Making the most of student life, from Erasmus networks to clubs

Key rules

• Timing: Sign-ups for sports and associations mostly happen in September and October.
• Exchange students: Start with the local ESN section and your international office's buddy programme.
• Costs: Sports usually cost a modest annual fee, and clubs are generally free or low-cost.
• Tuna: You join a tuna by audition.

Start in the first weeks

Join things early. Sign-ups for sports and associations happen at the start of the academic year, usually September to October, so the first weeks are your best window. Welcome fairs and online registration are the main routes in.

Erasmus and exchange networks

If you are an exchange student, start with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Many Spanish universities have a local section, such as ESN Madrid or ESN Valencia. They run welcome events, trips and buddy programmes.

Your university's international relations office also runs its own buddy programme. Ask there when you arrive.

Other options depend on your university:

• Faculty-based associations.
• Professional and political student associations.
• International groups such as AIESEC, and AEGEE in some cities.
• Student councils, including the national one, the Consejo de Estudiantes Universitarios del Estado (CEUNE).

Each university keeps its own list of recognised associations. Look for it on the university website or ask at the student office.

Sports and clubs

Most universities have a sports service, the Servicio de Deportes. You usually register online at the start of the year, often with your student card. Membership normally costs a modest annual fee, often tens of euros, with lower prices for students.

Teams can compete in the university leagues, the Campeonatos de España Universitarios. Clubs and associations are generally free or low-cost. Fees and dates vary by university, so check yours.

The tuna

A tuna is a traditional group of students who dress in black medieval-style costumes with capes and ribbons. They sing and play guitars, bandurrias, lutes and tambourines. You will see them serenading in the street, at festivals and in competitions, a tradition going back to the Middle Ages.

Each faculty or college often has its own tuna. Members are called tunos. You join by audition. Even if you do not join, going to a performance is an easy way to see Spanish student culture and meet people.

A simple plan

1. Contact your international office about the buddy programme.
2. Find the local ESN section and go to its first event.
3. Register for sports and one or two associations.
4. Go to the welcome fairs and talk to people.

The questions below cover the student card and working during exams.

Quick answers about student life in Spain

What is a tuna in Spanish university life?

A tuna is a traditional student group that dresses in black medieval-style costumes with capes and ribbons, and sings and plays guitars, bandurrias, lutes and tambourines. Each faculty or college often has its own, and members are called tunos. You join by audition, and the groups perform serenades in the street, at festivals and in competitions.

Do I get a student card at a Spanish university?

Yes, your university issues its own student card (carné universitario) after you enrol, usually in the first weeks of the course. International students get the same card as everyone else. It usually gives access to the library, sports facilities and computer rooms, and it can bring discounts at museums, cinemas and events.

Can the student card work as a payment or transport card?

Yes, on many campuses the card also works as a payment card, and in many regions it can carry public-transport passes. Some universities issue it with a bank partner, and some offer a mobile version. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a separate optional card.

Can I work during exam periods as a student?

Yes, no Spanish law bans students from working during exam periods. If you are an employee studying for an official qualification, you have the right to paid leave for the time needed to sit exams. Internship (prácticas) schedules must fit your studies, and if you hold a non-EU student permit, separate work-hour limits also apply.