New official university degrees 2026: AI, Architecture and more approved titles

Key data

Five new university degrees now have official validity in Spain. The Council of Ministers, at its meeting on June 16, 2026, approved the agreement granting official status to these titles, published through the Resolution of June 17, 2026 from the General Secretariat of Universities. Their registration in the RUCT enables them to operate throughout the national territory and, where applicable, to provide access to regulated professions.

For the universities involved, this means the formal opening of new degree programs with full academic and administrative validity. For future students, it means that the degrees obtained in these programs will have the same recognition as any other official Spanish degree.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the Council of Ministers' agreement recognizing the official status of certain Bachelor's degree titles and ordering their registration in the Registry of Universities, Centers and Titles (RUCT). The new approved degrees are as follows:

All titles have academic and administrative validity throughout Spanish territory. Some may enable the exercise of regulated professions, as established by the corresponding sectoral regulations.

Universities are required to publish study plans in both the BOE and the official journal of their autonomous community. Additionally, the titles must be periodically subject to the accreditation renewal process provided for in Royal Decree 822/2021.

Economic and operational impact

The approval of these degrees has direct consequences for universities and for students who decide to enroll in them:

• For universities: Registration in the RUCT allows them to attract students with full legal guarantees. It also implies the obligation to publish study plans in the BOE and in the corresponding autonomous bulletin, with the administrative and management costs that this entails.
• For students: The degrees obtained in these programs will have official recognition throughout Spain, which facilitates access to the job market, civil service examinations and, where applicable, regulated professions.
• For employer companies: Graduates in Artificial Intelligence or Environmental Engineering, for example, will have a title with official validity, which simplifies credential verification processes in personnel selection.
• Obligation of periodic accreditation: Universities must undergo the accreditation renewal process of RD 822/2021, which involves audits and periodic reviews of the training program.

Universidad de las Hespérides stands out for being the one incorporating two new degrees in this resolution: Fundamentals of Architecture and Christian Theology, which significantly expands its official academic offering.

Who does it affect?

• UCLM, UNED, UNIR and Universidad de las Hespérides: The four universities directly involved in this resolution.
• Current and future students who wish to pursue one of the five new official degrees.
• HR and personnel selection departments in technology, environment, architecture, film and religious sectors, which will receive candidates with these new titles.
• Professional associations linked to regulated professions (architecture, environmental engineering) that must review whether these titles enable professional registration.
• University accreditation agencies (ANECA and equivalent regional bodies) that must manage periodic accreditation renewal processes.

Practical example

A student who enrolls in the Bachelor's Degree in Artificial Intelligence at UNIR from the 2026-2027 academic year onwards will obtain, upon completion of their studies, a degree with full official status recognized throughout Spain. This title will be registered in the RUCT, which means that any company, public administration or organization requesting title verification can consult it directly in the official registry.

Furthermore, if in the future sectoral regulations establish that certain professional activities in the AI field require specific official qualifications, this graduate will be in a position to prove their qualification. UNIR, for its part, must publish the study plan in the BOE and in the official bulletin of La Rioja, and undergo accreditation renewal in accordance with RD 822/2021.

What should universities do now?

1. Verify registration in the RUCT: Check that the approved titles are correctly registered in the Registry of Universities, Centers and Titles.
2. Publish study plans: Proceed to publish the study plans in the BOE and in the official journal of the corresponding autonomous community, as required by the resolution.
3. Plan periodic accreditation: Establish an internal schedule to comply with the accreditation renewal process provided for in Royal Decree 822/2021.
4. Inform enrolled students: Communicate to students already enrolled or interested in the official status of the title and its implications for access to regulated professions, where applicable.
5. Review professional qualification: In the case of Fundamentals of Architecture and Environmental Engineering, consult with the corresponding professional associations to determine whether the title directly enables the exercise of the regulated profession.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13644