I am a foreign student, keenly interested in attending a university(for undergraduate studies) in Madrid. English is my first language, and hence the only thing that irks me is the fact that I shall have to take the Selectividad. I know basic Spanish and have one whole year to make it to the intermediate level. Would this be sufficient?
I am interested in attending one of the following universities- UEM, IE University, UAX, UCM and UFV.

international.student9m
what is your citizenship?
where are you studying right now?
what are have you finished studying? qualifications? diploma?
what degree do you want to pursue?

Another question to ask yourself: Where do you think you’ll be living after you graduate? Would you have to legalize you degree to work there? I’m currently going through this process, and it’s a real pain in the neck. Hurts to be told you have to fight to be considered a uni graduate!

Hi Aritz and Halydia!
@ Aritz- I am an Indian citizen (presently residing in India) with British and American qualifications. I’ve been working from quite a young age. I completed my O-level exams and and a few AS-level courses after which I had to discontinue studying in order to focus on work. Now, after 1 and a half years of full time work, I am in the process of earning my high school diploma from an American school. I am academically bright, have won many awards and been a topper in school.
I want an undergraduate degree in journalism and/or audio-visual communication.

@Halydia- I hope to find work within the EU after I graduate.

How difficult is the Selectividad? Can students with intermediate knowledge of Spanish (having English as their first language) take it?

international.student9 - 09 July 2010 11:01 AM

Hi Aritz and Halydia!
@ Aritz- I am an Indian citizen (presently residing in India) with British and American qualifications. I’ve been working from quite a young age. I completed my O-level exams and and a few AS-level courses after which I had to discontinue studying in order to focus on work. Now, after 1 and a half years of full time work, I am in the process of earning my high school diploma from an American school. I am academically bright, have won many awards and been a topper in school.
I want an undergraduate degree in journalism and/or audio-visual communication.

@Halydia- I hope to find work within the EU after I graduate.

How difficult is the Selectividad? Can students with intermediate knowledge of Spanish (having English as their first language) take it?

Could you possibly e-mail the international student departments at the Unis you mentioned, to see what they might have to say? They could definitely help you a lot more. I did my undergraduate degree in Canada and thus have no idea about the Spanish undergraduate system. Best of luck!!!

international.student9,

when you get your high school diploma and high school transcript or records, you will have to apply for its official accreditation, this if you were in spain this can take 2 months.  but since you are in india, you have to do that thru the spanish embassy in india.
they have to be officially translated into spanish. ask the spanish consulate about this.
once you are given the accreditation “credencial! you can take the selectividad but if you do not write and speak spanish fluently, forget about taking the selectividad.

you can try getting a student visa to study spanish at the escuela oficial the idiomas, if you reach level “intermedio 2” you may be able to handle the selectividad.

you can try studying in malta, language of instruction is english, and the degree is recognized all over europe.

@ Halydia- Thanks!
@ Aritz- Thanks a ton for the info! How expensive are universities in Malta?

Also, is the DELE Diploma in Spanish (B2) equivalent to the escuela oficial the idiomas ?intermedio 2?? How long (on average) does it take to complete either of these language courses?

Oh, BTW, the courses at Spanish universities like UCM are taught in Spanish as well as English, right?

Yes, many people speak english

international.student9,
you can check websites about malta and you can also contact the maltese consulate.
dele b2 is a good level. if you study spanish here in spain, 2 to 3 years may be enough time to be fluent and prepared for university study.
the subjects in the universities are taught in spanish.

Thanks Mel & Aritz!

I almost forgot to ask a very important question. What if I choose to study English philology? Would I still be required to take the Selectividad?

international.student9,
you can avoid taking the selectividad.
how?
start your univesity studies in india and finish the first year. then apply for accreditation for the subjects taken in a university in spain. if at least one subject is accredited by the university, you can enroll in all the first year subjects of the degree you have chosen. you do not have repeat subjects accredited to enter that course.

or

you can take a course “acceso mayores de 25 a?os”.
if you pass the course then you can enter the degree you corresponding to the “acceso”.

Isn’t the “acceso mayores de 25 a?os” course for students who are above 25 years of age? If not, where in Madrid can I prepare for it? Also, what is the course duration?

international.student9,
every year there is an exam
requirement is you should be 25 years old

check this link

http://www.accesomayores25.com/

I’m 18 :(

@ Aritz- Would completing the first year of undergraduate studies from an accredited American university (distance learning) be fine?
BTW, would you be knowing the annual teaching fees for bachelor’s degree programmes taught at Universidad Europea de Madrid? I tried looking up the website, but couldn’t find any relevant information there.

international.student9,
you have to complete the equivalent of 60 ects credits.
the complete first year of a european degree.
the first and second year of an indian degree would be just fine.

check this link for the fees

http://www.uem.es/en/academic-offer/undergraduate/matriculation