Honorary distinction at the Spanish Baccalaureate

The Honours distinction at the Spanish Baccalaureate or Honorary distinction at the Spanish Baccalaureate (distinción de Matrícula de Honor en Bachillerato, in Spanish) is an academic award granted annually to the students who have completed their Spanish Baccalaureate with the best academic record and with the highest grade point average in their Class. It is given to the student with the highest academic grade average standing among their graduating class.

It was created by the Government of Spain in 2012. The distinction is awarded based on the overall average grade obtained in the Spanish Baccalaureate (not to a specific subject). As the Government of Spain explained, the distinction "aims to recognize the effort of those students who achieve outstanding grades, linking the recognition to a global assessment rather than to each of the subjects".

This award should not be confused with the "Honours" qualification at university, which is the maximum and extraordinary grade that can be obtained in a subject at the university (in Spain). In contrast, the "Honours distinction at the Spanish Baccalaureate" is a distinction, award or recognition to students who have been the first of their promotion in the Spanish Baccalaureate degree.

The Honorary distinction (2012)
This distinction was created by the Government of Spain in 2012 by virtue of Order ECD/334/2012, of February 15, which modifies Order ESD/3725/2008, of December 12, on evaluation in Baccalaureate in the area of management of the Department and the “Honors” distinction is established in the second year of baccalaureate.

In the Spanish Baccalaureate, the Honorary distinction is awarded to the best record of the entire class, recognizing the academic performance of the awarded student and entailing a discount on university fees for the following year. The legislation establishes that each center can grant an “Honors” distinction for every twenty students.

In this way, the requirements to be awarded the Honors distinction award are two: first, the student must be the best in their promotion at the Spanish Baccalaureate (best academic record and highest average grade), and second, that that student's average grade (glogal grade) of the Spanish Baccalaureate degree must be equal to or greater than 9.00 out of 10.00 (3.6 out of 4.00).

The Spanish Baccalaureate teaching teams are responsible for deciding which students will be awarded this Honors distinction, although they will be subject to previously agreed criteria established in the center's educational project.

Obtaining the Honorary distinction distinction may mean, upon completion of your studies, obtaining the Extraordinary Baccalaureate Awards, access to the "Academic Excellence Scholarships" of the regional government and the National Baccalaureate Awards of the Ministry of Education. and Vocational Training (upon request of the interested person), which regulates Order ECD/482/2018, of May 4, which regulates the National Baccalaureate Awards.

Economic side
Obtaining the distinction of honors in Spanish Baccalaureate means exemption from university fees for the first university year of the university degree taken immediately after the Baccalaureate. In this way, it represents a complete exemption from public prices for the first year of a university degree.

Modification of the year 2022
In 2022, the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain modified the rule for the Honorary distinction in Baccalaureate, and made the criteria for its granting more flexible.

Legislation

 * Order ECD/334/2012 of February 15 (which modifies Order ESD/3725/2008 of December 12) on evaluation in Baccalaureate in the area of management of the department and establishes the distinction "Honors" in the second year of Baccalaureate.
 * Order ECD/482/2018, of May 4, which regulates the National Baccalaureate Awards.