Hello everyone! If you’re new to Spain, you’ve probably heard from senior students that universities here are ‘easy to get into, but hard to graduate from,’ and that failing courses is quite common. When I first arrived, I was terrified of not being able to graduate. Today, let’s tackle a key question: for how many years can you retake a course in a Spanish university? Or, to put it another way, how many times can you fail?
The Core Concept: Convocatoria
First, let’s clear up a common misconception. The retake system in Spanish universities isn’t based on ‘years’ but on something called a Convocatoria. You can think of it as an ‘exam opportunity’ or a ‘registration attempt.’ Every time you enroll in a course, you use up one Convocatoria, regardless of whether you actually sit for the exam. So, the key question isn’t about ‘how many years,’ but ‘how many attempts’ you have.
Generally, for a single undergraduate course, Spanish public universities give you 6 Convocatoria opportunities. These 6 chances are typically spread across several academic years. Each year, there are two exam periods: the ordinary session around February and the resit session in June or July. If you fail the first time, you can take the resit in the same academic year, and both of these usually count as using up only one Convocatoria. However, if you fail the resit as well, you’ll have to re-enroll in the course the following year, which consumes another Convocatoria. What’s more, the tuition fees get progressively more expensive
! It’s a bottomless pit a double blow, both financially and mentally. The table below gives you a clearer picture:
| Enrollment Attempt | Price per Credit |
|---|
| 1st Enrollment | Approx. €20-30 / credit |
| 2nd Enrollment | Approx. €35-50 / credit |
| 3rd Enrollment | Approx. €70-100 / credit |
| 4th Enrollment & beyond | Approx. €100-140 / credit |
About the “Maximum Period of Study”
In addition to the Convocatoria limit for individual subjects, many universities also have what are called Normas de Permanencia (Rules of Permanence)
. These regulations are broader and limit your maximum period of study at the university. For example, they might stipulate that you must pass at least one subject or earn 12 credits in your first year. If you fail to meet these requirements, you could be prevented from re-enrolling, a critical aspect covered in the rules for university retake registration in Spain, even if you haven’t used up all your Convocatorias. So, having six attempts doesn’t mean you can just relax and fail five times.
Although you theoretically have multiple chances to retake a course, considering the cost in time, money, and the immense psychological pressure, you should never rely on retakes. The academic pressure at Spanish universities is indeed significant, but as long as you attend classes, complete your assignments on time, and communicate with your professors and classmates, graduating successfully is definitely achievable! I hope this information is helpful. Experienced students are also welcome to share any specific rules from their own universities in the comments below!
