The Spanish minister of education and science has just presented a proposal for the reform of the structure of Spanish higher education so that it is in line with the Bologna structure.

The document states that the proposed changes are in line with those changes called for by the reformed university law (LOU – see relevant article in this issue of the ACA Newsletter Education Europe), as well as the Bologna structure. Higher education will therefore be reorganised as follows: three cycles corresponding to grado, master and doctor.

• Grado corresponds to level 6 of the EQF (see related article in the European policy section in this issue). It consists of 240 ECTS (as opposed to 180 like in other EU countries), as it is seen as being more in line with the education system of some countries of particular importance to Spain (United States, South America, Asia). However, upon completion of 120 ECTS, students will receive a certificate of initial university studies.
• The Master cycle corresponds to level 7 of the EQF and consists of 60 to 120 ECTS.
• As for the Doctor cycle, it corresponds to level 8 of the EQF. There is no pre-established number of ECTS nor length of studies (although it is assumed it would consist of three to four years). The doctoral cycle consists of two components: a training and a research one.

What’s next? If the present proposal is approved, the new programmes will start as of 2008, with the first graduates from the new system graduating by 2012.

Propuesta Organizacion ensenanzas universitarias en Espana (in Spanish)