👨‍🏫The importance of higher education when looking for a job

Hello, #Vivers! Many of the students who come to our Selectivity academy, access to FP and preparation of free tests in Madrid to prepare, do so with the same objective: to improve their employment situation. Some are out of work and are looking to obtain a degree that will allow them to apply for more jobs. Others, however, despite being working, need to improve their qualifications due to the demands of the company or seeking to improve in it.

The prospects for the Spanish labor market in the future offer interesting data; vacancies will be oriented (more than 65%) towards Vocational Training. It is the training segment most in demand currently by public and private companies in the country, a trend that has been observed in recent years.

According to various studies, of the total job offers, around 38% need people with university degrees. While the demand for higher degree FP titles is at 42%. These indicators contrast with the figures from a few years ago, where the most in demand were professional titles.

Percentage of vacancies that require each degree

According to job offer data provided by the job search portal Jobsora.com, the offers are distributed as follows:

Selectivity preparation academies, access to FP and free tests in Madrid - Luis Vives Study Center
  • University degree: near to 14% of offers of published employment, require a university degree. This represents a decrease of approximately 2% compared to the previous period.
  • Higher degree vocational training degree: Vacancies requesting a higher degree vocational training degree increased by close to 20% compared to the previous period (2018). Job offers for this training category reach 25%, is positioned as the second most demanded in Spain. This indicator reflects the observed trend, with an increase in vacancies for Higher Vocational Training degrees exceeding the supply of university degrees.
  • Baccalaureate degree: The 12% of vacancies At Jobsora they request a Baccalaureate degree, with more than 350 thousand job offers. The demand for this level of training experienced growth of around 11% (in relation to the previous year).
  • Secondary Education Degree: of the total vacancies, the 29% request a secondary degree (ESO – Compulsory Secondary Education). More than 890 thousand job offers requested an ESO qualification, with a growth of 6%.
  • Without qualification: vacancies that apply for without qualifications represents 14,5%, with a 60% increase in job offers.

Average salary offered in offers according to qualification.

The average annual salary for vacancies is directly proportional to the level of education, in other words, the higher the level of education, the higher the salary to be obtained.

Selectivity preparation academies, access to FP and free tests in Madrid - Luis Vives Study Center

As can be seen, the difference between offers at one level or another is quite notable, being 31% between those for university graduates and those without a degree.

Compared to the previous period, the offers whose amounts increased the most were those for Baccalaureate, with an increase of 3%, and those for higher degree vocational training graduates, with 2%. For their part, offers for university graduates and secondary education rose only 1%. The only ones that decrease are the offers that do not require any qualification, which are down 1% compared to the previous year.

I hope that with this it has become clear to you how important it is to have an official qualification when looking for a job. At the Luis Vives Study Center, we are an academy for selectivity preparation, access to FP and free tests in Madrid, and we can prepare you to obtain some of the qualifications requested in the offers, such as the Official Graduate Degree in ESO, or the Baccalaureate degree. In the same way, we also prepare you so that you can access the studies that allow you to obtain the highest qualifications, through the higher degree vocational training entrance exam and Selectivity.

Preparation academy for access to university PCE - Unedasiss - Luis Vives Study Center
📑10 steps to access university in Spain

Hello, #Vivers! At the Luis Vives Study Center, as an academy specialized in the preparation of the PCE UNEDasiss Specific Competence Tests for access to university, we know first-hand the process that international students must follow to access a Spanish university. In this blog post we want to make it easier for you to follow so that you can achieve your goal of entering university. If you are a student with a foreign or international baccalaureate and want to know the registration process for the university entrance exams of PCE UNEDasiss Keep reading 👀, we summarize them in 10 easy steps. 

1. Finish high school 🤓

The first thing you have to ask yourself is where you studied high school.
If the answer is “outside Spain”, this article is for you.
And, which countries is this test aimed at? Here You will be able to identify which educational system corresponds to your high school degree. You already have it?
The second step will be to start processing the translation and apostille your baccalaureate with the Hague Apostille. You can start this process in your country of origin if necessary.
Remember that if you have not completed your high school studies, you will not be able to take the selectivity exam. 

2. Homologation of your high school diploma 📝

The homologation of your bachelor's degree is one of the most important procedures that you must complete as soon as possible. Go to Ministry of Education in Spain or to the consulate of your country to begin the homologation process if your type of high school requires it. It may take a while for your degree to be approved, but don't worry, the important thing is that you have started the process. Here You have explained, step by step, the requirements to validate the Baccalaureate degree in Spain.

3. What to study and where 🏫

This is the key point to start your studies. A large part of the students are clear about what they want to study. If you are one of those who are not sure, we can give you a hand. Here You will be able to see the entire educational offer of the university degrees proposed in Madrid. It is important that, if you cannot decide between two or more careers, they are from the same path of study. Have you found your ideal degree? Okay, now let's go choose the subjects What should you study?

It is vitally important that you are clear At which university do you want to study?, since this will determine the number of subjects you must present in the exam. 

4. We start studying 📚

The time has come to focus on your studies. Look for a course that you really believe will be able to meet what you need. Try to have enough time to complete the syllabus before the exam date. 

Nowadays, many of the PCE UNEDasiss selectivity preparation academies can offer you different study methods: face-to-face courses, online courses, inverted classroom or flipped classroom, etc.

In our academy we offer you exclusive preparation focused on the PCE UNEDasiss university entrance tests, both in person and online, you decide what best suits you. 

5. Registration for the PCE university access tests ✍🏽

Between the months of February and March, the UNED – examining university – opens the registration periods for the PCE university entrance exams. We recommend that you do not leave it until the last day, since places in the UNED affiliated centers are limited in each autonomous community. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation for registration in order: passport, NIE or DNI, as well as the certificate of approval of the high school diploma or the language certificate in the case of belonging to a non-Spanish-speaking country. 

The UNED offers two exam sessions; ordinary call and extraordinary call. We recommend that you try to access the university in the ordinary session, since there may not be space left in the extraordinary session to be able to access the degree you want.

6. Carrying out the PCE UNEDasiss university entrance exams🧾

You can take the PCE UNEDasiss university entrance exam at any center affiliated with the UNED, whether in Spain or another country. The tests are usually held at the end of May and beginning of June for the ordinary session and at the beginning of September for the extraordinary session. At the time of registration you will have the possibility to choose the center where you want to present yourself.

7. Posting notes 🔢

Once the week of the PCE university entrance exams has concluded, the grades usually take about 3 weeks to be published from the date of the last exam. You will be able to see your published notes in your UNEDasiss control panel. Once you have received your transcript, you will be able to apply for a place at different universities if your grade reaches the cut-off grade required by the university. 

8. Pre-registration to the university ✒️

You are one step away from entering the university world. In mid-July you will be able to Pre-register for the 12 degrees that interest you most (always in order of preference) in the universities that offer them. 

9. Confirmation of your access to the university ✅

If the university accepts your application, congratulations! You will receive a confirmation email notifying you of the university where your place is reserved. 

 10. We welcome you to the university! 👩🏻‍🎓👨🏾‍🎓

University degrees in Spain usually begin in the months of September and October. Get ready, begin a new stage full of new challenges and experiences. Learn and, above all, enjoy this new beginning. 

What did you think of the article? Has it helped you? Now all you have left is the funniest part: DESIGN A PLAN. Review all the steps you must take, analyze your personal situation and define goals and objectives that you can achieve step by step. And if you need an academy to help you prepare for the PCE, at the Luis Vives Study Center we have courses adapted for all needs.  

Study in Spain as a Colombian - Luis Vives Study Center
🇨🇴Study in Spain as a Colombian

Every year, hundreds of students from Colombia choose Spain as the place to pursue their higher education. Starting in 2023, after the new education agreement between Spain and Colombia, access to university in Spain will be easier for some of them. However, not everyone will be able to opt for this new fast track and will have to follow the existing route to study in Spain as a foreigner, which includes homologating their Colombian bachelor's degree. We know that it can be difficult to know which path to take; For this reason, at the Luis Vives Study Center we have prepared in this article a brief guide on how to study in Spain as a Colombian. 

How to study in Spain as a Colombian?

The first thing to do is study each case to know if it can benefit from the new agreement signed between Spain and Colombia. Thanks to this, in some cases it will not be necessary to homologate the Colombian bachelor's degree. However, there will be cases in which it is necessary to resort to the approval route:

  • The equivalent EBAU grade does not exceed the cut-off grade of the desired degree. If the score obtained in the Saber 11 test results in an EBAU grade lower than the cut-off grade, it will be necessary to homologate the bachelor's degree and take the specific PCE competency tests. 
  • The score obtained in the knowledge 11 test is less than 200 points. All Colombian students who are in this situation will not be able to benefit from the agreement. Therefore, they will have to homologate their high school diploma and take the specific PCE skills tests.
  • An online baccalaureate has been completed: This type of bachelor's degree is not contemplated in the agreement, so students must have their degree approved.

These are the cases in which a Colombian student trying to access university in Spain needs to homologate his high school degree. You can learn how to calculate the EBAU grade from the Saber 11 test, in addition to other aspects of the agreement in our article about the agreement between Spain and Colombia. In addition to the situations indicated above, we must point out that due to the short time that the agreement has been in force, particular situations may arise where homologation is also necessary.

What steps should students from Colombia follow to study in Spain?

Like the rest of foreign students, anyone who wants to study in Spain as a Colombian must provide a series of documents. The documentation needed varies depending on whether the homologation of the high school diploma is necessary. Below you can find the existing access paths, documentation and steps to follow. 

Steps to follow and documentation for students who take advantage of the agreement:

Students who take advantage of the agreement between both countries will not have to approve. On the other hand, a student who has a Colombian high school diploma and has a certificate of the results of the Saber 11 test must follow the following steps to study in Spain:

  1. Apostille the high school diploma and the certificate of the results of the Saber 11 test before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.
  1. Present the documentation indicated in step 1 at the National University of Distance Education of Spain (UNED). In this way, university access credentials for foreign bachelor's degrees are obtained.
  1. Once the student has the accreditation issued by the UNED, they can continue their admission process at Spanish universities.

According to the study agreement, the maximum access grade that can be obtained through this route is 10. The accreditation issued by the Uned is available to universities through the UNEDassis platform. 

Steps to follow and documentation if the bachelor's degree must be approved:

If they cannot benefit from the study agreement between the two countries, students must follow the normal route of homologation of the bachelor's degree. In the next lines you can find the steps that must be followed by a Colombian student who already has his bachelor's degree. bachelor. 

  1. Apostille the Colombian bachelor's degree, in this case as Colombia is a country that has signed the Hague Convention, the Hague apostille can be used.
  2. Homologize the Colombian bachelor's degree. To do this, you must present a certified copy of the original degree, as well as the grades from the 11th year of high school courses. In addition, a certified copy of the passport or identity document and the completed form 079 will be required for university studies. Here You have explained, step by step, the requirements to validate the Baccalaureate degree in Spain.
  3. Sign up for the PCEUNEDasiss specific skills tests, where the student will take several exams on different subjects in order to obtain their university entrance grade.
  4. Once we have passed the PCE UNEDasiss tests, UNED will give us the accreditation we need to access the university. It must be taken into account that the calculation of the access grade takes into account both the average grade of the high school student and that of the PCE exams.

This route is noticeably slower, since the approval process can take up to 9 months. It is possible to obtain an estimate of the approved high school grade by taking the Colombian high school grade and multiplying it by two. However, the approved grade is usually somewhat lower than this estimate. 

We show you what the Colombian Bachelor's degree and the Hague Apostille that certifies the validity of the document look like:

Colombian Bachelor's Degree
Colombian Bachelor's Degree
Hague Apostille

Other requirements to study in Spain as a Colombian

The above requirements allow access to universities in Spain. However, it must be taken into account that there are others necessary to remain within Spanish territory. These are necessary regardless of whether the student accepts the agreement or not:

  • Have a valid passport
  • Have a study visa (only for stays longer than 90 days)
  • Justify economic liquidity
  • Provide and indicate place of residence during the validity period of the visa
  • Not having a criminal record

During our long history, we have worked with a large number of students during their access to university in Spain. Now that you know how to study in Spain as a Colombian, it is important that you start your path to higher education in our country as soon as possible. Those students who must validate their degree must begin as soon as possible to prepare the subjects for the PCE UNEDassis test, and what better center than ours to do it. You can always count on our help during your journey and learning,Contact us!

Study agreement between Colombia and Spain - Luis Vives Study Center
🇪🇸🇨🇴New agreement between Spain and Colombia for students

Hello, #Vivers! Today we bring good news. On May 4, 2023, the Vice Minister of National Education of Colombia and the Ministers of Universities and Education and Vocational Training of Spain signed a new study collaboration agreement. Thanks to this, studying in Spain as a Colombian is now a little easier; However, there are some points that should be clarified. In this article we tell you everything you need to know if you are a Colombian student and are thinking of entering 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 (Colombian Institute for the Evaluation of Education), the agreement agrees on mutual recognition of high school diplomas and the state tests saber 11 (Colombia) and EBAU (Spain). This means that students who wish to study in Spain as Colombians will not necessarily have to homologate their bachelor's degree. A relationship is thus established between the EBAU grade and the knowledge test grade 11. In addition, the equivalence of high school degrees is also established.

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 the EBAU grade if I have taken the Saber 11 state test?

Following what is dictated in the agreement, the relationship established between the Saber 11 tests and the Spanish EBAU follows a series of formulas depending on the score obtained. The proposed formulas are the following:

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 got a score of 375 points must use the formula 

(n+212,5)/62,5

So your entrance grade in Spain would be: (375+212,5)/62,5= 9,4

The table shown below shows some reference values ​​for the grade in the Saber 11 test and its equivalent grade in EBAU:

Note know 11 (from 0 to 500) EBAU 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

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 you to obtain a maximum EBAU grade of 10. In Spain, the university entrance grade follows a scale that goes from 0 to 14. Therefore, students who wish to access careers with high cut-off grades must necessarily homologate their degree. In addition, they must take the specific phase of the PCE test. For example, a Colombian student who wants to study medicine in Spain will have to homologate his degree and take one to four exams to be able to achieve the required grade.
  • Students with a score less than 200 points are excluded. If the grade obtained in the knowledge 11 test is less than 200 points, you will not be able to enjoy the benefits of the agreement. In this case, you must proceed through the homologation of the Colombian bachelor's degree and take the specific skills test (PCEUNEDassis). 

Other aspects to take into account about the study agreement between Colombia and Spain

In addition to the cases in which the high school diploma must be homologated, it must be taken into account that students who take advantage of the agreement may not be guaranteed access to the university for other reasons:

  • Having an EBAU grade higher than the cut-off grade for the desired degree does not guarantee access to a Spanish university. We have commented on this point on several occasions, such as in our post on what is 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 the universities of both countries from imposing any test or requirement necessary for admission. This is not very common in public Spanish universities, although it is important to find out about the degree you want to study 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 grade equal to or less than 10 points. However, for careers with a high cut-off mark such as medicine or engineering, it will still be necessary to validate the bachelor's degree and take the PCEUNEDassis tests. If you want to know more about how to study in Spain as a Colombian in 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 preparation courses for the PCEUNEDassis tests. Our experience preparing future university students supports us, contact us!

Study in Spain as a foreigner - Luis Vives Study Center
Study in 🇪🇸Spain: we solve all your doubts

Have you already decided? Do you want to come to study in Spain? Good! Spain is a very popular destination among international students. It has a great history, cultural wealth and a warm climate. That is why many young people decide to come to study in Spain and they do so from very diverse backgrounds: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the United States, Morocco or Iran. In this article you will discover important questions that you should know, and what steps you should follow depending on your age and your level of education. And if instead of reading you prefer to be told, you have to see the video we have prepared about all the steps to follow to study in Spain as a foreigner.

What do I need to know to come to study in Spain as a foreigner?

To start planning to come to study in Spain as a foreigner, there are certain things that we consider important for you to be clear about.

  • The language: if you don't speak Spanish, you will have to start studying it before arriving in Spain. And what better place to start learning Spanish than in our Spanish school.
  • Visa: if you are from outside the EU you will need a visa to come to Spain. You can apply for a tourist visa (90 days) or a long-term study visa. 
  • Accommodation: sometimes students come to Spain to live in the house of a friend or family member. If this is not the case, we recommend that you look for accommodation before coming.
  • Cost of living: you must bear in mind that large cities are more expensive, you must include issues such as accommodation, food, transportation, courses or study materials in your budget.
  • Culture: Spain has a culture that may be different from that of your country of origin. It will help you a lot to know what we Spaniards are like.
  • Transportation: Public transportation in Spain is quite good and can be a cheaper option than having your own car. Most cities have subway and bus systems that are easy to use.

If you already have all this more or less under control, we explain the steps to follow depending on your age and level of education.

I am under 18 and have not completed my Secondary or Baccalaureate studies

In this case, it will be recommended that you continue your studies in Spain, completing Compulsory Secondary Education (up to 16 years of age) or the Spanish Baccalaureate (up to 18 years of age). Generally, these procedures are carried out by the parents or guardians of the minor, for which it is necessary:

  • That the minor is registered in the city of residence.
  • If one of the parents is in the country of origin, they must send a power of attorney to the other parent, so that they can carry out the necessary procedures to enroll the minor in the school.

With the above already prepared, parents can go to a formal education center to be guided on the course that the student can join based on their age.

If you are of legal age and have not finished your secondary or high school studies, you can prepare the free tests to obtain the secondary school graduate degree in Spain, access tests to vocational training cycles (official technical teachings to learn a trade) or the University entrance exam for over 25s. These tests are prepared for students of different ages depending on their academic objectives.

I have finished my Secondary or Baccalaureate studies in my country, I can homologate them to the Spanish baccalaureate, and I want to pursue higher education in Spain

In this case you can prepare to access these higher studies through the homologation of the qualification from your country. This approval is a procedure that is carried out in the Ministry of Education of Spain, and you can do it from your country of origin or once you have arrived in our country. Here You have explained, step by step, how to homologate your Baccalaureate studies in Spain.

In Spain, two types of higher education are offered: vocational training and university degrees. 

👉Higher vocational training titles are technical studies, they last two years, and are offered so that the student learns a trade and can enter the labor market. In fact, in the last weeks of this degree you will do internships in a company. You can apply for a place in a higher level training cycle if you have your qualification approved to the Spanish Baccalaureate.

👉University degrees normally last four years. In addition to starting your process of homologation to the Spanish baccalaureate, to access the university you must check the admission conditions of the university you want to enter. These universities may require you to take an exam similar to that of students with a Spanish Baccalaureate, called EBAU or EvAU. However, other universities may require you to appear at UNEDasiss Specific Competence Tests. These exams are held in May-June in their ordinary session (July-September in the extraordinary one), and you already know that you can prepare them in Luis Vives.

I have started a university degree in my country, but I have not finished it

If you want to study at university in Spain as a foreigner and in your country you have started a university degree but have NOT finished it, what you must do is approve your high school diploma and carry out the admission process at the university you want. Once you have achieved access, you can request validation of subjects approved at the university in your country. You should know that the decision to validate the subjects will be reserved for the Spanish university to which you enter.

I have a university degree in my country and I want to validate it to study a master's degree or work in Spain as a foreigner

In this case you can request the recognition of your university degree at the Ministry of Education. You should know that this process takes a long time, as of the date this article is written. We recommend that you attend an interview with the Ministry of Education. They will inform you of the time and options you would have to homologate your university degree.

The 5 best careers for access to university selectivity 2021. Luis Vives Study Center
👩‍🎓The 5 degrees with the highest employability rate in Spain

Hello, #Vivers! Study what you like, or study a career with opportunities? Maybe you have always been a person who has been clear about what he wants to be when he grows up. Or maybe not. If you are not clear about your vocation and are preparing for the selectivity exam to enter university, keep reading, because perhaps you had not considered choosing your university major and determining your professional development based on the ease of obtaining a position. work, and the remuneration offered by some business sectors.

Before reaching the job market, many of you find yourself having to choose which university degree to pursue without having finished defining your vocation. So, to help you, we present the university degrees with the greatest employability in Spain:

University access. The 5 races with the best start.

1 Medicine

  • Itinerary: Health Sciences
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 13,31 (UCM)

One of the careers with the most difficult access is also the one with the highest employability rate. 92,1% of medical graduates get a job before the age of 30. Medicine is one of the careers that requires students to have a vocation for study and be willing to continue training throughout their professional career. Likewise, most health sciences degrees have a very high job placement rate.

2. Electrical Engineering

  • Itinerary: Engineering and Architecture
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 10,49 (UPM)

If words like magnetic flux, power, electrical tension and intensity seem interesting to you, you should know that 85,6% of graduates of this university degree get a job before the age of 30. Its graduates, in addition to creating and signing projects, design and analyze physical systems of varying complexity, facilities, equipment and products, in the field of Electrical Engineering.

3. Computer Engineering

  • Itinerary: Engineering and Architecture
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 10,68 (UPM)

We can no longer conceive a world without computers, mobile phones and household appliances connected to the internet. So companies are increasingly demanding workers capable of navigating information and communication technologies (ICT) naturally. If your passion is computers, do not doubt that it can be a good choice for the selectivity exam: almost 85% of computer science graduates find a job when they leave their degree.

4. Statistics

  • Itinerary: Social and Legal Sciences
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 11,78 (UC3M)

Data, data and more data. Companies need to collect a lot of data to properly guide their activity. But, more importantly, they also need people who know how to analyze and interpret that data. Opinion studies, market studies, audiences, biomedical research. 83% of statistics graduates are managing data in a company before they turn 30.

5. Business Administration and Management (ADE)

  • Itinerary: Social and Legal Sciences
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 10,39 (UCM)

Microeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, banking, insurance, labor management... companies are one of the engines of society. If you specialize in ADE, you will access the labor market with some ease to find a job. 

Bonus: Art History

  • Itinerary: Arts
  • Cut-off score 2024 in Madrid: 5,00 (UCM)

We did not want to finish this ranking without getting a university degree in the Arts branch. More than half of Art History graduates find a job of their own before the age of 30. We hope that if this is your vocation, this information encourages you to study this career.

This article has been prepared based on the job placement report most recent (2018) published by the Ministry of Sciences, Innovation and Universities. And you, what career are you thinking of entering? If you leave us a comment indicating the career you would like to pursue, we will tell you the percentage of graduates who find a job after completing that degree. And if you have any other questions regarding selectivity, do not hesitate to contact contact with us and we will try to resolve it.