Living to the standards of Marbella, as one of the chosen destinations in southern Spain for its tourism value with a high density of expat living in this beautiful Costa del Sol town, the Marbella University, too, provides the best of facilities and services to its student to promote a new perception with multi-cultural and balanced ethical orientation along with professional knowledge and skills to excel in a global world.

Infrastructure & Library: The entire university campus has been equipped with Wi-Fi high-speed broadband internet access to encourage students to actively make use of the internet and technology. Every student is given with a personal access account to the university intranet system as well as the student e-mail system.

Marbella University meets the academic needs of its student community with an extensive library where one can access a wide range of educational resources, including books, a variety of journals, magazines, trade publication and online archives. The university authority is also constantly trying to increase its collection where students can engage themselves in serious reading and research.

The membership of the library is open to students, teachers, officers and non-teaching employees.

Visas & Accommodation: The University is also assisting students in their application for student visas and permits. Foreign students, who want to enroll in any of the Diploma or Bachelor programmes, may contact the university official for proper guidance. Marbella University would certainly like to reach international students and hence facilitates the process.

As far as accommodation is concerned, the university although at present doesn’t provide any direct hostel facilities, the administration assists students in finding suitable accommodation through various local ties to property developers and real-estate owners.

A visa is granted for the whole duration of the course, however, a student visa is renewable in case the applicant wants to pursue any other study programme.

Extra-Curricular Activities: For the overall personal and professional development of students, Marbella University organizes seminars, internship programmes, sport competition and various social activities. As a student, you will get the chance to meet some international experts while discussing several issues of global relevance.

Special sports weekend, cultural evenings, and excursions, organized by the university student council, further enable students to understand different cultures while strengthening social life and balancing work and life.

On the whole, Marbella University aims to deliver a world-class environment for its student while establishing itself as an academic institution with vanguard education values.

Presently, Marbella University is the first and only English-speaking University in the lovely Mediterranean city down south Spain.

In its initial phase, it only offers three-year bachelor and one-year diploma programmes on some selective but specialized subjects. Moreover, there is no restriction on the participation of students, irrespective of their prior verse in Spanish language.

Diploma programmes are more on the management of knowledge with general understanding of people, human life, business, and society. This acts as an essential background towards a more professional career options.

Below you will find an overview on different types of courses on offer.

Diploma Programme

The curriculum of one-year diploma programme involves economics, psychology, social and business to the core with an aim to give a solid foundation emphasizing the quality of life and business efficiency. It is trimester based (each trimester is of approximately 3 months).

The first trimester is a foundation for positive life philosophy and good communication skills through efficient reading, writing and learning skills, along with mental training and education. In the second trimester, it’s all about self-management, practical method for self analysis, useful psychology for business and daily life, business idea development, etc.

The last trimester is the important one when students will be taught about business attitude, strategies of problem solving , management of time and money, and dealing with people along with some other related key aspects.

This diploma programme is open for all age group, aged 18 to 95. Even if one doesn’t have any future professional goals based on these courses, s/he may opt this as a general interest for further studies. It also serves as an entry programme to Marbella University’s Bachelor programmes for those who don’t have IB, A-level, or equivalent diploma.

Bachelor Programmes

The Marbella University, at present, is offering five different bachelor programs: Business Administration, Communication & Public Relations, Tourism, Media & Journalism, and Psychology. As a signatory of Bologna Treaty, all study programmes are designed to meet European requirements and curriculum standards.

Admission

The University’s admission process for Diploma and Bachelor programmes begins on January 15, 2010 with a minimum age requirement of 18 years, while the academic calendar commences on February 15, 2010.

For more detailed information about the university, course curriculum or admission dates, please visit: www.marbellauniversity.com

For decades, Marbella has been an international hub for both business and pleasure. Marbella’s unique demographics and smart-casual atmosphere have made it a center for the entrepreneurial spirit that is well established and growing in Spain.

Because of its international reputation and appeal, Marbella attracts millions of tourists and hundreds of thousands of English-speakers of different nationalities who decide to make Marbella their permanent home, including many celebrities.

They come here for night life, excitement, and leisure, but many also come seeking opportunities for business and learning. In the past 50 years, Marbella has seen countless hotels, golf courses, developments, international schools, as well as other businesses set up, and now the launch of an English-speaking University.

Marbella University is the first and only English-speaking University in the South of Spain. With a state-of-the art educational program based on the most advanced knowledge and didactics, it will offer 3-year Bachelor degrees as well as a 1-year diploma program.

The diploma program provides students with general understanding of people, human life, business, and society through a “stimulating, mind-opening curriculum,” says the University spokesperson. The diploma program also allows students to start Marbella University’s Bachelor programs, in the case that they don’t already have an IB, A-level, or equivalent diploma.

In addition, Marbella University’s Bachelor programs include areas of study such as Business Administration, Communication & Public Relations, Tourism, Journalism, and Psychology. The curriculum meets the highest educational standards, and fits the needs and desires of Spain’s up-and-coming professionals.

All Marbella University Bachelor programs are in line with the Treaty of Bologna’s educational requirements and curriculum standards.

In Marbella, people enjoy a unique quality of life, safety, and international appeal. The Costa del Sol is virtually free of pollution, has extremely low rates of crime, and is in close proximity to rich cultural cities like Granada, Seville and Cadiz. All these factors and more make Marbella the perfect place to study for those who want a true international experience that is as fulfilling as it is enlightening.

For more information about the launch of Marbella University, or its programs and admission requirements, visit http://www.MarbellaUniversity.com.

FirstMarbella University
Contact: Administration Office
Centro Plaza, Ala Sur, Oficina Nº 3
29660 Nueva Andalucía
Marbella, Spain
Tel: 952.810.645 (10am – 2pm)

With the huge increase of the expatriate population in Spain, especially in the Costa del Sol, International Schools are a booming business! This for once has been beneficial to the consumer! There is more choice and you are much more likely to find an International School near enough to your house for your child to attend without enduring an hour´s dash along the N340! Never a good start to the day for parent or child alike!

International Schools in this area have English as their main teaching language but are truly International in the range of pupils. In one class or year you can expect to find children of up to 10 different nationalities. Europeans make up the bulk of pupils with the Brits far ahead in numbers but Germans and Scandinavians also make up a good percentage. Increasingly more and more Spanish children are attending International Schools in order to take advantage of the possibility of becoming bi-lingual.

In fact most International schools are “con validated” with the Spanish education system so Spanish pupils can return to a Spanish School without any loss of time (Spanish children normally have to pass a school year before they can move up to the next level) This normally involves Spanish nationals following the Spanish curriculum in at least Spanish Language and the social sciences.

Other continents are also well represented at International Schools and your children will make friends with Americans, South Americans, Africans and Asians, (not many antipodeans yet!). What a great start in life!

The syllabus covered at most International Schools here is quite firmly based on the UK National Curriculum but obvious changes take place to accommodate different needs. All children learn Spanish and English from the word go in pre-school and a third language is introduced at late junior or secondary level. The basic SATS requirements are covered at all levels although in some schools the SATS exams will not be sat in the same way as in the UK. (International Schools do not feature on the dreaded league tables as it is a question of the computer says no you don’t fit in!)

At secondary level children again follow the UK National Curriculum in all the main subjects: Maths, English and Science for example. At 16 the kids sit GCSEs or IGCSEs as in the UK and if they choose to stay on some schools offer traditional “A” levels and some the more modern International Baccalaureate, a broader based option similar to the baccalaureate of both Spain and France.

This is accepted by most European Universities without the need for “con validation”. “A” levels get you into a UK university but the paperwork involved in getting them convalidated for Spain (translated more or less) is a nightmare! One or two schools on the coast are beginning to offer a less academic and more career-orientated option e.g. sports and fitness qualifications.

Although the majority of International Schools are privately owned there is a very rigorous testing procedure and schools are checked regularly by the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) on a regular basis. This is a very similar procedure that British schools go through and ensures that standards in all subjects are up to scratch. The schools are also checked by the Spanish authorities and will display their current certificates. Most schools are also members of COBISEC (Council of British Independent Schools in the EC).

One big advantage of International Schools is that often they are purpose built modern buildings so will have fantastic facilities for sport, drama, art etc. In fact the International Schools on the coast here have very competitive inter-school sports fixtures. Nothing like encouraging a competitive instinct from an early age!

So where can you find out about the local International Schools? The NABSS web site has all the details and the English Language phone directories also have details. From Sotogrande and along up the coast there is plenty of choice, especially in the Marbella area which boasts several newish schools (Kings and Aloha).