Preparing your stay
The University of Cantabria
Legal aspects before arriving
Academic information
They key aspect of the Erasmus Credit Mobility Programme is that the courses you take and succesfuly pass at the UC (that will also need to appear in your approved
Learning Agreement) will be automatically recognized at your home university when you return. The person who will approve (sign) your Learning Agreement in Cantabria and who can provide you with academic orientation is your
International Relations Co-ordinator (please check the relevant person depending on your area of studies).
You can check some useful information concerning the UC and its academic calendar here:
Language requirements
It is highly recommended to have a B1 of Spanish to register and follow regular courses in Spanish and a B2 to register in Courses taught in English.
Course catalogue
Erasmus+ Credit Mobility students will need to check with their home and host universities the area of studies from wich they can take their courses in English (according to the bilateral agreement between both universities):
Bachelor students
Additionally bachelor students can take courses in Spanish to complete tehir study plan at the UC (many of these are included in the UC
'English Friendly' course catalogue):
Health Insurance
Students from outside the European Union must have a private medical insurance covering medical assistance throughout the complete exchange period. Registration is not official until copy of the health policy is duly submitted to the IRO (International Relations Office).
Should the policy not be written in Spanish or English, it is mandatory to produce a legalized translation in Spanish.
In general terms these are the recommended minimum guarantees that should be covered by your personal insurance policy during the whole duration of your stay at the UC:
-
Death or permanent disability: up to € 50,000
-
Medical, surgical, pharmaceutical and hospitalization expenses due to illness or accidents: up to a limit of € 100,000
-
Repatriation in case of death: unlimited
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Medical transport in case of accident or serious illness: unlimited
-
Displacement of a relative in case of hospitalization of more than 5 days: unlimited
-
Private civil liability: up to € 100,000
In case your insurance does not meet all these minimum guarantees, as a last resort, you have the possibility of taking out a complementary insurance upon arrival in Santander.
Accommodation
How to get to UC
Page #56 of the
UC International Student's Guide offers information on the different alternatives that exist to get to Santander. Once in the city, you can choose to use the
Santander Urban Transport Service (TUS) to get around.
Spanish course
Exchange students have the possibility to take a course
in Spanish as a foreign language at the UC Language Centre:
Arriving at the UC
The International Relations Office (ORI)
Welcome and Orientation Programme
With the aim of facilitating the integration of all students and, as a first contact with the UC, Santander and Cantabria, the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization and Co-operation organizes a
Welcome and Orientation Programme that includes a
Mentoring Programme. Some activities are free of charge but if you wish to participate in the excursions you will be required to pay a fee.
During your stay
Santander and Cantabria
Student associations
Interested in participating in a student association during your stay in Santander? If so, please check these links:
IT Services
UC Library
What can the BUC offer to foreign students?
[+ info]
Medical assistance and emergencies
We hope you don't need to use this information once in Santander, but in case you need to, you can
Check this summary.
There are several Spanish and international bank offices available for students to open a bank account. Some banks may ask for a photocopy of your passport and proof of registration at the UC.
Other activities for students
At the end of your stay
Certificate of attendance
Before going back to your country, remember to visit the ORI the last working day of your stay in order to collect your
Certificate of Attendance.
Please bear in mind that:
- The ORI will not sign any Certificate of Attendance including a date earlier than the end of the stay
Transcript of records
The UC will issue a Transcript of Records digitally signed and a printable version which can be downloaded by the students themselves (Campus Virtual) and verified by the home university through a CSV code, by a simple procedure, on the UC secure online portal:
https://sede.unican.es/consulta-de-csv, no later than 5 weeks after the assessment period has finished.
ECTS grading scale:
| ECTS grade | % of successful students normally achieving the grade | Definition |
| A | 10 | EXCELLENT − outstanding performance with only minor errors |
| B | 25 | VERY GOOD − above the average standard but with some errors |
| C | 30 | GOOD − generally sound work with a number of notable errors |
| D* | 25 | SATISFACTORY − fair but with significant shortcomings |
| E* | 10 | SUFFICIENT − performance meets the minimum criteria |
| FX | − | FAIL − some more work required before the credit can be awarded |
| F* | − | FAIL − considerable further work is required |
The University of Cantabria does not apply ECTS grades D, E and F.
