What is it like to study in Spanish universities?

Spain is one of the most popular study destinations. Before applying to a university in Spain, many students might wonder what kind of teaching styles they can expect. 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

2. Evaluación continua or Evaluación única

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

4. Hands-on experience

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 an open discussion environment
• Give homework or essays for after-class reflection and self-study
• Use presentations as 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 on this exam will decide if you pass the course. (5/10 is a pass)
  • This evaluation system might allow more time to do internships, have rest, and 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, right? 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 6 questions correctly, 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 internships while you are studying. 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 you a safe stay in Spain by offering our medical insurance, and the best student visa insurance in Spain that meets visa/NIE/TIE requirements and understands the health needs of expats.

Check out another one of our blogs to learn more about this topic:

• How to apply for a spanish student visa
• How to choose a school in Spain: Spanish vs international schools
• Spanish higher education: why choose Spain as the destination?
• How to apply for the student NIE/TIE in Spain for the first time?
• Guide to the Spanish education system

Our content will be updated according to the most recent legislation.