Currently Spanish Universities are going through an addaptation in the
educational system. This convergence plan to achieve an European Higher
Education Area is known as Bologna Process. In Spain, universities started to
put this process in practice in 2009-2010.
In the old system, a degree (Licenciatura) lasted 5 years and it was
divided in two blocks: 1st, 2nd and 3rd academic years belong to the first
block (known as Ciclo in Spanish); 4th and 5thacademic years belong to the
second block or ciclo. Graduate studies (master, research, doctorate,
post-graduate…) belong to the third block.
In this new European System, degrees are called Grado and last 4 years.
This new system is also more similar to the United States higher education
system, so it will be easier for you to understand. Courses have a more
theorical-practical focus than they had before, all courses are 6 crédits,
because all have the same number of lesson hours, and all of them last one
semester.
Students from the University of California are not allowed to register
in courses that belong to the first academic year of the major in the
Complutense University. Courses that belong to the second academic year are not
recommended because the subject could be too general to be adapted to your
major.
Be careful not to choose an annual course if your stay only last the
fall period. If you drop an annual course before you do the final exam, you
will loose all the units from both semesters.
The Complutense University has a very wide schedule opportunity for
students from UC, because you do not have to follow rules regarding to academic
plans or last name to register. You can choose from many faculties, degrees and
academic years. You can design the timetable as you want. Some degrees even
offer the same course with the same proffesor in the morning and in the
afternoon.
When final periods, the university appoints official dates for each
course. Courses that have lessons with the same proffesor during morning and
afternoon period will also offer the chance to make the final in those two
periods in the official day. Be careful if you decide to attend to a final in
other period that is not yours because maybe that proffesor does not make both
finals.
The official final exams’ dates are february and june.
OTHER TIPS:
- Given the special circumnstances to
register that you have as an abroad student, try to take advantage of it!!! You
will have almost two weeks to try courses and professors.
- The first day of class is important
because the professor explains how it is going to be the course, the evaluation
and will also hand out the syllabus. Try not to miss this days if you are not
sure about your courses. If you are not able to attend, ask an spanish
classmate about all this, this student will be happy to answer you. Don´t be
ashamed!!
- Often go to class. It´s good that the
proffesor attaches your face to your papers or exams.
- In the case you choose a course in a Grado or a test course called curso piloto assistance is MANDATORY.
- Professor in Complutense often ask for
a class file or ficha where you write down your name, last
name, major, course, adress and with an attached picture. It is very important
that you do hand out this file.
- You can also visit the proffesor in
his/her office sometimes. They will have a tutoring schedule in which they will
be available. Feel free to go and answer any question.
- Even if is better that you have your
onw class notes, ask a spanish classmate for notes to compare with yours to
study for the final.
- After your final, your califications
will be shown in the noticeboard of the Department of the course you were taking.
It is compulsory for the professor to appoint a date so students can go and see
their exams. This is called revisión
de examen. It is very useful that you go and see what you did right and
wrong.