Bachelor's degree in law (Spain)


The Bachelor's Degree in Law, in Spain, is the university academic degree conferred on those who have successfully completed a law study process at a university. Do not confuse with the Bachelor of Laws.
We must differentiate two types of the Bachelor's Degree in Law: the previous one to the Bologna Process and the later one. The previous one to the Bologna Process was composed of 5 years, with specialization and without legal internship. The current one consists of 4 years, with internship and to specialize it is necessary to study a master's degree.

Bachelor's Degree in Law (before Bolonia)

The previous Bachelor's Degree in Law to the Bologna Process was called Licenciatura en Derecho, it was an academic licentiate degree, a degree below that of a PhD given by Spanish universities. It was equivalent to a Master's degree in the anglophone system.
A Licenciatura typically required from 4 to 6 years of University courses, and had a typical credit workload of 300 to 400 credits. This one, Bachelor's Degree in Law, required 5 years of university courses, and its structure was established in 1953.
With the Bologna Process this licentiate degree was phased out at Spanish universities and was replaced by the system of the Grado and Master.
Prior to the Bologna Process, the master's degree was not considered an official academic degree in Spain, as the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate studies could only be done directly from a Licenciatura to doctoral studies.

Bachelor's Degree in Law (after Bolonia)

The Bologna Process brought the system of the Grado and Master, getting the same academic level as with the licentiate degree, but in two different degrees. Nowadays, the current Bachelor's Degree in Law is called Grado en Derecho and requieres 4 years of university courses.
The current Bachelor's Degree also includes an optional legal internship, which is usually 6 ECTS credits.

Degree planning and Study Plan

The current degree planning of the Bachelor's Degree in Law includes :
1st course:
2nd course:
3rd course:
4th course: