Semester in Barcelona
Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Why Life in Barcelona

It’s no wonder that Barcelona is one of the top tourist and study abroad destinations in the world. This incredible location on the shores of the Mediterranean has a delightfully mild climate year round. Plus, Barcelona is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities to live in! The second-largest city in Spain has two official languages, Castilian Spanish and Catalan. It’s the perfect place to challenge yourself and practice your own Spanish skills, while also learning more about the unique Catalan history and culture.

The city is bustling, and you’ll be in awe of the architecture, including Gaudi’s towering Sagrada Familia basilica. When you’re ready to immerse yourself in nature, you can easily reach beaches and hiking sites just outside of Barcelona. The efficient public transportation system allows you to quickly travel to the many beaches to both the north and south of Barcelona. It also means you can easily navigate campus and the many amazing sites located throughout the city.

The city’s diverse international population, colorful flair, exciting nightlife, and vast array of cultural, historical, and modern attractions makes Barcelona an unparalleled place to study abroad!

Live La Vida Local

• Soccer match

  Barça, Barça, Baaarça! Experience one of the best football clubs in the world and cheer like “culés,” fans from Football Club Barcelona.

• Barrio tours

  Staff will take you on a tour of a neighborhood in Barcelona, showing you the history but also where locals hang out. Each tour includes a chance to try some local treats.

• Human Towers

  Go to the practice space of the local Castells, a sport where teams compete to make the tallest tower possible.

• Cooking classes

  Cooking classes with a professional chef.

• Intercambio night

  A language exchange with local students.

Location

The apartments are, on average, about a 30-45 minute commute to your classes or internship and house 4-6 students. The convenient location means you’ll have easy access to everything Barcelona has to offer, like shops, cafés, bars, museums, restaurants, and more!

Watch Bridget’s video tour of her apartment to get an idea of what your housing could be like.

See the COVID-19 Plan tab for changes to housing for the Spring 2021 semester.

Meals

You’ll get to put your CIS Abroad Barcelona cooking class skills to the test and cook your own delicious meals in the apartments’ well-equipped kitchens.

Inclusions and Amenities

• BathroomShared
• CommutePublic Transportation
• Double Room
• Kitchen Equipment
• LaundryOn-site

Location

Homestays are with families located about a 45-minute commute from your school or internship. A homestay is the perfect way to fully immerse yourself in Spanish culture. Living with a host family is great way to try home-cooked Spanish cuisine, improve your language skills, and experience life like a local. Plus, they’ll do your laundry!

See the COVID-19 Plan tab for changes to housing for the Spring 2021 semester.

Meals

If you opt for a homestay, you’ll get to try tasty home-cooked Spanish cuisine at the included daily breakfasts and dinners, and provide your own lunches.

Inclusions and Amenities

• CommutePublic Transportation
• Laundry
• MealsHomestay

Inclusions

Program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the following:

• Cultural and recreational excursions and activities in Barcelona
• One guided weekend excursion outside of Barcelona
• Full-time tuition and fees
• Housing
• Meal plan available with a homestay
• Medical and accident insurance
• CIS Abroad support services before, during, and after the program
• On-site support
• Academic advising
• Financial aid counseling
• Assistance with travel arrangements
• Pre-departure orientation
• Airport pickup
• Universitat Pompeu Fabra orientation
• Official Universitat Pompeu Fabra transcript
• Onsite mentorship program
• La Vida Local cultural program

Welcome & Orientation

Once you arrive in the capital of Catalonia, you’ll get picked up at the airport – nice to see a friendly face after a long flight! After you get settled in your apartment or homestay, you’ll take part in the on-site orientation with other students and interns on the program. On-site staff will introduce you to this dynamic and cosmopolitan Barcelona, giving you tips on to how to be safe and healthy as well as how to make the most of your time here. Enjoy a welcome lunch in a traditional restaurant, a first culinary experience in the new city of the staple pan con tomate, along with other delicious Mediterranean food!

Farewell & Re-Entry Program

As the program draws to a close, you’ll go home with the tools you need to make the most of your experience. In our re-entry workshop, learn how to cope with cultural differences you’ll experience as you go home, how to put your abroad experience on your resume (and talk about it in job interviews), as well as how to keep traveling in the future. End the trip with a farewell meal with all your new CIS Abroad “amigos” and the staff, for a chance to say “hasta luego” to your new city!

COVID-19 Plan

We believe that study abroad is still possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, but certain policies and procedures will need to be in place to ensure every student can be safe and healthy during their semester abroad.

We monitor international indicators and health standards in the country and our risk management team makes decisions based on those and our own policy. We will make a decision no less than 45 days before a program starts what options are available to you and what the contingency plan is for your program. We will do all that we can to support you during this time.

Learn more about CIS Abroad’s Risk Management Team’s three step process for operating  our programs around the world and important program refund policies.

Program Suspended

This program is currently not available for the Academic Year 2020/21. Please consider other options by exploring our Open Summer and Fall 2021 Programs or consider a Virtual Internship.