How to study in Spain as a Colombian? The ultimate guide
Every year, thousands of students come to Spain from other countries. Countries like Colombia. The academic offering, plus language and affordability makes Spain very attractive to Colombians.
That's why today, at WorldRemit, we bring you the definitive guide to studying in Spain as a Colombian. Do you think it's difficult, or it's not for you? Imagine having an internationally recognised university degree. It's something that you can achieve and that, although more expensive than doing it in your own country, it's much more affordable than you might imagine.
WorldRemit Content Team
• 5 mins read • Updated
However, nowadays, communications and money transfers are much more practical and simple, which is why we encourage you to do some research and make it your goal.
Firstly ask yourself whether you have an EU passport or are you from Ibero-America. Colombia clearly belongs to Ibero-America and so that’s a good starting point. If neither applies to you, don’t worry: as there are student visas that you can apply for to be able to do all your undergraduate or graduate studies in Spain.
Why is all this important? You need to understand your immigration status in order to know what steps to take to apply to study in Spain. Spain has friendship treaties with countries, especially in Latin America.
To make it easier for you, we'll focus on Colombian students without an EU passport.
Why study in Spain?
Spain is a multicultural country. Its traditions, language, education system, quality of life, security… There are many reasons to consider Spain when considering a university degree. Spain also offers a range of attractive careers with significant employment opportunities.
For this reason, along with the language we share, many young university students make Spain their favourite study destination for bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees.
Spain's educational system
Spain's educational system is similar to most Latin American countries. There is a general and a special system with pre-school, primary, compulsory secondary (ESO, for its Spanish acronym) and baccalaureate or vocational training. The latter two are not compulsory, but they are the first step to a university life. The grading system is also based on points, so let's take a look at this.
Spain has a different grading system to Colombia. So while the promotion grade in Colombia is "5", in Spain it is "10". The grade with which you average your baccalaureate studies must be multiplied by "2". That way you’ll know what the correspondent grade is for the Spanish education system. Plus, the secondary school courses (subjects) are not very different from those in Latin American countries. This, of course, helps your chances.
Where to study in Spain as a Colombian?
So which cities in Spain can you study at? The cities offering university campuses per excellence are:
Madrid
Barcelona
Valencia
Seville
Salamanca
Pamplona
Santiago de Compostela
Oviedo
Granada
Zaragoza
And what makes them ideal for university students? They have a wide range of university campuses with everything you need to study in a suitable and friendly environment.
How to study in Spain as a Colombian?
If you have a Colombian passport, what do you need to be admitted as a student in Spain? A student visa that you can apply for at the Spanish consulate in your city, or in Spain itself, within the first month of your arrival.
You need to take an exam called PCE UNEDasiss. It is programme oriented to 6 educational fields that have to do with the chosen career competence. It can be taken at any UNED – Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia – centre, which also has locations in all the countries with which Spain has treaties. Among them, of course, Colombia.
What are the requirements to study in Spain as a Colombian?
As a Colombian you can only live in Spain for a maximum period of 90 days. Therefore, you must fulfil certain requirements, such as applying for a visa, which is like a permit to stay for more than 90 days if the degree you have chosen has a longer duration. Have your degree approved and legalised and have an average grade that allows you to be admitted to an authorised educational institution for this purpose and complete the pre-enrolment process at the educational institution of your choice.
Legal requirements
When arriving in Spain you must apply for a foreigner's identification card, known as a "TIE", similar to your Colombian DNI. It'll carry a photo and a foreigner's identification number known as a "NIE". If you apply for a student visa from Colombia, when granted, your passport will be stamped and you will be assigned a number, this will be your "NIE". As soon as you arrive in Spain, and within the first month, you must make an appointment at the immigration office to apply for your TIE. This is the official permit that will allow you to live and study there.
You'll have to prove your financial solvency, open a bank account and deposit the equivalent of 600 euros per month, which will allow you to live without financial hardship.
You must also arrange a no co-payment health insurance, which you can do from Colombia. By contacting a health insurance agent, you can do your application remotely.
Educational requirements
Academically, you also have to complete certain steps, i.e., have your degree approved. Don't panic: this procedure is usually taken care of by the university you have chosen.
Have the diploma legalised that accredits your secondary education, equivalent to the Spanish baccalaureate, at the chancellery.
Apply for a student visa by proving that you have been admitted to a study institution and that you have paid the relevant tuition fees.
Take the PCE UNEDasiss exam. This specific exam is a test of "competencies" required by Spanish universities and is directly related to the field of study you have chosen to pursue.
How to get a student visa in Spain?
This is the purely bureaucratic process:
You must fill in a visa application form, taking into account that you have to fill it in with a blue or black pen. You can find it in this link procedure to apply for a student visa in Spain.
Your passport must be valid.
You have to submit a recent "ID" type photo with a white background, a 4x4 size and a front view.
You must provide the letter of acceptance from the institution that has admitted you as a student. This must include all your details: name and surname, ID document, field of study, name of the course or degree you are going to undertake, start and end dates, enrolment fee and its value and contact details.
Is it possible to study and work in Spain at the same time?
This is a frequently asked question. If you are going to spend 3 to 4 years studying outside Colombia, how are you going to finance your living expenses? The reality is that this specific visa doesn't allow you to work, but having completed a special authorisation request to the General Secretariat for the Immigration and Migration of the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Social Security, you can obtain a permit to do work in fields related to your area of study with contracts of up to 20 hours per week. If that option doesn't suit you, you can take internships, but you must have completed more than 1/3 of your current degree.
Scholarships for Colombians to study in Spain
What sort of scholarships are available for Colombian citizens today? Once admitted to a university, you can apply for different scholarships:
MEC scholarship. For this, you must be Spanish or have an EU passport. Your residence permit must be more than one year old prior to your application, i.e., if you have enrolled for the January 2023 academic year your residence must date back to, at least, January 2022. Your economic, financial and family situation will be assessed and, if found to be superior to that of someone who might need a scholarship, you will be denied. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive the corresponding financial assistance.
There are also academic scholarships. These will require you to have a PCE mark above 5 as well and to have enrolled for the full first year. You are entitled to financial scholarships for between 500 and 9.000 euros per year (academic year).
Beyond these scholarships, you have other grants for transport, accommodation, study materials. Also, merit-based scholarships, tuition fees and collaboration.
WorldRemit, on the side of students living abroad
At WorldRemit we thought of those young students who dare to take the step of studying abroad. That's why, if this is the case of your children, we'll help you in the way we do best: by making it easier for you to send money from abroad. Thus, we'll send them the financial aid for their studies that they need. Giving support like that, will make you feel closer than ever.
Want to start making overseas wire transfers to support the education of a loved one? Our Customer Service team will explain how to do it.
This press release is intended for marketing purposes only and does not constitute or provide legal or investment advice.
Back to homeWorldRemit allows customers to stay connected and support their loved ones. Our Content Team plays an integral part in that. We celebrate the global community and help you to achieve your ambitions.
