Spain's Supreme Court strikes down government decree tightening university standards
The Supreme Court has nullified the government's decree that tightened criteria for establishing new private universities, citing procedural flaws.
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court's Contentious-Administrative Chamber voided Royal Decree 905/2025, a measure intended to raise the bar for new private universities and prevent the spread of substandard institutions. The Court found the government's use of an urgent processing agreement lacked proper justification and omitted the legally required prior consultation step. The judgment arose from a lawsuit filed by the Balearic Islands, which argued the expedited procedure was unlawful.
Because the procedural defect was central, the Court did not evaluate the substantive merits of the decree. The annulment temporarily restores the previous regulatory framework for university creation.
Why it matters
The ruling halts a major policy shift on private higher education, affecting university planning and regulatory oversight in Spain.
In this story
