Universidad de Granada (UGR)

Take the courses that you feel will be of interest and use to you. There is no point taking up courses that will not be worth your time for one reason or another. I based my overall evaluation on the following criterias: - likelihood of accreditation by home university - of particular academic interest - of particular personal interst - lecturer (teaching method and clarity of language) - fellow students

I had a very good academic experience because I took up courses in which I felt a good reason to invest time and energy, however I felt that the system itself had several flaws. Firstly, the exams where very short and intense. They did not give you the chance to think things through and express your ideas throroughly. Secondly, good grades could be obtained simply by copying exactly what the lecturer had said in class. Another difficulty was the lack of support from the International Office at the university which was virtually absent. I did feel that I had a rewarding year at the univerisity, but there are certain improvements that could have resulted in an even better experience.

Mine was a special case - I had a single research project to do and co-ordinated a lot with my tutor. Other students got very little support. When you first arrive go to the International Students Office or you won't get spanish classes until Spring. There is a big book of electives which is funky but you need to arrive a week early to organise yourself. I'm talking hour long queues for everything.

Not for me to say, the academics have to dedicate much more time to teaching than research, though, which probably means that international pedigree suffers. Undergrad business school in Madrid ICADE is very highly thought of. Everything has to be done in a lot of time in Spain, people won't rush for you here.

Take classes in different facultades. This allows you to cater your schedule to fit your needs and is something only international students can do. Don't take only Spanish Lit classes. There is a lot to learn and many different departments that can meet your needs. Also, the first few weeks no one shows up. Two options. Travel or explore the city.

Don't over do it. You will remember the nights at a cafe more than you will an anthro class. Go to class, but dont take too many classes. Also, you will most likely be in La Facultad de Filosofia y Letras. Its on top of the hill, so make sure your classes are blocked at the same time, so you dont have to go up and down.

I really enjoyed my translation course in the facultad de traductores. I also would recommend the Spanish intensive course that runs in the first two weeks of September at CLM if you don't mind paying a bit to get the language experience started before term.

Organisation of courses could have been more clearly communicated. Resources such as printers, computers made more available. Updated classrooms.

I really liked the courses at the faculty history en geography.For example about latin America

there are some difference between the level of difficulty, you have to watch it for yourself, some profesors are more demanding than others. Maybe more intercambio´s is an idea, Ididn´t had a lot of contact with the spanish students

i missed dicussions with the teachers in class. but the spanish (school)university system dont has space for somth like that. you dont be able to work somth out by your own or with other collegues.

teachers should accept and honor when you are good instad of finding mistakes in your presentation of the exam