Hey everyone! I’ve seen a lot of new students on the forum asking how to apply to Spanish universities with a Chinese high school background. I remember being completely lost myself, spending countless hours researching online and making many mistakes. So today, I’m creating this post to organize my application experience and process. This is a no-fluff guide, and I hope it can help those who come after me!
First, we need to understand a core concept. For graduates from Chinese high schools looking to enroll in an undergraduate program at a Spanish public university, the main pathway for getting into a Spanish university is through a system called UNEDasiss. This is a service provided by Spain’s National University of Distance Education (UNED) for international students to accredit and convert their academic records. In simple terms, they convert your scores from China’s National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) into the Spanish university admission score. However, the Gaokao score alone is often insufficient for top universities and popular majors. That’s why most students also need to take specific competency exams known as PCE (Pruebas de Competencias Específicas) to boost their score. These exams can add up to 4 points, bringing the potential total to 14 and significantly increasing your competitiveness.
A Four-Step Application Process
The entire application process can be roughly divided into the following steps. You can use this as a checklist to plan your timeline. Don’t procrastinate, as many documents take time to process!
| Step | Key Task | Important Notes |
|---|
| Step 1 | Academic Record Legalization | Your high school diploma, three-year transcripts, and Gaokao results all need to be translated, notarized, and doubly authenticated/legalized. |
| Step 2 | Prepare for and Take PCE Exams | Choose 2-4 relevant subjects to take based on your desired university major. This is crucial for boosting your score! |
| Step 3 | Apply for UNEDasiss Accreditation | Submit all your documents on the official UNEDasiss website to obtain your final Spanish university admission credential. |
| Step 4 | Apply on University Websites | Use your admission credential to submit applications on the official websites of your chosen universities during their application period. |
Language and Other Preparations
Language proficiency is, of course, extremely important! Although some universities don’t require a language certificate at the time of application, you’ll barely understand the lectures without a B2 level. I strongly recommend you properly prepare for and obtain a DELE or SIELE B2 certificate. It’s not only essential for your studies but can also be an advantage in your application. Also, don’t think you’re all set just because your score is high enough. Many popular majors like medicine or architecture are highly competitive, with admission scores approaching the maximum of 14. Therefore, when choosing your major, you should consider both your score and your interests, and apply to a range of programs with different entry requirements.
The process of applying to Spanish universities isn’t overly complex, but it is detailed and interconnected. The key is to plan in advance
! You need to be clear about the timeline for each step. I hope my experience can offer some guidance. If there’s anything else you’re unsure about, feel free to reply to this thread and discuss. I’ll do my best to answer when I see it. Wishing you all the best in your applications and hope you all land offers from your dream universities!
