1 best international colleges in Madrid 2025

The best colleges in Madrid are opportunities for foreigners to obtain effective and quality preparation before entering university and to increase their chances of being admitted to prestigious institutions around the world. The pre-university programs are not limited to the Spanish education system, but also include American and English, and after graduating from university, you can enter a university in the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada.

Currently, the Spanish system of education consists of four main levels.

1. Pre-school education - Educación Infantil.

2. Elementary Education - Educación Primaria.

3. Secondary School.

Compulsory Secondary Education - Educación Secundaria Obligatoria.

Singles - Singles;

4. Higher education - Educación Superior.

In addition to it, students can obtain vocational education (Cyclos Formativos), or enter colleges and technical schools. Vocational education in Spain is divided into two stages, which include Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio and Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior. So, it is an alternative to obtaining bachilerato, when compulsory secondary education is completed. Graduates of Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior have the same status as those who have obtained Bachillerato certificate are entitled to higher education in Spain through attendance at an appropriate educational institution.

Also the Spanish educational system involves adult education (evening schools - Escuela de Adultos), as well as professional language, artistic or applied education.

Pre-school education in Spain (Educación Infantil)

Preschool education is the first stage, starting at the youngest age. It is not a compulsory level of education. In the case of entering public school, studying is free of charge for children from 3 to 6 years old. Private schools charge tuition fee. The preschool education consists of two levels.

1. For children from 0 to 3 years old

2. For children aged from 3 to 6 years old.

Compulsory education in Spain (Educación básica)

Basic education is compulsory under current national legislation. Studying in public schools is free of charge for students. As for private institutions, they charge tuition fees. Also secondary education can be obtained in religious educational institutions funded by the Church.

The Spanish Ministry of Education is responsible for controlling school education. Its responsibilities stipulate monitoring the quality of education and setting standards for the number of teachers, class sizes, approval of methodological programs, and control of funding issues. Education is compulsory at all types of Spanish universities, and students aged from 6 to 16 years old are educated in two stages.

The initial stage (educación primaria). Children aged from 6 to 12 years old, are studying under 3 cycles, each lasting for 2 years: primary cycle (6-8 years old), middle level (8-10 years old), and high school (10-12 years old) ;

Phase II (educación secundaria obligatoria). After completing the program, students are awarded a secondary education diploma.

Educational process stipulates studying of the following disciplines: natural sciences (geography, natural history), humanities (history, social sciences, literature, civic education and human rights), languages (Spanish, foreign languages) , autonomous languages - Valencian, Catalan, Galician, Basque) Mathematics, Physical Education, Music and Visual Arts.

Having a secondary education diploma, students can pursue education under secondary vocational education programs, or enter universities to take the bachilerato course. Also students can start working.

Bachilerato

The bachilerato level resembles the advanced classes which are conducted in general schools, divided into two courses. Bachilerato is not a compulsory level of studying, aimed at students who are interested in entering the university. The second course of bachilerato is related to future specialization of a student: exact sciences or humanities and social sciences, arts. The final exam of the bachelor is the university entrance exam. In the highly competitive conditions of university admission, graduates with a high final average have a significant advantage when choosing a university. Studying bachelor in Spain starts at the age of 16, after the completion of basic schooling.

Professional education is conducted under 3 directions.

1. Arts (fine arts and design) or performing arts, music and dance.
2. Science and Technology.
3. Humanities and Social Sciences.

Only students who have successfully taken all exams can transfer from one course to another. Failure to pass 2 subjects allows you to retake the course and transfer the exams to the next course. Failure to pass 4 or more exams will result in the student automatically leaving the second year.

In case of successful passing of exams, graduates obtain the full Spanish Secondary Education Diploma (Título de Bachiller, "bachelor"). With this diploma, applicants can enter higher education institutions in Spain.

Secondary vocational education in Spain

Secondary vocational education can be obtained in 142 specializations. The duration of each course is determined individually for each specialization, usually between 1300 and 2000 hours, and 25% of the study time must be devoted to industrial practice.

• Secondary vocational Spanish education is available to the following categories of citizens.
• University graduates with a basic education diploma (Título de Educación Secundaria).
• Specialist Assistants (Técnico Auxiliar).
• Specialists (Técnico).
• Second-year undergraduate graduates (Bachillerato Unificado y Polivalente).
• University graduates.
• Successfully pass an entrance exam (the minimum age to pass this exam is 17 years old).

Students who complete the secondary vocational education (Formación Profesional de Grado Medio) and the higher vocational education (Formación Profesional de Grado Superior) receive the Técnico and Técnico Superior diplomas, respectively. The Diploma of Specialization entitles you to continue your studies in Spain as a bachelor. The Diploma of Chief Specialist grants the right to continue your studies in the same direction without exams in Spanish higher education institutions.

Higher Education

Higher education in Spain (Enseñanza Universitaria) is divided into three cycles according to European and global standards and the criteria of the Bologna Process.

The Grado degree (Bachelor's degree). After completing a three- or four-year university program, graduates are awarded a diploma. The duration of studying is stipulated by the profession. For example, a medical bachelor's degree lasts up to 6 years. The first cycle of higher education in Spanish grado can be obtained in all fields - including humanitarian and natural sciences as well as social.

Degree Master (Master). Awarded after completing a one-year or two-year highly specialized university program. Enrollment in such programs is possible only with a grado degree.

Doctorate (Doctorado) degree. Studying takes 3-6 years. You can enter a doctoral program after obtaining a master's degree and, in some cases, after obtaining a bachelor's degree program. The final stage of doctoral studies will be the defense of the doctoral thesis.