The Bachibac on the Costa Blanca: Elche, Altea and the dual diploma

The Bachibac, the dual diploma that earns the French Baccalauréat and the Spanish Bachillerato in one go, runs right across Spain, but on the Costa Blanca it is offered in only two state schools: IES Carrús in Elche and IES Bellaguarda in Altea, the sole authorised centres in the province of Alicante, according to the regional education department (Conselleria d'Educació).

The short version: what to know before you commit?

In the Alicante province, two state IES run the Bachibac: Elche (IES Carrús) and Altea (IES Bellaguarda). The track grafts two French-taught subjects onto the ordinary Bachillerato and delivers both diplomas at once. At IES Bellaguarda, entry expects a French level around B1, or a placement test, and the dual qualification comes with a B2 certificate from the Institut Français. It is free, because it is public. For a fully French education, the other route on the coast is the Lycée Français International d'Alicante, in El Campello, a fee-paying private school.

What does this dual diploma actually give you?

The principle fits in one line: attend an ordinary Spanish secondary school while also picking up the French diploma, with no need to re-sit exams across the border. Over the two years of Bachillerato (1º and 2º), the usual Spanish curriculum gains two specific subjects taught in French, French Language and Literature on one side, History of Spain and France on the other. The Conselleria d'Educació puts at roughly a third the share of class time delivered in French for those two subjects; the rest of the schooling runs like any Valencian Bachillerato.

Where can you study the Bachibac in Alicante province?

Two state schools in the province open this section. IES Bellaguarda in Altea launched its Bachibac in 2022, and IES Carrús in Elche joined shortly after. Beyond the province, other IES in the Valencian Community run the programme, mostly around Valencia, but on the Costa Blanca these are the two reference centres.

One caveat: on paper the Bachibac is still an "experimental programme" renewed each year by a Conselleria d'Educació resolution. Places, conditions and the timetable can therefore shift from one September to the next. The useful reflex is to confirm directly with IES Carrús or IES Bellaguarda before building a plan around it.

Do you already need to speak French to join a Bachibac section?

Yes, a solid base is expected from the start. At IES Bellaguarda in Altea, access assumes a French level of around B1, or passing a test showing the student can follow classes in the language, according to the school's own presentation relayed by AQUÍ Medios de Comunicación. These conditions are set year by year by the Conselleria d'Educació and can differ between schools, which is why it pays to contact the target IES before enrolling.

Exams and equivalences: how does it work?

Two mechanisms sit side by side. The Spanish Bachillerato is granted automatically once every subject on the course is passed, exactly as for any pupil in the Spanish system. The French Baccalauréat, by contrast, is only obtained by passing a Bachibac-specific external exam, run by the Conselleria d'Educació.

On equivalences, the payoff is real: with both diplomas in hand, a student from Elche or Altea can aim at a Spanish university or a French course alike. The Bachillerato opens the Spanish university entrance exams (PAU) like any Spanish bachiller; the Baccalauréat earned through the Bachibac gives access to French higher education and Parcoursup, on the same terms as a baccalaureate taken in France. Without the external exam, the student keeps the Spanish diploma, recognised across the European Union, but not the French title.

Public Bachibac or the French school in Alicante?

The comparison comes up often among French-speaking families on the coast. The Bachibac is a public, free scheme grafted onto a Spanish secondary school: immersion in the local language and system is strong. Facing it, the Lycée Français International d'Alicante Pierre-Deschamps, based in El Campello with an annex in Benidorm, is a private school founded in 1962, accredited by the AEFE and part of the Mission laïque française; it follows the French curriculum from an early age, in French, Spanish and English, and prepares directly for the Baccalauréat, for a fee.

The right call mostly depends on your plan: committed Spanish immersion on a tight budget on one side, continuity with the French system on the other. If your move is still taking shape, our guide to the paperwork to sort before moving to Spain helps set the school decision within the wider relocation.

Frequently asked questions about the Bachibac on the Costa Blanca

Where can you do the Bachibac in Alicante province?
In two state schools: IES Carrús in Elche and IES Bellaguarda in Altea. They are the only authorised centres in the province; other IES in the Valencian Community offer it elsewhere, mostly around Valencia.

Is the Bachibac fee-paying?
No. Because it runs in state IES, it is free, on the same terms as the rest of Spanish state schooling. Only the private option, the Lycée Français International d'Alicante, involves tuition fees.

What French level do you need to get in?
At IES Bellaguarda in Altea, access assumes a level close to B1, or passing a placement test. The exact rules are set each year and vary by school, so it is best to ask the IES directly.

Is the diploma recognised in both France and Spain?
Yes. The Baccalauréat earned through the Bachibac opens Parcoursup and French higher education, and the Bachillerato gives access to the Spanish university entrance exams (PAU), with no extra recognition step.

Sources (facts cross-checked and rewritten, never copied): Conselleria d'Educació, Cultura, Universitats i Ocupació de la Generalitat Valenciana, official Batxibac page (list of centres and 2025-2026 resolutions), El Periòdic and Valencia Plaza (rollout of the Bachibac in Altea, Carcaixent and València, then Elche), AQUÍ Medios de Comunicación (how IES Bellaguarda in Altea runs it, and its entry conditions), AEFE and Mission laïque française (Lycée Français International d'Alicante Pierre-Deschamps, El Campello). Consulted in July 2026. The presence of the Bachibac in Alicante province alone was cross-checked between the official regional source and the local press.

Information verified in July 2026. The Bachibac is a programme renewed each year: admission conditions, places and the exam calendar are republished every session. Always check with the Conselleria d'Educació or the school itself before enrolling. This article was prepared with the help of AI, then cross-checked, verified and edited by our newsroom, which takes editorial responsibility for it.