Comunidad Universitaria

Infórmate

Prepárate

Diviértete

Noticias

En Abierto

UNIVERSIA EN ...

CONTENIDO EN RED

Publicidad

Publicidad

Red Universia

Universia.es

España :: Estudios Internacionales > Study in Spain > Advice and Useful Information for Foreign Students Studying in Spain

SERVICIOS ::

MAPA DEL SITIO

Publicidad

Sitios recomendados

Imprimir noticia Reducir cuerpo de texto Ampliar cuerpo de texto

  • Spanish
  • English
  • Français
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch

Advice and Useful Information for Foreign Students Studying in Spain

Academic Calendar and Timetables

Spain has a 9-month academic year, usually divided into three three-month terms of lessons with holidays in between. For academic purposes, however, universities tend to use four-month periods (October to February and February to June). Lessons start in late September or early October for Degree, Diploma and Engineering students, although postgraduate courses follow a different calendar.

The first long break is the Christmas holiday (from 22nd December to 8th January approximately). 5th and 6th January are two of the main Christmas festivities. On those days, in which other countries celebrate Epiphany, Spaniards hold family celebrations and exchange gifts. 6th January is known as “Reyes” and is a national holiday.

Easter (Holy Week) is usually a one-week holiday (in March or April), and the summer holiday begins in June and is almost 3 months long (except for students who have failed or failed to attend one or more exams and must therefore (re)take them in September, before the new academic year).

There is also what the Spanish refer to as "puentes" (literally, “bridges”), which are long weekends caused by a public holiday falling on a Thursday, Friday or Monday. In addition to all this, local festivities must also be taken into account.

This regional work year calendar will give you an idea of the holidays and local and national public holidays, although this may not always coincide with the academic calendar and teaching days.

With regard to lessons, there are usually two shifts: the morning shift (with lessons starting as early as 8 am and finishing at around 2 pm) and the afternoon/evening shift (from 4 pm to 9 pm approximately), but it is also possible to have both morning and afternoon/evening lessons.

Although most universities give you a choice of shift, some do not have this facility. In some cases (for example if you prefer a specific teacher or you need a time change due to work requirements) you may be allowed to attend a lesson in a shift other than the shift allocated on enrolment. In such a case, you will have to follow the appropriate procedures at the university. You will also need the teacher’s approval.

Study, Assessment and Grades

Notes should be taken in most lessons. These are usually supplemented by reading from a reading list provided by the teacher. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you are advised to find out each teacher’s requirements from your classmates. It is worth noting that the Spanish university system consists mainly of lectures – much more so than in other Western countries.

The most common assessment system is exams. Some teachers use modular exams (exámenes parciales), in which students are tested on a specific part of the subject in question. Once you have passed a modular exam, you never have to study that topic again. If you fail the modular exam, you can retake it with the official June and/or September exam. Although written tests are more frequent, some teachers test their students orally. Continuous assessment based on coursework and one-to-one tutorials is still fairly rare in Spain.

To help international students integrate, some universities provide help services for foreign students. In addition to being offered academic advice, students are sometimes allocated a Spanish student on the same course to help with lessons and give some guidance on university life. Information can be obtained from the university’s International Relations Office.

  
ECTS Grade
Fail (FX/F)
Pass (E/D)
Below Average (C)
Average (B)
Above Average (A)
Excellent (A+)
  
Spanish Grade
0-4
Suspenso
Insuficiente
Deficiente
5
Aprobado
Suficiente
6
Aprobado
Bien
7-8
Notable
9
Sobresaliente

10
Matrícula de
Honor

Student Accommodation

  • Residential Colleges (Colegios Mayores): these are university centres attached to a university. In addition to providing accommodation, they promote the cultural and scientific development of both residents and the university community.This is usually the most expensive option. In addition to accommodation, they provide meals and sometimes a regular cleaning and laundry and ironing service. Many of them are single-sex, and women’s colleges are often more restrictive than student residence halls in other countries. For example, many colleges require students wishing to spend a night away to sign a document, which is then sent to their families at the end of the month.

  • Halls of Residence (Residencias universitarias): another university accommodation option. These are cheaper and tend to be closer to campus, although they are often far away from the town or city centre.It is worth checking the halls of residence available with the university’s information services.

  • University-owned Flats: some universities have a portfolio of flats available for students. However, they are often more expensive than privately rented accommodation.

  • Student Flats: this is the most popular option, both because of their price and because of the independence they provide. The best time to start looking is at the beginning of June, at the end of the academic year. Waiting until September is not advisable, since demand will be higher at this time. The best option is to check with the host university, check the advertisements in the press or ask at the regional youth services.

  • Private accommodation: students pay an agreed rent for a room, the use of facilities and full or half board, usually living with a Spanish family.Some universities have special cross-generation shared accommodation programmes, under which students live in older people’s homesin exchange for a small sum and help with the household chores.

Check out the following useful links:

Council of Spanish University Residential Colleges

Secretaría Técnica
Universidad de Granada
C/ Neptuno, 5. 18004 Granada
Tel.: +(34) 958 255317
Fax: +(34) 958 535031
E-mail: consejcm@ugr.es

Here, you an obtain a directory of Spanish residential colleges.

Student Accommodation
An interesting directory setting out the various accommodation options available to students in Spain. Created by La Laguna University.

Directory of International Relations Offices

Accommodation section of this guide

Accommodation-related Internet links

Free Internet Access

Most faculties and universities give their students free Internet access and e-mail accounts. The number of machines available is not always enough to meet students’ demand. In such cases, times and dates must be booked in advance. If your university does not provide e-mail, sign up to Universia to get a free e-mail account. In addition, some Spanish universities have Universia Surfing Rooms, providing free Internet access and IT lessons.

Driving Licence

All driving licences issued by EU member states are valid in Spain. For licences from other countries, check with the Spanish Traffic Office.

Culture

Museums and Art

Spain has a varied selection of art and culture on offer. Every town has museums and art galleries ranging from the most classical styles to the most modern avantgarde.If you want to find out about the museums in the town or city where you live, we suggest you check the Spanish Ministry of Culture database or the Guide to Spanish Museums, on the Spanish Tourism Office official website.

Music Festivals

Spain has a very varied musical offering, with a wide range of styles. As well as the many festivals held every year, you can attend countless concerts for every budget. Below is a selection of the most important festivals.

Cinema Festivals

Valencia Mediterranean Film Festival Huesca International Film Festival
Málaga Film Festival Peñíscola International Comedy Film Festival
Gijón International Film Festival Barcelona International Women's Film Festival
Barcelona Asian Film Festival Film Festivals in Spain

General links relating to culture in Spain:

Students Discounts


There are international student cards available which entitle holders to discounts in transport, museums and shops, among other things. One of the most popular ones is the ISIC card, which allows the holder to save money on transport, travel, accommodation, museums, cultural events, entertainment, etc. The main requirements are that you must be over 12 years of age and be able to prove that you are a full time student.

Another option is the Euro<26 Youth Card, a card recognised in many European countries and also providing attractive discounts. In order to benefit from these, you must be under 26 and a citizen of a European country.

In addition, some Autonomous Regions have brought out the +26 Card, to allow young people of between 26 and 29 to benefit from the advantages of being young.

RENFE, the Spanish national railway company, offers the Studio Card. It is a transport subscription enabling university students to get a three-month pass (for calendar quarters) for unlimited travel within a particular area. You can find out more by asking at your closest train station. Alternatively, you can check the Regional train service website to find out which Spanish cities offer discounts.

Some cities have travel cards enabling both students and residents to save on public transport.These include monthly passes and multiple-journey tickets. To find out more, ask at the transport consortium or town hall of your city of residence.

Some leisure and amusement places accept the university ID, which entitles students to price reductions and other offers.In addition, cinema tickets are often cheaper on certain days or at certain times. Ask at the cinema for more details.

Average Cost of Life for Students

Although Spain is not an expensive country, the average cost of life varies hugely. The big cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián and Bilbao are much more expensive than small cities and cities in southern Spain.

According to the estimate made by Caixa Catalunya in its 2006 “Family Economy and Consumption Report” (“Informe sobre el consumo y la economía familiar”), you need at least around €9,000 a year to live in a city such as Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao (living in a shared flat and without the costs associated with university study). If you want to live in halls of residence or rent a flat for one person, you must add around €2,000 to the above figure.

In cities such as Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Zaragoza, the annual cost is around 10%-15% lower. However, the best alternative for smaller budgets is offered by province capitals such as Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela and Granada, which have a long university tradition. In these cities, annual expenses can be up to 25% lower than in the big capitals.

Enrolling in a Spanish public university for a first degree costs between €450 and €900 per year. The price varies depending on the institution, the laboratory or experimental costs involved in the course, and the course level (undergraduate or post-graduate).

In academic year 2005-2006, the average price per credit for a first degree enrolment was between €9 and €13. As far as Doctorate courses were concerned, the average cost per credit was between €25 and €38. The legal limits for first degree credits in 2006-2007 will be between €13 and €28.

To give you an idea of the general cost of living in Spain, we have estimated monthly expenses with the approximate prices of a few everyday goods.

Accommodation
  • Flats: €400 to €1,000.
  • Shared room: €90 to €300.
  • Residential Colleges: €300 to €800.
  • Halls of Residence: this varies depending on location, price, facilities and other factors.
Food €180
Public transport
  • One-way ticket: €0.90 (average).
  • 10-journey ticket (“bonobús”) €5.54 (average).
  • Monthly passes: from around €30.
Burger €3
Newspaper Around €1. Usually more on a Sunday.
Coca-Cola €2 in a cafe; €1 in the supermarket.
Petrol Approximately €1/litre.

Dinner at a restaurant

 €15 to €50.
Cinema ticket About €5 to €6.
Theatre ticket Around €25, depending on the day and the play. Musicals tend to be more expensive.
Concert Around €30.

Temporary or Part-time Work

In Spain, foreign students may not carry out any remunerated work either on an employed or self-employed basis. However, they may work on a temporary or part-time basis.The best option can be to work in the restaurant and hotel business (as a waiter or waitress) or as a Public Relations Rep in bars and pubs (you can make between €30 and €60 per night). However, this can be exhausting, since most venues are open until the early hours of the morning.

Another possibility is to give private language lessons, since many parents want native English, German or French speakers to give their children extra lessons and help them improve their language skills. Prices vary, depending on whether the children have to travel to the teacher's home or the teacher goes to them. You can generally charge more in the big cities.

The best way to advertise yourself as a private language teacher is by putting up photocopies advertising your services in shops and establishments in your area (ask the person in charge of the premises first) or advertising in one of the free local newspapers. You will need to include a telephone number or e-mail address to enable potential customers to contact you.

Here are some useful links relating to work:

Eating

You have probably heard of tapas (small portions of cooked dishes or traditional products). Ask your Spanish classmates to recommend some tapas bars, since there can be huge variations in quality and price.

If you want a fixed price menu, ask for the “menú del día”. In Spain, restaurants are legally obliged to offer this type of menu, which usually consists of a selection of starters and main courses for you to choose from. In general, the price also includes coffee or dessert, bread and a drink.

Paella is a dish which originated in the Valencia region. The best paellas can be found in the provinces of Castelló, València and Alicante, as well as in specialist restaurants. There are over 50 versions of this plate, so don’t be scared to experiment a little even once you have found a good general or rice restaurant.

Most universities have student restaurants. These are fairly cheap and generally ok. However, they don’t all cater for vegetarians. In Spain, a sandwich usually consists of sliced white bread with ham and cheese or other ingredients. If you want a baguette-style sandwich, you must ask for a bocadillo.

Useful links:

Travelling Around Spain

Currency and Money

There is no upper limit on the amount of money you can transfer from foreign to Spanish bank accounts.

In addition, you can take up to €6,000 into or out of the country without having to declare it.

Credit cards and travellers’ cheques are a convenient way to pay for your expenses. You can use them to pay in establishments or to withdraw cash at many banks. It is worth noting that you will be charged a fee every time you withdraw money from a cashpoint with a foreign card. You may therefore want to consider opening a bank account in a Spanish bank to use during your stay in the country. In Spain, banking institutions are usually open in the morning and early afternoon, from 8.30 to 2.30, although a few branches also open in the evenings.

If your card is lost or stolen, you must inform the issuing bank or company immediately, so that it can be cancelled and prevented from being used illegally. The same applies to cheques. As a precaution, it is sensible to write down the numbers of your cheques and credit cards together with the addresses and telephone numbers of their issuing banks.

Links

Health and Drugs

If you are covered by the national health service of your country of origin and you have any health problems during your stay in Spain, you can go to any Spanish public health centre, where a doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment or refer you to a specialist if necessary.

In the event of serious illness or accident, any Social Security hospital will treat you for as long as necessary. The cost of treatment will be borne by the Social Security system of your country of origin. European students must obtain form E1.11 in their country of origin before they come to Spain, or apply for a European Health Insurance Card. This document is essential for receiving public health assistance in Spain, and you will be asked for it when you make an appointment with a doctor or on admission to hospital.

For students from other nationalities, there are some bilateral agreements in place between the Spanish government and other countries. You can check which countries have concluded such agreements with Spain on theSpanish Social Security website.

If you have private illness and accident insurance, all you need to do is go to the nearest clinic or hospital and the insurance company will cover the cost of any treatment received. If you are not covered by a private policy, you can see any private doctor (you will have to pay for treatment).

Provided you are registered with the Social Security system in your country, any medicines you have been prescribed can be bought at a reduced price at the chemist’s. If this is not the case, you will have to pay the full cost..

Drugs

In the last few years, Spanish authorities have become stricter in relation to drug consumption, growing, manufacturing and trafficking. Unlawful possession of drugs and consumption on the street are criminal offences punishable with fines of €300 or more.

Click on the following link to see the applicable legislation.

Useful links:

Women’s Health:

Diabetes:

Drugs:

Legal Assistance

A person who has been arrested must be informed of his or her rights and of the grounds for the arrest, and is not obliged to say anything. He or she is also entitled to legal representation in any police or court proceedings.

Police detention is lawful provided it is necessary in order to clarify and investigate facts relating to a criminal offence. The maximum detention time permitted without being summoned by court order is 72 hours.

Habeas Corpus entitles any person who has been detained for more than 72 hours without a court order to be released immediately. When this procedure begins, the detainee must appear before a judge in under 24 hours. The magistrate will decide whether or not the arrest was lawful.

Persons without appropriate financial resources are entitled to free legal aid. This means that the lawyer’s fees are paid by the Government, although the detainee is still liable for other legal costs.

Embassies

Embassies and consulates are the bodies which represent a country outside its borders.They can provide information regarding your country and will advise you on life in the foreign State to which you have moved. They will also process your applications for passports, visas and other official documents, and provide legalassistance or refuge in the event of natural disasters. Click on the link to see a list of other countries’ embassiesin Spain.