Canary Islands (IC)

The Canary Islands are Spain's Atlantic autonomous community: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.

Capital: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Region: Europe

Language: Spanish

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 52)

Emergency: 112

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Canary Islands.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Escuela Infantil (0–3 años, Primer Ciclo) €0–400/month (highly regional). Madrid and Galicia offer free or heavily subsidised places for 0–3.

Age: 0–3 years

Subsidy available

The Canary Islands government (Gobierno de Canarias) offers income-based subsidies for the 0–3 cycle in public and concertado escuelas infantiles. Costs vary by island and income band. Private centres cost €250–600/month. Subsidy applications are managed through the Canary Islands education portal (educa.gobiernodecanarias.org).

Apply via the Gobierno de Canarias education portal (educa.gobiernodecanarias.org). Bring DNI/NIE, empadronamiento (certificate of residency registration), Libro de Familia, income tax declaration (Renta), and proof of employment.

⏱️ Application window is typically March–April for the September start. Public places are allocated by a points system: work situation, income, siblings enrolled, proximity. Apply to multiple centres in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz de Tenerife as soon as empadronamiento is confirmed.

Educación Infantil (3–6 años, Segundo Ciclo) FREE in public and most concertado schools. Private: €300–1,000/month.

Age: 3–6 years

Subsidy available

The Segundo Ciclo (age 3–6) is fully funded by the state in public schools and in concertado schools with a state funding agreement. Parents pay for the comedor (lunch) — €4–8/day — and optional extracurriculars.

Same centralised portal as primary schools in the Canary Islands (educa.gobiernodecanarias.org). The main admission window is in March–April for the following September. Priority is given by catchment zone, siblings already enrolled, and family income.

⏱️ Main admission process typically March–April of the year your child turns 3. Admission priority: catchment area (zona de influencia), siblings, family income, parent workplace proximity.

🏫 Schools

Primary Free

Educación Primaria

Ages: 6–12 years (grades 1–6) · Language: Spanish (Castilian) + co-official language in Catalonia (Catalan), Basque Country (Euskera and/or Spanish in linea modelo), Galicia (Galician), Valencia (Valencian/Spanish), Balearic Islands (Catalan/Spanish). Bilingual English programmes widespread since 2005.

Register via the Canary Islands education admissions portal (educa.gobiernodecanarias.org) during March–April. Allocation is points-based (catchment zone, siblings enrolled, income, disability). Bring DNI/NIE, empadronamiento, Libro de Familia, and sworn translations of foreign school records.

Three types of schools: público (public, free), concertado (private with state subsidy, parents pay €60–250/month "contribution"), privado (private, €500–1,500/month). Language of instruction is Spanish (Castilian); there is no co-official regional language in the Canary Islands (unlike Catalonia or the Basque Country). Bilingual English/Spanish public school programmes (Plan de Educación Bilingüe) are available across many Canary Islands schools.

Secondary Free

Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) + Bachillerato / FP

Ages: 12–16 years (ESO) + 16–18 (Bachillerato or FP) · Language: Spanish + co-official language of the region

Same process as primary — centralised regional portal. After ESO (completed at 16), students choose Bachillerato (academic, leads to university via EBAU/Selectividad) or Formación Profesional (vocational, 2–4 years, immediate employability).

LOMLOE 2020 is the current framework. After Bachillerato students take EBAU (also called Selectividad or PAU) to access university. Minimum grade for university depends on degree (nota de corte).

International Schools

The Canary Islands have a growing English-medium private school sector, reflecting strong British expat and tourism-industry communities. In Tenerife: Oakley College (Playa de las Américas), Wingate School, and various British-curriculum prep schools in the south. In Gran Canaria: Sunny View School (Maspalomas) and English-medium private schools in Las Palmas. The islands have fewer full IB-continuum schools than Madrid or Barcelona — most English-medium schools offer IGCSE/A Level or US-style curricula. Annual fees typically €5,000–15,000/year. Check the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and NABSS (National Association of British Schools in Spain) listings for accredited options.

University

Tuition fee

EU students: approximately €760–1,500/year at Canary Islands public universities (University of La Laguna — ULL, Tenerife; and University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria — ULPGC). Non-EU students: €1,800–5,000/year. The Canary Islands have lower public university fees than Madrid or Catalonia. Private universities and distance programmes (UNED, open to all) have separate fee structures.

Semester fee

Tasas administrativas: €50–250/semester, covering enrolment and diploma fees.

Student visa

Non-EU students need a visado de estudios at the Spanish consulate. Requirements: admission letter, proof of €600–900/month financial means, private health insurance, clean criminal record. Permits work up to 30 hours/week during term.

Health insurance

Compulsory for non-EU students on Visado de Estudios. Must have full coverage in Spain with no copayments — €400–900/year private policies (Sanitas, Adeslas, MAPFRE). EU students use EHIC for short stays; for over 6 months, register with the Spanish public system via empadronamiento and NIE.

Application process

Undergraduate: pre-register via the Canary Islands Distrito Único portal (acceso.ull.es or ulpgc.es) before June. Non-EU applicants: access through UNED-assess (acreditación UNEDasiss). Masters: direct application to ULL or ULPGC (January–June). Selectividad/EBAU grade (5–14) plus specific subject grades determine allocation.

🗣️ Language Courses

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI)

Provider: Public, run by each Comunidad Autónoma · Duration: 1 academic year per level (October–June) · Levels: A1–C2 (Spanish for foreigners + other languages)

€150–400 per academic year (full 120–130 hour course)

Excellent value — best Spanish-learning institution for expats willing to commit to a year. Official certificates accepted for citizenship, NIE renewals, university admission. Admission via competition each September.

Instituto Cervantes

Provider: Instituto Cervantes (Spanish equivalent of Goethe-Institut / Alliance Française) · Duration: 4–10 weeks · Levels: A1–C2

€400–1,500 per course

Provides DELE certifications (A2, B1, B2 and up). DELE A2 + CCSE are required for Spanish citizenship by residence. Intensive and extensive options.

Universidad Popular / Ayuntamiento courses

Provider: Municipal (your Ayuntamiento) · Duration: 20–60 hours · Levels: A1–B2

€30–200/course (heavily subsidised)

Run by many city councils. Affordable entry point. Check your Ayuntamiento’s cultural/education department.

Language schools (private)

Provider: Don Quijote, Enforex, AIL Madrid, International House · Duration: 1 week intensive to 12-month long-term · Levels: A1–C2

€200–1,200/week (intensive) or €15–30/hour private tuition

Higher cost but flexible scheduling and fast results. Good for short-term intensive study.

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