Job Discussion Forums

[marclar]

I am an Australian and I recently returned from a holiday in southern spain and am now planning on returning on a student visa to study spanish and cultural studies for 9 months at The Centre for Modern Language in Granada.

I have 3 big questions though...

1) How long before the course starts am I allowed to enter Spain, and how long after the course finishes do I have to leave?? I have tried asking the consulate in melbourne and all they told me was "about a few weeks before and you have to leave after your course finishes" ???!!! What the! Surely there is an actual time frame that they allow?? I am supposed to book my return flights before applying for the student visa but how can I do that when I don't even know how long before and after i can be in the country.?

2) I have heard that some students receive a stipend payment of 700 euros per month...is this true and if so does it only apply for certain courses? again..my consulate wasnt very helpful with this!

3) I have been told that i need to show that i have 1700 euros per month to live on for the duration of the course (if I get a stipend then only the extra 1000) Nevermind personally I found everything in Granada to be super cheap, and I'll be living with my bf who is living there while doing his phd so cheper again, (not sure id even know how to spend that much, not a big drinker and not planning on doing much travelling around either)

My question is this...can a letter from my parents assuming full responsibility be accepted as me having enough to live on?? I will have my own savings (around 10-12,000 australian dollars) plus my dad will be sending over some money once a fortnight to help out. But this wont cover the 1700 euros per month im apparently going to be needing. lol

any help on any or all of these questions would be greatly appreciated...still annoyed I have to ask these questions in a forum because the consulate cant give me clear answers LOL