Detailed introduction of the National University of Distance Education:

Introduction and Overview

Scale: The National University of Distance Education is the largest university in Spain and the second largest distance education university in Europe, with more than 260,000 students.

Teaching Mode: Distance education is conducted through audio-visual equipment and the Internet, while combining traditional classroom teaching and adopting a hybrid teaching method to provide students with a diverse learning experience.

Degree Programs: There are specialist, undergraduate, master and doctoral programs, covering business administration, social and cultural anthropology, environmental science, physics, mathematics, political and social sciences, chemistry, law, economics, social education, Spanish, English, philosophy, history, industrial engineering, information engineering, education, psychology and many other disciplines.

History and Establishment Time

The National University of Distance Education was established in 1972 by decree of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. Its purpose is to provide educational opportunities to students through the distance education system.

School Strength

Faculty: In 2019, there were 1,303 academic staff and 1,132 administrative staff. It is able to provide professional guidance and support to students.

Teaching resources: The school is headquartered in Madrid, the capital of Spain, and has branches and learning centers across the country and in many countries such as Europe, America and Africa. It has rich teaching resources and complete educational facilities, and produces and broadcasts a variety of educational programs, such as the poetry radio program "Rincón literario" and the TV documentary "Literary Rincón".

Scientific research achievements: Since 1997 Since 2000, it has served as the chair unit of UNESCO Distance Education, promoting research and development in related fields, and has achieved a series of important results in distance education technology, educational methods, and subject research.

Institutional nature

The National University of Distance Education is a public research university operated by the Spanish central government.

Educational philosophy

It is committed to providing high-quality educational services to students regardless of their age, gender, geographical location or socioeconomic background, so that more people have the opportunity to receive higher education, promote educational equity and social progress, and cultivate students' independent learning ability and innovative thinking, so that they can play an active role in different fields.

Key laboratories and disciplines

Key disciplines:

Computer Science and Technology: Covers majors such as computer engineering and information technology, and cultivates students' abilities in computer system development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, etc. to adapt to the needs of the digital age.

Economics and Business Administration: Including majors such as economics, business administration, and tourism management, it focuses on cultivating students' skills in economic analysis, business management, and marketing, and provides professional talents for the business field.

Social sciences: such as sociology, political science, law and other majors, help students gain a deep understanding of social phenomena, political systems and laws and regulations, and cultivate talents for social science research and public affairs management.

Educational disciplines: covering majors such as pedagogy and social education, dedicated to the research and teaching of educational theory and practice, cultivating educators and educational researchers, and promoting the development of education.

Key laboratories: No specific key laboratories have been found for the school, but the school has relevant research and practice platforms in the application and innovation of distance education technology, which are used to explore and improve the teaching methods, curriculum design and technical support of distance education.

Department Settings

The National University of Distance Education has 11 departments, including the Department of Industrial Engineering; the Department of Science; the Department of Economics and Business Administration; the Department of Political Science and Sociology; the Department of Law; the Department of Social Education; the Department of Spanish Language and Literature; the Department of Philosophy; the Department of Geography and History; the Department of Psychology, as well as the Higher School of Information Engineering and Technology and the Higher School of Industrial Engineering and Technology.

Ranking

Ranked 1201-1500 in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

In the 2007 "InternetLab" university rankings, it ranked 14th among the 100 participating universities.

Expenses

Tuition fees for each major are different. For specific fees, please visit the school's official website.

Campus Environment

Campus distribution: The school is headquartered in Madrid, with campuses in all autonomous regions of Spain, and 14 learning centers and 3 examination centers in 13 countries in Europe, America and Africa , most of its campuses are located in the city center or in areas with convenient transportation, which is convenient for students to study and take exams.

Campus facilities: The main campus in Madrid is equipped with modern teaching facilities, libraries, computer rooms, etc., providing students with good learning conditions. In addition, the school also provides students with rich online learning resources and technical support to meet the needs of distance education.