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International Guild of Hospitality & Restaurant Managers

INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

Universidad (University)

Universidad Politécnica (Polytechnic University)

Colegio Universitario (University College)

Escuela de Especialización (Specialized School)

Escuela Técnica Superior (Higher Technical School)

Escuela Universitaria (University School)

Instituto Universitario (University Institute)

Higher education credentials:

Bachillerato

Curso de Orientación Universitaria

Selectividad

Arquitecto Técnico

Diplomado

Ingeniero Técnico

Arquitecto

Ingeniero

Licenciatura

Professional Title

Maestría

Doctorado

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Secondary education:

Following the 1990 reform, compulsory secondary education now lasts for four years (divided into two two-year cycles), following six years of primary education and leads to the Graduado en Educación Secundaria. Pupils who successfully complete intermediate level vocational training are awarded a Técnico certificate of the corresponding trade. It qualifies pupils for certain kinds of Bachillerato related to the kind of training acquired and grants them credits towards certain subject areas, as appropriate. It also makes them eligible for other specialised or complementary schooling. Studies leading to the Título de Bachillerato take another two years. Students sit for examinations and must succeed in all subjects. To enter university, they must sit for an entrance examination, the prueba de acceso (selectividad) and follow the one-year Curso de Orientación Universitaria which offers four options: Science and Technology, Biology and Medicine; Social Sciences; and Arts and Languages.

Higher education:

Higher education is mainly provided by both public and private universities. Universities are divided into departamentos, facultades universitarias, escuelas técnicas superiores, escuelas universitarias, institutos universitarios, and other centres, notably the colegios universitarios. The Ministry and the departments of higher education in the universities coordinate the activities of state and private institutions and propose the main lines of educational policy. The Consejo de Universidades sets up guidelines for the creation of universities, centres and institutes. It can also propose measures concerning advanced postgraduate studies, the defining of qualifications to be officially recognized throughout the country and standards governing the creation of university departments. The legislation on university autonomy provides for administrative, academic and financial autonomy.

Academic year:

Classes from: Oct to: Jul

Languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Centros de formación profesional especifica de Grado superior offer three-year full-time courses to holders of the bachillerato. Areas include agriculture, commerce and administration.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Ciclo básico, primero ciclo:

The first cycle of university studies, which is taken in Facultades, Escuelas Técnicas Superiores and Escuelas Universitarias, lasts for three years. Studies in Escuelas Técnicas superiores and Escuelas Universitarias are complete courses in applied or vocational areas and lead to the degree of Diplomado, Ingeniero Técnico or Arquitecto Técnico. Courses in Facultades and Escuelas Técnicas Superiores organize courses that last for five or six years. The former offer courses in the humanities and science, while the latter only teach technology, engineering and architecture. Medical studies last for six years and odontology, pharmacy and veterinary studies last for five years. In order to decentralize university teaching, Colegios Universitarios were set up to teach only for the first cycle (three years) which leads to long-term courses.

University level second stage: Segundo ciclo, ciclo de especialización:

This consists of two-year specialization courses leading to the degree of Licenciado in most fields. The degree of Ingeniero in engineering and of Arquitecto in architecture are awarded following an end-of-course project (proyecto fin de carrera). In Medicine, studies last for three years.

University level third stage: Tercer ciclo, ciclo de especialización para la investigación y docencia:

The third stage is open to holders of the title of Licenciado, Arquitecto or Ingeniero and leads to the award of a Doctorado. The title of Doctor is awarded after at least four years' further study and research, and after the submission and defence of a thesis.Another postgraduate non-doctoral degree also officially recognized is the "master's" or maestría, awarded 1-2 years after the Licenciatura.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

The Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) organizes correspondence courses in law, history and geography, philology, philosophy and education, psychology, economics and management, physics, chemistry and mathematics, political sciences and sociology, and industrial engineering. UNED also organizes courses giving direct access to university for adults over 25 who do not hold the required qualifications and distance courses for which no specific qualification is required. In 1992, the Ministry of Education and Science created the Centre for Innovation and Development of Distance Education (CIDEAD). Other educational administrations, amongst which the education Departments for the Communities of Galicia, Navarre and Valencia, have established distance education for adults in their respective regions creating the corresponding establishments for distance education. There is also the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Lifelong higher education

Postgraduate professional courses are offered in universities and by private bodies and associations, and lead to the award of a non-official diploma. Centres not attached to universities offer higher education courses to holders of a secondary-school-leaving certificate who have passed a special examination. These are music conservatories, schools of singing, dramatic art and dancing, tourism. Most award a diploma in the relevant field on completion of three years' study (except for music conservatories, where the higher cycle takes four or five years).

Higher education training in industry

Postgraduate professional courses are offered in universities and by private bodies and associations, and lead to the award of a diploma.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Division of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture ( Dirección general de Enseñanza Superior, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura)

Minister of Education: Mariano Rajoy

Serrano 150
28071 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +34(91) 561-5400

Role of governing body: Inspects and coordinates higher education institutions and proposes to the government the main lines of the educational policy.

Council of Universities (Consejo de Universidades)

President: Mariano Rajoy

Secretary-General: Vicente Ortega Castro

Ciudad Universitaria s/n
28040 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +34(91) 549-3302

Fax: +34(91) 453-9886

EMail: marisa.ramos@curiv.mec.es

WWW: http://www.mec.es

Role of governing body: co-ordinates, advises, proposes, plans and regulates activities in the field of higher education.

Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (Conferencia de Rectores de las Universidades españolas)

President: Saturnino de la Plaza Pérez

Secretary-General: Félix García Lausín

C/Principe, 1-5a planta
28012 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +34(91) 360-1200

Fax: +34(91) 360-1201

EMail: sgcrue@adm.uned.es

WWW: http://www.crue.upm.es

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato

Other admission requirements:

Students must follow the Curso de Orientación Universitaria

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Bachillerato

For entry to: Facultades, Colegios Universitarios, Escuelas Superiores Técnicas

Alternatives to credentials: Entry to university is also open to adults over 25 who have not completed the Bachillerato course but who are successful in tests organized by the university.

Entrance exams required: Students must sit for the Prueba de Acceso (Selectividad), except for the Escuelas Universitarias

Other admission requirements: Students must have followed the one-year orientation course (Curso de Orientación Universitaria)

Foreign students admission

Admission requirements: Students must hold a Secondary School leaving Certificate and must sit for the Pruebas de Aptitud para accesso a la universidad.

Entry regulations: Foreign students must have a residence permit and financial guarantees.

Health requirements: Health visa

Language requirements: Students from non-Spanish speaking countries must sit for an examination. Universities organize language courses.

Application procedures:

Apply to individual institution for entry to: The institution concerned.

Application closing dates:

For non-university level (technical/vocational type) studies: 1 Jul

For university level studies: 1 Jul

For advanced/doctoral studies: 1 Jul

Recognition of studies & qualifications:

Studies pursued in home country (System of recognition/accreditation): Qualifications are granted formal equivalence or recognition in accordance with the terms of agreements to which Spain is a party or on the basis of reciprocity. Other cases are examined individually on their merits for the granting of full or partial recognition. Equivalence for access to post-graduate studies and research is granted on the basis of a report of the Consejo de Universidades, taking into consideration curriculum, previous studies, the standing of the institution which awarded the degree and any agreement on reciprocity. The evaluation and recognition of partial studies undertaken abroad are carried out by each university applying the criteria it deems most appropriate.

Studies pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign credentials):

Subdirección General de Títulos, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura

Paseo del Prado 28-4a
28014 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +34(1) 420-1693

Fax: +34(1) 420-3525

Telex: 23102 22112 e

Deals with credential recognition for entry to: University and Profession

Services provided & students dealt with: Provides information to Spaniards wishing to study or to continue their studies abroad and to foreigners wishing to follow studies in Spain who ask for the evaluation of their diplomas or partial studies obtained or pursued abroad.

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: Convention On the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Europe

Year of signature: 1979

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

Title: Cursos para extranjeros en España

Publisher: Secretaría de Estado de Universidades e Investigación

Title: Estudios en España: II. Nivel universitario

Author: Spain. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. Secretaría General Técnica

Publisher: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia

Title: Guía básica sobre régimen académica y acceso para alumnos con estudios en el extranjero

Publisher: Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Vice-Rectorado de Alumnos

Title: Las Enseñanzas universitarias en España y en la Comunidad Económica Europea

Author: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia

STUDENT LIFE

Health/social provisions

Social security for home students: Yes

Social security for foreign students: Yes

Special student travel fares:

By road: Yes

By rail: Yes

By air: Yes

Available to foreign students: Yes

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Maximum: 600000 (Spanish Peseta)

Bodies providing information on student financial aid:

Ministry of Education and Culture

34 Alcalá
28014 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +48(1) 5321300

Deals with: Grants

Category of students: students with Spanish citizenship or with legal residence in Spain.

Publications on student services and financial aid:

Title: Convocatoría general de Becas para Realizar Estudios en España

Publisher: Agencia española de Cooperación internacional (AECI), Madrid

Title: Study abroad 2000-2001

Publisher: UNESCO/IBE

Year of publication: 1999

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES

Principal national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and exchanges in higher education:

Ministry of Education and Culture

Serrano 150
28071 Madrid
Spain

Tel: +34(1) 5615400

GRADING SYSTEM

Usual grading system in secondary school

Full Description: 0-10: 10 sobresaliente (matricula de honor); 8.5-9 sobresaliente; 7-8.4 notable; 6-6.9 bien; 5-6 suficiente; below 5 Insuficiente.

Highest on scale: 10

Lowest on scale: 0

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: 10: matrícula de honor; 9-9.9: sobresaliente; 7-8.9: notable; 5-6.9: aprobado; below 5: suspenso

Highest on scale: 10 matrícula de honor

Pass/fail level: 5 aprobado

Lowest on scale: 4-1 suspenso

Other main grading systems

For theses: apto; no apto; cum laude;

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 1998-1999

Source: International Association of Universities (IAU)