Regarding "Máster de Formación Permanente": The English version of ENEB seemingly hasn't sent out any Emails or announcements about the name change, and their certificate images on their website haven't changed either. The law about it started in 2021 (not sure if it was created then or if it was passed then). My assumption is that it is just a classification, it's not a title that is required to be written on the degree itself (just as how it is apparently not required to write "titulo propio" on the certificate itself).
When I tried googling I found the all following info, but take it with a grain of salt.
An Academic Year in Spain is a minimum of 175 days, and a University Academic Year is generally 220 days. If ENEB is following this, that explains some stuff like slow grading and delaying the time you are allowed to start the final exam.. It's possible there are legal requirements stating the student must go to school for at least one single semester's worth of time (likely a minimum of 88 days), for this amount of credits.
Admissions to higher education in Spain (whether at a university or otherwise) can legally be done through one of the following: 1) Having a degree, 2) Having college credits but no degree, 3) Passing an entrance exam that proves you have equivalent knowledge as to someone with one of the above, 4) Being over 25, 40 and 45 without any of the above (if they lower the requirements progressively with each age listed, it does not say). This explains why ENEB states they can let you apply on special circumstances if you don't have a degree. It is not anything shady or unique to titulo propio.
For entrance to a university Master's degree in Spain, you do not have to have a Bachelor's, you can also satisfy entrance requirements by an entrance exam, work experience, or having a certain amount of credits equal to the Bachelor's or Master's level which do not add up to form a degree. Likewise for entrance to a university PhD, you do not need to have a finished Master's, but you need at least 60 credits equal to the Master's level which includes research/essay skills at the Master's level (it sounds like THIS is one main reason why titulo propio do not grant you access to PhD studies).
What was once called titulo propio have now been split into several categories based on entrance requirements and ECTs credit worth. According to the former system:
Titulo Oficial - Is intended to be universally automatically accepted within the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) area without the need for a Foreign Credit Evaluation or extra education, specifically when talking about access to Master's or Doctorate's studies in a foreign country (no such acceptance promise is made for access to careers or professional licenses in the EHEA, nor to higher education access outside the EHEA). Must be at least 60 ECTS. Instructors must have a degree in the field and the degree must contain a final thesis with thesis defense. May contain exchange years but are unlikely to contain internships. Are geared towards reading and writing research in the field instead of learning skills applicable to a job in the field, and the information taught is not necessarily cutting edge. Geared towards people who are not actively working in the field and who are trying to specialize in a subject before applying their knowledge to a career. May have the Spanish equivalent of GPA requirements for admissions. The admissions cost can be subsidized by the Spanish government or by the EU itself.
Titulo Propio - Is designed for universal acceptance within Spain regarding employment, but not regarding higher academic entrance or anything - including employment - outside of Spain. Usually don't have GPA requirements for admissions. Marketed as "continuing vocational training" and "a good choice for a gap year before starting real university studies". Instructors did not need to have a degree in the field, instead any proof of knowledge of the field (such as work experience) was ok to teach. Specifically geared towards usable, working ("out on the floor") knowledge for a career in the field. Is more likely to offer internships than a university degree is. Geared towards people actively working in the field who want up to date knowledge in a subject that they can use immediately on the job. The admissions cost can't be subsidized by the government.
While a titulo oficial is often thought of as always having more prestige, in reality some titulo propio programs also have prestige, and in practical terms (unless you're trying to work at Spanish government job) companies don't distinguish between a titulo oficial and a titulo propio when looking at someone's resume, instead they only care about how closely the education matches what they want you to do on the job. Unlike what is often said, it seems titulo propio holders are not actually barred from getting a Spanish government job (job in a public administration) - it is up to each administration and the person writing the job ad to decide on if they will accept titulo propio applicants or not. However in those cases a titulo oficial applicant will be prioritized by the Spanish government for said job. Usually there is a "points system" for candidates and you receive some points if you have relevant education, but a titulo oficial receives more points than a titulo propio. If a government job bars a titulo propio holder from applying, it is usually a higher-level position which also requires an exam during the application.
The new classifications within the major category of titulo propio (note that these say "must have degree" but I assume the truth is really the same info as above):
- Curso de Postgrado de Especialización - 180 ECTS, must have previous university degree to enter studies.
- Máster de Formación Permanente - 60 to 120 ECTS, must have previous degree or proven work experience deemed roughly equal to 180 ECTs of a degree. Instructors do not need a degree to teach. Studies are supposed to contain a master's thesis or final project worth at least 6 ECTS. Studies must be equal to MERCES 3 level, which means your Máster de Formación Permanente will be equal to EQF 7 or a Second Cycle Degree as well as equal to one of the following: 1) University Master's Degree, 2) Master's Degree in Arts, 3) "Integrated Bachelor's Degree" (a Bachelor's which contains some Master's level credits) equal to 300 to 360 ECTS, of which at least 60 ECTS are at the Master's level.
- Diploma de Especialización - 30 to 59 ECTS, must have previous degree. Final project is recommended but not required.
- Experto - 20 to 29 ECTS, must have previous degree.
- Diplomas de Formación Permanente - 15 to 29 ECTS. No previous degree required.
- Certificados de Formación Permanente - up to 14 ECTs. No previous degree required.
- Advanced Technician - Specifically deemed as vocational training, in 1 of the 26 professional fields officially established in the National Catalogue for Professional Qualifications. Requires a final project. Equal to EQF 5 (worth the second year of a 3-year Bachelor's degree). Other countries having the same designations may be a potential reason for why some ENEB diplomas could be rated as vocational school or otherwise as a non-degree, whereas a different result may be obtained for an ENEB diploma in a different subject. The 26 professional fields officially deemed as vocational by Spain are as follows, with the ones that have any connection to ENEB subjects bolded:
1. Physical Activities and Sports, 2. Administration and Management, 3. Agricultural, 4. Graphic Arts, 5. Arts and Crafts, 6. Commerce and Marketing, 7. Building and Civil Works, 8. Electricity and Electronics, 9. Energy and Water, 10. Mechanical Manufacturing, 11. Hospitality and Tourism, 12. Personal Image, 13. Image and Sound, 14. Food Industries, 15. Extractive Industries, 16. Computing and Communications, 17. Installation and Maintenance, 18. Wood, Furniture, and Cork, 19. Maritime-Fishing, 20. Chemistry, 21. Health, 22. Security and Environment, 23. Sociocultural and Community Services, 24. Textiles, Clothing and Leather, 25. Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance, 26. Glass and Ceramics.
I think the 90 ECTS per year limit is probably normal for Europe. In the USA, you can do 200% studies and no one cares, but in Europe the max I've been able to take from my country was 175% and you had to get special permission to do so (unless your studies were abroad - they can't track those).
There's been some debate on the ENEB exams. None of the sources I read mentioned anything about the specifics of what amount of homework, exams, final exams, etc, are required for any educational level. The official requirements for something to count as university Master's level are very vague such as "After graduating, the student is able to manage themselves at work" and "The student is able to understand research related to their field".
Sources: 1) https://www.ucm.es/cfp/tipos-de-titulos
2) https://www.uhu.es/titulos-propios/infor...-cada-tipo
3) https://www.aqu.cat/en/doc/Universitats/...ork-CHE-QF
4) https://universidadeuropea.com/blog/que-...ermanente/
5) https://www.upc.edu/es/masteres/masteres...ente-tabla
6) https://www.uam.es/CentroFormacionContin...514995.htm
7) https://www.educaweb.com/contenidos/educ...onales-fp/
When I tried googling I found the all following info, but take it with a grain of salt.
An Academic Year in Spain is a minimum of 175 days, and a University Academic Year is generally 220 days. If ENEB is following this, that explains some stuff like slow grading and delaying the time you are allowed to start the final exam.. It's possible there are legal requirements stating the student must go to school for at least one single semester's worth of time (likely a minimum of 88 days), for this amount of credits.
Admissions to higher education in Spain (whether at a university or otherwise) can legally be done through one of the following: 1) Having a degree, 2) Having college credits but no degree, 3) Passing an entrance exam that proves you have equivalent knowledge as to someone with one of the above, 4) Being over 25, 40 and 45 without any of the above (if they lower the requirements progressively with each age listed, it does not say). This explains why ENEB states they can let you apply on special circumstances if you don't have a degree. It is not anything shady or unique to titulo propio.
For entrance to a university Master's degree in Spain, you do not have to have a Bachelor's, you can also satisfy entrance requirements by an entrance exam, work experience, or having a certain amount of credits equal to the Bachelor's or Master's level which do not add up to form a degree. Likewise for entrance to a university PhD, you do not need to have a finished Master's, but you need at least 60 credits equal to the Master's level which includes research/essay skills at the Master's level (it sounds like THIS is one main reason why titulo propio do not grant you access to PhD studies).
What was once called titulo propio have now been split into several categories based on entrance requirements and ECTs credit worth. According to the former system:
Titulo Oficial - Is intended to be universally automatically accepted within the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) area without the need for a Foreign Credit Evaluation or extra education, specifically when talking about access to Master's or Doctorate's studies in a foreign country (no such acceptance promise is made for access to careers or professional licenses in the EHEA, nor to higher education access outside the EHEA). Must be at least 60 ECTS. Instructors must have a degree in the field and the degree must contain a final thesis with thesis defense. May contain exchange years but are unlikely to contain internships. Are geared towards reading and writing research in the field instead of learning skills applicable to a job in the field, and the information taught is not necessarily cutting edge. Geared towards people who are not actively working in the field and who are trying to specialize in a subject before applying their knowledge to a career. May have the Spanish equivalent of GPA requirements for admissions. The admissions cost can be subsidized by the Spanish government or by the EU itself.
Titulo Propio - Is designed for universal acceptance within Spain regarding employment, but not regarding higher academic entrance or anything - including employment - outside of Spain. Usually don't have GPA requirements for admissions. Marketed as "continuing vocational training" and "a good choice for a gap year before starting real university studies". Instructors did not need to have a degree in the field, instead any proof of knowledge of the field (such as work experience) was ok to teach. Specifically geared towards usable, working ("out on the floor") knowledge for a career in the field. Is more likely to offer internships than a university degree is. Geared towards people actively working in the field who want up to date knowledge in a subject that they can use immediately on the job. The admissions cost can't be subsidized by the government.
While a titulo oficial is often thought of as always having more prestige, in reality some titulo propio programs also have prestige, and in practical terms (unless you're trying to work at Spanish government job) companies don't distinguish between a titulo oficial and a titulo propio when looking at someone's resume, instead they only care about how closely the education matches what they want you to do on the job. Unlike what is often said, it seems titulo propio holders are not actually barred from getting a Spanish government job (job in a public administration) - it is up to each administration and the person writing the job ad to decide on if they will accept titulo propio applicants or not. However in those cases a titulo oficial applicant will be prioritized by the Spanish government for said job. Usually there is a "points system" for candidates and you receive some points if you have relevant education, but a titulo oficial receives more points than a titulo propio. If a government job bars a titulo propio holder from applying, it is usually a higher-level position which also requires an exam during the application.
The new classifications within the major category of titulo propio (note that these say "must have degree" but I assume the truth is really the same info as above):
- Curso de Postgrado de Especialización - 180 ECTS, must have previous university degree to enter studies.
- Máster de Formación Permanente - 60 to 120 ECTS, must have previous degree or proven work experience deemed roughly equal to 180 ECTs of a degree. Instructors do not need a degree to teach. Studies are supposed to contain a master's thesis or final project worth at least 6 ECTS. Studies must be equal to MERCES 3 level, which means your Máster de Formación Permanente will be equal to EQF 7 or a Second Cycle Degree as well as equal to one of the following: 1) University Master's Degree, 2) Master's Degree in Arts, 3) "Integrated Bachelor's Degree" (a Bachelor's which contains some Master's level credits) equal to 300 to 360 ECTS, of which at least 60 ECTS are at the Master's level.
- Diploma de Especialización - 30 to 59 ECTS, must have previous degree. Final project is recommended but not required.
- Experto - 20 to 29 ECTS, must have previous degree.
- Diplomas de Formación Permanente - 15 to 29 ECTS. No previous degree required.
- Certificados de Formación Permanente - up to 14 ECTs. No previous degree required.
- Advanced Technician - Specifically deemed as vocational training, in 1 of the 26 professional fields officially established in the National Catalogue for Professional Qualifications. Requires a final project. Equal to EQF 5 (worth the second year of a 3-year Bachelor's degree). Other countries having the same designations may be a potential reason for why some ENEB diplomas could be rated as vocational school or otherwise as a non-degree, whereas a different result may be obtained for an ENEB diploma in a different subject. The 26 professional fields officially deemed as vocational by Spain are as follows, with the ones that have any connection to ENEB subjects bolded:
1. Physical Activities and Sports, 2. Administration and Management, 3. Agricultural, 4. Graphic Arts, 5. Arts and Crafts, 6. Commerce and Marketing, 7. Building and Civil Works, 8. Electricity and Electronics, 9. Energy and Water, 10. Mechanical Manufacturing, 11. Hospitality and Tourism, 12. Personal Image, 13. Image and Sound, 14. Food Industries, 15. Extractive Industries, 16. Computing and Communications, 17. Installation and Maintenance, 18. Wood, Furniture, and Cork, 19. Maritime-Fishing, 20. Chemistry, 21. Health, 22. Security and Environment, 23. Sociocultural and Community Services, 24. Textiles, Clothing and Leather, 25. Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance, 26. Glass and Ceramics.
I think the 90 ECTS per year limit is probably normal for Europe. In the USA, you can do 200% studies and no one cares, but in Europe the max I've been able to take from my country was 175% and you had to get special permission to do so (unless your studies were abroad - they can't track those).
There's been some debate on the ENEB exams. None of the sources I read mentioned anything about the specifics of what amount of homework, exams, final exams, etc, are required for any educational level. The official requirements for something to count as university Master's level are very vague such as "After graduating, the student is able to manage themselves at work" and "The student is able to understand research related to their field".
Sources: 1) https://www.ucm.es/cfp/tipos-de-titulos
2) https://www.uhu.es/titulos-propios/infor...-cada-tipo
3) https://www.aqu.cat/en/doc/Universitats/...ork-CHE-QF
4) https://universidadeuropea.com/blog/que-...ermanente/
5) https://www.upc.edu/es/masteres/masteres...ente-tabla
6) https://www.uam.es/CentroFormacionContin...514995.htm
7) https://www.educaweb.com/contenidos/educ...onales-fp/
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