Until now, the summer before university had a clear purpose for many people: preparing for the September resit exams. That's over. Since 2027, the extraordinary sitting in Catalonia has been held in July, so by August everything is already decided.
The question then changes: if you already know where you're going to study, what's the point of those two months? There are useful answers, and there's a trap that many people fall into.
First of all: not all of summer is for studying
You've just finished a tough year and another demanding one awaits you. Arriving in September exhausted doesn't give you any advantage, it takes it away.
What works is reserving a specific portion of your time, with a concrete goal, and truly leaving the rest free. Two weeks with a clear plan are more productive than eight weeks of vague guilt.
If you already have your place
There's a fact no one mentions before starting: the subjects students fail most often in their first year aren't usually the subjects in their major, but the basic ones. Calculus, Statistics, Physics, and Chemistry in the first year cause students who have never failed anything before to fail every year.
The reason is that they start from a level they assume. If your high school math was weak, or if your degree requires a foundation you didn't study, there's the best possible use of the summer.
It's not about getting ahead on university coursework, which you don't yet know how to teach. It's about arriving with a solid foundation.
- Review what you'll need from day one and what you haven't touched in a while.
- Close the gaps you're dragging along and you know perfectly well what they are.
- Gain fluency in calculus or statistics if your degree is in that field.
If you want to improve your grade for the next exam session
You can retake the exam to improve your admission score, and the higher score is always retained. You don't lose what you already had.
If that's your plan, summer is the time to start, not to rest and wait until January to begin again. Focus on the subjects in the specific phase that count towards your degree: that's where the points are, up to 4 out of a maximum of 14. Repeating the general phase to scrape together a tenth of a point is far less effective.
If you come from outside
Here, summer is the most valuable part of the whole process, and for two different reasons.
Language. A B2 level is usually required to pursue university studies. If you're below that level, two months of intensive courses make a big difference, because it's the only period in which you can dedicate the entire day to it without competing with other classes.
The adjustment. Arriving in September with the course just starting and your life still unplanned is a bad combination. Coming earlier allows you to sort out accommodation , register at your address, and complete paperwork with plenty of time, so you can arrive on the first day of class focused on your studies.
And a word of warning about Barcelona that you should heed early: with so many foreigners around, it's perfectly possible to spend the summer here without speaking Spanish . Immersion isn't automatic; you have to make it happen.
What's so great about summer here?
August is the quietest month of the year in the city. Many people leave, the pace slows down, and there are places to study where there usually aren't any. It's better than you might think.
Public libraries are the most underrated resource: air-conditioned, quiet, and free. In the middle of August, better than any room.
What makes studying here in the summer different is that you don't have to choose between studying and living. A morning at the library and an afternoon at the beach can all fit into the same day, and that's what makes it sustainable to keep up the pace for two months.
How to plan a summer that won't burn you out
- Enter a start and end date. "Studying in the summer" is not a plan. "Three weeks in July, mornings" is.
- One goal, not five. Raise the level of Spanish, or close the math section. Doing both at the same time ends up being neither.
- Mornings. When it's hot, the afternoon isn't very productive, and it's also when you feel like doing other things.
- Leave August or the final part free. Arriving rested in September is part of the plan, it's not something to spare.
If you want to use the summer to learn the language, there are Spanish courses for foreigners . If you need to fill in gaps in a specific subject before starting your degree, private lessons are a better option.
FAQ
Is there still a summer retake for the university entrance exams?
The extraordinary session will be held on July 6, 7 and 8, 2027. There is no longer a September session in Catalonia, so August is no longer a preparation month.
Is it worth getting ahead in the course syllabus?
Not much, because you don't know how it's going to turn out. It's much more effective to strengthen the foundation that this career path takes for granted.
Which subjects do students fail most often in their first year?
The basics: Calculus, Statistics, Physics or Chemistry, depending on the degree. They start from a level that is assumed to be known.
How much Spanish can you learn in one summer?
It depends on the starting point and the intensity. As a reference, each level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) comprises between 60 and 180 hours of instruction, so a two-month intensive course can cover a full level.
Is it a good idea to come before the course starts?
If you're coming from out of town, yes. Securing accommodation and paperwork well in advance prevents you from arriving on the first day of class with everything half-finished.
How many hours a day is it advisable to study in summer?
Fewer than you think, and more days than you think. A short, consistent block in the mornings is more effective than isolated marathons.
