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Study abroad in Spain
From paella to sangria, fabulous fiestas to the decadent beauty of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, Spain is becoming recognized as a top-10 world destination for international students to study abroad.
Country overview
From the fabulous fiestas and the running of the bulls in Pamplona to the decadent beauty of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia; from the hot desert interiors to the cool mountains of the north and world famous beaches; from paella to tapas to sangria; Spain truly is a place of enormous variety, vibrancy and vitality and is gradually becoming recognized as a top-10 world destination for international students to study abroad.
For those seeking to broaden their horizons with international study, Spain has plenty to offer. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, but work by universities and a mostly supportive government have turned the country from an educational backwater, by international standards, into a very popular study destination for international students. Not only that but the chance for non-Spanish speakers to learn one of the most important world languages should be considered very highly, especially for those interested in living or working in South or Central America, the USA and even other parts of the world such as the Philippines.
Spain is a very rewarding country to live in. Crime is relatively low, and the people are friendly and welcoming, especially to those who make the effort to learn some of the language. And the Spanish love to party - it seems that any excuse for a festival is taken with both hands and many festivals are steeped in local legend and folklore of which the locals are usually very well-informed and very proud.
There is a great deal to see and do in Spain - not only in the big cites or sun-baked beaches, mountains and deserts. If you choose to study abroad in Spain, get out into the countryside. Buy or rent a car if you can (take an International Driver’s License with you and always read the road rules thoroughly). Spaniards will talk for ages about the things they think you should see that many tourists don’t bother to. You will find your spare time filling up pretty quickly, and you’ll be more rewarded.
Education overview
Spain is becoming an evermore internationally recognized country for providing quality higher education - the University of Barcelona appearing in the THES-QS World University Rankings. Spanish universities usually have two four-month periods (October to February and February to June), although postgraduate courses often follow a different calendar.
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. The Spanish ‘siesta’ lifestyle is still in evidence, particularly in the south and, while most universities give you a choice of shift, some do not have this facility. It is worth noting that the Spanish university system consists mainly of lectures – much more so than in other Western countries – so trying to avoid planning lectures during the hottest part of the day is advised.
Exams form the most common assessment system and some teachers use modular exams (exámenes parciales), where 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 and, if you fail the modular exam, you can retake it with the official June or September exam. Although written tests are more frequent, some teachers test their students orally. Continuous assessment based on coursework and tutorials are uncommon in Spain.
To help international students integrate, some universities provide help services for foreign students. Checking out how organized and helpful an International Relations Office is before accepting a place on a course is probably one of the most important things that an international student can do before making the move overseas. Make sure they are helpful and keep asking them questions. It is their job.
Pros and cons
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Relatively inexpensive to live and study
English not widely spoken (note this is a pro as well as a con!)
International student accommodation
Residential Colleges (Colegios Mayores) are attached to a university. In addition to providing accommodation, they attempt to promote the cultural development of residents and the university community but are usually the most expensive option. They usually provide meals and cleaning, laundry and ironing services. Many 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! The Council of Spanish University Residential Colleges can help you if you are interested in this.
Halls of Residence (Residencias universitarias) 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 programs, under which students live in older people’s homes in exchange for a small sum and help with the household chores. Fantastic if learning Spanish is your aim and you don’t mind losing that little bit of freedom not staying in a student flat.
Holidays
The first long break is the Christmas holiday (from around 22nd December to 8th January). 5th and 6th January are among the main Christmas festivities when Spaniards traditionally hold family celebrations and exchange gifts. 6th January is known as “Reyes” and is a national holiday. As a largely Catholic country, although recent figures suggest Spain is becoming more and more secular, Easter (Holy Week) is a one-week holiday in late March or early April. Most towns and villages will have vivid and colourful festivals to celebrate Easter, so this could be a time to stay in Spain and join in.
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 retake them in September, before the new academic year. In much of Spain, this time of year is extremely hot so it is better not to be stuck in a lecture room in the long summer months.
Weather/Climate
Spain, which is roughly twice the size of Oregon, is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. While Portugal lies to the west, Spain is separated to the northeast from France by the Pyrenees Mountains. Although much of the country is elevated plain, Spain is also a country of deserts, wetlands and mountains, as well as beautiful coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The southern tip of the country is separated from Morocco in North Africa by the narrow Straits of Gibraltar, which serve as a gateway to the entire Mediterranean.
Though some locations can be quite hot during the summer, Spain generally has a temperate climate. During the summer, Spain's capital of Madrid experiences these high temperatures (average temperature 85 degrees Fahrenheit), so native Spaniards and tourists head for the moderate weather of the coasts. Winter tends to be cold in the interior of the country, and cool and cloudy along the coast (average temperatures are about 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Also during this time, the rain (and snow) tends to fall mostly in the north.
Transport
Like other Western European countries, Spain has excellent air links all over Europe and worldwide, with Madrid being a particularly important hub. Internally, however, Spain’s transport system is less advanced. There are trains but these are frequently rather slow and uncomfortable by European standards, although investment is beginning to show great improvements, and it can take a long time to get to where you want to go, if it’s far away. Most big cities have a good underground or bus system, and it is possible to fly internally between many larger destinations. However, on the trains, take a camera, a long book, lots of food and water and your own cushion…
Cost*
| Item | Price |
| litre of petrol | Euro 0.85 |
| movie ticket | Euro 5.00 |
| city metro ride | Euro 1.15 |
| cocktail | Euro 7.00 |
| litre of bottled water | Euro 0.35 |
| seat at Real Madrid/FC Barcelona match | Euro 40.00 |
*WorldGuide Index from Lonely Planet
Useful info
Dialing code: 34
Currency: Euro (€)
Time zone: GMT/UTC +1
International Study Abroad Guides