Spain's Princess Leonor to study political science at Carlos III University
Princess Leonor will study Political Science at Madrid's Carlos III University without sitting Spain's university entrance exam, reigniting debate over royal education and preferential treatment.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Leonor to study Political Science at Carlos III: real preparation or a degree handed to her?
The Princess of Asturias will begin a degree in Political Science at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in September 2026, without having sat the EBAU (Spain's university entrance exam) – from which she is exempt due to her studies abroad – and under the shadow of her father King Felipe VI's academic record, which he had to complete at foreign universities after the controversies over his master's degree. The Royal Household has announced that Leonor "has successfully passed the selection process" and will study for four years at the Getafe campus, a public university considered the seventh best in Spain and the second in Madrid.
A tailor-made education for the future queen
The choice of Carlos III is no accident. It is a university with a less politicised profile than the Complutense, where the Faculty of Political Science is known for its left-wing atmosphere. Some analysts point out that the choice seeks to avoid the 'ideological cesspools' she would find in other faculties, while others stress that the princess will have personal tutors and flexible schedules to combine her studies with her official agenda. The exemption from the EBAU has reignited doubts about the monarchy's academic transparency: is it preferential treatment or a logical measure for someone who has studied abroad?
The debate over the usefulness of Political Science
While some see the degree as a useful tool for understanding the political system she will one day lead, others argue that Political Science is a 'catch-all' where anyone with connections can pass. Comparison with other European royals is inevitable: King Charles III of the United Kingdom studied Art. However, in Spain the memory of Felipe VI's 'cum laude' master's degree and Froilán's repeated years, which ended with him passing at a private American university, still weigh heavily. The question hanging in the air is whether Leonor will have to prove her worth more than any other student or whether, on the contrary, her surname will smooth her path.
An annual cost of nearly 700 million euros
While the princess's education is being debated, the cost of the monarchy is also recalled: around 700 million euros a year, according to figures circulated in media sympathetic to republicanism. Although not officially verified, this figure fuels the perception that the institution costs more than it contributes. The decision for Leonor to study at a public university – rather than a private elite one like other European heirs – attempts to counter that image, but the EBAU exemption and the special treatment she will probably receive do not help.
In short, the princess's education will be a test for Spain's public university system, which will have to decide whether to treat Leonor as just another student or as a future head of state. The answer, predictably, will come when her grades are known.
Related debates in the forum
The Princess of Asturias will begin a degree in Political Science at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in September 2026, without having sat the EBAU (Spain's university entrance exam) – from which she is exempt due to her studies abroad – and under the shadow of her father King Felipe VI's academic record, which he had to complete at foreign universities after the controversies over his master's degree. The Royal Household has announced that Leonor "has successfully passed the selection process" and will study for four years at the Getafe campus, a public university considered the seventh best in Spain and the second in Madrid.
A tailor-made education for the future queen
The choice of Carlos III is no accident. It is a university with a less politicised profile than the Complutense, where the Faculty of Political Science is known for its left-wing atmosphere. Some analysts point out that the choice seeks to avoid the 'ideological cesspools' she would find in other faculties, while others stress that the princess will have personal tutors and flexible schedules to combine her studies with her official agenda. The exemption from the EBAU has reignited doubts about the monarchy's academic transparency: is it preferential treatment or a logical measure for someone who has studied abroad?
The debate over the usefulness of Political Science
While some see the degree as a useful tool for understanding the political system she will one day lead, others argue that Political Science is a 'catch-all' where anyone with connections can pass. Comparison with other European royals is inevitable: King Charles III of the United Kingdom studied Art. However, in Spain the memory of Felipe VI's 'cum laude' master's degree and Froilán's repeated years, which ended with him passing at a private American university, still weigh heavily. The question hanging in the air is whether Leonor will have to prove her worth more than any other student or whether, on the contrary, her surname will smooth her path.
An annual cost of nearly 700 million euros
While the princess's education is being debated, the cost of the monarchy is also recalled: around 700 million euros a year, according to figures circulated in media sympathetic to republicanism. Although not officially verified, this figure fuels the perception that the institution costs more than it contributes. The decision for Leonor to study at a public university – rather than a private elite one like other European heirs – attempts to counter that image, but the EBAU exemption and the special treatment she will probably receive do not help.
In short, the princess's education will be a test for Spain's public university system, which will have to decide whether to treat Leonor as just another student or as a future head of state. The answer, predictably, will come when her grades are known.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (50 replies).
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