The Spanish university year, semester by semester

Terms used

• ECTS — ECTS credits are the European unit for measuring study workload; a Spanish university year is 60 ECTS.
• Semana Santa — Semana Santa is Holy Week, the week before Easter, when universities close for about a week to ten days.
• Calendario académico — The calendario académico is the university's official calendar of teaching periods, exams and holidays.
• Guía docente — The guía docente is the guide for each subject, with its programme, assessment and exam details.

Key rules

• Two semesters: The year has two semesters of 30 ECTS each, and exams come at the end of each one.
• Resits: Resits usually fall in late June to July, but some universities hold them in early September.
• Your calendar: Your own university sets its dates, so rely on its published calendar over any general pattern.

The year has two semesters

The Spanish university year has two semesters. Each one is worth 30 ECTS credits, so a full year is 60 ECTS. Teaching lasts about 14-15 weeks per semester.

• First semester: September to late January.
• Second semester: early February to May or June.

Each university publishes its own calendar, so dates move from one place to another. Treat the dates below as typical, not fixed.

Exam periods and resits

Most subjects have two sittings a year.

• First-semester exams: mid-January to early February, about 2-3 weeks.
• Second-semester exams: late May to mid-June, about 2-3 weeks.
• Resits: late June to July, about 2-3 weeks. Some universities hold them in early September instead.

Exams are not only at the end of the year. If you arrive for one semester, you may sit your exams in January or June and leave before the resit period. Ask your faculty how resits work for visiting students before you book a flight home.

Breaks

Breaks often differ from the calendar you know from home.

• Christmas: from about 22-23 December to 6-7 January, around two weeks.
• Easter (Semana Santa): one week to ten days around Easter, in March or April.
• Summer: from about August until classes restart in early to mid-September. July is usually still exam time.

Local and regional holidays add extra days off. The patron saint day of your faculty is often one of them.

Where to find your dates

Look for the calendario académico on your university's website, usually under "Estudios" or "Secretaría". The page for your faculty or school lists class timetables and exam schedules for each degree. The guía docente for each subject gives the details for that subject. Your university's online campus may also carry them.

The general calendar is usually approved before summer. Exam timetables normally appear before enrolment or at the start of each semester. Check them before you book travel or plan a visit.

The timeline and questions below show the year at a glance.

Timeline and deadlines

• First semester teaching: From September to late January, about 14-15 weeks of classes

• Second semester teaching: From early February to May or June, about 14-15 weeks of classes

Frequently asked questions

How long does each exam period last?

Each exam period usually lasts about 2 to 3 weeks. The first-semester period falls from mid-January to early February, and the second-semester one from late May to mid-June. Resits take a similar length of time.

How long is the Easter break at a Spanish university?

The Easter break (Semana Santa) is usually about one week to ten days, in March or April.

Where can I find my university's calendar and exam dates?

Your university publishes its calendario académico on its website, usually under Estudios or Secretaría. Your faculty page lists the horarios y exámenes for each degree, and the guía docente gives details per subject.

Can I take my resits in September instead of July?

It depends on your university: most hold resits from late June to July, but some use early September instead. Check your university's calendar before you book summer travel.