It is essential to speak Spanish to study in Spain.
Only one organization can issue an official Spanish language certificate: the Instituto Cervantes.
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Depending on the course of study and the university you choose, the level of Spanish you will be required to take will vary. We strongly advise you to take the necessary steps to have your level certified, because in most cases, having a certificate of your Spanish language level will facilitate your admission process to study in Spain.
There are 3 levels of Spanish: A, B and C. Each one is subdivided into 2, so we usually speak of 6 levels.
Level A (elementary): subdivided into A1 which is the introductory or discovery level and A2 which is the intermediate or common level.
Level B (independent): subdivided into B1 which is the threshold level and B2 which is the advanced or independent level.
Level C (experienced): subdivided into C1 which is that of an autonomous user and C2 for the user who practices Spanish as if it were his or her mother tongue.
If you are currently on an A1 or A2 elementary level , it is imperative that you progress in Spanish. Neither of these two levels can allow you to take Spanish courses without the risk of missing out on the basics that will help you pass your exams and therefore your studies in Spain.
If you currently have a B1 level, you will be able to have a common conversation with Spanish people (landlords, bus drivers, sales clerks, etc.). You will also be able to join several courses at several universities in Spain if you commit to enrolling in compulsory Spanish courses at the beginning of the school year in order to reach a higher level as soon as possible. However, be aware that yourfirst semester may be difficult and the first courses, especially if they are technical, may require a lot of effort and concentration. Try to progress to the next level now, it will make your studies easier.
From level B2 onwards (and this is also valid for C1 and C2), your mastery of the Spanish language is sufficient not to block your admission to any course or university in Spain. You will be able to follow your courses without major difficulties and will not risk failing your exams because of your lack of mastery of the Spanish language. Your level will also be sufficient for you to integrate easily in Spain and communicate with your teachers and other Spanish students.
Your level of Spanish will therefore range from A (lowest level) to C (highest level). If you'd like to find out more about these levels, or assess your current level, please feel free to read or reread our blog article at the following link: https: //www.feeduc.eu/quel-niveau-despagnol-pour-etudier-en-espagne/
How do I get certified in Spanish to study in Spain?
There are 3 ways to obtain certification of your level of Spanish for studying in Spain: 2 are taken externally through the Instituto Cervantes, the3rd is a test organized by the universities themselves.
- This diploma is issued by the Instituto Cervantes.
- It has the advantage of not having an expiration date.
- The exam consists of 4 tests: written comprehension, written expression, oral comprehension, oral expression.
- The examination centers can be consulted on this link and the registration is done directly with the chosen center.
- You must register for a specific level (A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2): be careful to make the right choice when you register because, if you fail the exam, you will not obtain a certificate for a level other than the one presented. You will either pass or fail.
- There are approximately 6 sessions per year.
- The results are obtained approximately 3 months after the exam.
- The price is between 100 euros and 200 euros and varies according to the level presented.
- Once registered, you have access to the exams of previous sessions
- This certificate is issued by the Instituto Cervantes.
- The exam consists of 4 tests: reading comprehension, written expression-interaction, listening comprehension, oral expression-interaction.
- The examination centers can be consulted on this link.
- Registration, examination, results and certificate are only available from a computer.
- You will not register for a specific level (A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2). You will obtain a result on each of the 4 tests. Your result may vary from one test to another.
- The number of sessions varies according to the organizing examination center.
- The results are obtained approximately 3 weeks after the exam.
- The rate (2021) is 165 euros.
- Once registered, you have access to preparation modules
- Some universities organize their own Spanish tests for all students in the admissions process.
- Other universities offer their own tests for students who do not have the DELE or SIELE.
- These tests are sometimes performed on site, sometimes performed online.
- We advise students to take the tests on site because it is often difficult to adapt to the technical constraints and therefore to take the university tests in good conditions. The result can often be inferior to the level obtained with SIELE.
How do you certify your Spanish level depending on the university you choose?
Since each university has its own admission process, each university will accept different ways of certifying the level of Spanish.
This information is fundamental to your admission process if you are planning to study in Spain
In order to help you find your way around, we have listed below the procedures for each of the universities we have selected in Spain. If you wish to apply to a university that we have not selected, please contact us directly so that we can provide you with the details.
Level of Spanish expected by our partner universities
- ESADE - School of Business, Finance, Law: C2 certified by the DELE or SIELE to study in Spanish. If you wish to study in English, you must also prove a B2 level in English by providing an official English language diploma.
- UAX - Dental, physiotherapy, veterinary, architecture, podiatry, business, pharmacy, engineering...: A Spanish test is organized by the university and is taken at the same time as the other distance or face-to-face entrance tests. Students who have the DELE or SIELE, attesting to at least a B1 level, also take this test but this may allow them, if they wish, to be exempted from the pre-entry Spanish course which lasts 3 weeks and is not free. These 3 weeks of Spanish classes are MANDATORY for all those who were not able to present a diploma or official certificate issued by the Instituto Cervantes, regardless of the result obtained in the UAX Spanish test.
- Nebrija - Physics, Engineering, Architecture, Business...: B2 certified by the DELE or SIELE. The university also requires you to take the Spanish test specific to its university.
- UEM - Dental, physiotherapy, hearing aid, architecture, engineering, business, pharmacy...: Whatever the level required (B1 or B2 depending on the course of study) in Spanish or English, it is the university that evaluates the students. The tests take place at a distance.
- U-TAD - Creation of video games, cartoons... : B1 minimum attested by the DELE or the SIELE B2 is recommended.
- UEV- translation/interpreting, dental, physiotherapy, architecture... :
- the university evaluates the students. A level between B1 and B2, depending on the course of study chosen, is required for the university test.
- UEC - Kiné, architecture, tourism...: the university evaluates the students. The B1 level is required for the university test. The tests are done remotely.
- UFV- Kine, pharmacy, engineering, communication, architecture... : B1 minimum attested by the DELE or the SIELE. UFV also offers you to take their written test and an oral interview is mandatory.
- CEU San Pablo - Kinesiology, Architecture, Journalism...: minimum B1 certified by the DELE or SIELE. If you don't have it, the university test will be used. B2 is recommended. An interview is conducted to confirm this level.
- MOPE - Audioprosthesis: A B1 level is recommended to study this course in a semi-personal setting.
- Public universities in Spain: The level of Spanish required may vary by region. However, the B2 level certified by a DELE or SIELE is required by most of them.
How do you evaluate your current level of Spanish to study in Spain?
You may be wondering how to find out your current level of Spanish?
Do not rely on what is indicated in France according to your high school class. These indications are rarely verified by the official level tests that you can take.
Where can I take a test to find out my level of Spanish?
Most language schools that offer Spanish courses can and will give you a test as a prerequisite to enrolling in a course.
You can find the ones that several of our students have already worked with via this link.
You will also find at this link an access to the online test of the Instituto Cervantes (the public Spanish language school), which although a little optimistic, gives a fairly reliable indication of your level of Spanish.
Here's FEEDUC's professional opinion on studying in Spain and which courses are of real or no interest to French students.
If your project is for 2022? Contact us as soon as possible!
If your project is for 2023 or later? Contact us as soon as you wish, but don't delay because a study abroad project must be prepared and anticipated: it is never too early...especially if you are aiming for a public university in a very selective course in Spain!
It's also in the preparation that FEEDUC brings you its real added value.
It's our presence in the field that makes FEEDUC: we know what we're talking about, and we only talk about what we know.
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