Study Journalism in Spain
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Erudera's Complete Guide to Studying Journalism in Spain
If you decide to pursue your journalism degree in Spain, the country where the sun always shines, you will be guaranteed a fascinating study experience. After all, what’s not to love in Spain? The culture is beautiful, the lifestyle is even better, and the higher education system thrives with excellence. Spain attracts thousands of international students every year, who contribute to a diverse and multicultural study environment. Its universities also boast numerous journalism study programs across all levels of study and all fields of interest. Thus, regardless of the field of journalism you would like to focus on, Spain is likely to have a suitable program.
Here’s everything you need to know about studying journalism in Spain:
Reasons to Study Journalism in Spain
You Keep Learning
The great thing about Spain is that it’s a country full of history, culture, and visit-worthy opportunities. Being in Spain will fill you with awe and allow you to delve deeper into the beauty that the world has to offer. Not only will this provide you with an outstanding study abroad experience, but it will also allow you to keep learning every step of the way. Learning is an important part of journalism careers; you will always have to stay on top of events, be attentive, explore, and simply have knowledge of different countries and cultures.
You Create Global Connections
Global connections are also a crucial part of the study abroad experience and, particularly, your career in media and communications. Spain is home to thousands of international students, which means you will meet people from all over the world as well as create valuable connections. Depending on the journalism career path you decide to pursue, you might get to do a bit of traveling around as part of your professional life. So, what’s better than having a friend wherever you go? Besides, there is so much you can learn from other people.
You Gain Valuable Qualifications
The Spanish higher education system features some excellent, state-of-the-art universities. You will find many of these universities ranked among the top in international and national rankings. In fact, Spanish universities want to make sure their students receive comprehensive education, which is why journalism programs typically have integrated training through which students can learn the basic skills of the profession hands-on. The higher education system in Spain is recognized for its quality and excellence, not only in Spain but also around the world.
You Boost Job Prospects
When it comes to finding employment in journalism in Spain (or abroad), many factors come into play. The job market is rather good in Spain, especially if you can speak the language. Career paths you can undertake with a journalism degree are usually vast, including working in press offices, media outlets, teaching, research, or even job positions like editor, presenter, commentator, and contents manager, to mention just a few. Spanish qualifications will allow you to seek employment across various sectors. Salaries are often rather satisfactory. E.g., a journalist in Spain earns an average salary of €26,500 per year.
Top Universities to Study Journalism in Spain
Some of the top universities to study journalism in Spain are:
- Complutense University of Madrid
- University of Navarra
- Autonomous University of Barcelona
- University of Barcelona
- Pompeu Fabra University
- University of Salamanca
These universities offer excellent media and communication programs for prospective journalists. But they are not the only universities where you can seek your perfect journalism program. The country is home to outstanding higher education institutions that offer high-quality journalism degrees and excellent training in the field. Programs usually include integrated training courses which enable students to receive practical experience and fully prepare for the job market.
Requirements
One of the first requirements for non-EU citizens applying to study journalism in Spain is the validation of their qualifications at the Ministry of Education of the Spanish government. This validation of qualifications (also known as homologación) will give you access to the Spanish higher education system. If you’re from the EU or any other country with whom Spain has international agreements, the requirements are similar to those of Spanish students and homologación is not necessary.
Generally, the requirements to study journalism in Spain include:
- Validation of previous qualifications (for non-EU students).
- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL) for English-taught programs.
- Proof of Spanish language proficiency (DELE or SIELE) for Spanish-taught programs.
- Bachelor’s degree (for Master’s programs).
- Letters of recommendation.
- Proof of work experience (if applicable).
- Student visa (for non-EU/EEA nationals).
- Health insurance.
- Proof of sufficient funds.
Application Process
Students from the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and China must submit their university applications through the Spanish National University for Distance Education (UNED). If the application is successful, you will receive a Credencial de Acceso certificate, which you must send to the university you wish to attend, along with other application documents, such as academic transcripts and personal documents. Non-EU/EEA students will have to go through the aforementioned process of homologación (validation of previous qualifications) first, at the Spanish Ministry of Education or the Spanish embassy in their home country.
Degree Duration: How Long Does It Take to Study Journalism in Spain?
The duration of journalism degrees across different levels of study in Spain is:
- Bachelor’s degree: Three to four years of full-time study, depending on the university.
- Master’s degree: One to two years of full-time study, depending on the university.
- Doctoral degree: Two to four years.
Tuition Fees: How Much Does It Cost to Study Journalism in Spain?
The cost of studying in Spain is comparatively lower than in many other European countries, and especially lower compared to popular study abroad destinations like the US or UK.
Spanish universities charge tuition fees in accordance with the program’s number of credits, which means they follow the pay-per-credit system of tuition fees. An academic year is usually worth 60 ECTS credits, and the cost per credit is somewhere between €12 to €30 for undergraduate programs. Subsequently, tuition fees at public universities in Spain are somewhere around €720 to €1,800 per year. Tuition fees for master’s programs at public universities range somewhere between €960 to €2,700 per year, depending on the cost-per-credit, which is specific to the university.
If you wish to pursue your journalism degree at a private university in Spain, you will have to pay higher tuition fees. Specifically, tuition at private universities can range from €5,000 to €18,000 per year.
Journalism Career Prospects in Spain
Journalism graduates enjoy numerous career opportunities in Spain and beyond. Graduates may find employment in different sectors, including large newspapers, magazines, or television networks. A journalism degree can create a wide range of employment opportunities. Journalists can work in writing and editing, investigative reporting, production, advertising, etc. Depending on the specific job title, work experience, and company size, salaries for journalists can be rather satisfactory. For example, the average annual salary for a journalist in Spain amounts to approximately €26,500 per year.
