Summer in Barcelona
Universitat de Barcelona
The summer when your classroom is Barcelona
This unique program is based at Universitat de Barcelona (UB), a vibrant and historic university in the center of it all. Mingle with a mix of students from both near and far at UB’s main campus, which hosts a large and diverse student body. You can choose to study Spanish at any level, as well as Spanish culture courses that take you out into the city for most of your class sessions. Not to mention, you’ll be spending a month or two of summer in beautiful Barcelona! Good thing you’ll be making new friends because you’re going to generate a lot of jealousy in your friends back home…
What to Expect:
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Language: English and Spanish
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Average Courseload: 1-2 courses per session (3-6 US credits)
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GPA Requirement: 2.5
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Visa Requirements: NONE Required!
Highlights:
- Learn from Barcelona through experiential culture courses that use the city as your classroom
- Study at a historic, top-ranked university located in central Barcelona
- Mingle with students from both near and far in a vibrant campus setting
- Choose from Spanish language courses at any level, from beginner to advanced
- Soak up the art, architecture, culture, and cuisine that makes Barcelona a top global destination
Program Details
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona (UB) ranks as the #1 university in Spain. It’s famous for its cutting-edge university research and has become a benchmark for research activity in Europe. Over 80,000 students attend the UB, spread out over six different campuses located throughout Barcelona. The UB is ideal for the independent student who is eager to become immersed in Spanish culture.
The UB’s beautiful international student campus is located in a bustling area known as Plaza Universitat. This plaza is alive with young people, cafes, shops, and innovative businesses, and it’s only a ten-minute walk from the city center. The campus itself is filled with beautiful architecture, indoor courtyards, and plenty of classroom and study space.
During your studies at University of Barcelona, you’ll take unique and diverse courses that help you become familiar with Spanish culture and society. You’ll study alongside fellow international students from the U.S. and around the world.
If you’re looking to strengthen your Spanish, the UB has a program for you. The Estudios Hispánicos program is taught mostly in Spanish. Additionally, it’s based on Spanish and Latin-American culture, and Spanish language and comprehension. This program is specifically recommended for students who are majoring or minoring in Spanish and have a background with the Spanish language. It’s also a great opportunity for students who are working toward Spanish fluency.
The UB was established in 1450 and is one of the top schools in Catalonia. The University is ranked 166th in the world by QS.
Accreditation(s): Ministry of Education and Science.
Areas of study with 3 to 7 classes available
- Art & Design
- Humanities
- World Languages
- Spanish
Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.
You will take 1-2 courses per session, depending on the duration of the courses you choose. If you are choosing to combine Session 1 and Session 2, please indicate which courses you plan to take in Session 2.
Sessions & Course Descriptions
Session 1
Session 1 is focused on Spanish language. There are courses in each of five proficiency levels, which are then broken down further according to students’ pre-program placement test. There is also a course that combines classroom instruction with city tours: Spanish Language & Culture.
Spanish Language
- Five proficiency levels divided further into group levels based on a pre-program placement test
- Durations: two, three, and four weeks (hours/credit vary accordingly)
Course Descriptions
Spanish Language – A1
Spanish Language – A1.2
Spanish Language – A2
Spanish Language – B1
Spanish Language – B2
Spanish Language – C1-C2
Spanish Language & Culture
- Five proficiency levels divided further into group levels based on a pre-program placement test
- Language content: 80 hours
- Culture content: 10 hours (taught in Spanish)
- Duration: four weeks (90 hours)
Course Description
Spanish Language & Culture
Session 2
Session 2 provides a combination of Spanish language courses and Spanish culture courses. The locally focused Spanish culture courses use the city as your classroom, with two out of three sessions taking place out and about the city.
Spanish Language
- Five proficiency levels divided further into group levels based on a pre-program placement test
- Durations: two, three, and four weeks (hours/credit vary accordingly)
Course Descriptions
Spanish Language – A1
Spanish Language – A1.2
Spanish Language – A2
Spanish Language – B1
Spanish Language – B2
Spanish Language – C1-C2
Spanish Culture
- Lectures are held in Spanish, adapting to the students’ level
- Two out of every three sessions takes place outside the classroom, in the form of a city tour
- Various durations: from three days to three weeks (hours/credit vary accordingly)
Course Descriptions
Barcelona: from Roman Times to Gaudi and Modernism
Barcelona: from Roman to Modern Times
Barcelona in Modern Times and Gaudi’s Barcelona
Roman and Medieval Barcelona
Barcelona in Modern Times
Gaudi’s Barcelona and Modernism
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 The Local Life
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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.
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Human Towers
Go to the practice space of the local Castells, a sport where teams compete to make the tallest tower possible.
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Cooking classes
Cooking classes with a professional chef.
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Intercambio night
A language exchange with local students.
Apartments in Barcelona
Location
The apartments are, on average, about a 30-45 minute commute to your campus and house 3-6 students. While location may vary, you will be at least relatively centrally located, with access to everything Barcelona has to offer, like shops, cafés, bars, museums, restaurants, and more! You’ll be placed in a double room with another student unless you opt for an individual room and there is one available.
Watch Bridget’s video tour of her apartment to get an idea of what your housing could be like.
Inclusions and Amenities
- BathroomShared
- CommutePublic Transportation
- Double Room
- Kitchen Equipment
- LaundryOn-site
What's Included
Inclusions
Program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the following:
- Airport Pickup
- Cultural and recreational excursions and activities in Barcelona
- One guided weekend excursion outside of Barcelona
- Full-time tuition and fees
- Housing
- 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
- Official University of Barcelona transcript
- The Local Life cultural program
Welcome & Orientation
Upon arrival in Barcelona, you’ll be collected from the airport and taken to your accommodation. In the first few days you’ll take part in orientation programs that will introduce you to this vibrant and cosmopolitan city you will come to call home. You’ll learn practical tips for living in Barcelona, you’ll get a lay of the land by visiting some of Barcelona’s top neighborhoods, and we’ll share advice about where to go out, how to stay safe, where to shop, and plenty more. We’ll also enjoy a welcome meal together.
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 beautiful Barcelona!
Program Excursions
Day Trip around Catalonia
This day trip around Catalonia typically includes guided tours, some museum entrance fees, a group meal, and some free time. For example, you might visit the Salvador Dalí Museum in Figueres, explore the vibrant coastal town of Sitges, and wander the old Jewish Quarter in beautiful Girona.
Weekend Trips
During weekend trips, you might experience Flamenco and tour the beautiful Alhambra in Granada; eat Spain’s best tapas and visit wineries in Basque Country; or hike coastal trails and tour medieval villages in Costa Brava. Trips change each semester.
Besalú and Museum Dali
One of Catalonia’s best preserved medieval towns, Besalú is an historic gem, full to the brim with character. Cobbled streets and facades and a wonderful bridge are the trademarks of Besalú and have been there for hundreds of years — the impressive architecture draws visitors from far and wide. Situated in the La Garrotxa region in the province of Girona, Besalú is a haven for history buffs, who flock in huge numbers to admire the many constructions and facades representing Romanesque, Gothic, and medieval influences. Explore the Dalí Theatre and Museum in the artist’s hometown of Figueres.
Site Director
Travel Tip:
When traveling always make friends with the locals! They will help really immerse you into the culture and give you a different perspective of your destination. They have the best recommendations for the most authentic restaurants and show you places that you would never find in a guidebook or on a blog. Not only will you have a great experience while traveling, but you also have the chance to make new, lifelong friends from around the world!
Travel Tip:
When traveling always make friends with the locals! They will help really immerse you into the culture and give you a different perspective of your destination. They have the best recommendations for the most authentic restaurants and show you places that you would never find in a guidebook or on a blog. Not only will you have a great experience while traveling, but you also have the chance to make new, lifelong friends from around the world!
About:
Nicole was born and raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Seattle, Washington, and studied Political Science, Law Societies and Justice, and Human Rights at the University of Washington. Nicole has always had the travel bug so after graduating she moved to Spain to work as an English Assistant and fell in love with the country of tapas, flamenco, and constant sunshine! She lived in Granada, Spain for 9 years and is lucky to now call Barcelona home. She has always worked in education and loves seeing the profound benefits of students immersing themselves in another language and culture. As site director in Barcelona Nicole is looking forward to welcoming students to the most desired and exciting city in Spain and giving them the most local experience to help deepen student understanding of the Spanish culture and language. In her free time, Nicole is studying for a Global MBA at IE University and uses the skills from this degree in her daily life and job. She also loves to spend time at the beach, wandering around neighborhoods, and grabbing a few tapas and cañas with friends.
Your Support Staff
Make sure to explore the city that you’re in! Although the beauty of study abroad is you have the chance to travel all over the country and to other countries as well, sometimes people forget how many amazing things there are right there in the city they’re studying in! Make some local friends, participate in holidays and festivals, find that local beloved restaurant. Although I have many travel memories to talk about, some of my fondest or most nostalgic moments I have were the ‘in betweens’ so to speak – going grocery shopping with friends, hanging out in the school courtyard at night when the temperature outside was finally bearable, saying hello to the neighborhood cow (yes, there was in fact a neighborhood cow). Don’t neglect what you have right in front of you!
You’ll be supported every step of the way!
Advising
Kaylee Klinger, our student advisor and 2x CIS Abroad alum, can help match you with a program that fits your academic and personal objectives. It’s not always an easy choice, but you can’t go wrong! Once you’ve decided, we’ll guide to you submit an online application.
Enrollment
Once you’ve submitted your initial application and the fee, you’ll be assigned a Program Enrollment Coordinator. We’ll work closely together to guide you through the enrollment process and prepare you for a life-changing experience!
Dates & Prices
ADVISOR TIP: Please WAIT to book flights until you have received confirmed dates in your acceptance paperwork. Dates posted here are subject to change.
- Application Deadline: Apr 1
- Arrival: May 30
- Departure: June 30
- Price: $5,990
- Application Deadline: May 1
- Arrival: July 1
- Departure: July 28
- Price: $5,990
- Application Deadline: Apr 1
- Arrival: May 30
- Departure: July 28
- Price: $9,990
- Application Deadline: Apr 1 (Estimated)
- Arrival: May 28 (Estimated)
- Departure: June 28 (Estimated)
- Price: $5,990 (Estimated)
- Application Deadline: May 1 (Estimated)
- Arrival: June 29 (Estimated)
- Departure: July 26 (Estimated)
- Price: $5,990 (Estimated)
- Application Deadline: Apr 1 (Estimated)
- Arrival: May 28 (Estimated)
- Departure: July 26 (Estimated)
- Price: $9,990 (Estimated)
As with all study abroad programs, you should count on a few additional expenses.
CIS Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.