The Spanish university system, like many of its European counterparts, dates back to the Middle Ages. The oldest among Spanish Universities is Salamanca, founded in 1218. The present system, however, is actually descendant of the 19th century liberal university, inspired by the centralized French model. In the last years, it has experienced its greatest growth in history, while at the same time advancing towards a self-governing and descentralized system.

As everywhere, the role of the university in Spain include the imparting of knowledge, the practice of research and the training of professionals and scientists. Since 1983, with the Ley Organica 11/1983, de 25 de agosto, de Reforma Universitaria, a wide process of reforms has been carried out, based on that law to organize the freedom of study, the liberty of the university chairs and the self-government of the universities. With respect to self-government, the university draws up its own Statutes, elects its own governing bodies, elaborates its budgets and staff rosters and may establish its own system of degrees and studies. Each one does so under the tutelage of a Social Council, a representation of all social forces which are all coordinated by the University Councils.

The Ley de Reforma Universitaria (LRU) also gave rise to a renewal of the existing plans of study, presently intermediate degrees (three years) and superior degrees (five years, six for medicine) which are being replaced by two different types of studies: those of the single cycle, which will run for three years and are directly professional; and those of three cycles in some cases, receiving diplomas which are professionally valid; the B.A.'s (always with various specialties) and the doctorate (two years and a final thesis). In certain studies, the student will be able to pass from the short cycle to the bachelor's degree with a new major after a course of transition. In addition to the doctorate, in many faculties, such as medicine, there are areas for specialization and at present, thre are many types of master's degrees for graduates in law and economics. As the basic unit of study plans, required subjects will be maintained, grouped in courses that the students will have to follow consecutively, which today is less rigurous than before, owing to the increase in elective courses. The courses taken may be mainstream courses (at 30% of the total in the first cycle or 25% in the second), which are those that the University Councils declare obligatory; or electives, chosen freely by the student (at least 10% of the total).

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