The advantages of studying at a foreign school and taking the PCE instead of the EBAU in Spain

More and more students are choosing to complete the last years of high school at a foreign school and prepare for entry to Spanish universities through UNED’s Specific Competence Tests (PCE). Compared with the EBAU, this option offers a number of significant advantages in terms of flexibility, teaching approach and academic planning.

1. Key differences between the PCE and the EBAU

Aspect

PCE (foreign schools)

EBAU (Spanish schools)

Number of subjects

4 subjects chosen by the student according to their university degree.

Between 5 and 7 subjects (4 core, 1 elective and 2 specific).

Flexibility of choice

Students can choose the subjects that best suit their profile.

Fixed subjects covering the Spanish curriculum.

Weight in the final grade

Foreign high school diploma 60% + PCE 40%.

Spanish Bachillerato 60% + EBAU 40%.

Educational approach

Practical and hands-on, especially in science.

Theoretical approach, with less practical work in science.

Methodology

Based on active learning and deep understanding.

Traditional approach, geared toward memorization.

Exam sessions

Two sessions a year (May/June and September).

One main session in June and a resit session in July.

International access

Can be taken at more than 100 centers around the world.

Only taken in Spain.

Logistics

Exams at consulates and UNED centers, with no need to travel to Spain.

Requires attending an exam center in Spain in person.

2. Advantages of studying at a foreign school

• Curricular flexibility: students are not bound by the Spanish curriculum, which allows their learning to be more personalized and better suited to their interests and future university studies.
• Advanced teaching approach: international schools, especially those in the English-speaking tradition, stand out for their practical, hands-on methods, in which students experiment and understand scientific concepts in depth.
• Specialized preparation for university: students can focus on the subjects that matter for their degree, improving their performance and their chances of admission.
• Significant weight of high school in the final grade: in the PCE route, the foreign high school diploma counts for 60%, while in the EBAU the Spanish Bachillerato counts for only 50%. This means that academic effort during the two years of Bachillerato carries more weight in the admission grade.
• Fewer exams: in the PCE, students take only 4 exams, strategically chosen for their degree, compared with the 5–7 exams of the EBAU.
• Global access and easy logistics: the PCE can be taken anywhere in the world at authorized centers, avoiding unnecessary travel and making access simpler for international students.

3. Conclusion

Choosing a foreign high school program and taking the PCE to enter a Spanish university is a smart, effective strategy. Students not only enjoy a more hands-on education suited to their interests, but also maximize their chances of university admission by strategically choosing the subjects that best match their academic future. The process is also more accessible and flexible, allowing for more personalized, less stressful planning.