Spain is one of Europe’s most attractive countries for young people. Every year, thousands of international students are accepted in its universities with the most popular of them being the University of Valencia, Pablo de Olavide University, and Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, to name a few. In this article, we will be looking at ways to study in Spain without IELTS
Why leave IELTS out of the equation?
Since many universities around the world accept both TOEFL and IELTS as proof of proficiency in English, you may come to ask yourself why it is important to have options to study abroad without IELTS.
The preparation for TOEFL is much cheaper than that for IELTS. Moreover, you can prepare for TOEFL for free, given that you already have a B2 level of English. This is because there are plenty of study materials available online for free.
In addition, as of August 2019, they are lightening TOEFL up – some sections are being shortened, which will make the test itself much more manageable and the applicants’ scores are bound to increase.
Last but not least, of the two English language Tests, TOEFL is decisively the more popular one – it is being offered and administered in more than 500 different countries around the world, while IELTS is offered in just under 200 countries.
What are your options for Studying in Spain without IELTS?
There are a number of ways to go to study in Spain without IELTS. Here are some of the most popular options to think about.
1. Show proof of proficiency in Spanish
If you speak Spanish, you can take the internationally-recognized DELE exam. Most universities require a DELE B2 certificate for undergraduate admission. For admission to a postgraduate program, you may need DELE C1.
2. Take a preparatory course in Spanish
This is probably one of the most popular ways to study in Spain without IELTS. You can enroll in a preparatory course in the Spanish language, so as to increase your competency to the level required by the school that you wish to apply to. The Center for Spanish Studies with the University of Nebrija is one of the institutions that offer such preparatory courses. The school also has a campus in the capital of Spain, Madrid.
3. You hold a diploma from a Spanish Language School
If you hold a secondary education diploma from a specialized Spanish language school, you do not need to produce any further evidence of language proficiency in order to pursue an undergraduate degree in Spain. There are such specialized language schools all over the world, so this option is quite viable.
4. You are a native speaker
The two officially-recognized varieties of Spanish in Spain are Gallego and Castellan. However, over 450 million people around the world speak Spanish as their mother tongue. Also, there is the Hispanic community in the USA. If you are a native speaker of Spanish or English, you can definitely study in Spain without IELTS.
5. Produce some other internationally-recognized certificate of proficiency in English
If you would like to enroll in an undergraduate program taught in the English language at a Spanish university, you can always produce an alternative certificate of proficiency in English. Some of the most popular alternatives of IELTS are TOEFL, as well as Cambridge University’s CPE and CAE, to name a few.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Spanish universities where you can enroll without IELTS
The universities reviewed below do not specifically require IELTS scores as proof of competency in the English language, as per the info on the English language versions of their official websites.
1. Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
This small university in Seville, Andalusia, has been one of the most attractive schools for foreign students, namely because of its specialized Spanish language training center. Some of the most popular programs taught in English are Integrated Program: Arts and Letters, Integrated Program: Communication Sciences, and Integrated Program Polytechnic School. The required level of competency in English is just B2 and there isn’t a specific requirement about IELTS.
2. Pablo de Olavide University
This university is particularly popular for its wide variety of programs in Spanish language and studies. Some of these include the Hispanic Studies Program, and the Spanish Language and Culture Program, both of which are postgraduate. There is also a wide variety of preparatory courses in Spanish, including ones for the international certificates TEFL and TESOL.
The most popular Bachelor’s Programs are those in Social and Legal Sciences and Engineering and Architecture.
3. University of Valencia
This arguably is the Spanish university with the highest number of international enrollments according to the latest statistics. While browsing their website, I found out that international students should first find out if their home school has a bilateral agreement with the university, so as to move to study there. They currently are not allowed to enroll at the University of Valencia as free-transfer students. Most of the international students come to the university under the Erasmus Program.
Most importantly, there are no specific requirements for any language certificates for international students. However, it is advisable that they possess basic knowledge of the Spanish language.
4. The University of Salamanca.
This is the third oldest university in Europe, located in one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. The most popular undergraduate programs for international students are in Health and Medicine, and in Spanish Language and Culture. Their Business Program is also a popular choice. There is no information about any specific language competency requirements for foreign students.
Final words on how to study in Spain without IELTS
Above, I highlighted some of the easiest and most straightforward options for studying in Spain without submitting IELTS scores. This information is useful, in view of the constantly rising prices of IELTS preparation courses around the world. At the same time, the TOEFL format is becoming lighter and user-friendlier.
We hope that this article on studying in Spain without IELTS was helpful. To know more information, check out the Programs in Europe for International Students.
