licenciatura
/liθenθjaˈtuɾa/
The Spanish term for baccalaureate degree is licenciatura.
licenciatura is used to describe the undergraduate academic degrees granted by universities. If you wish to refer specifically to the physical or official degree certificate, you should use título de licenciatura.
Which one should you use?
While licenciatura refers to a professional undergraduate degree, the word bachillerato refers to high school completion in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Colombia and Venezuela, the term pregrado is used to refer to undergraduate studies or a baccalaureate degree.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of licenciatura is licenciaturas.
How do you pronounce it?
/liθenθjaˈtuɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use bachillerato to mean a university degree because of its similarity to the English word 'baccalaureate'. However, in most Spanish-speaking countries, bachillerato refers to high school or secondary school rather than a university degree.
Did you know?
- The word licenciatura comes from the Latin 'licentia', which refers to the freedom or liberty granted to a scholar to teach.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, completing a licenciatura allows a professional to use the title licenciado or licenciada before their name, similar to how 'Doctor' is used.
- In Spain, the licenciatura was largely replaced by the 'Grado' system to align with the European Higher Education Area (the Bologna Process).
Examples in context
- Recientemente obtuvo su licenciatura en Ciencias de la ComputaciónShe recently earned her baccalaureate degree in Computer Science
- Después de cuatro años de estudios, finalmente completó su licenciaturaAfter four years of studying, he finally completed his baccalaureate degree
- Mi hermano acaba de recibir su título universitario en IngenieríaMy brother just received his baccalaureate degree in Engineering
- Ya terminé mi licenciatura en derecho.I already finished my baccalaureate degree in law.
- Ella está estudiando para obtener su licenciatura.She is studying to obtain her baccalaureate degree.
- Necesito el título de mi licenciatura para el trabajo.I need my baccalaureate degree for the job.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about their education.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿estás estudiando una licenciatura?Lucía, are you studying for a baccalaureate degree?
- LucíaSí, mi licenciatura es en biología.Yes, my baccalaureate degree is in biology.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! Yo también quiero graduarme pronto.That's great! I also want to graduate soon.
- LucíaMucho éxito con tus estudios, Alejandro.Much success with your studies, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry licenciatura, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
