I’ve recently seen many friends on forums discussing the topic of their children attending school in Spain, especially how to choose and apply to international schools. I just went through the whole application process for CEU for my child. Although it was a bit complex, we successfully secured a spot. Today, I’m writing this post to share the application process and list of required documents I’ve compiled, hoping it can help other families in need.
Why We Chose CEU
There are quite a few good international schools in Madrid, but our family ultimately chose CEU, mainly because of its educational resources backed by the CEU San Pablo University. It’s not a purely British or American school; instead, it places a strong emphasis on integrating Spanish culture and language, which we feel will help our child better assimilate into the local environment. Additionally, CEU has three campuses in Madrid, offering more options. We applied to the Sanchinarro campus, which is close to our home and has modern facilities.
A Complete Breakdown of the Application Process
The entire application process can be broken down into four main steps. While the official website provides instructions, I’ll explain it here in simpler terms:
- Online Information Request: This is the first and simplest step. Go to the website of the specific CEU campus you’re interested in, find the “Admisiones” (Admissions) or “Solicita Información” (Request Information) section, and fill out a basic information form with your name, contact details, your child’s age, etc. After submission, the school’s admissions department will contact you via email or phone within a day or two, send you more detailed school information, and invite you to an open day or a personal tour.
- School Visit and Initial Consultation: After receiving the email, I highly recommend scheduling a visit! Seeing the school environment, facilities, and feeling the atmosphere firsthand is much more effective than reading any brochure. A dedicated staff member will guide the tour, giving you the perfect opportunity to ask all your questions about the curriculum, extracurricular activities, teaching staff, ratio of international students, and more. I personally asked a lot about their language support programs.
- Submission of Formal Application Documents: If you’re satisfied after the visit, you can proceed to the formal application stage. The school will provide you with a checklist of required documents. This step is crucial—make sure all your documents are complete
! Otherwise, it can cause delays later on. I’ve listed the specific documents needed in the table below.
- Interview and Assessment: Once the documents are reviewed and approved, the school will schedule an interview for both the child and the parents. For the child, it’s mainly a simple assessment of their academic and language abilities—nothing to be nervous about. For younger children, teachers conduct it in a fun and engaging way. The parent interview is more of a casual chat to see if your family’s educational philosophy aligns with the school’s. The entire process is very friendly.
| Document Category | Specific Document | Notes |
|---|
| Identity Documents | Photocopies of the child’s and parents’ NIE/Passports | Essential documents; ensure they are valid. |
| Family Documents | Photocopy of the Libro de Familia (Family Book) |
| If available. If not, a notarized equivalent (e.g., household registration book) can be used. |
| Academic Records | Child’s school reports/transcripts from the last two years | Must be translated into Spanish, preferably by a sworn/official translator. |
| Health Records | Photocopy of the child’s vaccination record | Check if all vaccinations are up-to-date according to Spanish requirements. |
| School Forms | Application form provided by the school | Fill it out completely as required. |
| Other | School Transfer Certificate | Required if the child is already enrolled in another school in Spain. |
The entire application cycle takes about a month, though it can depend on when you apply. During peak season, the process at CEU International School might be slower. Overall, CEU’s application procedure is very clear and well-organized. As long as you do your homework in advance and prepare all the documents thoroughly, the process should be quite smooth. I hope this information is helpful to everyone. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer!
