Impact of the EU Language Agenda on Higher Education: The Case of Rey Juan Carlos University

Abstract

Twenty years after bilingual programmes were introduced in Spanish schools, this study assesses their effect on the English proficiency of undergraduates at Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid. It draws on a descriptive longitudinal analysis (2014–2024) of enrolment records (N = 77,834) for Modern Language, a compulsory second-year subject that can be waived with an official English certificate. The research reviews extensive data on overall enrolment, the number of students who take the course versus those who validate it, and the average validation grade expressed both in academic terms and CEFR levels. The results show clear gains in students’ English skills: not only has the number of course validations grown over the past decade, but the typical level of submitted certificates has risen from B1 to B2. These outcomes indicate a positive link between the bilingual education initiative and students’ language proficiency in higher education, while also offering evidence relevant to the European Union’s language policy goals.