Education
Education in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands education system follows the Spanish model, with compulsory education from ages 6 to 16. In addition to the public system, there are concertado (semi-private), private, and international options.
Spanish Education System
- Infantil (0-6 years): Nursery and preschool, not compulsory.
- Primaria (6-12 years): Compulsory primary education.
- Secundaria / ESO (12-16 years): Compulsory secondary education.
- Bachillerato (16-18 years): Pre-university preparation, not compulsory.
- Formación Profesional (FP): Vocational training at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
International Schools
| Island | Schools |
|---|---|
| Tenerife | British School of Tenerife, Wingate School, Luther King School, Deutsche Schule Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Gran Canaria | British School of Gran Canaria, Oakley College, American School of Las Palmas, Deutsche Schule Las Palmas |
| Lanzarote | British School of Lanzarote, Colegio Hispano Británico |
| Fuerteventura | British School of Fuerteventura |
Universities
The two main public universities are the University of La Laguna (ULL) in Tenerife (founded 1792, ~23,000 students) and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) (~22,000 students). Both offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programmes. The UNED (Spanish Open University) offers distance learning with centres on all islands. Private options include Universidad Europea de Canarias in La Orotava.
Living in Canary Islands