Understanding the Spain Education System
Gain insights into the Spain higher education framework, academic culture, teaching methods, and grading system to prepare for your studies.
Spain's three levels
Grado (bachelor's)
240 credits (ECTS, the European credit system), or 300 or 360 for some subjects
60 credits is one year.
Máster Universitario (master's)
60, 90 or 120 credits (ECTS)
Ends with a master's thesis worth 6 to 30 credits.
Doctorado (PhD)
PhD, the level after a master's.
Grado (bachelor's), Máster (master's) and Doctorado (PhD).
How Higher Education Is Organised
Official university study has three levels: Grado (bachelor's), Máster (master's) and Doctorado (PhD).
Academic Degree Structure
The bachelor's degree.
Key Characteristics:
- Ends with a final project (trabajo de fin de grado) worth at least 6 credits.
The official master's degree.
Key Characteristics:
- Ends with a master's thesis worth 6 to 30 credits.
The doctorate.
Key Characteristics:
- Since 11 August 2026, PhD students on an official doctorate in Spain apply for a research residence permit (a permit to live in Spain for research), not a student stay permit.
Grades in Spain
Spain marks each subject from 0 to 10, with one decimal. This is not a 4-point GPA.
| Letter Grade | GPA | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB | 9.0 to 10 | Sobresaliente (excellent) |
| NT | 7.0 to 8.9 | Notable (very good) |
| AP | 5.0 to 6.9 | Aprobado (pass) |
| SS | 0 to 4.9 | Suspenso (fail) |
Matrícula de Honor (MH)
GPA: 9.0 or more
For students with 9.0 or more. At most 5% of the students in a subject get it.
5 Is a Pass
The Academic Year
Courses run in an autumn and a spring semester.
Autumn semester
Starts in September.
Spring semester
Starts in February.
Credits (ECTS)
Spain uses ECTS, the European credit system. 60 credits is one year.
Typical Course Credits
- •Bachelor's, one year: 60 ECTS
- •Bachelor's, full degree: 240 ECTS
- •Master's: 60, 90 or 120 ECTS
Check a Degree Is Official
Official degrees are listed in the RUCT (Registro de Universidades, Centros y Títulos), Spain's register of universities, centres and degrees.
Where to Check
Look up your programme before you apply.
Official vs Own Degrees
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