When I first decided to study in Europe, I thought the biggest challenge would be adapting to a new country.

I was wrong.

The real challenge was understanding how the university system actually works credits, exams, attendance, grading… everything felt different from what I was used to.

Even after arriving, it took me some time to figure things out. I remember being confused about how to book exams, how many chances I had, or even how grades were calculated.

So in this article, I just want to share things the way I learned them simply, honestly, and based on real experience.

Academic Year and How It Works

In most European universities, the academic year is divided into two main semesters:

• The first semester usually starts between September and October and ends around January or February
• The second semester typically runs from February or March to June or July

After that, there is usually a summer break between July and August, although this can vary depending on the university and exam sessions. In some cases, students may still have exams in late summer or early autumn.

Before each semester begins, students are required to register for their courses, usually through an online platform. Missing these deadlines can create unnecessary problems, so it’s important to stay organized.

Understanding Credits (ECTS)

One of the first things you’ll hear about is the ECTS system. At the beginning, it may sound complicated, but it’s actually quite straightforward.

Credits represent the total workload required for a course, including lectures, personal study, and exams.

• A full academic year usually corresponds to 60 credits
• One semester is typically around 30 credits

Each course gives you a certain number of credits once you pass the exam.

Mandatory vs. Optional Courses

You will usually have two types of courses:

Mandatory courses
These are required to complete your degree. You must pass them to graduate.

Optional courses
These are optional, but from my experience, they are more important than they seem at first.

Optional can help you:

• Gain additional credits
• Improve your overall average
• Balance your workload if some courses are more challenging

In some situations, these extra credits can really help you maintain a good academic balance.

Exams: What You Really Need to Know

This is probably the part that confused me the most in the beginning.

In many European universities, the system works like this:

• You attend classes during the semester
• Then you have a revision period
• After that, you take exams during exam sessions

One important thing is that you usually have more than one opportunity to pass an exam.

In many cases:

• You may have 2 or 3 attempts depending on the course and university
• If you don’t pass, or if you’re not satisfied with your grade, you can try again

Grades are often based on a 30-point scale, where 18 is typically the minimum to pass.

In some universities, you may also have the option to refuse a grade and retake the exam later.

However, all these rules can vary, so it’s always important to check the specific guidelines of your university.

Attendance vs. Non-Attendance: A Real Impact on Exams

One thing I didn’t fully understand at the beginning is how much being an attendance student or a non-attendance student can affect your exams.

As an attendant student, you usually:

• Follow lectures regularly
• Participate in class activities or projects
• Sometimes receive part of your grade from coursework

Because of that, professors may:

• Reduce the number of exam questions
• Include project work in your final grade
• Give more guidance during the semester

As a non-attending student, expectations are often different.

You may be required to:

• Study more material independently
• Sometimes prepare additional readings or full books
• Take the full version of the exam

This can mean answering more questions and covering the entire course content on your own.

When Attendance Doesn’t Always Mean Easier

At first, I believed that being an attendance student always made exams easier. But my experience showed me that it’s not always the case.

I remember one course where we attended classes, completed a group project, and received part of our grade from that work. Everything seemed under control.

But when we took the exam, it was much more difficult than expected.

There was also a condition: even as attendance students, we had to reach a minimum score in the exam itself to pass the course.

So even if you had a good project grade, it wasn’t enough. If you didn’t reach that minimum threshold, you simply didn’t pass.

After the first attempt, many students, including myself, faced a decision.

Some of us chose to give up the project grade and switch to being non-attendance students for the next attempt.

Why?

Because in that specific case, the non-attendance exam, although longer, felt more predictable and manageable compared to the difficulty we faced as attendance students.

What This Experience Taught Me

This experience made me understand something important:

There is no single strategy that works for every course.

• Sometimes, being an attendance student gives you a real advantage
• Sometimes, the exam requirements are still very demanding
• And sometimes, adapting your approach is the smartest decision

It all depends on the professor, the course structure, and how the exam is designed.

Practical Things That Helped Me

Looking back, here are a few things that made a big difference:

• Understanding early how to book exams online
• Learning to use the university platform (ESSE3) to register for exams, check grades, track courses, and follow academic progress
• Keeping track of deadlines and exam sessions
• Taking attendance seriously when possible
• Using optional courses strategically
• Making the most of the revision period

Final Thoughts

At the beginning, everything can feel confusing, and honestly, that’s completely normal.

The European university system is different, but once you understand how it works, it actually offers a lot of flexibility.

You have multiple opportunities, different ways to manage your studies, and the ability to adapt your strategy depending on the situation.

I just wish I had understood these things earlier. So if you’re planning to study in Europe, take the time to learn how the system works. It will save you stress, time, and a lot of unnecessary mistakes.

If you take the time to get these steps right, studying in Europe becomes much smoother, and trust me, it’s worth it. 🎓

Ismaël Dadis Adam
Founder, IDA International Mobility Consulting