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Studies & Degrees in Ecclesiastical Law of the State

Ecclesiastical law of the State and canon law are two different fields that are often confused. Ecclesiastical law of the State (Derecho Eclesiástico del Estado in Spain) is state law: the rules a country makes about religion, freedom of conscience and the legal position of churches and other religious communities. Canon law is the internal law of the Catholic Church, which governs its organisation, its sacraments and its own courts. A student of the first works with constitutions, statutes and court rulings. A student of the second works with the law of the Church itself.

In Spain the starting point of ecclesiastical law of the State is the Organic Law on Religious Freedom of 1980 (Ley Orgánica 7/1980). It states that the State guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of religion and worship, that no religious denomination has state character, and that the State may sign cooperation agreements with registered churches, denominations and religious communities. Courses in the field cover these principles and the legal status of religious bodies.

Qualifications and levels

Ecclesiastical law of the State is rarely a degree of its own. It is an area of knowledge inside the law faculty, taught as one or more courses of the bachelor's degree in Law (grado en Derecho) and continued through master's courses and doctoral research. Spanish bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits, according to Royal Decree 822/2021.

At the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), for example, the Law degree includes a compulsory second-year course of 3 ECTS credits called "Libertad de conciencia y su proyección en las libertades públicas" in the 2026-27 academic year. It looks at how the State responds to the plurality of its citizens' convictions, and its programme includes religious freedom and the legal status of denominations, associations and religious foundations. The course is taught by the department that houses the university's area of Derecho Eclesiástico del Estado.

Canon law has its own degrees, awarded by ecclesiastical faculties:

  • Licentiate in canon law: at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSA), the Licenciatura en Derecho Canónico is an ecclesiastical academic qualification that has recognised civil effects in Spain under Royal Decree 1619/2011. It is taught in Spanish, starts in September and has 50 places.
  • Doctorate in canon law: UPSA also lists an ecclesiastical doctorate in canon law for those who want to research or teach.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists two active schools for this subject, both in Spain: one in Salamanca and one in Getafe, in the Madrid region.

UPSA teaches the canon law licentiate in three formats. The on-campus format concentrates classes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings so that students can combine them with work. A blended format is intended for pastoral workers sent by their bishop, and the online format is reserved for members of contemplative religious orders and people in comparable situations. The university describes its students as priests, members of religious orders and lay people. Applicants pay a pre-registration fee of €350, which is deducted from the tuition fee. The Faculty of Canon Law is part of the original core of the university, together with Theology and Philosophy.

UC3M is a public university, and its Getafe campus is home to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law. Students who want ecclesiastical law of the State as part of a full law degree study it there.

Students looking for canon law in English can look outside Spain. KU Leuven in Belgium, which is not among the schools listed here, offers a two-year Master of Canon Law of 120 ECTS credits taught in English. According to the university it leads to the canonical degree Iuris Canonici Licentiatus (JCL) for students who have previously completed a course of study in theology.

Careers

There are no official employment statistics for such a small field, so the best guide is what the faculties report. UPSA states that its canon law graduates take up posts in the diocesan curia, work as judges, defenders of the bond, promoters of justice or notaries in ecclesiastical courts, act before those courts as advocates and procurators, or teach canon law. KU Leuven reports similar destinations for its graduates: judges, promoters of justice and advocates in ecclesiastical tribunals.

Ecclesiastical law of the State is part of a lawyer's general training rather than a separate profession. Law graduates use it in legal practice involving religious bodies, in public administration, in organisations that work on fundamental rights and in university research.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between canon law and ecclesiastical law of the State?

Canon law is the Catholic Church's own internal law. Ecclesiastical law of the State is the law a state makes about religion, such as religious freedom and the legal status of religious communities.

Can lay people study canon law?

Yes. UPSA describes its canon law students as priests, members of religious orders and lay people. Some programmes ask for previous studies in theology, so check the entry requirements with the faculty.

Is a canon law licentiate recognised by the Spanish state?

UPSA states that its Licenciatura en Derecho Canónico is an ecclesiastical qualification with recognised civil effects in Spain under Royal Decree 1619/2011. Ask the faculty how that recognition applies to your own plans.

Is ecclesiastical law of the State a separate degree in Spain?

Usually not. It is taught as courses within the bachelor's degree in Law, for example a compulsory 3 ECTS course in the second year at UC3M, and can be continued in postgraduate research.