentation:
  • The standard form for the official recognition of previous studies called the solicitud de convalidación, which should be duly completed with personal information, the studies completed specifying the subjects, and a list of the subjects that the applicant wishes to have recognized.
  • An official certificate indicating the subjects passed, bearing the seal of the home university.
  • The programme of each of the subjects the applicant wishes to have recognized, bearing the seal of the home university.
  • The study plan of the degree initiated by the applicant indicating the duration in academic years and the subjects that comprise it, bearing the seal of the home university.
  • A photocopy of the applicant’s identity card or passport.
 
The documents must meet the following requirements:
 
The documents issued abroad must be official and must be duly legalized either by an Embassy or Consulate or by the “apostille of the Hague” (with the exception of studies carried out in the European Union).
 
The documents must be accompanied by a corresponding official translation into Spanish. The official translation may be carried out by:
  • A Sworn Translator duly authorized or registered in Spain.
  • Any diplomatic or consular representation of Spain abroad.
  • The diplomatic or consular representation of the applicant’s country of origin in Spain, or, if appropriate, of the country in which the document was issued.
Applicants who do not obtain partial recognition of the credits requested (the minimum being 60 credits) will be required to sit the Spanish university admission examination
 
 
 
IV. Admission to bachelor’s degree studies for students who have completed bachelor’s degrees abroad (either in the EU or elsewhere) and who wish to pursue further bachelor’s degree studies in Spain 
Students who have completed university studies at a foreign university or higher education centre and who wish to pursue their studies at a Spanish university may choose to: 
Applicants should bear in mind that these two options cannot be applied for simultaneously.
For more information on obtaining official recognition of foreign academic qualifications (homologación and convalidación) please consult the website of the Ministry of Education: