What is it like to study in Spanish universities?

Spain is one of the most favored study destinations for many reasons. Before applying for university degrees or master's degrees, many students might wonder what kind of teaching styles they are expecting. In this article, we will line out some characteristics you might identify in a Spanish university based on our own experiences of having studied in Spanish private and public universities.

 

1. Participation matters

 

It depends on the subjects you are studying and the professors. But in general, many Spanish professors:

 

• Try to attract students’ attention by creating a discussive environment
• Give homework or essays for after class reflection and self-study
• Use presentation is an evaluation method
• Arrange for exercise classes and seminars integrated into the teaching curriculum

 

All the aspects mentioned above require you to be actively involved in and out of classes.

 

 

2. Evaluación continua or Evaluación única

 

What if you don’t like to participate, hate group work, but perform better at final exams? Don’t worry! In some universities, there are two evaluation modes to choose from:

 

• Evaluación continua (continuous evaluation):
  •  If you choose this grading system, you need to attend the classes, do the homework, group work, quizzes, exams, presentations, and the final exam.
  • You might also be required to participate (ask and answer questions) in class
  • All these activities will count towards your overall grade. This overall grade will decide if you pass the course. (5/10 is a pass)
• Evaluación única (unique evaluation):
  • You just need to attend the final exam. And the grade of this exam will decide if you pass the course. (5/10 is a pass)
  • This evaluation system might help you to spare you more time to do internships, have rest, focus on fewer projects.

 

3. Get penalized for a wrong answer in multiple choices!

 

It seems that the evaluación única requires fewer efforts, while you can have more free time. But getting a pass in the final exam could be tricky and hard.

 

In Spain, multiple-choice is a common format for exams. That seems easy, uh? Not at all!

 

• First, you normally have no more than 2 minutes to answer a single question.
• And if you choose a wrong answer, you might get penalized by getting a lower grade. For example:  
  • The common default setting is when you answer correctly all 10 questions, you will get a 10. If you correctly answer one question, you will get a +1 point. But if you give an incorrect answer, you will get -0.3 points (sometimes even -0.5 points).
  • This means that you need to at least correctly answer 7 questions to get a pass: 0+7-0.3*3=6.1 (6.1/10, pass). If you only answer correctly 6 questions, you will get: 0+6-4*0.3=4.8 (4.8/10, fail).  

 

 

4. Hands-on experience

 

A high grade does not mean everything. You need to have a good command of the knowledge your major requires. You are encouraged to do internships, write academic essays, and attend competitions & challenges. For some majors (language, law…), obtaining certain qualifications is also important.

 

For ex-pats, it’s especially important to search and begin to do internships while you are studying. Because Spanish companies value the most related work and internship experience.

 

If you already have experience in Spanish companies, it shows your professional competencies, cultural adaptability, language, and interpersonal skills. If you want to start a career in Spain or other EU countries, you are fully endorsed by your efforts.

 

Applying for a student visa often requires you to have Spanish insurance coverage. We want to ensure your safe stay in Spain by offering our medical insurance, perfect student visa insurance in Spain that meets visa/NIE/TIE requirements and understands the health needs of expats. We are the official international department of Adeslas, the No.1 medical insurance in Spain

 

Our contents will be updated according to the most recent legislation. Last update: 24/12/2021