Study in Andorra

Formal tertiary study in Andorra is supervised within a national framework established by the Govern d’Andorra. The Universitat d’Andorra (UdA) is the public university. The current government directory lists eight university providers: UdA, Universitat Carlemany, Universitas Europaea IMF, UNIPRO Universitat Digital Europea, Western Europe University, Tech Global University, UDDI and Endor Universitat Digital d’Andorra. The active offer changes by provider and programme, so the official-title registry and current provider information are the relevant sources for checking a course. The first cycle is the Bàtxelor, normally comprising 180 ECTS over six semesters. ECTS means European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System; one credit represents about 30 hours of total workload. A Bàtxelor d’especialització requires at least 60 ECTS. A Màster normally comprises 120 ECTS over four semesters, while a Doctorat requires at least three years of full-time research. The MAQ, Andorra’s qualifications framework, has eight qualification levels. The Liceu Comte de Foix BTS belongs to the French postsecondary vocational system and is therefore a boundary case rather than a university qualification within this scope. Entry to a Bàtxelor or a diploma of advanced professional studies can be based on Batxiller, Batxiller professional, another official tertiary qualification or an access test for applicants over 25. Foreign qualifications require an access or recognition decision from the Govern d’Andorra. Entry to a Bàtxelor d’especialització normally requires a related Bàtxelor or equivalent, a Màster requires a Bàtxelor or equivalent, and a Doctorat requires a Màster or equivalent. A programme may also set requirements for language, capacity or prior subjects. Catalan is the official state language, and the UdA teaches most programmes mainly in Catalan. English or French may apply to particular programmes. Applicants should check the teaching language, assessment language and language requirements for the exact course before applying. Tuition depends on the provider, programme and academic year. For regulated UdA studies, the government sets an annual price per credit and publishes it in the BOPA. UdA may allow payment in instalments when at least 15 credits are taken. Private providers set their own fees. Materials, administration, examinations, travel and living expenses can add to the total cost. Government study aid is means-tested and can cover Andorran, foreign or distance-study pathways under the current annual call. The 2026–2027 call accepts applications online or in person. UdA discounts include a 50% reduction for large families or single-parent families and a 100% first-year honours reduction for up to 60 credits, subject to the conditions of Decret 137/2026 and the current rules. A non-resident who studies at a recognised Andorran establishment and programme needs the applicable immigration study authorisation. The authorisation normally covers the duration of the study course. Foreign official documents may need an apostille or legalisation, and the immigration rules require financial proof calculated at 100% of the minimum salary per adult co-resident and 70% per minor. The permit's conditions determine the holder's rights and duties; study authorisation does not automatically create unrestricted residence or employment rights. An academic year normally represents 60 ECTS. A full-time reference workload is about 34 to 40 weeks per year. The grading scale runs from 0 to 10: 0–4.9 is Suspens, 5.0–6.9 Aprovat, 7.0–8.9 Notable and 9.0–10 Excel·lent, with Matrícula d’honor as a distinction. Each institution sets detailed rules for enrolment, progression, assessment, attendance, practical work, academic integrity, complaints and student support. Transferring ECTS requires approval from the receiving institution. AQUA, the Agència de Qualitat de l’Ensenyament Superior d’Andorra, evaluates, accredits and certifies higher-education provision. Study plans approved before 3 April 2025 generally follow a 10-year accreditation cycle; plans from that date follow a six-year cycle. The Govern d’Andorra issues state Bàtxelor, Bàtxelor d’especialització, Màster and Doctor titles. Graduates receive a European Diploma Supplement with Bàtxelor, Màster and Doctor titles, and the official-title registry can be used for verification. The UdA offers multidisciplinary doctoral study with research training, international supervision and evaluation. During the first two semesters, a doctoral student has a tutor. Full-time study represents 30 ECTS per semester, while half-time study requires at least 15 ECTS per semester. A foreign Màster may require government certification of access to doctoral study. Students enrolled in an official UdA degree may study for one or more semesters at an agreement partner. Course equivalence must be arranged in advance. The host institution may require admission, language preparation, a visa, insurance or accommodation, while tuition remains payable to UdA for agreement mobility. UdA publishes annual deadlines; its current guidance sets 15 March for autumn mobility. Academic recognition of a foreign qualification establishes equivalence to an MAQ level and produces academic effects only. Professional recognition is a separate process for access to a regulated profession. Applications go through the Govern’s Servei de Tràmits and normally include identification, the qualification, transcript, European Diploma Supplement where available, and a sworn Catalan translation when documents are not in Catalan, Spanish or French. Apostille or diplomatic legalisation may be required unless the document is a verifiable electronic document. The fee is 8.58 EUR and the maximum period is two months when the file is complete. Recognition alone does not authorise practice in a regulated profession; a separate licence, registration or professional decision may be required. Further study depends on the admission rules of the receiving institution. Employment is not guaranteed by an Andorran qualification. The latest located official statistics record 2,231 tertiary learners in 2024/25, with private providers accounting for 67%; the national offer is geographically concentrated and the provider landscape is changing.