Family Integration > Educational System
The education system in Catalonia is divided into compulsory and non-compulsory education phases. Basic compulsory education, consisting of primary education and secondary education, consists generally of ten years of schooling between the ages of six and sixteen. Compulsory education is free.
Further details on the structure and main features of the Catalan educational system are provided below.
 Institution/Support Centre
 Department of Education . Generalitat de Catalunya
www.gencat.cat/educacio/ 
Secretary General for Education. Department of Education.
Via Augusta, 202-206
08021 Barcelona.
Tel: 93 400 69 00 / 93 551 69 00 Fax 93 241 53 42
Information on territorial educational services: www10.gencat.net/pls/ense_noti/p03.chos_deleg
 Catalan Educational System Classification
The Catalan educational system is classified in terms of:
 General Education (pre-school, primary education, compulsory secondary education (ESO), non-compulsory secondary education (batxillerat), standard vocational training, and advanced vocational training).
Specialist Education (arts and languages).
University Education
The system is also characterised by: a recent extension of compulsory education, within a single structure, to the age of sixteen; the special attention paid to diversity; categorisation of the batxillerat in terms of four areas (arts, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and health, and technology); and finally, a modular organisation of vocational training in terms of cycles.
General Education_____________________________________________________________
Pre-School Education: www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/
2 educational cycles, each consisting of 3 academic years, as follows:
- Lower infants (0-3 years)
- Higher infants (3-6 years).
Primary Education: [Compulsory] www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/
3 educational cycles, each consisting of 2 academic years, as follows:
- Initial cycle (6-8 years)
- Middle cycle (8-10 years)
- Upper cycle (10-12 years).
Secondary Education: [Compulsory] www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/
Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO): 2 educational cycles, each consisting of 2 academic years, as follows:
- 1st cycle (12-14 years)
- 2nd cycle (14-16 years).
On terminating the compulsory education phase, a pupil has three options:
To enter a standard or advanced vocational tra ining programme: www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/
To prepare for the batxillerat: www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/frame4.htm
Educational cycle consisting of 2 academic years (16-18 years), choosing one of four study areas (arts, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and health, or technology).
To enter the labour force, provided the student has attained the minimum age for employment.
Additional Information
The centers that give the experimental plan of languages you were extracting they are:
2008-2011:
http://blocs.xtec.cat/curriculars/files/2008/07/resolucio-pele-2008.pdf
2007-2010:
www.xtec.cat/innovacio/llengues2007.pdf
2006-2009:
www.xtec.net/innovacio/llengues2006.pdf
Specialist Education____________________________________________________________
Specialist Education is excluded from the stages and cycles that make up the general education system. It has its own structure and levels, ranging from elementary studies to diploma/degree level studies. Specialist education includes:
- Creative arts and design
- Preservation and restoration of cultural assets
- Music
- Dance
- Dramatic art (theatre)
- Languages
Further
information:: www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/
Adult Education ________________________________________________________________
The minimum age for participation in adult education programmes is 16. A wide range of training courses is available, including: oral/written language courses, introduction to computer studies, foreign language courses, musical instrument courses, secondary education, preparatory courses for obtaining access to vocational training, university access courses, artistic/corporal expression workshops, communication workshops, etc. Further information: www.gencat.net/educacio/
University Education ___________________________________________________________
Third-level education in Spain is currently being adapted to the higher education system proposed in the Bologna Declaration and adopted by many EU and non-EU states with a view to developing a European Higher Education Area.
To date, university studies in Spain have been organised as follows:
- First Cycle: Diploma (duration 3 years).
- First and Second Cycle: Degree (duration 4-5 years).
- Second Cycle: Degree, accessed from first cycle (diploma) studies (duration 2 years).
- Third Cycle: Post-graduate and master courses (duration 1-2 years) and doctoral courses (duration 2 years studies + 3 years dissertation).
Studies are being restructured as follows:
- Undergraduate Education. First level, leading to a professional qualification valid for the entire European labour market.
- Post-graduate Education. Second level (access to which is obtained by completing the first level), leading to a master or doctoral degree.
 Further information on third-level education may be had from Higher Education.
Where can I obtain additional information?
 List of studies: www.gencat.cat/educacio/estudis/ 
List of centres: www.gencat.cat/educacio/centres/
Source: edu365 www.edu365.com/estudiar/organigrama/index.htm
Updated: May 2008
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