Skip to content

Studies & Degrees in Surf

Surfing is the sport of riding breaking waves on a board. As something to study it has two sides. Most people take practical courses at a surf school, from a single lesson to a week-long surf camp. A smaller group trains to teach the sport and takes an instructor or coaching qualification from a national surfing federation. Surfing is not a common university subject; students who want a degree usually choose sport science or coaching and add the federation qualifications.

What students learn

A beginner course starts on the beach with safety: wind strength and direction, tides, how to identify currents, how to carry the board and how to fall without being hit by it. In the water, students learn the correct position on the board, paddling and standing up. At Amanay Surf School on Fuerteventura, for example, the aim of the beginner course is to catch white-water waves without help, stand up and ride the wave to the beach.

The intermediate level moves to the line-up, the area where waves break. Students learn to get past the white water, choose and catch unbroken waves, known as green waves, turn the board and make their first manoeuvres. They also learn the rules of behaviour in the water that surfers follow.

Courses and qualifications

  • Surf courses and surf camps. Courses are sold by the day or week and do not lead to a formal qualification. Amanay Surf School teaches in small groups, with a maximum of six to eight students per instructor, and each session includes three hours at the beach, of which about one and a half to two hours are in the water. Boards and wetsuits are included. In October 2026 the school lists prices per person from €55 for one day to €210 for five days. Surf camps combine lessons with accommodation.
  • Instructor qualification in Spain. The Federación Española de Surfing runs the Monitor Nacional de Surfing Nivel I, for people who want to teach the sport at beginner level in clubs and schools. Candidates must be 16, hold the Spanish secondary school certificate (ESO) or an equivalent qualification, and pass an entrance test. The course has a common block of 60 hours, a specific block of 86 hours, of which 48 are on site and 38 online, and 150 hours of practice in official federation schools, to be completed within a year. The federation states that the official diploma depends on the course meeting the requirements of Orden ECD/158/2014. Holders of foreign school qualifications must apply for recognition (homologación) in Spain before the course starts.
  • International recognition. According to the Spanish federation, it has an agreement with the International Surfing Association (ISA) to validate and certify the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor title, for people who want to work outside Spain.
  • Coaching in Australia. Surfing Australia accredits coaches in levels. The Foundation Surf Coaching Course (formerly Level 1) consists of an online component and 20 hours of practical experience at an affiliated surf school. Candidates must be at least 16 and also need an ocean safety qualification and a first aid certificate. The Progression Surf Coach (formerly Level 2) works with intermediate and advanced surfers.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists two active schools for surfing, one in Spain and one in Australia. Amanay Surf School and Surf Camp works on Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, with accommodation in Corralejo, Caleta de Fuste and Puerto del Rosario. Edith Cowan University is in Joondalup, Western Australia.

When choosing a surf school, check the qualifications of the instructors, the number of students per instructor, and what the price includes: equipment, transport to the beach and insurance. Amanay Surf School states that its instructors are qualified (ISA, FES or FCS). In Australia, Surfing Australia and its state associations run a national network of affiliated surf schools.

Careers

Qualified instructors work in surf schools and surf camps, often seasonally, and some open their own school. Other jobs linked to the sport are coaching competitive surfers, judging, surf tourism and the board and equipment trade.

For sports coaching in general, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that educational requirements vary from no formal credential to a bachelor's or higher degree. It projects employment of coaches and scouts in the United States to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to learn to surf?

It depends on the person and the conditions. A beginner course aims at standing up and riding white-water waves to the beach; riding unbroken waves is the goal of the intermediate level.

What do I need to become a surf instructor in Spain?

For the Monitor Nacional de Surfing Nivel I of the Federación Española de Surfing you must be 16, hold the ESO certificate or an equivalent, and pass an entrance test. The course includes 150 hours of practice in official federation schools.

Is a surf course a formal qualification?

No. Surf courses and surf camps teach the sport. Instructor and coaching qualifications are issued by national federations such as the Federación Española de Surfing and Surfing Australia.