• Spain’s educational system is very internationalized: top country in number of inbound Erasmus students
• Tuition fees are affordable: state university masters start at 90.000 php for the whole master program
• Learning the language is especially relevant because Spanish is spoken by nearly 500 million people and is the official language in 21 countries
• Rated as one of the top countries concerning quality of life
• Second country with the largest UNESCO Heritage: 70 million tourists per year visit the country

A student visa in Spain allows you to study, reside, work or do research in the country for periods exceeding 90 days.

You must first schedule an appointment at the embassy. At your appointment, the embassy will be asking for the following documents:

• Valid passport with the minimum validity of the duration of the stay.
• Completed visa application form.
• Two (2) passport size photos. You can have your photo taken in the consulate if you’re not sure about the size.
• 1 photocopy of the data page of the valid passport and all previous visas and stamps.
• Previous passports (if applicable)
• Proof of enrollment at a public or private university, school or center and the details of the course (plan de estudios) to be taken. You can also include your acceptance letter from the school.
• Proof of economic means: Bank Certificate, Bank Books, ITR, International, Credit Cards. For minors: Affidavit of support from parents or sponsor, proof of their economic means, ITR, bank certifications, etc. Birth certificate of the minor (NSO)
• Medical insurance provided by an authorized insurance company in Spain.

For high school graduates, unless you have acquired the International Baccalaureate Diploma, your former studies will have to be validated by the Spanish institution. However, once students complete a semester at a Philippine University, transfer to the Spanish system can be granted

Filipino students who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree can enroll in a Masters program in Spain without prior validation, thanks to the Agreement for recognition of studies between CHED and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport.

Filipinos in Spain regard themselves as the most integrated foreign community in Spain according to the latest data from the Spanish Institute of Statistics (INE). This is due to the many similarities between both countries concerning issues such as family, social life, food, celebrations, traditions, music, etc. All Spanish universities have International Students Offices which will advise each student on how to get involved in academic and social activities.

It is very difficult to determine the number of filipinos living or studying in Spain because after two years of legal residence with a work permit, Filipinos can apply for dual nationality. This means that they do not appear in the statistics as foreigners, but as Spaniards.

• Accommodation in a shared flat costs around 200 euros (10,000) php per person per month.
• A transport card ranges from 30 to 50 php (1,500 to 2,500) monthly with unlimited use of bus, train, metro lines.
• Canteen set menus at universities range from 3 to 5 euros (150 to 250 php). 150 per month is enough for food.

If a student wants to take courses in Spanish, minimum level B2 is required. However, most universities offer 100% English programs. Since English is an official language in the Philippines, most Spanish universities will not require accreditation of the level of English. There are also bilingual programs (50% English, 50% Spanish). Universities offer one/two month inmersion programs for those interested in taking these courses.

Students are allowed to work part-time as long as their activity is compatible with their course of study. They should apply for a work authorization at the office for foreigners. There are large number of opportunities for part time jobs in the areas of language tutoring (English) as well as in hotel/restaurant services. Most universities show job offers through their offices for student information.

A Diploma from a Spanish University is automatically recognized by all countries included in the European Higher Education Area (49 so far). Due to the Agreement for recognition of studies between CHED and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, recognition in the Philippines is easy as well. Knowledge of Spanish will allow graduates to find a job in Latin American countries or in the US (where the number of Spanish speakers has reached 40 million)

Spanish universities produce top graduates in areas such as engineering, biochemistry, nanotechnology, medicine, nursing, Hotel Management, Tourism, Culinary Studies, Law, International Coperation and Development, Gender Studies and Business Administration.