INEbase / University Education Statistics / General methodology

Summary

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) has been producing statistics corresponding to all levels of teaching included in the Spanish educational system since the 1945-46 academic year. As of the 1985-86 academic year, by virtue of the Ministerial Order of 5 November 1985 the Ministry of Education and Science undertook, in agreement with the INE, the collecting, processing and publication of results of non-higher levels (primary and secondary). The INE carries out the compilation and publication of University Education Statistics and Other University-equivalent education.

The fundamental objective of these statistics is to ascertain the most relevant characteristics of the student body (enrolment, new entries and those finished) broken down by sex and age, as well as of the teaching personnel and centres, which facilitate obtaining a general vision of the scope and volume of higher education in Spain. Similarly, the said information serves as a base for filling in questionnaires from international bodies (OECD, UNESCO, EUROSTAT). The different concepts have been adjusted to international definitions in order to facilitate international comparability.

During the 2006-2007 academic year, as a result of the reforms to harmonise the higher educational systems in the European higher education framework, data was published on the enrolled student body and that which had completed studies in Master's programmes (Official Professional Specialisation Programmes)

As of the 1999-2000 academic year data (enrolled student body, new entries and student body who graduated) was published according to the National Classification for Education (NCED), by study sector.

As of academic year 1991-1992 and until 1998-1999, series were published on the level of infants, primary and secondary education, compiled by the Education Ministries Statistics Office. Until the aforementioned academic year, information on EGSO Artistic Education and other studies (PT II, Civil Navy, Occupational Therapy, Civil Aviation, Social Studies Graduates, Tourism, Physical Education, Military Education, etc.) was published under the heading of Other Non-University Higher Education.

The previously mentioned series and the PT II were no longer published as of academic year 1999-2000. The remaining previously mentioned education has been grouped under the heading EGSO Artistic Education and university equivalents. Higher-degree Artistic Education ceased to be published in the 2007-2008 academic year, in which they were published only in the Ministry of Education.

Technical description

The University Education Statistics are annually published administrative statistics, compiled from the information provided by centres and universities through questionnaires.

Information collection is carried out in two stages, the first in March of the current academic year, in which data is collected on enrolled student body and human resources, and the second in October, when data is collected on students who completed their studies during the academic year.

The results are published in May of the following academic year.

Publication

The annual publication consists of a single press release with the most noteworthy facts and some detailed results tables with data from annual series, a summary of data on the teaching staff and student body, detailed results by type of study and by Autonomous Community.

The data is broken down, according to the table, by sex, age, university, type of centre and Autonomous Community.

Available information

"University Education Statistical in Spain" is available in print format until the 1997-1998 academic year.

The corresponding electronic publication is available from the 1992-1993 academic year onwards.