What upper secondary (Bachillerato) and vocational training (FP) cost

Terms used

• Bachillerato — Bachillerato is the two-year upper secondary course for ages 16-18, usually taken to prepare for university.
• FP — FP (Formación Profesional) is vocational training, offered at intermediate and higher levels, leading to a job-focused qualification.
• Concertada — A concertada centre is a privately run school that receives public funding, usually charging lower fees than fully private schools.
• Becas — Becas are grants or scholarships that help pay for study costs, awarded under yearly calls.

Key rules

• Tuition: Public Bachillerato and public FP charge no tuition, but you pay for books, kits, material and insurance.
• Costly FP fields: Health, hairdressing and kitchen courses cost more for material and kits than most.
• Private fees: Private and concertada fees vary by centre and city, so get the current fee list from each school.
• Regional aid: Aid differs by region and is set in each year's call, so ask your regional education department.

Amounts, book schemes and aid differ by region and change each year, so confirm current figures with the school and your regional education department.

Public courses have no tuition fee, but they are not free

Public Bachillerato (two years, ages 16-18) and public intermediate and higher FP courses charge no tuition. Your real costs are books, school material, kits and small fees. Private centres charge fees on top, and regional aid may reduce what you pay.

Public Bachillerato: what you still pay

• Textbooks and school material. Prices vary by region and by school. Some regions run textbook loan or voucher schemes, so ask the school what applies.
• Small extras. Some centres ask for a voluntary contribution or charge for school insurance and activities.
• University entrance exam. The fee is set by each region and is paid separately from the course.

Public FP: material, kits and insurance

You pay for material, uniforms or kits, plus a small insurance fee. Costs depend on the field. Health, hairdressing and kitchen courses cost more than most.

Ask the centre for its kit and material list before you enrol, so you can budget for the first weeks, when most of the spending happens.

Dual FP: extra costs of the company placement

Dual FP includes a placement in a company. Costs can include school insurance, work clothing and transport. Some placements pay a grant, which can offset part of this. Ask the centre what the placement involves and whether it pays.

Private and concertada centres

Fees depend on the centre, the city and whether the school is international.

• Concertada centres are mostly publicly funded at lower stages, but Bachillerato is often not fully covered. They charge monthly fees, which are modest compared with private schools.
• Private schools cost more. Fees are highest in Madrid, Barcelona and the Balearics, and international schools charge the most.
• Private FP is charged by the centre and varies widely by course and city.

Ask each school for its current fee list in writing, and ask what is not included.

Regional and national aid

Some regions fund post-16 study in private centres. Madrid has had a Bachillerato cheque (Cheque Bachillerato) and an FP cheque for private centres, with income and residence conditions. Other regions have their own becas or grants. The national education ministry also offers general becas for post-compulsory study. They can cover fees, residence, income-based amounts and travel.

Not every region has such schemes. Amounts and eligibility are set in each year's call, so ask your regional education department what is open now and when the deadline is.

The questions below cover the entrance exam fee, the costliest FP courses, dual FP costs and help with private centres.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay a fee for the university entrance exam after public Bachillerato?

Yes, you pay a separate fee for the university entrance exam (PAU, also called EBAU), and each region sets its own amount. This fee is not part of the free tuition at a public centre. Ask your regional education department or the university for the current amount.

Which FP courses cost the most for material and kits?

Health, hairdressing and kitchen courses usually cost the most for material, uniforms and kits. Public intermediate and higher FP has no tuition, but you also pay a small insurance fee.

What extra costs come with dual FP?

Dual FP, which includes a placement in a company, can add school insurance, work clothing and transport costs. Some placements pay a grant that may offset these. Ask the centre what your placement would involve.

Can I get help paying for a private Bachillerato or FP centre?

Yes, some regions fund private post-16 study, but only if you meet income and residence conditions. Madrid has had a Bachillerato cheque and an FP cheque for private centres. The national becas for post-compulsory study can also cover fees, income-based amounts and travel, so ask your regional education department what is open this year.