Making sure exchange credits and grades count back home

Terms used

• Aprobado — The aprobado is a Spanish pass grade, from 5 to 6.9 out of 10.
• Notable — The notable is a Spanish grade band from 7 to 8.9 out of 10.
• Sobresaliente — The sobresaliente is a Spanish top grade band, from 9 to 10 out of 10.
• Matrícula de honor — The matrícula de honor is a distinction above sobresaliente, given to only a small share of a class.

Key rules

• 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.
• Approval: Get your Spanish courses approved in writing before you leave.
• Transcript: Your transcript of records comes after grades are final, often weeks after the exams.

How credits convert

Your home university decides how Spanish credits count. Ask its international office before you go.

Spanish courses are measured in ECTS credits. One ECTS credit stands for 25 to 30 hours of student work. A full-time year is 60 ECTS, so a semester is usually 30.

Many US universities treat 2 ECTS as about 1 US semester credit. On that ratio, a 30 ECTS semester is about 15 US credits. Some use other ratios, such as 1.67 or 2.5 to 1. UK, German and other systems have their own ratios too.

How grades convert

Spanish grades run from 0 to 10, and 5 is a pass. The labels you will see on your transcript are:

• aprobado: 5 to 6.9
• notable: 7 to 8.9
• sobresaliente: 9 to 10
• matrícula de honor: a top mark given to only a small share of a class

Grades above 9 are rare, and a 7 or 8 is a good result in Spain. Home universities usually convert grades with their own table or the ECTS grading scale, not by simple proportion. A table based on percentages would make a 7 or 8 look low.

Many converters place 9 to 10 at A, 7 to 8.9 at B, and 5 to 6.9 at C or D. Treat that as a guide only. Ask your home university for its table, and ask whether pass/fail is allowed.

Secure recognition before you leave

Recognition is easiest to protect before you travel. The checklist below lists what to agree. The main step is a signed learning agreement, or course-approval form. It lists each Spanish course with its ECTS and the home course it replaces.

Also find out how many credits you must earn per semester. Find out who signs approvals at your home university. Agree how to handle changes to your course list after you arrive, because courses often change.

Keep evidence while you are in Spain

Keep the syllabus of every Spanish course you take. If your home university questions a course, the syllabus shows what it covered. Save your approved forms and any emails confirming changes.

Get your transcript

After grades are final, the host university issues a transcript of records. It is usually a PDF or paper document signed or stamped by the international office. It is sent to your home coordinator, and often to you by email or post.

This usually comes several weeks after the exams. For the spring semester, expect July to September. For the autumn semester, expect February to March. Resit periods and slow grade publication can cause delays.

If your coordinator has not received it, ask your Spanish international office to resend it. Ask for a copy for yourself. The timeline below shows the order of these steps.

Timeline and deadlines

• Wait for grades to be finalised, including any resit period: several weeks after the exam period

• Expect the signed or stamped transcript of records for the spring semester: often July to September

• Expect the signed or stamped transcript of records for the autumn semester: often February to March

• Check that the transcript reached your home coordinator, and ask for a copy if you did not get one: after it is issued, by email or post

Checklist

• Confirm how many credits you need to earn per semester.

• Ask how your Spanish grades will be converted, and whether pass/fail is allowed.

• Ask when and how your transcript will be sent to your home university.

Frequently asked questions

How many US credits is a 30 ECTS semester in Spain worth?

A 30 ECTS semester usually equals about 15 US semester credits, because many US universities count 2 ECTS as 1 US credit. Some use other ratios such as 1.67 or 2.5 to 1, so ask your international office which one applies.

Will my Spanish 7 or 8 be converted to a low grade at home?

Not necessarily: a 7 to 8.9 is a good result in Spain, and many converters place it at B. Your home university converts grades through its own table or the ECTS grading scale, not by simple proportion, so ask for that table before you leave.

When will my Spanish transcript of records arrive after the exams?

Your transcript usually arrives several weeks after the exam period, often July to September for the spring semester and February to March for the autumn semester. Resit periods and slow grade publication can delay it, so ask the international office how it will be sent.

What should I keep from Spain to help with recognition at home?

Keep the syllabus of every Spanish course you take, because your home university may ask for it when it decides which of its courses each one replaces. Also keep your signed learning agreement and the course list as it stands after any changes.