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Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nCheck the “Criteria of Admission” for your specific region, as Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) has much stricter modality requirements than Andalusia.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The “Volante de Homologaci\u00f3n”: PCE Exam Critical Requirements for International Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTaking the PCE is only half the battle. You must also apply for the official recognition of your high school diploma (Homologaci\u00f3n) through the Spanish Ministry of Education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
UNEDasiss will allow you to sit the exams if you show your “Volante de Solicitud” (the proof that you\u2019ve started the application), but they won’t issue your final University Access Grade until this process is underway. Start this at least 3 months before the exam!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Learn more about how to register in our Step-by-Step Guide to the PCE Specific Competency Test<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWho Should Take the EBAU Exam?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe EBAU is mandatory for students completing their Bachillerato inside the Spanish school system.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nYou should only take the EBAU Exam if you are currently studying your final year of high school physically in Spain, under the Spanish curriculum (Bachillerato<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRigid Structure:<\/strong> The EBAU is not flexible. It consists of a mandatory “General Phase” (4 exams: Spanish Language, History of Spain, Foreign Language, and a Core Subject) plus a “Voluntary Phase.”<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation Restriction:<\/strong> The EBAU must be taken physically in Spain, at the specific public university assigned to your high school.<\/li>\n\n\n\nThe Trap for Foreigners:<\/strong> Sometimes international schools in Spain offer the IB (International Baccalaureate). If you study the IB, you are generally treated as an international student (PCE\/UNED path), not a local EBAU student, unless your school has a specific dual-recognition agreement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nFinding the right pathway depends entirely on your high school diploma and where you completed your studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do EU Students Need to Take the PCE or EBAU?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTable:<\/strong> Quick Decision Guide: Which one are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/td> Current Situation<\/strong><\/td>Pathway<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Option A<\/strong><\/td>I am finishing high school in Spain with a Spanish diploma<\/td> Take the EBAU<\/td><\/tr> Option B<\/strong><\/td>I have a diploma from the USA, UK, or any non-EU country<\/td> Take the PCE (4-6 subjects)<\/td><\/tr> Option C<\/strong><\/td>I have an EU diploma (ex: Italy, France, Germany)<\/td> UNED Accreditation + 2 PCE subjects (optional)<\/td><\/tr> Option D<\/strong><\/td>I have an International Baccalaureate (IB)<\/td> UNED Accreditation + 2 PCE subjects<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMost EU students do not need to take the full entrance exam. They can enter directly with their home grades via the UNEDasiss Credencial.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you are from the European Union (or a country with a reciprocity agreement like China or the UK), you have a special “Fast Track” status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nDirect Access:<\/strong> You can usually enter university using only your high school transcripts, which UNED converts to a Spanish score (up to 10 points).<\/li>\n\n\n\nRaising Your Grade:<\/strong> If you want to study a competitive degree like Medicine (which requires a 12 or 13), you do not<\/em> take the full exam. You only take 2 specific subjects in the PCE exams to raise your score.<\/li>\n\n\n\nNo EBAU:<\/strong> EU students almost never take the EBAU. It is unnecessary bureaucracy for them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\nWhat is UNED and UNEDassis?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nUNED<\/strong> stands for Universidad Nacional de Educaci\u00f3n a Distancia<\/em> (National University of Distance Education).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nThe Institution:<\/strong> It is the largest public university in Spain by student population.<\/li>\n\n\n\nThe Role:<\/strong> While it functions as a regular university offering degrees to thousands of students (mostly online), the Spanish government has also designated it as the official regulatory body responsible for evaluating foreign educational systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\nThink of it as:<\/strong> The “Gatekeeper” that has the legal authority to say if a High School Diploma from say Colombia, China, the USA, or any other country, is equivalent to a Spanish one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhat is UNEDasiss?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nUNEDasiss<\/strong> is the specific digital platform and accreditation service created by UNED to manage university access for international students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nThe Service:<\/strong> It is the department you will actually interact with. You do not apply to “UNED” (the university); you apply for accreditation through “UNEDasiss” (the portal).<\/li>\n\n\n\nThe Functions:<\/strong> UNEDasiss handles three main tasks:\n\nAccreditation:<\/strong> Verifying your foreign high school transcripts.<\/li>\n\n\n\nPCE Exams:<\/strong> Organizing and grading the Specific Competency exams.<\/li>\n\n\n\nGrading:<\/strong> Calculating your final “University Access Grade” (0-10) and issuing the official digital certificate (Credencial<\/em>) that you send to universities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhich Entity Organizes the EBAU and PCE Exams?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPhoto of two people icons interconnected on notebook with world globe on classroom desk.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe most important logistical difference is that you register for the PCE through UNED, while the EBAU is handled by local universities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you are an international student, your relationship is with UNEDasiss, not the university you want to attend (yet).<\/p>\n\n\n\nFeature<\/strong><\/td>EBAU (Local)<\/strong><\/td>PCE (International)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Target Audience<\/strong><\/td>Spanish Bachillerato<\/em> students<\/td>Foreign High School Graduates<\/td><\/tr> Organizer<\/strong><\/td>Local Public Universities (ex: UCM, UB)<\/td> UNED (National Distance University)<\/td><\/tr> Location<\/strong><\/td>Spain (On-campus only)<\/td> Worldwide (45+ Centers) & Spain<\/td><\/tr> Structure<\/strong><\/td>4 Mandatory Blocks + Electives<\/td> Flexible “A-la-carte” Selection<\/td><\/tr> Registration<\/strong><\/td>Through High School Secretary<\/td> Online via UNEDasiss Portal<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Much Do EBAU and PCE Exams Cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe PCE exam is significantly more expensive than the local EBAU, especially if you take it outside of Spain.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBudgeting for your exams is an often-overlooked step. Here is what you can expect to pay for the 2026 academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Table: EBAU and PCE Exam Cost Analysis:<\/strong> A clear breakdown of of the financial investment required for these exams<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/td> PCE (UNEDasiss)<\/strong><\/td>EBAU (Local)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Base Fee \/ File Opening<\/td> ~\u20ac170<\/td> Included in General Phase<\/td><\/tr> Per Subject Fee<\/td> ~\u20ac35<\/td> \u20ac15 \u2013 \u20ac30<\/td><\/tr> International Surcharge<\/td> \u20ac90\u2013\u20ac100<\/td> N\/A (Spain only)<\/td><\/tr> Total Estimated Cost<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac250 \u2013 \u20ac450<\/strong><\/td>\u20ac120 \u2013 \u20ac150<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPCE Exam Costs (UNEDasiss) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe price is modular, you pay for the administrative opening of your file plus a fee for each subject you sit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFile Opening & Services:<\/strong> ~\u20ac170 (Includes calculation of your “Calificaci\u00f3n de Acceso”).<\/li>\n\n\n\nPer Subject Fee:<\/strong> ~\u20ac35 per exam.<\/li>\n\n\n\nInternational Surcharge:<\/strong> If you take the exam at a UNED center outside<\/em> of Spain (ex: New York, Bogota, etc.), there is an additional center fee of approximately \u20ac90\u2013\u20ac100.<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal Estimated Cost:<\/strong> Between \u20ac250 and \u20ac450, depending on location and number of subjects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nEBAU Exam Costs (Local) <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThese fees are subsidized by the Autonomous Community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nGeneral Phase:<\/strong> ~\u20ac90 \u2013 \u20ac100.<\/li>\n\n\n\nVoluntary Phase:<\/strong> ~\u20ac15 \u2013 \u20ac30 per additional subject.<\/li>\n\n\n\nTotal Estimated Cost:<\/strong> Typically around \u20ac120 \u2013 \u20ac150 for a full exam set.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nWhen Do You Take the Exams?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBoth exams follow a similar calendar, but the PCE registration window opens and closes earlier than you might expect.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you miss the main session, you often have to wait until September (Extraordinary Session), which leaves very few university spots available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Table 2:<\/em><\/strong> Comparative timeline for the 2026 university entrance exam sessions. Note that PCE dates are provisional and subject to final confirmation by UNED.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n