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Studies & Degrees in Psychopedagogy

Psychopedagogy (psicopedagogía) sits between educational psychology and pedagogy. It studies how people learn, why some learners meet difficulties, and how schools, families and other organisations can support them. The name is used mainly in Spain and Latin America. In English-speaking countries the same work is usually called educational psychology, school counselling or learning support.

Students learn to assess learning needs, advise teachers and families, design guidance plans and step in when a pupil has learning difficulties. The Universidad de Málaga sums up the professional field as educational guidance, psychopedagogical intervention, attention to diversity and work with pupils who have specific educational support needs.

Qualifications and levels

In Spain, psychopedagogy was a long-cycle university degree (licenciatura) until the Bologna reform. The Universidad de Málaga, for example, stopped teaching its licenciatura in the 2013-14 academic year. Today the subject is studied mainly at master's level, after a first degree in a related field.

  • Bachelor's degree (grado). The usual starting point is a four-year degree of 240 ECTS credits in pedagogy, psychology, primary or early childhood education, or social education. The Grado en Pedagogía of the Universidad de Murcia is one example: four years, 240 ECTS credits, taught in Spanish.
  • Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The master's degrees in psychopedagogy described here have 60. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) teaches its Máster universitario de Psicopedagogía fully online, in Spanish or Catalan. The Universidad de Málaga teaches its master's on campus over two semesters, in Spanish, with 60 places. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid describes its master's as strongly oriented to professional practice.
  • Doctorate. Graduates of an official master's degree can continue to a PhD in education or psychology.

Admission depends on the first degree. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid admits graduates in psychopedagogy, pedagogy, psychology, teaching and social education, and considers other graduates with experience in education if places remain. UOC gives direct access to similar profiles and asks graduates from other fields, such as speech therapy, social work or occupational therapy, to take bridging subjects first. At the Complutense, applicants whose first language is not Spanish must show CEFR level B2 in Spanish.

One point needs attention. Guidance counsellors in Spanish secondary schools belong to the regulated teaching profession. The qualification for that route is the official teacher-training master's degree in the speciality Orientación educativa, or a master's degree recognised as equivalent to it. A master's in psychopedagogy does not always carry that recognition, so applicants should ask the university before enrolling. UOC also warns that the career options of its master's depend on the first degree of each student, and recommends checking with the education department of the autonomous community.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 25 active schools for psychopedagogy: 23 in Spain, one in Ecuador and one in Russia. In Spain they are spread over many cities. Madrid has several, among them the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Villanueva, Universidad Camilo José Cela and CES Don Bosco. Others are in Barcelona (UOC), Málaga, Murcia, Salamanca (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca), Santander, Bilbao, Valladolid, Huelva and the Canary Islands.

Teaching is in Spanish at most of these schools. UOC runs the same master's in Spanish and in Catalan, in separate virtual classrooms. Because it is online, it can be followed from abroad. UOC has a specific admission route for holders of Latin American and other non-European degrees that have not been recognised in Spain. It also notes that the validity of its official degrees in other countries depends on the education laws of each country, so students who plan to work outside Spain should check recognition at home first.

Careers

The Universidad Complutense de Madrid groups the work of a psychopedagogue into four areas:

  • Formal education: guidance departments, psychopedagogical practices, support for pupils with learning difficulties, diversity plans and career guidance
  • Community work: adult education, mediation, programmes for children, adolescents and older people
  • The workplace: staff training plans, professional development and labour-market integration
  • Research on psychopedagogical intervention

Official employment figures for this exact field are scarce. As a reference from another country, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that most school counsellors need a master's degree and a state-issued credential. It projects employment of school and career counsellors and advisors in the United States to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 27,800 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still a bachelor's degree in psychopedagogy in Spain?

The former licenciatura has been phased out; the Universidad de Málaga stopped teaching it in 2013-14. Students now take a bachelor's degree in pedagogy, psychology, teaching or social education and then a master's degree in psychopedagogy.

How long does a master's degree in psychopedagogy take?

The master's degrees described on this page have 60 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Málaga that is two semesters of full-time study. UOC teaches the same number of credits online.

Can I become a school counsellor in Spain with this master's degree?

Not automatically. School guidance in secondary education is part of the regulated teaching profession and requires the teacher-training master's degree in Orientación educativa or a master's recognised as equivalent. Ask the university which recognition its programme has.

Can I study psychopedagogy online?

Yes. UOC offers its official master's degree fully online, in Spanish and Catalan. Check how the degree is recognised in the country where you want to work.