The Spanish immigration community focuses on Spanish education: The Spanish university education system, like many other EU countries, dates back to the Middle Ages. The oldest university in Spain is the University of Salamanca, founded in 1218. The current university system actually evolved from the new types of universities in the 19th century, which were deeply influenced by the French educational model. In recent years, Spanish university education has undergone its fastest development in history and is moving towards an autonomous and integrated system.
Spanish universities play an important role in knowledge dissemination, scientific research, and the cultivation and training of professionals and scientists. Since 1983, following reforms to the educational and institutional systems, a multi-faceted reform based on autonomous learning, flexible choices, and university autonomy has been implemented in Spanish higher education. Correspondingly, universities formulate their own internal regulations, elect their own autonomous committees, evaluate college budgets and faculty, and establish their own degree systems and majors. All of this is conducted under the supervision of the Social Council, a public representative body coordinated by the University Education Council.
The University Reform Act also revised and improved the previous professional system of intermediate degrees (3 years) and advanced degrees (5 years, 6 years for medicine), establishing two different categories of degree systems: a single-academic-year system for three-year professional education; a three-academic-year system (in some cases) to obtain a professional diploma; B.A.'s (usually for certain professional studies) and doctoral degrees (two years and a final thesis).
In some majors, students will obtain a bachelor's degree in a new major within a short term through the transition of certain courses. In addition to doctoral degrees, there are many master's degrees in various categories in many disciplines, such as medicine, fields with many special restrictions, and in law and economics. The foundational subjects for professional fields are still retained, and students will study them in later semesters. The current curriculum is indeed more flexible than in the past, thanks to the increase in elective courses. The University Committee stipulates that students can choose more mainstream courses (30% of the total in the first academic year or 20% in the second academic year); or students can freely choose elective subjects (accounting for at least 10% of the total subjects).
To study in the Spanish higher education structure, a good command of the Spanish language is essential, as courses and instruction are generally conducted in Spanish. It is worth noting that in some autonomous regions with a second official language (such as Catalonia and Valencia), some courses are still taught in the local language. Universities and other educational structures have designed and provided some Spanish language courses for foreign students. Here, in addition to Spanish courses, there are also various other language courses.
Spain is a multicultural country. Throughout history, many ethnic groups have come to Spain, and various cultures and customs have taken root here, forming the vibrant Spain of today. Therefore, the current purpose of choosing to study abroad or immigrate to Spain, besides learning Spanish, is to experience the diverse cultural landscape of the region.