Studying a first degree

Academic background

• Advanced-level training cycle (CFGS)
• Vocational training studies abroad
• Spanish upper secondary school qualification (Batxillerat)
• Secondary school education in EU Member States, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or China, or European Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate
• Secondary school education in other countries
• University entrance exam (PAU) for over 25s
• University pre-enrolment
  
  
  

Advanced-level training cycle (CFGS)

Qualification in an advanced-level training cycle (CFGS) or advanced-level training cycles in Plastic Arts and Design, level-two vocational training (FP2) or equivalent qualifications provide direct access to university degree education. For admission to a university, students must complete the university pre-enrolmentprocedure.

Admission based on the advanced-level training cycle (CFGS): weighting table

Vocational training studies abroad

It will be necessary to validate the course of study followed in the student's home country with the equivalent qualification from the Catalan Ministry ofEducation or Territorial Services.

The documents to be submitted must be legalised or translated.

Once the course of study has been validated, the student must complete theuniversity pre-enrolment procedure.

Admissionbased on the advanced-level training cycle (CFGS): weighting table

Spanish upper secondary school qualification (Batxillerat)

The student must pass the university entrance exam (PAU). The university entrance exam (PAU) for students coming from the Spanish upper secondary school systemwill have a new structure as of 2010.

Students must complete the university pre-enrolment process online at https://accesnet.gencat.catwithin the established deadlines.

Upper secondary school studies in EU Member States, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or China, or European Baccalaureate or InternationalBaccalaureate

This resolution includes the education systems of Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, which are all signatories to the Agreement on the European Economic Area that gives the citizens of these countries the same rights as citizens of EU Member States. It also applies to students from the Chinese education system in line with the agreement on the recognition of qualifications and diplomas entered into by the Government of Spain and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, signed in Beijing on 21 October 2007.

The Spanish Distance Learning University (UNED) will be responsible for verifying the fulfilment of university admission requirements accredited by the studentsto which this resolution refers.

Students who wish to apply through this entrance pathway must apply to the UNED online at: http://portal.uned.es/portal/page?_pageid=93,932663&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL. Once applications are received and the relevant verification is complete, the UNED will issue accreditation of fulfilment of requirements, the details for the entrance pathway and the accredited university entrance mark for admissionto the Spanish university system.

The academic requirements set out in the Spanish education system for university admission for students within this system is the passing of the universityentrance exam (PAU) = accreditation.

This exam will have a new structure as of 2010. The new model differentiates between passing the university entrance exam (the “general phase”), which is required for admission to any university, and the admissions procedure (the “specific phase”), which is required for admission to a particular undergraduate degree course at a specific university. It will consist of an obligatory general phase and a voluntary specific phase, the aim of which is to calculate the admission mark required for each degree in cases where thereare more applicants than places.

Foreign students will be able to apply for accreditation and then participatevoluntarily in the specific phase in order to obtain a better admission mark.

Admission mark = accredited university entrance mark + a*M1 + b*M2

M1, M2 = The two best marks for the subjects passed in the specific phase
a,b = weighting parameters of the subjects in the specific phase. The subject weighting parameters (a or b) will equal 0.1 or 0.2, to be decided by theuniversity.

If the accreditation does not include any type of score, the admission markwill be calculated with an accredited university entrance mark of 5.

This specific phase will also be organised by the Spanish Distance LearningUniversity (UNED).

Students who have already gained admission to the Spanish university systemmay not apply for admission within the system referred to in this resolution..

The procedure laid out in the abovementioned resolution is compatible with the use of other systems for university admission. However, students may onlyuse one admission system in the admission process.

Secondary school education in other countries

The Ministry of Education of the Government of Catalonia has the authorityto recognise or validate foreign non-university qualifications.

However, if the student has had their qualification validated or officially recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Education, this is equally valid.

Non-university studies carried out abroad can therefore be validated by the Spanish Ministry of Education, the Catalan Ministry of Education or the SpanishConsulate or Embassy in the country of origin.

Spanish Ministry of Education

Delegation of the Spanish Government in Catalonia Education Inspectorate

Catalan Ministry of Education

Spanish Consulates and MInistries abroad

A certificate of official validation can be issued: :

- If the qualification is validated as equivalent to that of Spanish upper secondary school education (Batxillerat) (or with a referral note for conditional enrolment in teaching centres or official exams), the student must sit the university entrance exam (PAU).

University entrance exams (PAU) for students coming from upper secondary schooleducation will have a new structure as of 2010. The new model differentiatesbetween passing the university entrance exam (the “general phase”),which is required for admission to any university, and the admissions procedure(the “specific phase”), which is required for admission to a particularundergraduate degree course at a specific university. It will consist of an obligatorygeneral phase and a voluntary specific phase, the aim of which is to calculatethe admission mark required for each degree in cases where there are more applicantsthan places.

Admission mark= 0.6* average mark equivalent to the 1st and 2nd years of Spanish upper secondary school education (Batxillerat) + 0.4*mark from the general phase + a*M1+b*M2

M1, M2 = The two best marks for the subjects passed in the specific phase a,b = weighting parameters of the subjects in the specific phase. The subject weighting parameters (a or b) will equal 0.1 or 0.2, to be decided by theuniversity.

In this regard the student must contact the Spanish Distance Learning University (UNED) in order to apply for admission to the test. More information on the requirements, procedures and documentation required can be found on the UNED website. On passing the exam, the student can apply for a place at a Catalan university through the pre-enrolment process by presenting the university entrance exam card received from the UNED.

- If the qualification is validated as equivalent to an advanced-level training cycle (CFGS), the student must apply for pre-enrolment by presenting the document certifying official recognition or, if this is not available, the referral note for conditional enrolment in teaching centres or official exams.

More information on the validation of foreign non-university qualifications is available on the website of the Catalan Ministry of Education in the section on validation and official recognition of foreign qualifications.

University entrance exam (PAU) for over 25s

Anyone who meets the following requirements may sit the university entranceexam for over 25s:

• Those who are 25 or older before 1 October 2010
• Those not in possession of their secondary school qualification (Batxillerat) or equivalent
• Those who have not passed the university orientation course (COU).

After passing the exam, the student must complete the university pre-enrolmentprocedure.

University pre-enrolment

Students who would like to study at any of the public universities (University of Barcelona (UB), Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), University of Girona (UdG), University of Lleida (UdL) and Rovira i Virgili University (URV) or at the University of Vic (UVic) must complete the university pre-enrolment procedure online at https://accesnet.gencat.cat (this page is not operational until the pre-enrolment period begins) within the established time frame. This usuallytakes place from the beginning of June until the first week in July.

Once the pre-enrolment procedure has been completed, the student must present the accreditation document for their completed courses of study providing university access (official recognition or validation) together with a printed copy of the online form before the last day of pre-enrolment at the: University Admissions Advisory Office:
Plaça Bonsuccés, 5
08001 Barcelona
Tel.: (+34) 93 223 03 23
Fax: (+34) 93 223 14 50
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday
9 am to 2 pm
accesnet.cur@gencat.cat

Students who fail to present the required document within the time frame willnot be allocated a university place.

Students who would like to study at a private university (Ramon Llull University (URL), the International University of Catalonia (UIC) or Abat Oliba University CEU (UAO) or at a distance-learning university (the Open University of Catalonia (UOC)) should enquire directly at the admissions service of the universityin question as these universities have their own admission procedures.

Last update: 07/07/2010 Reviewed: 07/07/2010

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