Spain - higher education system

In Spain, higher education is integrated by University Education, Advanced Vocational Training and Specialised Education, which include Professional Artistic Education, Professional Plastic Arts and Design, and Higher Sports Education.

University education

Currently, two different models of university education coexist in Spain, namely the one established under the 2001 Act on Universities (LOU), which is to become extinct by 2014; year in which the last cycles will be completed, and the new structure designed as a result of the Bologna Process. The new strucutre will be fully enforced in 2014, in order to adjust the Spanish university education to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Further, the new model complies with the 2007 Act modifying the Act on University Education (LOMLOU), which divides university education into three cycles: Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees.

Advanced Vocational Training

Advanced Vocational Training is organised in training cycles, which have a modular structure. Advanced Vocational Training has a distinguishing feature in comparison with Intermediate Vocational Training, namely, the existence of a vocational module, which requires the elaboration of a project during the last stage of the training cycle. The different training cycles are related to any of the 26 professional families established in the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications. For detailed information on the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications please refer to the article on Lifelong Learning Strategy. 


source:
Eurypedia - The European Encyclopedia on National Education Systems
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/eurypedia_en.php