We have good news. The past May 4th 2023 The Colombian Vice Minister of National Education and the Spanish Ministers of Universities and Education and Vocational Training signed a new study collaboration agreement. Thanks to this, studying in Spain as a Colombian student is now a little easier; however, there are some points worth clarifying. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know if you're a Colombian student considering applying to a Spanish university.
What does the study agreement between Spain and Colombia detail?
As can be seen in the BOE 118 of May 18, 2023 or Icfes page The agreement with the Colombian Institute for Educational Evaluation (Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación) establishes mutual recognition of high school diplomas and the Saber 11 (Colombia) and PAU (Spain) standardized tests. This means that Colombian students wishing to study in Spain will not necessarily need to have their high school diplomas validated. A correlation is established between the PAU score and the Saber 11 score. Furthermore, the agreement also establishes the equivalence of high school diplomas.
This study agreement between Colombia and Spain not only focuses on the bachelor's degree, but also applies to all degrees that allow access to higher education in Colombia. Furthermore, Spanish students who wish to study in Colombia will be able to access university in that country with any degree that allows access to university in Spain.
How do I calculate my PAU grade if I have taken the Saber 11 state test?
Following the terms of the agreement, the relationship established between the Saber 11 tests and the Spanish university entrance exams (PAU) follows a series of formulas depending on the score obtained. proposed formulas
- For a grade 'n' in the test, know 11 greater than or equal to 200 points and less than 350 points:
- Access grade Spain: (n-12,5)/37,5
- For a grade 'n' of the test know 11 greater than or equal to 350 and less than 400 points:
- Spain access note: (n+212,5)/62,5
- For a grade 'n' of the test, know 11 greater than or equal to 400 and up to 500 points
- Spain access note: (n+4500)/500
For example, a Colombian student who scored 375 points should use the formula: (n+212,5)/62,5
Therefore, their entry grade in Spain would be: (375 + 212,5) / 62,5 = 9,4
The table below shows some reference values for the Saber 11 test score and its equivalent score in the University Entrance Exams (PAU):
| Nopta Saber 11 (from 0 to 500) | PAU equivalent grade (from 0 to 10) |
|---|---|
| 200 | 5,00 |
| 250 | 6,33 |
| 300 | 7,66 |
| 350 | 9,00 |
| 400 | 9,80 |
| 450 | 9,90 |
| 500 | 10,00 |
ICFES - PAU Equivalency Calculator
ICFES Calculator → PAU Grade
Enter your score Saber 11 and calculate your equivalent access grade in Spain, on a scale of 0 to 10.
View formulas by segment
In what cases would the student have to homologate their high school diploma?
The study agreement between Colombia and Spain makes it possible to avoid having to homologate the Colombian or Spanish high school diploma on a mandatory basis. However, there will be occasions when to study in Spain as a Colombian, it will be necessary to carry out the homologation and even take the specific skills test (PCE). This test provides an access grade to Spanish universities for students with a foreign baccalaureate. You can find more information about her at this link.
Below we will mention some details to consider about the agreement:
- The agreement only allows obtaining a maximum grade of 10 on the university entrance exam.In Spain, university entrance scores range from 0 to 14. Therefore, students wishing to access programs with high cut-off scores must have their degree validated. They will also need to take the specific phase of the PCE exam. For example, a Colombian student wishing to study medicine in Spain will have to validate their degree and take one to four exams to achieve the required score.
- Students with a score less than 200 points are excluded. If the score obtained on the Saber 11 exam is below 200 points, the benefits of the agreement will not apply. In this case, the Colombian high school diploma must be validated, and the specific skills test (PCE UNEDassis) must be taken.
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Other aspects to take into account about the study agreement between Colombia and Spain
In addition to cases where the high school diploma needs to be validated, it should be noted that students who take advantage of the agreement may not have guaranteed access to university for other reasons:
- Having a PAU score higher than the cut-off score for the desired degree does not guarantee access to a Spanish university.We have discussed this point on several occasions, such as in our post about what is the cut-off mark. If there are many students with the same grade or higher applying for a degree, obtaining a place is not guaranteed. That is why you should always try to obtain the highest grade possible.
- It is possible that some university may request its own admission requirements.The education agreement signed between Colombia and Spain does not prevent universities in either country from imposing their own tests or requirements for admission. This is not very common in Spanish public universities, although it is important to research the degree program you wish to pursue and the universities that offer it.
This study agreement between Colombia and Spain is very interesting for all Colombian students who wish to study a degree in Spain with a cut-off score of 10 points or lower. However, for degrees with high cut-off scores, such as medicine or engineering, it will still be necessary to have their high school diploma validated and take the UNEDassis PCE exams.
If you want to know more about how to study in Spain as a Colombian, this article you will find all the information. If you are thinking of studying at a Spanish university, at the Luis Vives Study Center we are always willing to advise and guide our students with our UNEDassis PCE exam preparation courses.
Our experience preparing future university students speaks for itself!contact us Or fill out the form!
96 comments on “New agreement between Spain and Colombia for students 🇪🇸🇨🇴”
Good afternoon. I'm Colombian, but I live in Spain, and all of my studies are in Spanish. I have a Bachelor's degree (average grade of 8) and earned a grade of 92 on the Evau (Experimental Education Program). But I want to go study medicine in Colombia. What should I do?
Hello, Catalina:
Our center is responsible for preparing international students who wish to continue their studies in Spain, so we are familiar with the procedures and paperwork required. However, we are unfamiliar with the procedures required by international students who wish to continue their studies in Colombia, as is your case. We recommend that you contact the relevant educational authorities in Colombia and they will inform you of the steps you need to take.
A greeting.
Hello good afternoon, I am in Asturias, I am Colombian, I have my degree already approved and I got 251 in the ICFES tests. I want to study psychology. I don't know if I should take the exams or what to do.
Hello, Crystal:
The grade you indicated you got in the ICFES would be equivalent to getting a 6,33 in the EvAU/EBAU tests, so you could directly access any degree with a cut-off grade of 6,33 or lower. To access any degree with a higher cut-off grade, you will have to take the PCE exams.
A greeting.
Hello, good morning, I was born in Colombia but I studied in Spain since I was little. Today I live in Colombia and I want to study at SENA. How can I validate my FP degree?
Thank you
Hello Paula:
Since you want to study at SENA, it would be ideal for you to ask there so they can tell you the steps you have to follow to do so.
A greeting.
Hi !
I want to take the free oral hygiene tests for the FP Superior. I am a Colombian dentist in the process of obtaining certification.
Do I have to validate my high school diploma to take these tests?
All the best
Hi Claudia:
For this question, it is best that you go directly to the Spanish Ministry of Education.
A greeting.
Hi good afternoon
I have been a high school graduate in Colombia since 1991 and I want to homologate it in Spain. What should I do?
I also want to know, I have a friend who lives in Portugal and wants to do the accreditation of nursing assistant in Spain, she also has to do the baccalaureate
Hello, Luz:
To have your high school diploma recognised, you must contact the Spanish Ministry of Education, which is the body responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Regarding the case you mentioned about your friend, it is not necessary to validate her high school diploma in order to validate the Nursing Assistant diploma, since they are different diplomas.
A greeting.