The Royal Decree 822/2021 of 28 September, implements the structure of official university teachings, and it done so under the premises of the European Higher Education Area, which establishes three types of studies leading to the corresponding official qualifications: bachelor's degree, master's degree and doctorate.

The European Higher Education Area standardizes the length of the studies, the teaching methods and the assessment of academic activities focusing on students' skills and with a view to encouraging student and graduate mobility, and thus enables a system of credit transfer and recognition.

Undergraduate studies 

Undergraduate studies aim for students to gain general training focusing on preparing for professional life.

Bachelor's degrees generally consist of 240 ECTS, which are the equivalent of a four-year study period. Exceptionally, other degrees may consist of more credits: 300 or 360 (Medicine, for exemple, with 360 ECTS and sixt-year study period).

The official qualification awarded upon passing these courses is that of graduate.

All bachelor's degrees belong to one of the following branches of knowledge as set out in Spanish Royal Decree 822/2021, of 28 September.

Belonging to one branch or another shall determine the basic subjects that are to be taken during the first two years of the degree.

Bachelor's degree syllabuses contain at least the following training activities: basic subjects, compulsory and optional subjects, as well as a degree final project, and they may involve external interships.

Special emphasis has been placed on the fact that all undergraduate syllabuses taught at Catalan universities should contain external internships in enterprise or institutions and, also, subjects that ensure a knowledge of the English language.

Which is the difference between a simultaneous study and a double degree?

The basic difference is the access to each modality.

The double degree has a direct access from the first year. 

If you want to do simultaneous studies, for example,  the degree in Law and the degree in Political and Administration Sciences, you should enter university by one of the two degrees, and, once inside, ask to pursue the second degree. Access to this option will depend on the number of places are offered each year and the university student's transcript. 

Master's degree studies

Master's degree studies aim for students to acquire either specialised or multidisciplinary advanced training focusing on academic or professional specialisation, or to promote an introduction to research tasks. The syllabuses have a load of between 60 and 120 credits and include both theoretical and practical training.

Doctoral studies

Doctoral studies aim to provide students with advanced training in research techniques and include the writing and presentation of a doctoral thesis, consisting of an original research paper.