Accreditations and recognitions

Affiliations and recognition

4he University College of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts of Sant Pol de Mar (EUHT StPOL) is a center for technical, undergraduate and masters degrees that prepares general managers and senior professionals in Hotel Management, Food and Beverage and Culinary Arts. It is a private university school affiliated to the University of Girona, the most specialized in Spain in hospitality and tourism management.

In 2024, EUHT StPOL has been ranked #1 in Spain and #16 worldwide in Hospitality and Leisure Management by QS World University Rankings. It’s the seventh consecutive year that it is among the top 30 in this international ranking.

Established in 1966, EUHT StPOL is the pioneer University Hotel School in Europe with its own training hotel open to the public. Its campus, located in front of the Mediterranean Sea, receives every year about 250 students from more than 39 nationalities.

It's also a founding member of Hotel Schools of Distinction (HSD), a global alliance of premier hotel schools in partnership with hospitality industry leaders dedicated to creating highquality talent by sharing knowledge and research. In 2022, its general manager holds the presidency of EUHOFA International.

Universitat de Girona

The Universitat de Girona is the reference university in the Spanish State within the touristic activity. It has several campuses in Girona, Barcelona and Sant Pol de Mar, being this later one the only one specialized in the hospitality and gastronomic training. The Universitat de Girona grants the official title of Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Business Management. The Foundation of the Universitat de Girona grants the other degrees of EUHT StPOL.

Generalitat de Catalunya

The Department d’Ensenyament of the Generalitat de Catalunya grants the official recognition to the double Vocational Medium Level Degree in Restaurant Service and in Cuisine and Gastronomy to the School of Culinary Arts and Restaurant Service Management Sant Pol de Mar (CGR StPOL).

Hotel Schools of Distinction

Hotel Schools of Distinction (HSD) is a global alliance of the hotel schools in partnership with the leaders of the hospitality industry dedicated to the creation of high quality talent by sharing knowledge and research, where the Hotel-School Sant Pol de Mar is a party as a founder member.

Spanish Association of Hotel Managers

EUHT StPOL is the site in Catalonia of the Spanish Association of Hotel Managers.

EUHOFA International

International Association of directors of hotel schools. It is the oldest association of hotel schools, with more than 50 years and 120 members around the world. EUHT StPOL holds the Vice Presidency.

CONPEHT

Pan-American Confederation of Hotel, Tourism and Restaurant Schools. It is the most known association of schools of Latin America and Spain. Its main area of activities is in Latin America.

International CHRIE

A non-profit professional association, which through programmes and services aims to improve the overall quality of education, research, service and business operations in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Gold Plaque for Tourist Merit

This is the top sector and administrative recognition granted in Spain. It is the first and only time in 50 years of the award that it has been granted to a training center Royal Decree 1181/2006 of 6 October concerning merits and circumstances, on the proposal of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce

Catalonia’s Honor Plaque of Tourism

This is the top sector and administrative acknowledgement given in Catalonia, the principal tourist destination of Spain. Government of Catalonia Agreement 177/2006 of 31 October regarding its awarding, DOGC 4761 15.11.2006, for its outstanding activity in favor of tourism in Catalonia.

National Hospitality Award 2011

From the Spanish Hospitality Federation (FEHR), within the category of Hospitality Schools for the center’s pioneering development as a University Hotel-School since 1966.

QS World University Rankings by Subject

EUHT StPOL has positioned itself as one of the best universities in the world in recent years in the category ‘Leisure and Management’ in the QS World University Rankings By Subject. In 2024 we are ranked number 1 in Spain and number 16 in the world.

International recognition

Since 2018 and up to the present, EUHT StPOL has been recognized by the QS international ranking as one of the best universities worldwide in Hospitality and Leisure Management. In fact, in 2022 it ranked #12 in the world, that is, it is one of the fifteen best international universities to study hospitality management. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, it leads the ranking in Spain, consolidating itself as the best university in Spain to study hotel and tourism management.

The QS World University Ranking by Subject takes into account different parameters, among them, the opinion of recruiters about EUHT StPOL former students and the academic reputation of the institution.

Legal Frame

Ministerial Decree of March, 24, 1969 (BOE Nº71) Center legally recognized by the Ministry of Information and Tourism.
Ministerial Decree of June 11, 1981 (BOE of August 13) Center authorized by the Ministry of Universities and Research
Decree 187/1998 of July 21 of the Generalitat of Catalunya Membership of the EUHT StPOL in the Universitat de Girona as University School of Tourism Diploma.
Royal Decree 1406/1999 of September 3 of the Spanish Government Homologation of the study program of the University College of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Sant Pol de Mar, affiliated to the Universitat de Girona.
ANECA, as per the dispositions of Article 75 of the R.D. 1393/2007, of October 29, amended by the R.D. 861/2010 of July 2 has evaluated favorably the Study Plan that grants the Official Title of: Bachelor Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, with two concentrations: International Hotel Management and Culinary Arts, F&B and Event Management.
Resolution DOGC Ens/757/2015 of April 8, whereby the opening of the private educational center called School of Culinary Arts and Restaurant Service Management Sant Pol de Mar is authorized as well as the issuance of double Medium Level Vocational Degree in Restaurant Service and in Cuisine and Gastronomy