Study systems in Europe

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Spain

Spain follows the Bologna system, but its bachelor's degrees are longer than in many other countries:

Grado (bachelor's) – 240 ECTS, usually 4 years; the exceptions are programmes for which EU rules require 300 or 360 ECTS (e.g. medicine),
Máster – 60, 90 or 120 ECTS, i.e. one to two years,
Doctorado – once you have completed at least 300 ECTS in total at the two previous levels.

Some master's degrees are so-called másteres habilitantes – they qualify you for a regulated profession, such as teacher or lawyer. The academic year starts in the autumn.

Spain – bachelor's programmes
Spain – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Spain – master's programmes

Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.

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