Undergraduate degrees in Spain are purposed with providing students a broad but general overview of a particular study with a focus on its related field of work. In Spanish, this degree is called a ‘grado’. In order to graduate with this type of degree, there are several qualifications that students must earn. The undergraduate degree is also called a bachelor’s degree and is the minimal qualifications that most people require in a particular field.
First, 240 ECTS credits are required over a four year course. In addition, a dissertation is mandatory towards the end of the last year and its value can be significant, up to 30 credits. Some students choose to speed up their credit accumulation by enrolling in extracurricular activities. These can earn one an extra 6 credits over their college stay. One caveat, the maximum number of credits you can earn each year is 90. Another departure for some will be the rigidity in regards to elective choices. When one chooses their course of study, there is a structured plan in which they must follow. In many cases, only 10% or less of their completed courses will be electives.
It would be prudent to consider this before making ones final choose as to their major. There are also specific standards one should know about if you are a foreign student residing in Spain during your college term. The ‘European Credit Transfer System’ which is often referred to as ECTS is a standard which universities in European Higher Education Area (EHEA) employ. The primary reason for its use is to maintain a standard grading system. Credits received is this sytem are based on work completed and also includes the following: covered hours of class, self-study, written work and practical examinations. One ECTS credit is equal to 25 hours of study. If you are a full time student, you are expected to earn 60 credits each year.
A pertinent question foreign student might also ask is what requirements are necessary to earn a place in a Spanish University that is housed in this system. One needs to have secondary education finishing degree or its equivalent. Depending on the university, there could also be an admission exam that is required, as well as particular grade cutoffs for those examinations. Another consideration is course specific admission requirements, of course those vary widely. There are also language qualifications that most Spanish universities require, the most prevalent being English. One can expect to be tested on this as well. Basic English proficiency tests like IELTS, ToEFL, etc. are considered are sufficient for most educational institutes.
Types of Undergraduate Degrees Available in Spain
There are many different undergraduate degrees that you will be able to earn while in Spain. Some of the most common in the country include:
Arts & Humanities
Sciences
Business Law
Engineering
Social Law
Most of the universities in Spain offer undergraduate degrees in these courses. They help you get the foot in the door, and can take you to the next level in your education. No matter what interests you, there is a degree that is available to you. Taking a look at all of the available degrees is an idea to pursue; this will ensure that you are on the right track to the career that you will love.