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Exchange and short-term study

You can plan a Spanish exchange or short stay, fund it and make sure the credits count at home.

This topic is for anyone planning to study in Spain for a term or a year without enrolling in a full degree. It covers Erasmus and the grant that goes with it, study abroad provider programmes, visiting students, summer courses, converting credits and grades, and the SICUE and Séneca schemes for…

7 articlesAbout 38 min of readingUniversity and higher education

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Coming to Spain on Erasmus step by step
The order of an incoming Erasmus exchange in Spain: nomination, host application, Learning Agreement, acceptance, arrival and the paperwork that confirms your stay. For students coming to a Spanish university from another Erasmus country.
8 min read
How much Erasmus pays in Spain and when it arrives
Explains what the Erasmus+ grant covers for a study exchange in Spain, when the money arrives, and how it compares with living costs. It is for students planning a budget before they leave.
5 min read
Study abroad in Spain through your home university or a provider
A guide for students weighing a provider-run study abroad programme in Spain. It explains what a package usually covers, what it usually leaves out, who issues your credits, and how to vet a provider before you pay.
6 min read
Taking individual courses as a visiting student
How to enrol in individual courses at a Spanish university without doing a full degree: who can apply, what to send, what it costs and in what order to do it. For students from Spain's own and other countries who want a few courses.
4 min read
Summer and short courses at Spanish universities
How to find and choose a short university course in Spain: the main types, how long they run and what drives the price, which language level you need, and how to get credit your home university accepts. For students and adults planning a summer or short stay.
4 min read
Making sure exchange credits and grades count back home
How Spanish ECTS credits and 0-10 grades convert for your home university, and how to get your exchange courses recognised. For exchange students who will return to a non-Spanish university.
4 min read
Study exchanges between Spanish universities (SICUE and Séneca)
Credit minimums, call dates and the Séneca grant change by year, so confirm them with your home university's SICUE office.
3 min read

About this topic

The aim is simple: you can plan your exchange or short stay, fund it and make sure the credits count at home. Visa rules for short stays, choosing a Spanish language course and applying for a full degree are covered elsewhere.

Start with "Coming to Spain on Erasmus step by step". It walks you through nomination, the learning agreement, arrival and the tasks at your host university. If you are working out costs, go next to "How much Erasmus pays in Spain and when it arrives". Before you leave, read "Making sure exchange credits and grades count back home" so your study counts at your own university.

Key rules

Mobility length: Erasmus study mobility lasts 2 to 12 months, and you can do up to 12 months in each study cycle.

Course change deadline: Changes to your learning agreement usually must be approved within about 4 to 5 weeks after each term starts, and before you sit exams.

Grant payment: The first grant instalment is at least 70% and is paid around the start of your stay once the grant and learning agreements are signed, with the balance after you submit your departure certificate and participant report.

Nomination: Your home university must nominate you before you can apply to the Spanish host.

Pass mark: Spain grades from 0 to 10 and 5 is a pass, so a 7 or 8 is a good result.

Credit ratio: Your home university's international office sets the ECTS ratio, and the ratio can differ between universities.