Barcelona Study Abroad Experience

The Barcelona International College semester program offers students the chance to get credit for courses in English in Business and the Humanities in an international campus surrounded by students from all over the world.

Electives are mostly taught in English but students are highly encouraged to take the intensive Spanish language classes to be able to get more out of the Study Abroad Experience.

Students studying at the Barcelona International College receive the following benefits:

• Quality academic classes in English, taught by some of the best faculty Barcelona has to offer
• Intensive Spanish Language classes for any level of Spanish learner
• Classes with students from around the world
• A variety of cultural excursions within the city
• Weekend excursions outside of Barcelona
• Wi-fi and computer access
• Study rooms
• Terraces and cafés on campus where international students chat, study or just hang out in the sun
• Support services

Options

You can study during the fall semester, spring semester, the full academic year or during one of two summer terms at the Barcelona International Campus.

Most students will take an intensive Spanish course worth 6 credits 2 or 3 electives worth 3 credits each.

Courses

Both the Area Studies and Spanish Language courses are conducted by PhDs or certified teachers with a Masters degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, or in a related field.

The courses have been designed especially for an international student group maintaining a Spanish style of teaching but adapting the courses towards the international make-up of the students.

The range of courses focus on Barcelona, Spain and the Mediterranean and include Culture courses, International Business, History, Art and more.

Spanish Language

Spanish language acquisition is a top priority for the staff at BIC and encourage language development in every aspect of the program.  From the Spanish language classes to the excursions to the printed materials, we provide students with multiple opportunities to use Spanish in their everyday life.

Requirements

Students must have a minimum of a cumulative 2.5 GPA (of a 4.0 scale) or equivalent. No previous Spanish language is required.

Outside the classroom

Barcelona Study Abroad Experience knows that just as much learning takes place outside the classroom as inside which is why we organize several intercultural activities and excursions throughout the term.

Imagine learning a little more about the history of Spain through a cooking class, or learning about Southern Spain’s traditions while enjoying a Flamenco show.  Get to know the barrios, or neighborhoods, of Barcelona in greater detail with small guided tours or learn about immigration affecting the city through diversity scavenger hunts.

Please do NOT book flight tickets based on these dates. Please wait until the dates are confirmed to you from a Barcelona SAE representative.

Fall 2010

Spring 2011

Several intercultural activities will be scheduled throughout the term aimed to get to know the city and encourage integration. The final calendar will be mailed to students with the other pre-departure material.

• 

  Valencia

  Valencia is one of Spain’s largest cities yet and offers visitors an impressive array of cultural and historic sites, as well as culinary delights.  Recently, Valencia has reinvented itself as a modern city with parks, museums and aquariums as well as a city-center full of tapas and full of life.

• 

  Costa Brava

  The beauty of the Mediterranean Sea follows us north from Barcelona to the French border. On the way, our stops include:

  Figueres, to visit the impressive and unique Dalí Museum.
  Cadaqués, to experience this quaint seaside village with its beautiful blue and white buildings and delicious seafood.

• 

  Tarragona

  Tarragona is a beautiful town on the Costa Dorada (the Golden Coast) dating back to 218BC.  It is one of Catalonia's most historical cities. In Roman times, this city, known as Tarraco, was the capital of Hispania Tarraconensis. In mediaeval times, the Metropolitan See of Tarragona was an important archbishopric of the Catalan-Aragonese court. In 2000, the city of Tarragona was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in recognition of its wealth of archaeological remains dating back to Roman times.

  In Tarragona, we will visit Roman Ruins, the Roman Amphitheater, the Cathedral, and take a tour of the old town.

• 

  Sitges

  Less than an hour away from Barcelona sits an ancient, seaside town that drew sailors and merchants from all over the Mediterranean.  Students here can take in a delicious paella, explore the town or spend time on the beach.

• 

  Madrid

  We experience Madrid to see firsthand how the history of Spain has unfolded through this central capital city and to see the seat of Spanish government.  Our experience in Madrid includes an artistic journey with the famous painters of years past, kings and queens who formed the future of this country half a millennium ago, and how contemporary issues such as the fall of the dictatorship and immigration affect the lives of citizens.

• 

  Pamplona

  The city best known for the running of the bulls and for its representation in Hemingway’s works creates a mystic atmosphere for our students.  Our visit will include a guided tour and explanation of the running of the bulls – we will learn how it started, why it continues and how it reconciles the yearly protests by anti animal cruelty groups.

• 

  San Sebastian and Bilbao

  Northern Spain is known as the Basque Country, a region that boasts a language spoken by 30% of the population which has no known links to any other living language. But language is not the only element that separates the Basque people from the rest of Spain; the culture includes dress, music, food, rituals and sports that are not found in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
  
  Our excursion will teach us where and when these differences arose and how they play out in contemporary society. We will also experience the incredible culinary treasures of the Basques and picturesque landscapes that never cease to amaze those who witness them.

• 

  Morocco

  Once a semester, Barcelona SAE will offer students the exceptional opportunity to take a guided cultural immersion to Morocco. This trip is optional and costs approximately 550 EUR for an all-inclusive trip from Friday – Monday or Thursday - Sunday.
  
  The history of Spain is intimately linked to Morocco dating back to the invasion of the Moors in 711, their lasting occupation in parts of Spain until 1492 and more recently, with large numbers of Moroccan immigration moving to Spain.  We will explore these links in-depth and first-hand while providing the students with a very different view of how people live in this world. The experience can only be created through this trip as great lengths have been reached to allow students to stay with homestays, visit rural mountain villages and spend time with Moroccan students.
  
  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that comes highly recommended by Barcelona SAE.

• 

  Granada

  Granada is a wonderful southern Spanish city with so much to offer its visitors starting with allure of the Alhambra, with its woods and the Sierra Nevada as magnificent backdrops, and the mystery of the winding streets of the Albayzín. But what you’ll find if you stick around is Andalucía’s hippest, youthful city, with a free-tapas culture, innovative bars, tiny flamenco holes and thumping clubs. Here, the Islamic past feels recent as a growing North African population has filled the Albayzín with kebab and cake shops and slipper and tea nooks and even a newly-constructed mosque.

Costs

Semester program cost: $11,975

Full-year cost: $21,850

* Costs may fluctuate based on currency exchange

The Barcelona International College semester program includes:

• Tuition costs
• University transcript from Jacksonville University, Florida
• Airport pick-up
• Housing for the duration of the program
• Excursions
• Cultural activities
• 24-hour support services
• Medical and Accident insurance
• Full-time, native English-speaking staff
• Orientation and re-entry workshops
• Pre-departure preparation
• Academic advising
• Independent travel advice
• Alumni and career services

* Not included: Airfare to and from Barcelona, items of a personal nature

Housing is offered on a first-come and availability basis.

1. Homestatys
2. Apartments
3. Residence Halls

Homestays

A homestay can be one part of meaningful cultural integration and increased safety of the study abroad experience. Homestays are designed to be a mutually valuable experiences for both the hosts and the participant. We work to find homestays that want to share their culture and language with the students and create a warm atmosphere.

A homestay “family” does not always mean a husband and wife, two children and a cute dog.  In fact, what is more common is to live in the apartment of an older, widowed woman who enjoys the company.

The thorough screening process and regular family check ins and home stay reviews that are preformed allow us to monitor safety and the quality of the immersive experience with the homestay family.

Homestays include breakfast and dinner every day (except excursions), laundry services once a week, a set of keys to the apartment to come and go as you please, and an individual or shared bedroom.

*This option carries an additional fee.

Apartments

Living in an apartment in Barcelona provides students with a very realistic experience of life in the city. Apartments are fully equipped shared living spaces that Barcelona SAE students may live in jointly with other students – American or international. The apartments are spread throughout the city in safe areas with easy access to public transportation, restaurants and shops.

Students who choose to live in an apartment do not get meals included but have kitchen and cooking facilities. 

Residence Halls

Students may choose to live in one of the several residence halls located throughout Barcelona along with other international students and young professionals. Securing a place in a residence hall is not easy due to limited space and an extra fee applies to this option.