Spain and the United Kingdom have signed an academic agreement enabling British students to study in Spain. The agreement was signed on June 28, 2023, in Madrid by Spain’s Minister for Education and Vocational Education, Pilar Alegria, and the UK Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott.
Through this deal, both countries have tried to limit the impact of Brexit in terms of access to Spanish Universities. The agreement will also favour students from Spain, as they will have similar rights to study in the UK as before Brexit. The United Kingdom is going to recognise the Spanish bachillerato qualification holders.
Prior to this agreement, the UK’s qualification was not recognised in Spain and had to be validated by the authority. This was the implication of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union in 2021.
Reportedly, the recognition process in school or university in Spain is remarkably slow and complex. Currently, more than 40,000 non-EU foreigners are waiting for their qualifications to be recognised, allowing them to work.
In 2021, as per the reports, students from the United Kingdom were facing delays in getting their qualifications approved. However, the new agreement signed between the two countries is positive news for the youth planning to study in Spain. Though it is yet to be clarified whether the recognition process for previous candidates with UK qualifications is going to get streamlined or not,
Candidates from the UK who were living in Spain before Brexit are, however, not protected under the Withdrawal Agreement, and they need to obtain a work permit from the country. On the other hand, Spain is a desirable study destination for British students, as nearly 4,500 select Spanish universities annually to pursue their academic studies, and this number could rise as a result of the agreement that simplifies administrative procedures.
