Journalism Schools and Programs in Spain

Journalism Studies in Spain

Journalism in Spain is studied mainly as a university bachelor's degree (grado en Periodismo), usually taught in a faculty of communication or information sciences alongside audiovisual communication, advertising and public relations. Students learn reporting and news writing, verification and research, media law and ethics, and production for print, radio, television and digital media, with practical work in the university's own media and placements in newsrooms.

How the degree is organised

The bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, normally four years, and ends with a final project. A search of the Ministry's Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT) for bachelor's degrees with "Periodismo" in the title returns 57 records, including some combined titles such as audiovisual communication and journalism at the Universitat de Lleida, and some older degrees being phased out.

After the bachelor's, students can specialise with an official master's degree (60, 90 or 120 credits) or with university-own and school programmes: a máster de formación permanente, a specialisation diploma (30 to 59 credits) or an expert diploma (under 30 credits). Common specialisations are investigative and data journalism, sports, economic, political and fashion journalism, and corporate communication.

Where to study journalism

Barcelona and Madrid have the most schools in our directory, followed by Murcia, Zaragoza, Valladolid and Seville. Examples of universities in our directory with the degree listed in the RUCT:

• Madrid region: Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (also offered as a Bachelor in Journalism), Universidad Nebrija, Universidad Europea de Madrid and Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
• Catalonia: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya
• Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, whose Faculty of Communication has taught since 1958 and states that it has 60 lecturers with doctorates and 67 industry experts
• Andalusia and Murcia: Universidad de Sevilla, Universidad de Málaga and Universidad de Murcia
• Elsewhere: Universidad de Valladolid, Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes (Valladolid), Universidad de Zaragoza, Universidad del País Vasco, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad Miguel Hernández (Elche), Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca and Universidad de La Laguna

Some media groups run their own schools. The Escuela de Unidad Editorial (ESUE) in Madrid offers a master's in journalism, research and digital tools linked to the newspaper El Mundo, an in-person master's in sports journalism with MARCA, an official master's in fashion and beauty communication with the magazines Telva and Yo Dona, and shorter specialist programmes such as economic journalism.

Teaching is in Spanish, and in Catalonia, the Valencian region, the Basque Country and Galicia partly in the co-official language. Because the work depends on writing and speaking fluently, international students should expect to need a high level of Spanish (or the co-official language) to follow and complete the degree.

Admission and recognition

Students who finished secondary school outside Spain usually apply through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' records and runs the tests needed to enter Spanish bachelor's degrees. Holders of a bachelor's degree from outside the European Higher Education Area can be admitted to an official master's without homologación, after the university checks the level of their degree. A declaración de equivalencia certifies the academic level of a foreign degree when formal recognition is needed.

Careers

Journalism graduates work as reporters, editors and presenters in newspapers, radio, television and digital media, in news agencies, as fact-checkers and data journalists, and in communication departments of companies, institutions and NGOs. The profession is organised through press associations: the Federación de Asociaciones de Periodistas de España (FAPE) brings them together, keeps a professional register of journalists and publishes a code of ethics.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a journalism degree in Spain?

The bachelor's degree in journalism has 240 ECTS credits, normally four years. A master's adds one or two years.

Can I study journalism in English in Spain?

Options are limited. Most degrees are taught in Spanish or a co-official language; a few, such as the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid's degree, also carry an English title, so check the language of instruction with each university.

Do I need a journalism degree to work as a journalist in Spain?

Many journalists hold the degree, but newsrooms also hire graduates of other fields who specialise through a master's or professional programme. Press associations such as those in the FAPE keep a professional register of journalists.

Are there master's programmes run by media companies?

Yes. The Escuela de Unidad Editorial, for example, offers master's programmes linked to El Mundo and MARCA, as well as an official master's in fashion and beauty communication.