Foreigners constitute 67.1% of the entire Andorran population comprising Spanish, Portuguese, French, and other nationalities. The country’s status as a tax haven attracted a significant number of foreign workers and investors in the past while Andorra’s population growth itself has been historically small. In addition, the principality boasts of a stunning environment, offers a high quality of life and education, and is a safe and stable nation. If you’re planning to relocate to or study in Andorra, here’s how the educational system works in the country.

A Distinct System

Three systems co-exist in the education system of Andorra – Andorran, French, and Spanish. The medium of instruction is in the 3 languages. Primary and secondary school are free in the principality. Education is compulsory for children from the age of 6 onward but pre-school (0-6 years) is also widely attended. After completing 6 years of primary school, students are awarded a Certificat d’Estudies. Successful completion of the 4 years in secondary schooling leads to a certification – Graduat en Segona Ensenyanca. Pupils must attend the upper secondary schooling for 2 years before being awarded the Batxillerat or the Baccalaureat.

If you wish to pursue higher education in the country, there is only one public post-secondary educational institution – the University of Andorra. Established in 1988, it offers qualifications for the first cycle programs or 3-year bachelor’s degree in several subjects including education, nursing, computer science, and business. The second cycle is a 2-year master’s degree equivalent to 120 European credits. Post-graduate programs are available as well at this university on Andorran law, education, and child rights in partnership with Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) or the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) of Spain. Third cycle or doctoral degrees focus on tech, business, education, health, and law. All degrees comform to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) framework recognized by participating countries. There are other diploma programs in collaboration with the University of Andorra or a French/Spanish university. As part of its international flavor, the university has entered into ‘cooperation agreements’ with around 40 learning institutions to ensure that the official courses offered have a semester taught in English. In-person teaching and remote participation are both possible. For example, the Open University of Catalonia, in cooperation with the Universitat d’Andorra proposes various online programs in information technology and business.

Alternatives to the Public University

Not only are there collaborations with universities around the globe, some foreign institutions of higher learning had campuses in the principality. For example, the Universitat Oberta de la Salle Andorra or the La Salle Open University was a private institution that was founded in 2010 with a campus in La Massana. The online university offered programs in science & technology, business & social sciences, and the arts & humanities leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education revoked its license in December 2021.

However, summer universities or ‘Universitat d’estiu’ are offered by educational institutions in Andorra. Besides the University of Andorra, specialized training centers may run specific courses as well international summer programs held in the country by foreign educational establishments. If you’re interested in flying, the Andorra Aviation Academy has an aviator course which is recognized in Europe. It is taught in English.

The number of higher education institutions in the principality may be limited, but it has robust international collaborations with other schools. Furthermore, its strong focus on digital education provides students with a diverse range of educational opportunities.