Study Abroadin Barcelona, Spain
Providing unique learning experiences for North American university students since 1969
Overview
Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city located on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, with a rich history and a vibrant culture. The city draws visitors from around the world who are attracted to Barcelona’s architecture, cuisine, mild climate, cultural offerings, beautiful setting, educational institutions and business opportunities. Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and it provides a lifestyle that is both Mediterranean and European. The city has an international student population of over 200,000 which adds to its sophisticated nature. Our Barcelona location is the only offering where students can choose to study entirely in English in a wide range of subjects including STEM, International Business, History, International Studies and Design.
Cultural Information
- Population: 1,600,000
- Catalonia
- Euro
- La Sagrada Familia, Gaudí architecture, Las Ramblas, beaches, Gothic Quarter
Spanish Daily Routine - Barcelona style
Breakfast/Desayuno is not a major meal, consisting of small amount of food and is generally eaten early in the morning.
Lunch/Almuerzo is the biggest and most important meal of the day and is generally eaten between 2:00 and 4:00PM.
Dinner/Cena is a small meal, although more substantial than breakfast and is generally served between 9:00 and 10:00 PM.
The traditional Spanish custom of the “siesta” is not always observed in urban Barcelona. Distances are greater to travel to one’s home and culturally, many Catalonians look to Europe for their cultural cues.
Traditional local Dishes
This region of Spain has a healthy, Mediterranean diet. Fish and seafood dishes are common. There is a great variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fideuà is a noodle dish, usually prepared like a paella with seafood. Bread is often eaten with a dressing of tomato, garlic and olive oil as a simple snack.
Jamón Serrano is a salted, cured ham that is sliced thin and is typically served either on its own or in a bocadillo (sandwich).
Vegetarians/Vegans: Spanish culture is not particularly vegetarian/vegan friendly due to the importance of ham and other pork products in their diet. While the salads may not be filling, Spain offers delicious breads, cheeses, and vegetables dishes.
How to dress in Spain
Most Spanish people dress up more than the average American. Young men wear jeans and t-shirts or soccer jerseys, but you’ll also see men wearing nice pants and shoes. Women generally wear very feminine clothing.
To fit in with your surroundings, avoid wearing grubby jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers. Nice, fitted clothing is what most people wear.
While Cataláns are a bit more informal than previous generations, especially in hot summer months, expect to see more style and formality in dress than in North America.
Life Outside the Classroom
Compared to other regions of Spain where Spaniards are more immediately open to interaction, Catalonians can be reserved at first but they will be your friend for life once they get to know you. The big attraction of studying in Barcelona is its cosmopolitan lifestyle, with many activities ranging from culture to cafes to sports and delicious food in Barcelona’s famed restaurants.
Some of the best ways to do so are by signing up for a local speaking partner, attending Spanish Studies cultural activities, or by going to the places Spanish students hang out.
Spanish Studies Abroad wants you to have fun while studying abroad; however, you are expected to meet all of your academic responsibilities. Spanish nightlife is probably unlike the social scene you have experienced in the U.S. because they sometimes do not get started before midnight.
The following are the key areas of concentration for students to study in Barcelona; our advisors will work with you to place you into the appropriate tertiary institution.
Internship Add-On
Enhance your study abroad program in Barcelona with an internship at a local business or organization. This is not a stand-alone program. It is a prerequisite to be enrolled in the Winter Term Program (January-Late March) first.
Pre-Requisites:
- 3.3 GPA Overall
- 4 semesters of college Spanish or the equivalent (UPF recommends 5 semesters)
- Spring term only (April-June)
ICT (STEM) Abroad
All courses are taught in English at UPF’s Polytechnic School. This program has its focus on Information Technology, Robotics, Engineering, and Math studies because the skills and knowledge in each discipline are essential for student success, but also because these fields are deeply intertwined in the real world and in how students learn most effectively.
Integrated Studies
Advanced students enroll in one or more regular courses in Spanish at the host university to complement the Spanish Studies Program curriculum. Sit side-byside with local students. We provide you with all the benefits of direct enrollment, including access to campus resources and integration into the university community. On-site resident directors assist each student individually with course selection and registration, and select a tutor for academic support.
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Our center and partner institutions
Our office is centrally located near the Plaça de Catalunya, the Ramblas and the Barceloneta neighborhood and is within several metro stops of the institutions where our students study. These are the Universitat Pompeu Fabra’s main campus, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona’s two study abroad sites and the campus of Elisava, our partner for art and design.
Visit our local Facebook page for Barcelona
Get an idea of typical activities that students are getting up to!
Excursions
Spanish Studies programs feature all-inclusive study visits with accommodations, meals, entrance fees and expert professors and guides. Site visit destinations vary according to program.
Spanish Studies Abroad includes day trips and study tours such as a modernist tour of Barcelona, a day trip to Girona and a day trip to Montserrat.
Overnight* excursions may include:
Weekend trips to Figueres and Cadaqués.
*There are no overnight excursions in any of the short term programs.
Housing in Barcelona
Students may select to live with a local host family or in a student residence.
Your homestay includes room and board (breakfast and dinner) as well as laundry and the cleaning of your room. Special dietary or housing accommodations may be made, but may require an additional fee.
Students interested in the cosmopolitan experience of a student residence can also opt for one in Barcelona. As a popular destination for international students as well as ones from other parts of Spain, Barcelona has a number of private student residences throughout the city. Most are fairly centrally located and so students are not far from attractions and the center of the city. They also tend to have a cosmopolitan mix of students and so provide unique social opportunities.
Because of high demand, SSA cannot always guarantee placement at a given student residence. Prices can vary so supplemental charges over our programs costs may be required as well as funds for meals.
If you have an interest in staying in a student residence, let us know as soon as you can to help us secure a place. This may require paying a deposit. SSA vets all student residence options before placing students there so while amenities can vary, all will be safe, clean and well-located.
Universities
We work with some of the best universities in Spain. We have three tertiary institutions in Barcelona, two public universities which are Universitat de Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and a private design college named Elisava. Our admissions team will assist you at each step to place you into the institution and courses that best match your needs and interests.
Elisava is a private college for Art and Design, affiliated with Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Elisava is located on La Rambla, in the heart of Barcelona’s attractions. Elisava has a wide range of areas of study in Design including practical areas such as design of retail packaging.
UPF is often considered Spain’s highest-ranked university and it offers our students a wide range of areas of studies in both English and Spanish. Our students study at UPF’s main campus and interact with their local counterparts. UPF offers the following academic areas for international students: Business, STEM, Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, History and International Studies.
International students who attend UAB study at one of the city’s urban locations, in the heart of the city. Areas of study include Business, Economics and Politics, Art and Architecture, and Mediterranean Studies (which can include courses such as History, International Studies, and Political Science).
Meet your Resident Director
I will work with you from the moment you apply to the Barcelona program. Throughout your stay in Barcelona and until your departure. My role is to help and guide you and even hug you when you need it. This amazing experience will change your life and I want to be a part of it. I love interacting with students and making sure you feel secure and satisfied with the program. Don’t hesitate to participate in this life changing experience. We are waiting for you!
María de la Viña
#Read my insider tips for studying abroad in Barcelona!
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