How do I reserve housing for the second semester?

Yes, you can move into a student residence halfway through the academic year. StepHouse residences offer semester-long stays: you can book just the second quarter, from January or February through June or July. Timing is key. Spots for February become available once the first-quarter stays end, so it’s best to book between November and January and have your documents ready to finalize the reservation within a few days.

The second quarter affects more people than it seems:

• Erasmus and spring exchange students. They arrive between mid-January and mid-February, depending on their host university.
• Transfer of academic records or changes in university that are processed midway through the semester.
• Curricular or corporate internships that begin in January or February in another city.
• Students who lived in an apartment and want to move—whether for a better living situation, a better price, or to be closer to campus.
• Master's Programs Starting in February—more common than you might think at business schools.

If you fall into any of these categories, you don't have to wait until the start of the school year in September: the process is the same, but with a shorter timeline and less competition for spots. You can view all the StepHouse residence halls and their locations before you inquire.

Before choosing your move-in dates, check when classes start at your university. It varies from school to school:

College Calendar. Check the one for your campus

There's more than a month's difference between Pamplona and Granada. If you're coming on an exchange program, your host university will also let you know the date of the welcome event: try to arrive one or two days early.

On the StepHouse website, in response to the question “Can I stay for just one semester or during the summer?”, the answer is: “We offer stays for a semester and during the summer. Please check availability with our team.”

In practical terms:

• You can register for just the second semester. You don't need to sign up for the entire course.
• The program lasts from 1 to 10 months, so a period from February to June works just fine.
• What's included is the same as for a semester-long stay: utilities (water, electricity, and internet), coworking space, study rooms, a gym, terraces, and the residence’s calendar of activities.
• The price depends on the residence, the room type, and the dates. Each listing shows the “starting at” prices for the course; for a semester-long stay, please ask the team for the exact price.

If you only need a few days (for example, to arrive before your stay begins or to look for an apartment), that's a different matter: short-term stays, ranging from 1 to 30 days.

In September, the dorms fill up with students staying for the full academic year and for the first semester. Spots for February are mainly available from:

• Exchange students who were only here from September through January.
• Stays that end when the January exams are over.
• Last-minute changes to current residents' plans.

That's why availability for the second four-month term usually becomes clear between November and January. If a residence hall tells you in October that it's full, ask again about February—the answer might be different. And if there's a waiting list, sign up.

A five-month stay comes with its own set of questions. Bring this list with you when you talk to the residence:

1. Exact check-in and check-out dates. Can I move in a few days before classes start? How long can I stay if I have exams in June or July?
2. Total price for the period, not just the monthly amount. And whether the first and last months are billed in full or on a pro-rata basis.
3. What's included: supplies, cleaning, bedding, fully equipped kitchen.
4. Security deposit: how much it is, when it is paid, and when and how it is refunded.
5. Cancellation: What happens if you don’t receive your visa or your exchange spot falls through? StepHouse accepts valid cancellations (including visa denial) communicated via email, with a refund issued within 30 days.
6. Extension: If you end up staying for the entire next academic year, can you keep your room?

For the general reservation process (documents, security deposit, contract), we have a comprehensive guide: How to Reserve a Spot in a Student Residence in Spain.

For the second four-month period, there's no leeway in terms of months. If you find a spot, this allows you to secure it quickly:

Before you start searching (make sure you have this ready):

• A scanned copy of your ID card or passport.
• Letter of admission or exchange agreement (Learning Agreement if you are an Erasmus student).
• The start and end dates of your semester and the exam period.
• Payment information, if you're not the one paying.

Day 1: Check availability and prices for your exact dates at two or three residences. At StepHouse, you can do this by phone, email, or WhatsApp, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Day 2: Compare the total price for the period and what each option includes. Clear up any questions from the previous list.

Day 3: Reservation. After making the reservation, you’ll receive an email asking you to fill in your information and pay the deposit, and you have five days to do so.

If you're an international student, mark your calendar:

• EU citizens: If you plan to stay for more than three months, you must apply for the EU citizen registration certificate within three months of your arrival.
• Non-EU Students: You need a student visa before traveling, and if your stay exceeds six months, you must apply for the TIE within the first month after arriving. Be sure to request the residence letter you need for the consulate well in advance.

Yes. Many residence halls, including StepHouse, offer semester-long stays. You can reserve only the second semester, subject to availability.

The best time is between November and January, which is when spots open up as students leave at the end of the first semester.

It depends on the university: between January 11 (University of Navarra) and February 15 (Granada or Málaga) for the 2026–27 academic year.

It depends on the residence and room type. Always ask for the total price for your exact dates and compare what's included.

At StepHouse, a visa denial is one of the valid reasons for cancellation. You must notify us by email, and the refund will be processed within 30 days.

StepHouse offers summer stays. If you have exams in June or July or are doing an internship over the summer, please ask when you make your reservation.

Check availability for the StepHouse residences for the second semester in Spain and Portugal.