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

Twenty years after the implementation of the bilingual programmes at school level in Spain, this study evaluates its impact on the English language proficiency of undergraduate students at Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid through a descriptive longitudinal study (2014–2024) of enrolment data N = 77,834) in Modern Language, a cross-curricular subject included in all second-year academic itineraries which can be validated through an official language certificate. The study examines a significant amount of information concentrating on the following variables: figures for total enrolment in Modern Language, for students who study the subject and for those who validate it, and final average validation grade in terms of academic record and CEFRL levels. Our findings evidence notable progress in the linguistic competence of undergraduates —not only has the number of Modern Language validations increased over the last decade, the average level of submitted English official certificates has improved from a B1 to a B2— suggesting a positive correlation between the implementation of the bilingual project and the language proficiency of students. This study provides insights into the effectiveness of the European Union’s language agenda and demonstrates the influence of school policies on students’ language proficiency in higher education.