Lectures in Spain – AnswerMBA

Even if Spain, with its weather, beaches, rich culture and culinary delights, tempts you to indulge in an everlasting holiday mood: Of course, you have to do a lot for university in order to study successfully in Spain. This of course also includes attending various courses.

The courses in Spain are predominantly offered in Spanish. In the meantime, however, students can also choose to study courses and courses in English. Spain is a multilingual country in which regional languages such as Basque or Catalan are still very important in the corresponding parts of the country. That is why universities also offer courses in regional languages, depending on their geographic location.

Types of courses in Spain

There are essentially three different types of courses at Spanish universities: lectures, seminars and exercises. The latter often complement the lectures.

Unlike in Germany, there is no cum tempore in Spain, the academic quarter of an hour. The courses usually start at the designated time.

Whether for students Attendance is compulsory, is depending on the university or course different. In general, however, students are advised to attend the courses regularly – after all, that’s exactly what they came to do in the country. After a semester abroad or a full degree, you not only take new specialist knowledge home with you, but also have your language skills improved. Unexcused absence can have a negative effect on the grade of a course or have other consequences. In order to avoid nasty surprises, students should therefore find out in advance about regulations for attendance at their university or in individual courses.

The courses in Spain have a reputation for being theory-heavy. Often one relies on a frontal teaching of the subject matter at the universities. Group work, presentations or discussions in plenary are also part of the teaching methods in Spain, a country that is a member of European Union defined by constructmaterials. Students can also do homework.

Types of examinations and grading in Spain

There are different types of exams for assessing student performance in Spain. These can be classic exams in the exam phases at the end of the semester. However, even in the current semester, the lecturers often check their students. Thus, about exams in the middle of the term, the oral participation, papers or papers included in the overall score.

Due to the small exams during the semester that are relevant for the grade, students who want to get good grades in Spain should continuously deal with the subject matter. This may have the advantage that at the end of the semester you have to study less because you have already worked through some of the material. Even a bad final exam can be compensated a little by other grades obtained in the course.

Atmosphere in courses in Spain

The learning atmosphere in a lecture or seminar in Spain is of course always dependent on the lecturers and the size of the course. Especially in courses with few students, the atmosphere is often personal. The interaction between students and teachers is sometimes quite informal. Quite a few lecturers can be addressed by their first names and on “Duzen” and attach great importance to getting to know the students.

Spanish courses and differences to Germany

The courses in Spain begin at the specified time and not cum tempore, i.e. a quarter of an hour later than specified.
The overall grade for a course is often made up of various small and large examinations. Participation in the course can also be decisive for the grade.
The students are often allowed to speak to the lecturers by their first name, which leads to a relaxed atmosphere in the course.
Universities can also offer courses in regional languages such as Catalan.

Grading System in Spain

Most students not only want to learn as much as possible while studying in Spain. Your learning success should also be reflected in good grades.

The grading system in Spain has four levels. The grades range from Sobresaliente to Notable and Aprobado to the worst possible rating, Suspenso. The latter is equivalent to failing the exam. Each of these ratings is assigned a range of numerical grades in Spain, just as German universities do. This scale ranges from 10 to 0 in the Spanish grading system, with 10 being the top grade.

The top five percent of a course calculated over the entire academic year can top the top grade Sobresaliente. You can get the Matrícula de Honor rating, an award. To do this, however, they have to pass the course with at least a 9.0. For courses with fewer than 20 participants, the university only gives the best rating once.

How the German universities – for example in the course of the recognition of academic achievements from a semester abroad – convert the Spanish grades varies depending on the institution. Therefore, no general statement can be made about it.

As in Germany, the students don’t just get grades. You will also receive a certain number of ECTS points for each course. These quantify the workload during the course.