Secondary Education in Spain

Secondary education in Spain begins after six years of primary school. And it's divided into two main stages.

• Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO – Educación Secundaria Obligatoria) — ages 12 to 16. This leads to a lower secondary school certificate. It's mandatory. Everyone goes through it.
• Upper Secondary School (Bachillerato) — ages 16 to 18. Not compulsory by law. But you need it for university admission. So most students who want to go to uni choose it.

After ESO, students get their certificate. Those who continue into Bachillerato pick one of three academic streams: sciences, humanities and social sciences, or arts. Then they study for two more years. University admission depends on two things: Bachillerato results and the national entrance exams — known as Selectividad or EBAU. There's also an alternative route: vocational education (Formación Profesional, FP). It's growing fast.

Key Facts and Figures

Education is compulsory from age 6 to 16. Spain has 28,654 educational institutions. 19,324 are public. 9,330 are private. In the 2024–2025 academic year, total pre‑university students: 8,317,548.

• ESO enrolment: 2,089,403.
• Bachillerato enrolment: 704,256 — that's an increase of 12,582 (1.8%) compared to the previous year.
• Upper secondary enrolment exceeds 75% of eligible students. So three out of four continue.
• Vocational education (FP) now has 1,188,901 students. 470,096 at intermediate level (+4.2%) and 626,099 at advanced level (+4.8%). The rise of FP is one of the most notable trends in Spanish education.
• Early school dropout rate reached a historic low: 12.8% (2025 data, Ministry of Education). In 2014 it was 21.9%. That's real progress.
• Foreign students in pre‑university education exceeded 1,124,767 — and still growing (+4.5% year‑on‑year). They now account for 12.9% of the total student population.
• Grade repetition rate in ESO is around 7% (2022–2023 data; some estimates suggest it fell to 6.8% in 2024–2025).

Spain has a strong network of bilingual and international schools — British, American, IB programmes. That makes the country especially attractive to international families. According to Ministry data, state‑funded bilingual schools alone number in the thousands — for example, 1,638 in Andalusia alone. And on top of that, hundreds of private international schools operate across the country.

Higher Education in Spain

Spain is one of the most popular study destinations in Europe. Strong public university system. Rich cultural environment. Affordable tuition compared to many Western countries.

As of the 2025–2026 academic year, Spain has 96 universities. 50 public, 46 private.

Leading institutions: University of Barcelona (160th in QS 2025), Autonomous University of Barcelona (172nd), Complutense University (187th), Autonomous University of Madrid (206th). In 2025, four Spanish universities made it into the QS World University Rankings top 200.

Key Features

Bachelor's programmes typically last 4 years. Master's — 1–2 years. Doctorates — 3–4 years.

The number of English‑taught programmes is growing, especially at master's level. Spain also has a strong research base and extensive international exchange programmes.

Student Numbers

Spain hosts about 1.7 million higher education students.

In 2025, 159,032 international students were enrolled in Spanish universities. That's a 6.53% increase compared to 2024 (149,279). But here's the nuance. International students make up just 5.2% of all students. That's below the OECD average of 8.6%. Of those 159,000 international students (bachelor's and master's), 60% are on degree programmes and 40% on mobility programmes. Private universities attract 8.55% of international students on bachelor's programmes and 25% on master's. The share of international students in private institutions averages 20.7%, compared to 8.9% in public institutions. And here's another striking fact: just 20 universities (14 public, 6 private) account for 59.4% of all international students. IE University leads the pack — its international student share reached 90% in the 2025–2026 academic year. Spain is a major destination for Erasmus+ students. Spanish universities are particularly strong in business, tourism and hospitality management, architecture, renewable energy, humanities, and social sciences.

Summer Programmes and Language Courses

Spain is one of the world's leading destinations for learning Spanish — the second most spoken native language in the world.

The country offers a wide range of summer camps and academic programmes for students aged 8 to 18. Plus university summer schools.

Programme Format

Spanish language classes — 15–25 hours per week. Cultural workshops — flamenco, cooking, art, history. Sports programmes — football academies, sailing, tennis. Excursions to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga. Accommodation in student residences or host families.

In 2025, the University of Cádiz hosted around 300 international students on summer language programmes. The International University of Barcelona (UIC) ran its first summer intake with participants from Korea, Canada, Libya, and the USA. Popular formats range from two‑week intensive courses to adventure‑packed programmes.

Facts and Context

Hundreds of accredited Spanish language schools operate across the country. Spain attracts tens of thousands of international students each year for short‑term language programmes. The country remains one of the most popular destinations in Europe for learning Spanish and cultural immersion. Summer programmes in Spain combine language immersion with a vibrant Mediterranean lifestyle. They often serve as a stepping stone to full‑time study — in either Spanish or English.

If you're considering Spain for your child — we help you navigate every stage. From choosing a school and the right academic track to sorting out documents and visas. Write to us — we'll tell you where to start.