Higher education institutions enjoy full autonomy. They are responsible for determining teaching periods and holiday breaks.

The following table presents general information on degree programmes, with variations for master’s, doctoral and university-specific programmes at each institution.

The organisation of the 2025/2026 academic year in Spain is as follows:  

Among the main organisational variations and alternative structures in early childhood education and care (ECEC), the following stand out:

• ECEC in rural schools,
• bilingual education;
• penitentiary classrooms;
• hospital teaching.

ECEC in rural schools

In some autonomous communities, there are rural schools located in municipalities with a reduced population. Their denomination is different depending on the autonomous community:

In Spain, there is no state regulation on the provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) at home. However, at the regional level, the Community of Madrid, the Chartered Community of Navarre and Galicia do have rules governing this type of ECEC provision. In the latter case, it only applies to rural settlements with less than 5,000 inhabitants.

Steering documents

Admission requirements and choice of ECEC setting

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is divided into two cycles:

Early Childhood Education is governed by the principles of equity and inclusion. In the programming, management and development of this stage, attention is paid to the compensation of inequalities of cultural, social and economic origin. Likewise, attention is paid to the early identification and prompt attention to specific educational support needs.

Organisational Options and Alternative Structures in Non-Higher Secondary and Post-secondary Education

Among the main organisational options and alternative structures in secondary and post-secondary non-higher education, the following can be highlighted: 

Bilingual Education

Bilingual Education Programme (PEB)- Collaboration Agreement with the Spanish Delegation of the British Council Foundation