Education & Academic Life
University vocabulary: la carrera, la beca, el semestre, la materia, el promedio, el ensayo, la tesis, el laboratorio. Talk about educational goals, study habits, and academic challenges. Express preferences and plans using conditional and subjunctive.
A lesson of Spanish B1 — Intermediate, in Workplace & Social, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to discuss education, academic goals, and school life in Spanish — from choosing a major to describing university experiences.
The Spanish Education System
Understanding the education vocabulary in context helps you use it naturally. Here is a general overview of terms that apply across most Spanish-speaking countries:
| Level | Spanish term |
|---|---|
| Elementary school | la escuela primaria / la escuela |
| Secondary school | el instituto / la escuela secundaria / el bachillerato |
| University | la universidad |
| Graduate school / Postgrad | el posgrado / el máster |
| Doctorate | el doctorado |
Academic Vocabulary
Courses and Programs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la carrera | university degree program / major |
| la licenciatura | bachelor's degree |
| el máster / la maestría | master's degree |
| el doctorado | doctorate / PhD |
| la asignatura / la materia | subject, course |
| el semestre / el trimestre | semester / quarter |
| la clase magistral | lecture |
| el seminario | seminar |
| las prácticas | internship, practicum |
| el intercambio | exchange program |
Money and Support
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la beca | scholarship, grant |
| el préstamo estudiantil | student loan |
| la matrícula | tuition / enrollment fee |
| la cuota | fee, installment |
| la tutoría | tutoring, tutorial session |
Assessments and Performance
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el examen | exam |
| el parcial |