How teaching and studying work at Spanish universities

Key rules

• Guía docente: Each subject's guía docente sets its assessment weights, attendance rules and resit rules, so read it before classes start.
• Attendance: No national law requires attendance, but labs, practicals and placements often do.
• Single final assessment: If you cannot attend regularly, ask whether you can take one final assessment instead.
• Tutorías: Book office hours by email or the campus platform, and write formally.

The short version

Spanish degrees lean on lectures and exams, with some coursework counted along the way. Attendance rules are not the same everywhere. Each subject sets its own rules in a document called the guía docente. Read it for every subject before classes start, and use tutorías to get help.

How you are assessed

Most subjects combine a final exam with continuous assessment. Continuous assessment means coursework, quizzes, practicals and projects that count during the term. The final exam often weighs 40-70% and continuous assessment 30-60%.

Subjects differ a lot:

• Theory-heavy subjects can be 100% exam.
• Practical or lab subjects are often mostly continuous assessment.

The guía docente tells you the weights, the minimum mark you need in the exam, and the resit rules. Each university sets its own rules, so do not assume your new subject works like one you took elsewhere.

Do you have to attend?

No national law requires attendance. Each university and subject decides, and the guía docente says what applies.

• Ordinary lectures are usually optional.
• Labs, seminars, practicals, placements and some continuous-assessment activities often require attendance. A common threshold is 70-80%, but it varies.
• Private universities and distance courses are often stricter.

Missing too many sessions can cost you the continuous assessment, which leaves you with the final exam only. If you cannot attend regularly, ask whether you can take a single final assessment. Many universities offer it, but you usually need to ask for it, so ask early.

Using tutorías

Professors expect students to come to them with questions. A tutoría is a consultation with a professor. There are three kinds:

• Individual: office hours, usually a few hours a week, listed in the guía docente or on the professor's page.
• Group or seminar: a session for a class or a small group.
• Academic tutoring: a tutor assigned to guide your studies. Meet yours early in the year.

Book by email or through the campus virtual platform. Many professors also accept drop-ins during posted hours. Meetings can be in person or by video call.

Keep emails polite and fairly formal. Open with "Profesor" or "Profesora" (or "Don" or "Doña"), write a clear subject line, and give your degree and group. Professors are usually approachable. After an exam you can often attend a revisión de examen, where you see your paper and ask about the mark.

The checklist and FAQ below cover the practical steps, and the university terms list explains words you will meet.

Checklist

• Read the guía docente of every subject before classes start.

• Check which activities require attendance, such as labs, seminars, practicals and placements, and note the required percentage.

• Find out whether missing classes means losing continuous assessment or being limited to the final exam.

• Find out who your assigned academic tutor is and meet them early in the year.

Spanish university terms explained

• Matrícula: Matrícula is your enrolment for a course or year. You choose your subjects and pay the fees (precios públicos). Do it through your university's online portal or its secretaría.

• Convocatoria: A convocatoria is an official exam sitting for a subject. You usually get an ordinary and an extraordinary one each year, and your university's rules limit your total attempts. The limits are explained in the page on grades and convocatorias.

• Créditos ECTS: ECTS credits measure your workload. One credit equals 25 to 30 hours of work, 60 credits make a full academic year, and a four-year Grado is 240 credits.

• Tutoría: A tutoría is a meeting with a professor during office hours, or a tutoring scheme for academic guidance. Ask the professor or your faculty how to book one.

• Guía docente: The guía docente is the official guide to each subject. It sets out contents, competences, teaching methods, assessment, schedule and reading list. Find it on your university or faculty website and read it before the course starts.

• Secretaría: The secretaría is the student administration office of a faculty or university. Go there for enrolment, your academic record, certificates and degree title applications.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the final exam count toward my grade?

The final exam usually counts for about 40-70% of the grade, with continuous assessment making up the rest. Theory-heavy subjects can be 100% exam, while lab or practical subjects are often mostly continuous.

What happens if I miss too many classes?

You can lose the continuous assessment and be limited to the final exam. This mostly applies to labs, seminars, practicals and placements, where 70-80% attendance is a typical requirement.

Can I get a single final assessment instead of continuous assessment?

Often yes, because many universities guarantee students the option of a single final assessment. It is meant for students who cannot attend class. Ask your faculty office how to request it and by when.

How should I email a professor to ask for a tutoría?

Write politely and formally, addressing the professor as Profesor or Profesora, or Don or Doña.