First of all, it is important to take into account that the UGR’s academic calendar is different to that of most European universities. The first semester usually starts in the last week of September, finishing in mid-February with a two-week Christmas holiday in the middle. The second semester generally begins in the third week of February and finishes at the beginning of July, with a one-week Easter holiday in the middle.

We thoroughly recommend that you arrive at least one week before the academic term begins. This will give you time to settle in and also to attend the Orientation Week for international students (known as “Las Jornadas de Recepción Estudiantes Incoming” in Spanish).

You can check the calendar for the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes here.

An Orientation Week is scheduled for the week prior to the beginning of each semester. During Orientation Week you will have the chance to attend different general or faculty-specific information sessions, go on guided tours of various emblematic buildings and participate in numerous cultural and sporting events with your new classmates. For information on the next Orientation Week, click here:

• Orientation Week

Generally you have two weeks from the official start-date of each term to sign up for, drop, or change any classes. It is important that all modifications are made before this allocated two-week alteration period runs out. All such timetable changes are completed in your “personal area” on the University web page. It is essential that you obtain your password at your Faculty’s Administration Office in order to gain access to your personal area (“Acceso Identificado” in Spanish)

• 12th of October: Día de la Hispanidad (Spain’s national holiday). Commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas.

• 1st of November: Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day). Commemorates all saints, both known and unknown.

• 6th of December: Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day). Commemorates the 1978 referendum in which Spain’s current Constitution was approved.

• 8th of December: Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception). Commemorates the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

• The evening of the 24th of December: Nochebuena (Christmas Eve).

• 25th of December: Navidad (Christmas Day).

• The evening of the 31st: Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve).

• 1st of January: Año nuevo (New Year's Day)

• 2nd of January: La toma de Granada (the Conquest of Granada). Commemorates the day the city of Granada fell to the Catholic Kings, thus bringing an end to the only remaining Moorish Kingdom in Spain.

• 6th of January: Reyes (Three Kings Day). On the evening of the 5th, the “Three Kings” lead a parade through the city. On the morning of the 6th, children wake up to find the Kings have left their presents overnight.

• 28th of February: Día de Andalucía (Andalusia Day). Commemorates the 1980 referendum in which Andalusia was made an autonomous community.

• Pascua - Viernes Santo (Easter Friday): Changes every year in accordance with the lunar calendar. The streets of Granada are filled with religious processions during Easter Week.

• 1st of May: Día del Trabajador (International Workers’ Day). National holiday which commemorates workers’ rights.

• Corpus Christi: Changes every year (begins 60 days from Easter Monday) Granada holds two main processions and a town fair.