Masters Degrees, Graduate Studies and Professional Programs in Spain

For those interested in graduate programs in Spain, or professional development and continuing education, we have included them in our site. We have also included academic programs taught in a non-university environment. You should assume that all courses are taught in Spanish unless specified in the description of the school.

Spain has been one of Europe’s greatest centers of learning for centuries. During the days of the Emirate of Cordova, scholars in Spain undertook scientific and medical research that was the most advanced in the world at that time. Today, Spain continues to maintain a well-deserved reputation as an educational hotspot of professional development and the home of several of Europe’s top universities.

Like the rest of its higher education system, and Spain’s graduate programs are superb. Consistently ranked among the world’s best, Spanish universities offer an enormous variety of top tier graduate programs in everything from art and literature to biology and engineering. Students from all over Europe and elsewhere flock to Spain to seek advanced degrees.

Spain has both public and private institutions of higher learning that are accredited to award masters and doctoral degrees. Most observers report that there is no significant difference in quality between the public and private institutions, although there can sometimes be a difference in curriculum. This is largely due to the presence of numerous universities affiliated with the Catholic Church–at the graduate level in Spain, Catholic universities have a tendency to focus more on theology and less on other fields.

In an effort to help provide students with degrees that are career-oriented and ensure that graduates have the skills that they need to succeed in a global job market, Spain has partnered with 46 other European countries to create the EHEA. The EHEA, or European Higher Education Area, is an international body that seeks to facilitate coordination among colleges and universities throughout Europe. It has created a standardized system of degrees that are recognized as valid in all member states. Thus, students who obtain graduate programs in Spain or other advanced degrees are qualified to seek jobs throughout Europe, which is a major advantage in the current economic circumstances.

Spain’s popularity among foreign graduate students is due in large part, of course, to the high quality of instruction. However, there are many other factors that make Spain an attractive destination for studying graduate programs or other advanced study. Its pleasant climate and natural beauty offer a welcome respite from rigorous full-time studies, and travel opportunities for weekends and school breaks are countless. Graduate students in Spain often find that a few days in the countryside or along the sparkling Costa del Sol is a great way to relieve stress and come back refreshed and ready to return to work.

Spain, unlike some of its fellow EHEA member states, also offers a reasonable cost of living that can be a real relief for tight grad student budgets. Money-conscious students, particularly those pursuing non-lucrative academic degrees, find that this is a significant advantage of studying a graduate programs in Spain as opposed to somewhere else.