PCE or EBAU: which university entrance exam are you interested in?

If you have finished high school outside of Spain and want to study a degree at a Spanish public university, you have to take an entrance exam. And here comes the first question: PCE or EBAU?

The short answer is that you don't choose: it depends on the autonomous community in which the university you want is located. We explain it to you below, with the complete list.

One piece of information before continuing: 100% of our students who complete the University Pathway Course get a place. And 75% arrive without knowing Spanish.

Your access grade is built with three blocks, up to a maximum of 14 points:

• High school approval: up to 6 points. It is the grade of your studies in your country, validated.

• PCE or EBAU: up to 4 points. These are the entrance exams for students. international.

• University phase: up to 4 points. Extra subjects that score according to the career you want.

Each degree has a cut-off score, which is the score of the last person admitted the previous year. It is indicative and changes every year, so the strategy consists of choosing the subjects well to add the maximum possible.

The PCE are Tests of Specific Competencies. You take the exam in 4 subjects.

They are the access route in: Valencian Community, Madrid, Murcia, the Canary Islands, Extremadura, Castilla y León, Galicia, the Basque Country and Navarra.

The EBAU is the Baccalaureate Assessment for University Access. Here you examine 6 subjects: the 4 main ones plus History of Spain and Spanish Language and Literature.

It is the access route in: Andalusia, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria.

That is to say: the EBAU requires two more subjects, and both are in Spanish and have Spanish content, so it requires more linguistic preparation. That's why the course is different and so is the price.

The course is a full academic year, from October to August. It starts on the first Monday in October and ends on the last Friday in August. In the EBAU itinerary there is also a second start on January 7.

There are two itineraries depending on the level of Spanish with which you arrive:

• Itinerary I, if you already have a B1 or higher: you start in October directly with the subjects, plus 1 hour of general Spanish for reinforcement per day.

• Itinerary II, if you start from scratch or below B1: from October to January, intensive Spanish phase. From January to May, academic preparation phase.

The official exam is in June. From July to August the cycle closes with pre-registration and registration.

And if you want to get a head start, there is the Early Start: up to 12 weeks of prior immersion, 20 hours per week, in groups of up to 12 students, for €150 per week. It starts on the first Monday of July.

• University Pathway PCE, in-person academic year. 4 subjects, or 3 subjects plus general Spanish: €4,500.

• University Pathway EBAU, face-to-face academic year. 4 face-to-face subjects plus 2 online, or 3 subjects plus general Spanish plus 2 online: €5,250.

• Master or Higher Degree, 20 hours per week of Spanish plus differentiated consulting: €4,500.

• Early Start, prior immersion of up to 12 weeks: €150 per week.

Educational consulting, if you need help with the procedures. Three levels, and each one is worth the same whether you access a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree or a Higher Degree:

• Standard: €300. Homologation of documents, registration for official exams, information on access requirements and pre-registration.

• Premium: €600. All of the above plus assistance in the registration. pre-registration according to the access criteria of the chosen degree and advice on the documents to get extra points.

• University registration: €600. We will bring you the registration once you have the place.

Help with the processing of your visa with a specialized immigration law firm, included and free of charge. A lawyer prepares and reviews your complete file, verifying that you meet the consulate requirements. and presents it without errors and with the maximum guarantees of success. The final resolution is signed by the consulate or the Immigration Office, not the School.

The course includes help with visa processing if you need it, the materials, the attendance certificate, educational consulting, the higher education orientation course, immigration advice and the homologation of degrees. It does not include the official fees for the DELE or SIELE exams, nor university fees, nor accommodation.

See the PCE course · See the EBAU course

Can I choose between PCE and EBAU?
It depends on the autonomous community of the university you want. Tell us what grade and what city you have in mind and we will tell you which one is your turn.

Do I need to know Spanish to start?
No. 75% of our students arrive without knowing Spanish, and that is what Itinerary II is for.

Do I need a visa?
If you are from outside the European Union, yes. And you don't do it alone: ​​you have help processing your visa with a specialized immigration law firm, at no additional cost, which prepares and reviews your file to present it without errors and with the maximum guarantee of success. The final resolution is signed by the consulate or the Immigration Office, not the School. All the requirements and documents, on the study visa page.

When do I have to decide?
As soon as possible. Between the homologation of the baccalaureate, the apostilles and the visa appointment it takes months.

Is there an online version?
Yes, look at the comparison of PCE and EBAU online.