The PCE, or Specific Competency Tests (formerly known as the UNED university entrance exams or university entrance exams for international students), are exams that international students may need to take to gain admission to universities in Spain. They assess the specific knowledge and skills required to undertake university studies in the country.

The exam structure varies depending on the degree you want to study and the city where you plan to study. On this page, you will find detailed information about the four available pathways, helping you understand the specific requirements and expectations for each one and prepare more effectively for the PCE.

The PCE are intended for international students.

An international student is someone who has completed their previous studies outside Spain, regardless of nationality. For example, a student born in Valencia who completed secondary education in the United States and wants to return to Spain to attend university is considered an international student.

These exams are for students who have not studied within the Spanish education system and want to gain admission to a university in Spain.

Please note that the admission process is not the same for every international student. Read the next question for a clearer explanation.

No. The process for admission to Spanish universities varies according to the student's education system of origin and individual circumstances.

International university admission is divided into two main categories, each with its own requirements:

1️⃣ Students who have completed studies equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato and come from:

• Education systems within the European Union (EU).
• Countries with university access agreements: China, Colombia and the United Kingdom.
• Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Students in this group must apply for UNEDASSIS accreditation, which provides a score of up to 10 points based on their academic record. To reach a total of 14 points, they may take the Specific Competency Tests (PCE). See the full list of European countries with university access agreements.

2️⃣ Students from education systems outside the EU or from countries without a university access agreement:

This group includes students whose overseas secondary qualifications are eligible for recognition as equivalent to the Spanish qualification.

• They must apply for official recognition of their qualification, a process that can take between three and nine months.
• To obtain an admission score of up to 10 points and a total score of up to 14 points, they must take the Specific Competency Tests (PCE).

For detailed information about the requirements for your country, use the official UNEDASSIS simulator, which provides guidance tailored to your education system of origin.

The systems and countries with university access agreements are those mentioned above: students from the European Union (EU), Colombia, China and students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB).

You should contact the university where you want to study to confirm whether it uses UNEDASSIS accreditation as part of its admission criteria. In general, almost all public universities in Spain accept this accreditation as the main requirement for international applicants.

Recognition of your school-leaving grade

Once you have confirmed that the university uses UNEDASSIS, you will need to have your school-leaving grade converted. UNEDASSIS carries out this process and awards a score of up to 10 points, calculated from your academic record or the examinations taken within your education system of origin. If you study with us, we can manage this process for you quickly and efficiently. We also offer this service to students who are not taking the PCE. See our prices here.

Why the additional four points matter

Spanish public universities use an admission scale of up to 14 points. Therefore, if you need a higher score or must meet a particular entry threshold, it may be advisable to take the PCE exams (Specific Competency Tests). Organised by UNEDASSIS, these exams can add up to four points, depending on the subjects chosen and each university's subject-weighting tables.

Alternatively, some universities accept the recognition of subjects studied and assessed within your education system of origin. This depends on the destination university accepting them and UNEDASSIS issuing a favourable report. However, this option is not available to students from the United Kingdom, Colombia or China, as stated in the regulations.

If your country does not have a university access agreement, you must apply for official recognition of your studies as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato. This process is handled by the MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORT. You can find information about the procedure here: Recognition of the Bachillerato qualification.

Please bear in mind that the highest score you can obtain is 6 out of 10. It is therefore very important to take the PCE so that you can obtain a total score of up to 14 points and compete on equal terms with other applicants.

To gain admission to university, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:

1. Certification of your university admission score, based on the conversion of the school-leaving grade obtained in your country of origin.
2. Certification of the marks obtained in subject examinations from the Specific Competency Tests (PCE) taken through UNED.
3. Certification of the marks obtained in external assessment examinations taken in your country of origin.

The UNEDasiss accreditation is a document confirming that a student has taken the UNED Specific Competency Tests (PCE) and meets the requirements for admission to a Spanish university. It provides a standardised assessment of international students' academic records, including the marks obtained in the Specific Competency Tests (PCE).

You can apply for it yourself here or we can manage the application for you, whether or not you study at our academy.

The Specific Competency Tests (PCE) are a series of examinations taken by international students who want to gain admission to a Spanish university.

The PCE are divided into four pathways: Sciences, Health Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Social and Legal Sciences. Each pathway includes several subjects, and each subject has its own examination format, which may include multiple-choice questions, extended-response questions and/or practical exercises. Although you may request to have the exam questions provided in English as well as Spanish, you must answer the exam in Spanish.

Students may choose up to six subjects, based on their chosen pathway and the subjects that carry the highest weighting for admission to their chosen university. The official recommendation is to choose at least four subjects.

• See the different PCE pathways available.
• Here is the list of subjects.

• At the following link, you will find sample PCE papers and solutions organised by subject, as well as other free resources we publish.
• Here is the subject guide for each subject.
• Every year, we publish a general and subject-by-subject summary of the UNED information sessions covering the latest changes to the exams.

The calculation varies depending on whether the student comes from an education system with an agreement, such as the EU, the United Kingdom, China or the International Baccalaureate, or from a system without an agreement. The details are explained below:

For students from education systems with an agreement (EU, China, UK, IB, etc.)

• You do not need official recognition of your Bachillerato qualification. You only need to apply for UNEDASSIS accreditation, which will give you a maximum score of 10 points.
• To raise your score to the maximum of 14 points, you can take two specific PCE subjects weighted at 0.2 for the degree and university you want to apply to.

If you take more PCE subjects, the university will select the two highest marks among the subjects weighted at 0.2 in order to bring your total score up to a maximum of 14 points.

Worked example (student from a system with an agreement):

• Score out of 10 (UNEDAssis accreditation): 8/10
• PCE 1 mark: 8.5/10
• PCE 2 mark: 9.5/10

For students from education systems without an agreement (outside the EU or from countries without specific agreements)

• You must obtain official recognition of your Bachillerato qualification as equivalent to the Spanish qualification. This will give you an initial maximum score of 6 points.
• To reach an initial score of 10 points, you must take the PCE.
• To reach the maximum of 14 points, universities will use your two highest marks from specific subjects weighted at 0.2 according to their subject-weighting tables.

Calculating the access score (up to 10 points):

• 60% – Average grade awarded following recognition of the Bachillerato qualification (NMB)
• 40% – PCE marks.

For example, for an admission route involving four PCE subjects, the access score is calculated as follows:

To reach 14 points:

You must select two PCE subjects weighted at 0.2 according to the chosen university's subject-weighting table.

Worked example for a student from a system without an agreement, following a four-subject admission route:

• Bachillerato recognition grade: 8/10
• PCE 1 mark: 7/10
• PCE 2 mark: 9.5/10 (weighted at 0.2)
• PCE 3 mark: 8.5/10 (weighted at 0.2)
• PCE 4 mark: 9.5/10 (weighted at 0.2)

👉The university uses the two highest marks from the subjects weighted for the chosen degree.

You can read our article on how the admission score is calculated for each PCE route and use our dedicated admission score calculators for the different PCE routes.

Each year, there are two PCE examination periods. The first takes place in May or June and the second in September.

The exact dates, the address of the selected examination centre and the timetable for each exam will appear on the student's application receipt once the relevant examination fees have been paid.

See here the exam dates for the current academic year.

A minimum Spanish level of B1 is recommended for preparing for the Specific Competency Tests (PCE) and studying at a university in Spain. This level will allow you to understand and communicate effectively both during the preparation course and in university classes, which are generally taught in Spanish.

In addition, many universities in Spain require official proof of your Spanish level as part of the admission process, particularly if you come from a country where Spanish is not an official language. Requirements vary by university, and some ask for a B2 level.

Common situations in which proof of Spanish is required:

1. Language-related degrees: Some universities require specific assessments, for example in English, German or French, for degrees involving foreign languages. These assessments are usually held after the initial application.
2. Proof of Spanish for university admission: Many universities ask applicants to submit a Spanish-language certificate together with their UNEDASSIS accreditation and PCE marks or the official recognition of their Bachillerato qualification.

Final recommendation:

You should check the specific requirements of the university where you want to study, as these may vary and are updated regularly. For more information about this requirement, see this detailed article, which includes examples and a list of public universities that require proof of Spanish.

To choose your subjects correctly, you first need to know which degree you want to study and the city where it is taught. Our PCE structure page explains the different pathways.

Using an up-to-date subject-weighting table for your chosen universities, select the subjects weighted at 0.2, ideally at least three. Remember that choosing at least four subjects is recommended.

• Subject-weighting table for the Valencian Community
• List of subjects

Do not worry if you are unsure. Once you know which university and degree you want to apply to, we will help you choose the most suitable subjects for admission.

Your UNEDassis accreditation remains valid once it has been issued, but the admission score will only take into account the PCE marks obtained in the current year. To improve your score, you will need to take the exams again.

Yes, you can prepare for the university entrance exams for international students from outside Spain through online study programmes, private tuition or academies specialising in PCE preparation. You can also sit the exams at UNED-affiliated examination centres in a range of countries.

At our academy, we offer a complete programme of online classes that you can follow live or at your own pace. We also provide all the support you need to answer your questions and assist with administrative procedures, including opening your UNEDasiss application and registering for the exams.

See the examination centres outside Spain where you can sit the PCE.

You do not need to live in Spain beforehand to prepare for or sit the university entrance exams for international students. With the right support and thorough preparation, you can achieve strong results and gain admission to a university degree in Spain.

International students can gain admission to a Spanish university, but there are certain administrative procedures you need to complete. These vary depending on your country of origin and whether it has a university access agreement with Spain. We generally recommend starting as early as possible, as some procedures can take time. One of the requirements may be to obtain official recognition of your Bachillerato qualification if your country does not have a university access agreement. You will also need to obtain a Foreigner Identity Number (NIE) and, depending on your circumstances, other documents such as the EU Citizen Registration Certificate (also known as the green card) if you intend to live in Spain for more than six months, and a student visa if you are a non-EU citizen. We also recommend obtaining a digital certificate, opening a bank account and getting a Spanish telephone number. At La Llibreta, we can help you manage these procedures.

This article explains every procedure so that you can complete it yourself. We can also manage them for you.

No. You do not normally need to take the PCE (Specific Competency Tests) to study at a private university in Spain. Private universities set their own admission procedures and do not usually require the PCE, although they may ask for other requirements depending on the institution and the applicant's circumstances.

Admission routes at private universities

• The university's own admission process: Each private university is free to organise its own admission process. This may include entrance tests, personal interviews or an assessment of other factors, such as the applicant's academic record.
• For students from the EU or education systems with an agreement: universities usually request UNEDASSIS accreditation with the Admission Score service.
• For students from other education systems, outside the EU or without an agreement: they must obtain official recognition of their studies as equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato. Once their studies have been officially recognised, they can gain admission without applying for UNEDASSIS accreditation.

⚠️Important note: The information provided remains valid until the new university admission decree, which is currently pending, is approved. Private universities may also be required to introduce an entrance test from 2026 onwards. We recommend checking for legislative updates. You can find further information here.

At La Llibreta, we will be here to guide you and help you adapt to any changes in the admission requirements.

At La Llibreta, we specialise in preparing students for the Specific Competency Tests (PCE) and create all our materials specifically for these exams. Our highly qualified teaching team also undertakes continuous professional development to maintain excellent teaching standards and provide the highest-quality preparation for our students.

We are passionate about what we do and our aim is to help you achieve your academic goals. We work as a team and focus on your individual needs. We are also constantly evolving and looking for new ways to improve our teaching methods and help you achieve your objectives.

At La Llibreta, we know that every student is different, and we can adapt to your needs to provide high-quality, personalised teaching. With the support of our experienced teaching team, you can feel confident that you will receive thorough PCE preparation and all the help you need to work towards your goals.

In addition, as a UNED partner centre, we can apply for your UNEDasiss accreditation and register you for the PCE on your behalf. This saves you time and avoids unnecessary complications with the administrative process. We also provide all the information and guidance you need to complete the procedures yourself, should you prefer to do so. At La Llibreta, we are committed to our students' education and work every day to provide a complete, high-quality service.