Study in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is one of the cities in Spain that offer high-quality education for both domestic and international candidates through the many public and private universities located within the city. The city also has different business schools and acclaimed economics & business departments that offer the best education in the field. Students who wish to study here will be able to immerse themselves in the local culture and learn the local culture and language if they wish to or they will have the option of choosing to study in English which is the language in which most international programs are offered.

Though it is one of the most expensive cities in the country, students will be able to be part of the huge international community in the city since the place is swarming with both international students and tourists at all times of the year. Since the country is open to graduates working after completing their education, students who live in Barcelona will be able to find better opportunities than those living in other parts of the country due to the large number of start-ups that are present in the city. The city also provides enough and more entertainment options for international candidates that will make them feel at home while in the city.

Benefits of Studying in Barcelona

The benefits of studying in Barcelona include the opportunity that students will receive of immersing themselves in the local culture and language. Students who choose to live in Barcelona will be able to study in the best universities that the country has out of which there is even the Universitat of Barcelona which is the oldest and largest university in the country. Students will have innumerable entertainment options owing to the fact that Barcelona is a tourist destination as much as it is a student city. A few other benefits of studying in Barcelona include-

• Students who have enrolled in technology-related programs will be able to find that they can get plenty of internship and career opportunities after the completion of their course since the city has had a high concentration of start-ups since 2018. Barcelona is considered to be one of the best innovation hubs in Europe which also provides business and management-related students to have the best opportunities in the field.
• While the city is comparatively expensive, due to the presence of different universities students will be able to find affordable accommodation if they are in Barcelona depending on whether they are living close to the city center or away from it.
• Since it is a metropolitan city, transportation is both affordable and easy to navigate through even for international students. The amount that students will have to spend will be close to zero if they opt for the public bike services which students can safely use if they switch to the 200 km long bike lanes in the city.
• The universities in this city offer the best engineering programs along with the best programs under business and management. The programs are taught both in English and Spanish or in a blend of both these languages which students will be able to choose from.

Places to Stay in Barcelona

Since Barcelona has 5 public universities and other business schools within the city, international students will be able to find that there are plenty of student localities where they can blend in. The student localities will have a blend of both domestic and international students. And since the city is a popular tourist spot, candidates will find that there are a few many entertainment options they can indulge in. The student localities will have affordable housing that students will be able to live in. A few of these localities are-

• Gracia- This is a locality with a bohemian vibe that mostly resembles a village. It is also a popular hangout place for students due to the different bars, markets, and outdoor terraces that students will be able to relax in. The place is also known to have a food market at its center from where students will be able to explore the cuisine of the place and also buy their groceries. Since the place is on the outskirts of the city, accommodation expenses are relatively affordable.
• Poblenou- Though this place is not close to the university, students often find accommodation here since it is one of those rare localities where they will be able to find spacious apartments and studio apartments for affordable rates. Since the housing options are spacious, candidates will be able to share rooms with more than one person if they live in this locality. The locality also has the Razzmazz nightclub and a few other bars and restaurants where students frequent.
• Les Corts- This is the university area close to the University of Barcelona. The locality contains different faculties, office blocks, and other educational spaces that are ideal for students studying in the university. They will be able to live in the modern apartment blocks or the older buildings in the locality according to their interests while staying here.

Cost of Living in Barcelona

The cost of living in Spain is highest in the city of Barcelona but at the same time, life in the city can be affordable if students are to look for cheap accommodation options and limit themselves from the number of entertainment options they seek. The estimated monthly cost of living is €703.27 is one is to not calculate the rent. Accommodation expenses are bound to be the highest while living in the city with a 1-bedroom apartment costing around €900 per month. The rent will go down to around €700 per month if the student is staying away from the city center.

Accommodation and Utility Expenses

Students will be able to find accommodation in the form of residential halls, hostels, single-room apartments, and even shared apartments. Since it is an expensive city to live in, candidates will be able to find student residential halls, shared rooms, and apartments to live in based on the amount they are willing to pay. This is also because most of the universities will not have dorms based on the campus. The rent amount will depend on the closeness to the city center, the distance from the university the student is enrolled in, and even the characteristics of the property. Students spend an average of €500 per month on rent.

The monthly price that students will have to pay for utilities is estimated to be around €150 or less depending on the consumption of electricity and other maintenance charges in the locality.

Grocery Expenses

The price for basic grocery items is-

• Milk- €0.88 per liter
• Cheese- €10.83 per kg
• Apples- €1.72 per kg
• Tomatoes- €1.88 per kg
• Potatoes- €1.25 per kg
• Onion- €1.19 per kg

Transportation Expenses

The most commonly used means of transport in the city is the public transport network. This is because the city is well-connected by buses, trams, and the metro along with the rail service called FGC. Students who are living close to their universities will be able to make use of the public bike hire scheme since the city is also well-connected by the bike lanes.

A one-way ticket on the local transport will cost around €2.40. Students will also be able to get a monthly pass for an amount of €40.

Programs to Study in Barcelona

The best programs to study in Barcelona are-

• Political Science
• Anthropology
• Architecture
• International Business
• Media Communications
• Spanish

Top Universities in Barcelona

The public universities in Barcelona are well-known for the quality education they provide along with the affordable tuition rates. These universities are-

Universitat de Barcelona

This university was established in the year 1450 and has a student population of over 63,000 along with over 5,700 administrative staff. There are 106 departments spread over 16 faculties in this university along with 9 affiliated centers making it one of the oldest and largest universities in the country. The faculties are for fields like biology, chemistry, dentistry, earth sciences, economics & business, fine arts, education, law, mathematics, philology, philosophy, etc. The library of this university is the second biggest university library in the country with over 2,000,000 volumes available.

Pompeu Fabra University

This university was established in the year 1990 and has a student population of over 12,000 along with over 600 academic staff and 700 administrative staff. There are 8 faculties in the university for fields like health & life sciences, economics & business, political sciences & social sciences, communication, law, humanities, etc. Each of these 8 faculties has research departments of their own which are highly valued internationally. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs and this university is highly acclaimed for the programs offered under the economics & business department.

Universitat Politechnica de Catalunya

This university was established in the year 1971 and has a student population of over 30,000 along with over 3,000 academic staff. It is considered to have the largest department for engineering in the country with the largest number of specializations in the field. Students will be able to take undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs from this university. The engineering specializations include telecommunications & aerospace, building construction, agricultural engineering, architecture, civil engineering, industrial engineering, informatics, nautical sciences, etc.

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

This university was established in the year 1968 and has a student population of over 43,000 along with over 3,500 administrative staff. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs to both domestic and international candidates. The fields in which degrees are offered include health sciences, sciences, biosciences, arts & humanities, social sciences & law, technological sciences, etc. The university offers joint and double degrees to international students which will be taught entirely in English. They also offer language studies in both Spanish and other foreign languages.

Universitat Ramon Llull

This private university was established in the year 1990 and has a student population above 20,000 along with over 1,200 academic staff. They have 14 different schools and faculties in fields like philosophy, psychology, design, business, law, engineering, management, architecture, etc. They offer programs at undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels along with diploma programs in sciences. The certification programs and diploma programs are categorized as “own qualification” programs in this university.

Entertainment Options in Barcelona

Since Barcelona is one of the most-visited tourist spots in the country, students will be able to find a few many entertainment options while living in the city. The entertainment options will include the places that students can visit as a tourist in the city and the restaurants, wine shops, bars, clubs, they can visit during their leisure hours. Students will also be able to enjoy the warm climate and frequent the beaches for which Spain is known. They will be able to go on hikes, explore the cuisine of the place, and also have picnics in the parks if they wish to.

Places to Visit in Barcelona

While considering the places to visit, students will have to begin by exploring the brilliant architectural masterpieces in the city including the churches, parks, and museums. The beaches are also one of the places that students will be able to frequently visit. A few of the must-see places in Barcelona are-

• Barri Gotic- This is a locality also known as the Gothic Quarter and is found close to the city center. It is one of the liveliest locations in the city with a lot of medieval and roman architecture. This place contains the Barcelona Cathedral, Placa Reial, and Placa Sant Jaume, all of which are popular tourist destinations.
• Basilica de la Sagrada Familia- This is a church known for its unconventional nature and Art Nouveau architecture. It is located in the northern part of the city and though the construction of the church has not been completed, the sparkling ceiling and glass-stained windows attract a lot of tourists year after year.
• Palau de la Musica Catalana- This place is also known as the Palace of Catalan Music and is a 20th-century concert hall that is built in a modernist model. The Art Nouveau architecture includes ironwork and sculptural elements which stand out amidst the artworks that are exhibited throughout the place. Students will be able to take a guided tour to see the entirety of the place.

Things to Do in Barcelona

Students will be able to find a few many activities to do while living in Barcelona. They will be able to enjoy the local festivals and events that happen every now and then and also explore the place like a tourist during their stay in the city. A few of the must-do things in the city are-

• Explore the La Boqueria- The La Boqueria is a marketplace that has existed since medieval times and has evidence of trade since the early 20th century. Students will be able to explore the construction and evidence of history from this market while also shopping for their basic grocery needs. The place also has bars and street food that students will be able to indulge in while exploring the place.
• Go Snorkeling- Students will be able to rent out kayaks and go on short sailing trips from the seafront piers to areas near the Costa Brava. They will also be able to go to the Medes Islets where they will be able to explore the underwater flora and fauna which are unique to the place.
• Find the Secret Bars- Students will be able to explore the areas of El Born and El Raval where they will find that there are bars that are seemingly hidden by secret doors and even hidden staircases. Some bars can be accessed through a meat fridge. Students will have to find the place by the clues that have been left behind. Though it is not an easy trip, they will be able to have fun on weekends while figuring out the location of the bar.