The Department of Education, Research, and Universities of the Basque Government is the agency managing the educational system in the Basque Country and, consequently, in our territory.

The agency works to offer the means for everybody living in Guipúzcoa to access education from the initial to the highest level, making a variety of models and professional profiles available.

The levels of the Basque education system are:

INFANT EDUCATION (Age 0-6). 

This level is non-compulsory. Places are guaranteed and coordinated by Government agencies. In addition, there are private nursery schools and kindergartens ... 

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BASIC EDUCATION (Ages 6-16)

This level is free and compulsory in Donostia-San Sebastián, but there are private schools too. Basic Education is divided into two stages: Primary Education (EP)  ...

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POST-COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION

Non-compulsory. Baccalaureate or Vocational Training. Non-compulsory level for teenagers aged 16+ who have completed their EP and ESO and thus hold ...

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POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION 

The European Space for Higher Education (ESHE), launched in the school year 2010/2011 and made of 45 countries, consists in the development of a flexible ...

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SPECIAL TRAINING COURSES

Training in special areas is also regulated by the Department of Education, Research, and Universities of the Basque Government ...

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Schools in the Basque Country can be public, state-funded (private with a subsidy from the Department of Education, Research, and Universities), or private.

Except in private or foreign language schools, subjects are taught in the Basque Country’s two official languages, namely, Basque and Spanish.

There are three language models for Basque schools:

  • A MODEL: All the subjects are taught in Spanish and Basque is only a subject in the curriculum.
  • B MODELB: Some subjects are taught in Spanish (Maths, Reading and Writing) and others, in Basque.
  • D MODEL: All the subjects are taught in Basque, and Spanish is only a subject in the curriculum.

English is taught in all three models as of age 4.

Validation of Foreign Studies and Degrees

Validation of University Degrees

Higher Education degrees obtained abroad must be validated by the Sub-Directorate General for Degree and Qualification Validation of the Ministry of Education ...

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Validation of Non-University Studies and Diplomas

The validation of foreign studies, diplomas, or certificates from non-university institutions involves their equivalence to the degrees available in the Spanish ... 

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