Spain revives tougher university rules after Balearic win

Spain is again seeking a 4,500-student requirement for new universities after the Balearic Islands got its previous rules thrown out in court. The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities opened a public consultation on 15 October 2026. The Supreme Court had struck down the earlier decree following a challenge by the Balearic Islands’ regional government.

Why the court struck down the rules

The judges did not rule against the requirements themselves. They found that the government had not properly justified rushing the decree through, and that skipping an earlier public consultation had no legal basis. The state must pay 6,000 euros in legal costs.

The government says it needs to act quickly. It warns that, under the current rules, more university projects could be approved without sufficient evidence that they meet academic, teaching, research and financial requirements.

What Spain wants to bring back

The proposed rules would require new universities to reach 4,500 students and prove they have enough funding through a bank guarantee or a similar measure. They would also need a binding assessment from the university evaluation agency ANECA or a regional equivalent.

The cancelled decree required applicants to pledge accommodation places for 10% of their students within three years of opening. Citizens, organisations and associations can comment on the new plans until 30 October 2026. For the Balearic Islands, the court win has stopped the first decree, but not the government’s attempt to impose the same requirements.

Topics: Court cases · Education

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com