Living Asturias

Upper secondary education

After the four years of high school, students have the possibility to do bachillerato and ciclos formativos. Or start working. Bachillerato takes two years and is a preparation for university. There are five possible fields of study: natural sciences, health, social sciences, humanity and art. But these don’t affect the options afterwards. Art students can still study geography. But it’s of course easier if studies are compatible. The other option is ciclos formativos. Which exist out of grado medio and grado superior, both take two years. Students do a more practical program, they can become administration assistent, hairdresser or work in a laboratory. The two years of grado medio are a rather general education, in the two years of grado superior can students specialize more.

Ciclos Formativos

Ciclos Formativos are the practical equivalent of University and consist out of two phases. It starts with two years of Grado Medio, where you learn a broad profession. The list of can be found here. You can then do the Grado Superior, which is sort of a specialisation. But there’s no necessary connection between subjects of the Grado Medio and Grado Superior. The possible Grado Superiors are listed here. After a Grado Superior it’s possible to apply immediately for the university without taking the entrance exam.

Legend

Red: public school with formación professional (Institutos de Enseñanza Secondario)
Orange: public institute of formación professional (Centro Integrado de Formación Professional)
Yellow: private institute of formación professional (Centro de Formación Professional Específica)
Brown: private institute of formación professional (Formación Professional)
Green: concertado institute of formación professional (Centro de Formación Professional Específica)

Bachillerato

Bachillerato is a 2-years program that prepares to go to university. It is in fact for many people seen as a part of high school and takes most of the time place in the same buildings as the high schools.

There are five fields possible of study:

1. Science
2. Health
3. Social science
4. Humanities
5. Arts

Every year, exams are being held. The results are combined to give a total score on 10, which is important for getting acces to the university.

Legend

Blue: public secondary school (Institutos de Enseñanza Secundario)
Yellow: public secondary school (Institutos de Educación Secundario Obligatorio)
Orange: public secondary school (Centros Públicos de Enseñanza Básico)
Green: concertado and private secondary school ( Colegios Concertados y Privados)

Curriculum

First year

Science

Philosophy
Spanish and literature 1
Mathematics 1
First foreign language 1
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Biology and Geology 2.) Technical work 1 3.) Physics and Chemistry

Humanities and Social Sciences

Philosophy
Spanish and literature 1
First foreign language 1
For humanities: Latin 1. For Social Sciences: Applied mathematics for social sciences 1
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Economy 2.) Greek 1 3.) History of the contemporary world 4.) Universal literature

Arts

Philosophy
Spanish and literature 1
First foreign language 1
Basics of arts 1
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Audiovisual culture 1 2.) History of the contemporary world 3.) Universal literature

Common courses

Physical education

Minimum two and maximum three of: 1.) Musical analysis 1 2.) Applied anatomy 3.) Scientific culture 4.) Artistic work 1 5.) Technical work 1 6.) Musical language and practice 7.) Religion 8.)Second foreign language 9.) Industrial technology 1 10.) Information and communication technology 1 11.) Volumes 12.) A subject which wasn’t chosen before

Second year

Science

Spanish history
Spanish and literature 2
Mathematics 2
First foreign language 2
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Biology 2.) Technical work 2 3.) Physics 4.) Geology 5) Chemistry

Humanities and Social Sciences

Spanish history
Spanish and literature 2
First foreign language 2
For humanities: Latin 2. For Social Sciences Applied mathematics for social sciences 2
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Economy of the enterprise 2.) Greek 2 3.) Art history 4.) Philosophy history

Arts

Spanish history
Spanish and literature 2
First foreign language 2
Basics of arts 2
Minimum two of following subjects: 1.) Audiovisual culture 2 2.) Scenic arts 3.) Design

Common courses

Minimum two and maximum three of: 1) Musical analysis 2 2) Earth and environment sciences 3) Artistical work 4) Technical work 1 5) Fundamental administration 6) History of philosophy 7) History of music and dance 8) Image and sound 9) Psychology 10) Religion 11) Second foreign language 12) Techniques of the graphical-plastical expression 13) Industrial technology 2 14) Information and communication technology 2 15) A subject which hasn’t been chosen

University

Selectividad

To enter the university, students must take the selectividad. This is a series of exams, which is organised by the state, and takes place during three days in June or August/September. Most students take the selectividad in June, since this increases their chances to be accepted by a university. Students who didn’t pass the exams, or who prefer to study more, can do the exams in August. But risk to don’t find an appropriate place.

With an aggregate mark of the Bachillerato (60%) and the Selectividad (40%), students can apply for majors at universities. It doesn’t matter which subjects a student chose during the Bachillerato. The universities will accept the students with the best grades. Students can apply for as many universities and majors as they want.

Universities in Asturias

A bachelor or grado in Spain lasts 4 years and a master can be 1 or 2 years.

The only public university in Asturias is the Universidad de Oviedo. But it has campusses in three cities: Oviedo (El Cristo, El Milán, Llamaquique, Catalanes and Oviedo-Centre), Gijón and Mieres. The site of La Laboral is for example part of the campus in Gijon. The University is especially known for engineering and business majors. More information about the offer of the university can be found on their website. Prices for studies at Universidad de Oviedo are: 12 to 22 euro/credit for bachelors and 26 to 36 euro/credit for masters. The price per credit increases when a course has to be done again by the student.

Further is there also the Escuela Superior de Arte de Asturias, which is an institute where you can study graphic design or restauration. And the Facultad Padré Osso, a private university, connected to the University of Oviedo. It is a campus which focusses on education studies.

You can also follow courses online of the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia and do your exams in Gijon to get a universitary degree.

Spanish classes

if you’re interested in learning Spanish, take a look at our other article.