Spain

Basic Information about Spain

Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula in South-West Europe. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa that border Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla). Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and is one of the main tourist destinations worldwide. It has a population of 45 million people.

The landscape is extraordinarily varied, ranging from desert-like areas to lush, green pastures, where mountains, valleys, rivers and beaches produce a wide variety of microclimates, which also contributes to its extraordinary beauty. Spain experiences all four seasons and has a generally temperate climate. Its location makes it is one of the warmest countries in Europe and generally in winter temperatures are mild.

Spain's unique culture is the product of a heritage enriched by the many external influences which it has been subjected to over the course of its long history. The geographic location of the Iberian Peninsula makes it a natural bridge between the cultures of the north and south of Europe, America, Africa and the East. The vicissitudes of history have made it a meeting point for many different cultures, creating a rich and diverse cultural legacy in which an intense past is evident.

Spanish is the mother tongue of over 400 million people around the world and is the official language of 20 countries. Sharing a common language has, without doubt, made Spain a particularly attractive destination for Latin American and Hispanic and Spanish-speaking students from the United States. Spain is also one of the most popular destinations for learning Spanish as a foreign language, particularly in the case of English speakers from the United States and Asia who want to learn Spanish, and students from other European Union countries.

The Higher Education System

Spain's education system offers a wide range of college and university studies at all levels, as well as internationally renowned business studies at prestigious schools, and the best opportunities for the studying of Spanish as a foreign language, with a great variety of courses to choose from.

Higher education is mainly provided by both public and private universities. Spain is taking part in the Bologna Process, a Europe-wide co-operation to harmonize all higher education in Europe. The new degree structure creates three levels of higher education.

First level: Undergraduate studies (Graduado) – 4 years, 240 ECTS

Second level: Master's studies – 1 or 2 years, 60 to 120 ECTS

Third level: PhD programs or Doctorate – 3 to 4 years

The academic calendar in Spanish universities begins in October and ends in June. Examinations are held at the end of the first semester, in February, and at the end of the second semester, in June. However, there are some variations between universities.

Scholarships

Spain offers a great variety of scholarship programmes to foreign students and specialists. Among the most important ones are the scholarship programmes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación) through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional) – Programas de Becas MAEC-AECI. Other ministries and administrative and territorial entities (Autonomous Communities, local organisms, etc.) or private companies also offer programmes.

Scholarships of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) – Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI):
www.becasmae.es

Financial Assistance Opportunities, Scholarships and Donations of the Ministry of Culture:
www.mcu.es

Ministry of Education and Science Scholarships:
www.mec.es

Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade Scholarships:
www.sgt.tourspain.es

Autonomous Communities Scholarships:
www.la-moncloa.es (Autonomous section)