Spain

About

Spain is located in the southern Europe region and is a part of European Union. It is one of the biggest countries in Europe. It is a major developed country with a strong economy. The country has greatly influenced and contributed to diverse fields, notably the arts, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology, fashion, cinema, cuisine, sports, as well as jurisprudence, banking and business.
There are 76 universities in Spain, most of which are supported by state funding. 24 Spanish universities are private, of which 7 are affiliated with the Church. Spain offers a very diverse range of higher education options. It is also among the most popular destinations for international students, due to combining factors of good universities, attractive lifestyle and the fact that Spanish is one of the world's widely spoken languages. It is also a country of contrasts, where the affluence and cosmopolitan bustle of Western Europe is mixed with a distinctly southern European extravagance and charm.

Rich Culture

The Spanish educational system is dynamic with international recognition with added factor of rich cultural experience. The quality of education is very high with excellent facilities, highly qualified faculty and top rated programmes. As one of the safest counties in the world, Spain provides an environment where security is taken as read.

Professionalism

The high competencies provided by the universities and academies makes Spain a sought after study abroad destination. There are counselling sessions and support provided by the universities during their course of studies which makes them student friendly.

Opportunities

Spain is in the forefront in several fields of higher education many of which correspond to the most developed professional sectors of the labour market. This paves way to plenty of opportunities for the students.

Mix of Diversity

It's a huge understatement to say that travel broadens the mind. Studying and living in a foreign environment will challenge the worldview of students, and introduce them to new people, a new culture, and a whole new world of diverse sights and spectacles.

Right blend

Spain boasts of rich culture and literature from many different periods, which gives students an enriching experience while they study there. There is a welcoming atmosphere which makes students feel at home.

The education system in the Spain is divided into primary education, secondary education and higher education. Schools in Spain are state schools, privately run schools funded by the State and purely private schools. The education system is regulated by the Ministry of education. Most of the universities in Spain are state-supported.

Higher education in Spain

There are 76 universities in Spain, most of which are supported by state funding. 24 Spanish universities are private, of which 7 are affiliated with the Church. Spain offers a very diverse range of higher education options. Many universities in the Spain fit to the framework of the Bologna process since its adoption in 1999, which is called the 3+2 system. A three year bachelor program and a two year master program is the norm in most of the streams. The significant part is after completing the Bachelor degree, students are not awarded a degree; they are instead promoted to the Master’s program for the final two-years of studies. However, certain courses of study do allow students who are not interested in earning a Master-level degree to pursue a 4-year study program that awards them an undergraduate degree.
Students can also pursue doctorate-level or PhD degrees, as well as more advanced degrees in fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc, which typically span an additional 3-7 years depending on the area of study.
The top universities of Spain are Pompeu Fabra University, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, University of Navarra, Autonomous University of Madrid and so on.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. In addition, there will be minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue MBA or business or management related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Also, many business schools also accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and sets the test paper.
IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for the purpose of admission in different universities in the Spain.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in the Spain.
Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc
Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these, students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities in order to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut off for various exams which students need to obtain in order to secure admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

The tuition fee for International students varies according to different universities, courses, and the city that the students choose to live in. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel etc. are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socialising of the students. But compared to studying in the US or Australia, Spain can work out to be a much reasonable study abroad destination with best quality education. Medicine, Arts, Music, Business Management, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics are popular courses that Indian students pursue in Italy. The location of the accommodation plays an important role in the costing for the students. A student residing in the metropolitan city will be spending more on accommodation as compared to a student who resides in the sub urban part of the city.

Scholarships and Education Loan
There are hundreds of scholarships available for international students from a wide variety of sources. These are awarded solely at the discretion of the individual organisations that set down their own criteria for eligibility. Students are advised to contact the institution or organisation of their choice directly, to obtain more detailed information. Loans are provided by the banks for higher education. Certain parameters are to be met by the applicant. The candidates should be an Indian national with a strong academic record. The applicant should be seeking admission to professional, technical or other courses as prescribed by the bank. The application is considered only if the admission is confirmed. All relevant documents need to be submitted along with the application. The approval of loans is at the discretion of the bank.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Each and every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on as to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.
It is important for the students to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backwards. Students are required to appear for English and other eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of their application and approval of the same.