As a future student in Spain, you will surely have realised that you'll need to prove your level of Spanish.
Only one organisation can issue an official Spanish language certificate: the Instituto Cervantes.
We strongly advise you to take the necessary steps because, in most cases, having a certificate of your level of Spanish will facilitate your admission process to study in Spain.
Your level of Spanish will be graded on a scale from A (lowest level) to C (highest level).
If you would like to find out more about these levels, assess your current level.
There are 3 ways of obtaining Certification of your level of Spanish for studying in Spain:
- Two are taken externally through the Instituto Cervantes (DELE and SIELE)
- The third is a test organised by the universities themselves.
- This diploma is issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. It has the advantage of having no expiry date.
- The examination consists of 4 tests: written comprehension, written expression, oral comprehension and oral expression.
- Examination centres can be consulted on the Cervantes website and enrolment is done directly with the chosen centre. Some centres (including the Institut Cervantes in Paris) offer online registration on their website.
- You must register for a specific level (A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2): make sure you make the right choice when you register because, if you fail the exam, you will not be awarded a certificate for a level other than the one you have taken. You will either pass or fail.
- There are 8 sessions a year. You will find the dates at this link.
- You must register at least one month before the exam. Results are obtained approximately 3 months after the exam.
- The price is between €100 and €200 and varies according to the level presented.
- Once you have registered, train with the exams of the previous sessions.
- This certificate is issued by the Instituto Cervantes.
- The exam consists of 4 tests: reading comprehension, written expression-interaction, listening comprehension and oral expression-interaction.
- Registration, the exam, the results and the certificate are only available from a computer.
- You will not register for a specific level (A1-A2-B1-B2-C1-C2). You will obtain a result for each of the 4 tests. Your result may vary from one test to another.
- The number of sessions varies according to the exam centre organising the test.
- Results are obtained approximately 3 weeks after the examination.
- The price (2021) is 165 euros.
- Once you have registered, you will have access to some preparation modules.
- Some of our partner language schools are examination centres! Contact them! You can find them here.
- Some universities organise their own test for all students going through the admissions process.
- Other universities offer their own test for students who have neither the DELE nor the SIELE.
- These tests are sometimes taken on site and sometimes online.
- We advise students to take these tests on site, as it is often difficult to adapt to the technical constraints and therefore to take the university tests in good conditions.
- The result may therefore be lower than the actual level.
To help you find your way around, here are the terms and conditions for each of the universities we have selected in Spain.
- IED – Design School :
B2 certified by DELE or SIELE - ESIC – Business school speciaised in Marketing :
- B2 certified by DELE or SIELE If you wish to enrol on an English-language course, you must also prove a B2 level in English by providing an official English language diploma.
- ESADE – Business, Finance, Law:
B2 certified by DELE or SIELE
If you wish to enrol on an English-language course, you must also prove a B2 level in English by providing an official English language diploma. - UAX – Dental, physiotherapy, veterinary, architecture, chiropody, business, pharmacy, engineering:
A Spanish test is organised by the university and is taken online, at the same time as the other admission tests (EXCEPTION in dentistry: the admission tests MUST be taken on campus, during the open days). The UAX is looking for students with a minimum level of B1, or even C1 for medicine.
Students who have the DELE or SIELE, attesting to at least a B1 level, also take this test but, if they wish, they may be exempted from the 3-week pre-entry Spanish course. These 3 weeks of Spanish courses are MANDATORY for all those who have not been able to present a diploma or official certificate issued by the Instituto Cervantes, regardless of the result obtained in the UAX Spanish test.
- Nebrija – Physiotherapy, engineering, architecture, commerce:
B2 certified by the DELE or SIELE or by the university test. - UEM – Dental, physiotherapy, hearing aid, architecture, engineering, business, pharmacy:
Whatever the level required (B1 or B2 depending on the course) in Spanish or English, it is the university that assesses the students. The tests are taken online and in some courses they are supervised. - U-TAD – Development of video games, animation,…:
B1 minimum attested by the DELE or SIELE B2 is recommended. - UEV Valencia and Alicante Campus – translation/interpreting, dentistry, physiotherapy, architecture… :
Students are assessed by the university. B1 or B2 level required depending on the course. The tests are taken online and in some courses they are supervised. - UEC – Physiotherapy, architecture, tourism… : Students are assessed by the university. B1 or B2 level required depending on the course. The tests are taken online and in some courses they are supervised.
- UFV – Physiotherapy, pharmacy, engineering, communication, architecture… :
We strongly advise you to take at least a B1 level certificate from the DELE or SIELE. - CEU San Pablo – Physiotherapy, architecture, journalism… :
B1 or B2 certified by the DELE or SIELE or university test. B2 is recommended. An interview may be held to confirm this level.
For further information on the level of Spanish required to study in Spain, please contact us.
Where can I take a test to find out my level of Spanish?
Most language schools offering Spanish courses can - and will - give you a test before you enrol on a course.
This link provides access to the Instituto Cervantes online test, which, although a little optimistic, gives a fairly reliable indication of your level of Spanish.