Admissions requirements

Language proficiency:
The language in which the courses are taught in is Spanish. Thus it is best to have a certain level of understanding of the language. It is advised to take the DELE exam (Diploma de Espanol Lengua Extranjera) which is an official test of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The DELE determines your level of oral and written skills in the Spanish language. Although universities do offer foreign students supplementary Spanish courses, it is recommended that you take this exam. The mandatory requirement to qualify to apply to a Spanish university is a minimum level of oral and written skills. In addition, some universities offering specific programs might require additional tests.
If you want to improve your Spanish, the University of Salamanca and the Pontifica University offer very good Spanish language courses.
For information on DELE exams contact the Cervantes Institute. It is the official institution in charge of the test in 153 countries.
Instituto Cervantes
C/Libreros 23
28801 Alcala de Henares. Madrid. Spain
Tel: 34 91 8856100
Fax: 34 91 8830814

Other Admission criteria:
Foreign students that have just finished high school and received a diploma, must take the "Selectividad Exam" for the entrance into the university. This exam takes place in June and in September.
Private and Catholic universities have their own admissions criteria, so it is best to consult each university to determine what is required.

Diploma equivalence:
For the First and the Second Cycles, the application form must be accompanied by the following documents:
- A copy of the passport or of the national identity card
- The diploma (original) or an original certificate stating the date of when it was awarded
- An academic certificate (Academic years, courses, grades, campuses, schedule, etc…)
Study project (voluntary)
- And any other document the student wants to add in order to support their candidature.

For the Third Cycle these are the required documents:
- A copy of the passport or of the national identity card
- The diploma or an original certificate stating the date of when it was awarded
- A certificate of the courses
- An abstract of the thesis (in Spanish)
- A copy of the thesis, with the grade and indications of the Jury members (no translation required).
All foreign documents must be legalized and translated. Legalization procedures vary from one country to another. For more information about the procedures and translators contact any Spanish Embassy worldwide.