Build a Spanish university vocabulary group
Import the 36 fixed word pairs and practise spelling and sound on iOS or Android. The complete guide remains useful without the app.
Spanish university vocabulary
What Spanish words do you need at university?
Start with physical places: la universidad, el campus, la facultad, el aula and la biblioteca. Then connect each place to a purpose: buscar un aula, estudiar en la biblioteca or ir a secretaría.
For courses, distinguish la carrera, el grado and la asignatura. A carrera is a degree programme or field of study; grado is an official undergraduate qualification in Spain and also has broader educational meanings; asignatura is one subject or course unit.
University systems differ across Spanish-speaking countries. The shared core vocabulary travels well, but labels for degrees, credits, enrolment and passing grades can be institution-specific. Use the university’s own wording for official procedures.
Four patterns that make the vocabulary usable
Use estudiar + subject or field: Estudio Biología; Estudio una carrera de Ingeniería.
Use matricularse en for enrolment: Me matriculo en tres asignaturas.
Use presentarse a, aprobar or suspender with exams: Me presento al examen final; Aprobé la asignatura.
Use entregar + work and para/antes de + deadline: Tengo que entregar el proyecto antes del viernes.
36 useful Spanish university words
Each term includes a normal campus example and a note where articles, regional use or education systems matter.
| Spanish term | Meaning | Example in context | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| la universidad | university | La universidad está cerca del centro. | Learn the term with its article. |
| el campus | campus | El campus tiene dos bibliotecas. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la facultad | faculty / school | La facultad de Ciencias está al norte del campus. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el aula | classroom / lecture room | La clase es en el aula 12. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la biblioteca | library | Estudio en la biblioteca por la tarde. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la cafetería | cafeteria | Nos vemos en la cafetería después de clase. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| el/la estudiante | student | Cada estudiante tiene acceso al campus virtual. | Use the masculine or feminine form for the person. |
| el/la profesor/a | professor / lecturer | La profesora explica el tema con ejemplos. | Use the masculine or feminine form for the person. |
| el/la tutor/a | tutor / adviser | Mi tutora revisa el plan de estudios conmigo. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| el/la decano/a | dean | El decano presenta el nuevo programa. | Use the masculine or feminine form for the person. |
| el/la rector/a | university president / rector | La rectora dirige la universidad. | Use the masculine or feminine form for the person. |
| los compañeros de clase | classmates | Trabajo con mis compañeros de clase. | Usually used in the plural here. |
| la carrera | degree programme / major | Estudio una carrera de Ingeniería. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el grado | undergraduate degree / degree | Termina el grado el próximo año. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| la asignatura | subject / course unit | Este semestre tengo cinco asignaturas. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el horario | timetable / schedule | Consulto el horario antes de ir al campus. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la matrícula | enrolment / tuition registration | La matrícula abre el lunes. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| la beca | scholarship / grant | Solicita una beca para el próximo curso. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la secretaría | administrative office | Pregunta en secretaría por el certificado. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| los créditos | credits | La asignatura vale seis créditos. | Usually used in the plural here. |
| los apuntes | class notes | Repaso los apuntes antes del examen. | Usually used in the plural here. |
| la tarea | assignment / homework | La tarea está en el campus virtual. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| el trabajo | paper / assignment | Entrego el trabajo el viernes. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el proyecto | project | Nuestro proyecto analiza el transporte urbano. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la presentación | presentation | Preparo una presentación para la clase. | Learn the term with its article. |
| la investigación | research | La investigación incluye tres entrevistas. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| la tesis | thesis | Está escribiendo la tesis de máster. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| las prácticas | internship / practical training | Empiezo las prácticas en abril. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el examen | exam | Tengo un examen de Historia mañana. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| el examen parcial | midterm exam | El examen parcial cubre cuatro temas. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| el examen final | final exam | El examen final es en junio. | The exact scope depends on the education system. |
| la nota | grade / mark | La nota aparece en el campus virtual. | Learn the term with its article. |
| aprobar | to pass | Necesito aprobar esta asignatura. | Learn this infinitive with its common university object. |
| suspender | to fail | Suspendió el examen y va a repetirlo. | The preferred term or meaning can vary by country. |
| entregar | to hand in / submit | Hay que entregar el proyecto en línea. | Learn this infinitive with its common university object. |
| el plazo de entrega | submission deadline | El plazo de entrega termina a medianoche. | Treat this as one useful fixed phrase. |
Five university vocabulary groups
Learn campus places and people first, then add course administration, study work and assessment.
Campus places
Buildings and spaces used during a university day.
la universidad · el campus · la facultad · el aula · la biblioteca · la cafetería
People at university
Roles and relationships in teaching and study.
el/la estudiante · el/la profesor/a · el/la tutor/a · el/la decano/a · el/la rector/a · los compañeros de clase
Courses and administration
Programmes, subjects, enrolment, timetables and credits.
la carrera · el grado · la asignatura · el horario · la matrícula · la beca · la secretaría · los créditos
Study and assignments
The material students prepare, research and submit.
los apuntes · la tarea · el trabajo · el proyecto · la presentación · la investigación · la tesis · las prácticas
Exams and results
Assessment events, grades, outcomes and deadlines.
el examen · el examen parcial · el examen final · la nota · aprobar · suspender · entregar · el plazo de entrega
A short campus scene
Primero voy a secretaría para confirmar la matrícula.
Después tengo clase en el aula 12 y estudio los apuntes en la biblioteca.
El viernes entrego el proyecto; la semana siguiente tengo el examen final.
Hola Cards is a Spanish flashcard app from holacards.org for iOS and Android. It is free to download, requires no account, and its core study tools work offline. The free version may show third-party ads; Premium is a recurring subscription that removes them. The interface is available in English, Russian, and Portuguese; cards support translations in 28 languages and 18 practice and game modes. You can import these 36 checked university terms into a custom group and practise them with Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, and review modes. Hola Cards does not enrol students, manage courses, submit assignments, calculate grades, or provide academic advising.
Connect university vocabulary with classroom phrases, school supplies, presentations, email phrases and study routines.
Spanish classroom phrases Spanish school supplies Spanish presentation phrases Spanish email phrases Daily routine in Spanish
A five-minute campus drill
- Choose one term from each of the five groups.
- Say every noun with its article.
- Build one sentence about a place and one about a person.
- Link an assignment to a verb and a deadline.
- Finish with one sentence about an exam or grade.
Education and dictionary references
The vocabulary scope and education-system notes were checked against Instituto Cervantes and the RAE.
- Instituto Cervantes: education vocabulary at A1–A2
- Instituto Cervantes: education vocabulary at B1–B2
- RAE dictionary: universidad
- RAE dictionary: grado
FAQ
How do you say “university” in Spanish?
The usual word is la universidad. Learn it with the feminine article.
What is the difference between carrera and asignatura?
La carrera is a degree programme or field of study; la asignatura is one subject or course unit inside a programme.
What does grado mean at a Spanish university?
In Spain, un grado is normally an official undergraduate degree. Elsewhere, grado can refer more broadly to a grade, level or academic degree, so check the local institution.
How do you say “to pass” and “to fail” an exam?
Aprobar means to pass and suspender means to fail in Spain. Reprobar is common in several Latin American countries.
Can I import these terms into Hola Cards?
Yes. Copy the 36 Spanish–translation pairs into a custom group, then practise audio, spelling, pronunciation and review.
Copy the 36 university words into Hola Cards
Open word groups in Hola Cards, choose paste/import and paste the block. The app recognises the title and “Spanish - translation” lines.
**Spanish university vocabulary: 36 words**
la universidad - university
el campus - campus
la facultad - faculty / school
el aula - classroom / lecture room
la biblioteca - library
la cafetería - cafeteria
el/la estudiante - student
el/la profesor/a - professor / lecturer
el/la tutor/a - tutor / adviser
el/la decano/a - dean
el/la rector/a - university president / rector
los compañeros de clase - classmates
la carrera - degree programme / major
el grado - undergraduate degree / degree
la asignatura - subject / course unit
el horario - timetable / schedule
la matrícula - enrolment / tuition registration
la beca - scholarship / grant
la secretaría - administrative office
los créditos - credits
los apuntes - class notes
la tarea - assignment / homework
el trabajo - paper / assignment
el proyecto - project
la presentación - presentation
la investigación - research
la tesis - thesis
las prácticas - internship / practical training
el examen - exam
el examen parcial - midterm exam
el examen final - final exam
la nota - grade / mark
aprobar - to pass
suspender - to fail
entregar - to hand in / submit
el plazo de entrega - submission deadline
Practise university vocabulary in Hola Cards
Review the 36 fixed terms with Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, custom groups and review modes on iOS and Android.
