Are qualifications from Comillas official?

All of our qualifications are official apart from the ones described as private degrees.

All of our doctorates, bachelor's degrees, licentiate degrees, engineering degrees, technical engineering courses and university master's degrees are official. The diplomas which are studied alongside the bachelor's degrees are private, as are the private postgraduate courses.

How many students does Comillas have?

In the 2012-2013 academic years, there were 6,798 bachelor's students and 3,166 postgraduates studying at Comillas. 1,959 students from other foreign universities were studying modules or specific programs at the university.

Can you enter competitive public exams with qualifications from Comillas?

Yes, if they are official qualifications.

Is an average grade required for admission?

No, for admission the academic record and admissions test are considered. In some cases a personal interview is required.

Is it necessary to pass the final A-level Assessment for University Access (EvAU) to enter Comillas?

Yes, in the case of A-level students from the LOMCE system of the Spanish Educational System.

No, when you have studied European A-levels or International A-levels or other courses of educational systems from the EU or countries with which Spain has signed international agreements for the recognition of A-level qualifications on a reciprocal basis. In these cases, the Access Credential issued by the UNED (Open University) must be submitted

The Spanish educational system allows other cases in which the EvAU is not required. If your case is NOT any of the above and you have doubts, contact us and we will tell you how to proceed.

In any event, admission to any of Comillas courses requires you to submit the application for admission, accompanied by your academic record, by the established deadline, and to take the admission tests on the dates indicated. Information on the type of tests carried out and even models of tests carried out in previous years can be found on the websites of the centres.

Why and for what purpose is the admissions test performed?

As courses at Comillas are in high demand and there is a limited number of places, we have to select the best candidates using admissions tests.

Who runs the University?

Comillas is a Church University, run for over a century by the Society of Jesus, a private institution with more than four centuries of educational tradition and which has the largest network of university centers in the world.

Does Comillas have accommodation?

Comillas does not have its own accommodation. The University's Information and Student Reception Office provides students with information about the different options for accommodation in Madrid.

Are there grants?

Students at Comillas enjoy the same benefits as other Spanish university students with regards to official grants, and can apply for the University's own financial aid which it has established.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, the Community of Madrid awarded 227 grants for Outstanding Academic Achievement to students from Comillas Pontifical University; 331 students received aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport, and 338 students benefited from the University's own financial aid. 

Is a particular Baccalaureate option required for admission to courses at Comillas?

To access our courses it is not necessary to have studied a particular Baccalaureate pathway, but to carry out the entry exam (for the courses which require a written test) some options are more suited than others.

What is the tutorial system?

Each class has a tutor, whose role is to integrate the student into the group and monitor his or her academic performance. Furthermore, at Comillas the teaching system is distinguished, amongst other characteristics, by its personalized attention and the flexible and lasting relationship between teachers and students.

Which languages are offered?

On all the Bachelor's Degrees it is compulsory to take modules of English or another third language, and most of these subjects are delivered in English as part of the curriculum. The skills attained in said language will be accredited through the University's private "Diploma in communication skills and foreign language studies" qualification which accompanies the undergraduate degree.

Comillas also has an Institute of Modern Languages where Spanish students can study other languages (French, German, Italian, and Chinese), and foreign students can choose Spanish. 

Does Comillas have exchange programs with foreign Universities?

Last year almost 700 students took part in the exchange programs which Comillas offers its students (357 Erasmus and 336 bliateral programs). More than a hundred students registered for the Inside Programs (Kenya and the USA) and, with lecturers and other university staff for development cooperation programs (Peru, India, and Kenya), as well as visiting partner organizations in other destinations such as Ireland. Comillas presently has some 370 active agreements with the most prestigious international higher education institutions. The list of universities with which there are exchange agreements can be consulted at the International Relations Service.

When can I do the exchange?

• In the third year of bachelor's degrees (except on the Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Bachelor's Degree in Translation and Interpreting where it is done in the second year).
• On advanced engineering programs and degrees, from the 4th year.
• In second cycle engineering programs and degrees, during the 2nd year.

Are new technologies used at Comillas?

Virtually all the lecturers and students have been using new information and communication technologies for years thanks to the implementation of the eLearning Platform (Moodle) and the Resources Portal, which include IT tools to support both classroom-based and distance learning.

At present the IT rooms at Comillas have a student/computer ratio of 4:1.

The wireless network covers 100% of the facilities. The University has rooms with laptops and desktop computers to bring the teaching in line with the methodology promoted for the European Higher Education Area.

Are there internships in businesses and institutions?

The Comillas teaching system is especially orientated towards the relationship with the reality of businesses, institutions and organizations and professional practice. The Internship and Careers Office is in charge of helping students to carry out internships related to their studies to enrich their education. During the 2012-2013 academic year 3,499 student internships in companies were arranged.

As well as the internships managed by the Internship and Careers Office, some degrees (all the new Bachelor's Degrees) have a significant quantity of obligatory external internships within their curricula.

Is there a Job Bank at Comillas?

The Internship and Careers Office provides information, guidance, and cooperation in entry into the labor market for new graduates, and in increasing the career profile of Comillas graduates. For this end it has an on-line tool to put candidates directly in touch with 5,078 businesses with which Comillas has relationships. During the 2012-2013 academic year 1,900 job offers were handled. Of all the students who graduated from Comillas in 2012, 85.7% of the Bachelor's Degree holders and 77.6% of Postgraduate students were either working or involved in further study, six months after having finished their degree.

How many students obtain their qualification in the period that the course officially lasts?

The majority of the students who pass the first year complete their studies in the established time.

Can you play sports at Comillas?

At our University you can play a variety of types of sport, whether for competition, recreation or leisure, as well as taking part in the Madrid University Championship, The Spanish University Championship, European Championship, and those of the Educational institutions of the Society of Jesus, or in a variety of internal leagues and cups. There are also gymnasiums and a broad choice of sports schools and open-air activities available for students which are organized by the Sports Service.

Can I visit the University?

The university opens its doors so that students can talk to lecturers and see its facilities and working methods. To do so, open days are organized for the purpose of presenting the courses.

Does Comillas have campuses outside of Madrid?

No. It is based in Madrid.

What provision is made for the special educational requirements of students with disabilities at Comillas?

The Social Work Unit at the University has a Support program for students with disabilities, through which it offers them personalized support and monitoring for their particular educational requirements throughout the course. The program also provides support for academic staff when making the necessary technical and curriculum changes.