05 - Spain - Types of institution

The information on the types of institutions where higher education is provided, both university and non-university, can be found in the following subsections.

University tertiary education

The institutions responsible for education at this level are universities, which may be in public or private ownership.

Public universities are set up by acts from the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Community, where the university is to be established, or by a Parliamentary Act in accordance with the Government Council of the corresponding Autonomous Community. In addition, the preliminary report from the General Assembly for University Policy is mandatory and should accredit the corresponding syllabuses of the studies to be taught within the framework of the general organisation of university education.

According to section 6 of article 27 of the Spanish Constitution, any individual or legal entity may establish a private university or private university level institutions. In order to be recognised, the preliminary report from the General Assembly for University Policy is mandatory within the framework of the general organisation of university education. There are secular universities and universities of the Catholic Church. The latter are subject to special agreements between the Spanish State and the Holy See.

At present there are 50 public universities in Spain, of which one is a distance-learning university, and 24 private universities (7 belong to the Catholic Church) including two distance-learning universities.

With the exception of international universities, the institutions responsible for providing studies within universities are faculties, escuelas técnicas superiores, escuelas politécnicas superiores, escuelas universitarias and escuelas universitarias politécnicas. Faculties and all these higher schools offer all the university cycles, whereas escuelas universitarias offer the first cycle only.

Universities may also have research institutes focused on scientific and technical research or artistic creativity. They may also offer postgraduate programmes and courses both at Master and Doctorate level. These university research institutes are made up of one or more universities, or together with other public or private institutions through agreements or any other form of cooperation.

In addition, private or public educational institutions may be assigned to public universities in order to provide studies leading to official degrees valid nationwide. This type of assignment takes place via agreements following the approval of the relevant Autonomous Community, at the suggestion of the Governing Council of the university, and with the previous report of the Social Council. The assigned institutions must be located within the territory of the corresponding Autonomous Community and are governed by what is stipulated by the LOU, both State and regional legislation, the relevant agreement and the institution’s own rules for their organisation and operation.

In order to ensure the quality of the studies provided at universities, a series of conditions has been established concerning the departments or the academic structure required for the organisation and development of teaching at this level of education. These conditions stipulate the standards to be met by both existing and new universities. The basic conditions established by the central Government are included in the regulations on the creation and recognition of universities and university institutions. They constitute the basis from which the Autonomous Communities establish the specific conditions for the universities in their area.

Non-university tertiary education

The information about the types of institutions which provide non-university higher education can be found in the following subsections.

Advanced vocational training

Advanced vocational training can be provided either in compulsory secondary education and Bachillerato institutions, which are called secondary education institutes, the so-called national reference centres, or vocational training integrated institutions. For further information on the type of institutions and requirements.

Enseñanzas de régimen especial

The information regarding the institutions where the different advanced enseñanzas de régimen especial are provided can be found in the following subsections.

Artistic studies

Higher Conservatories are the public institutions responsible for providing advanced Music and Dance studies. They must have a minimum number of 240 Music and 100 Dance places. Both types of institution must meet a series of requirements regarding the subjects to be taught and the facilities they must provide. Private institutions for Music and Dance studies, designated as authorised institutions, may in turn, also provide such education leading to the award of official qualifications, indicating the kind and level of education provided.

Dramatic Arts studies are taught in Higher Schools of Dramatic Arts and authorised private Higher Schools of Dramatic Art. All these institutions must provide at least two specialisations (one of which must be performance). They must have at least 90 places available and comply with a series of specific requirements as regards facilities and material conditions: classroom space, theatre, library and dressing rooms.

Plastic Arts and Design studies are taught in institutions with names that vary according to their ownership and the type of education offered. Public institutions are generally called Higher Schools of Art for the corresponding kind of education. Thus, Higher Schools for Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, Higher Schools of Design and a Higher School of Ceramics are already operational. Private institutions are named authorised institutions for the relevant kind of education.

Regardless of ownership, all these institutions providing higher Plastic Arts and Design studies must comply with certain minimum standards in order to obtain authorisation. These conditions include, among others, requirements related to facilities and material conditions. Higher Schools for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets must teach at least three of the specialisations stipulated by law; Higher Schools of Design at least one, and two in the case of Higher Schools of Ceramics.

Public institutions offering ciclos formativos of Plastic Arts and Design are called schools of art. These institutions are also authorised to teach the Bachillerato Art specialisation. Regardless of ownership, all these institutions providing ciclos formativos of Plastic Arts and Design must comply with specific minimum standards in order to be authorised. In addition to requirements concerning facilities and material conditions, these requirements include, among other things, the need to provide, at least, two ciclos formativos and to have minimum of 60 places.

Sports studies

The institutions providing Sports studies may be either public or private, the latter being subject to administrative authorisation. These institutions have a generic name differentiating their public or private nature, and another specific name that must not be the same as that of any other institution; the name is completed with the corresponding sports specialisations or modalities taught.

Apart from public or private Sports educational institutions, this type of studies can be provided by Military educational institutions, through agreements reached between the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Defence.

All institutions providing Sports studies must comply with a series of requirements regarding space, equipment and number of students in each class.

Institutions:

MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA
c/ Alcalá, 36 28014 Madrid
Tel.:902.21.85.00/ 902.21.86.00/+34.91.589.66.08
Fax:+34.91.701.86.48/ +34.91.589.66.14
E-mail:  infoedu@mec.es
Website:  http://www.mec.es

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