Overview
- The Council of Ministers approved the decree, which the government says will take effect at the end of October after publication in the BOE.
- Creation of any new university now requires a preceptive and binding report from ANECA or a regional quality agency, and an unfavorable assessment will block authorization.
- New institutions must reach 4,500 students within six years, offer at least 10 bachelor’s, 6 master’s and 3 doctoral programs across three fields, employ a faculty with at least 50% PhDs, invest 5% of their budget in research with 2% from competitive funds, and provide a financial guarantee equal to their third‑year budget; they must also plan housing for 10% of students.
- Fully online universities of new creation will require recognition by Spain’s Parliament, with exemptions for existing centers and those with majority teaching in a co‑official language or with significant public funding.
- Madrid’s president Isabel Díaz Ayuso announced a Supreme Court appeal, and advisory bodies including the Council of State, Economy, Labour and the CNMC have warned of legal risks in parts of the text, pointing to a contested implementation.