NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

II. Qualifications and diplomas
II.1. Qualifications for admission to
higher education
Pupils who have completed eight years of compulsory primary education (known as Educación General Básica — EGB)
begin their secondary schooling at the age of 14.
They have two options:
the Bachillerato Unificado y Polivalente — BUP (general secondary school); it consists of three years of study leading to
the qualification of título de Bachiller;
the Formación Profesional (vocational education) structured in two stages, known as Primero and Segundo Grado (first
and second grades): this second stream is more practically oriented and is aimed at preparing pupils for employment in a
specialist trade.
The Primer Grado consists of two years of studies and leads to the qualification of Técnico Auxiliar in the trade selected.
The Segundo Grado consists of either two or three years of study at the end of which the student can obtain the qualification
of Técnico Especialista in his or her chosen branch.
In most cases, students have to study for a further year after completing their Formación Profesional de Primer Grado before
beginning the Segundo Grado.
It should be mentioned that the regulations provide for a number of bridges between the academic and vocational streams
which enable a student to change from one to the other.