Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Founded in 1968, the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona is one of Europe's best public academic institutions, known throughout the region for its exceptional teaching and research capabilities.

The university currently offers 77 undergraduate courses, 90 doctoral programs and 328 postgraduate and continuing education classes in a wide array of disciplines such as humanities, social sciences, medicine, health sciences, experimental sciences and engineering. Overall enrollment exceeds 43,000 students and the staff consists of 4,200 faculty members and administrative staff.

The UAB consists of three separate campuses: the Sant Pau in downtown Barcelona; the Bellaterra in Cerdanyola del Valles, roughly 30 minutes outside of Barcelona, and; the Sabadell campus, home to the Business and Computer Science schools. Study abroad students will take their courses at either the Sant Pau or Bellaterra campus.

The Sant Pau campus, only a stone's throw away from Gaudi's Templo de la Sagrada Familia in downtown Barcelona, is home to the UAB's study abroad programs for visiting international students. Courses are held at the Casa Convalescencia within the grounds of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and which represents one of Catalonia's latest samples of the region's Art Nouveau and Modernist movements. Here, visiting students will take courses in Spanish language and electives taught in English on business, Spanish culture and civilization, and art history, to name a few. Starting in January of 2009, the EUSS Sarria  campus, which is located in a wealthy neighborhood of the city only five minutes away from Plaza Catalunya by train, will also host many business content courses taught in English.

Located among nature, the Bellaterra campus hosts most of the UAB's regular students. Visiting students with an intermediate-to-advanced level of Spanish may opt to take courses here in a wide array of academic disciplines with regular Spanish students. Designed as a US-style campus with integrated academic, cultural and social activities, Bellaterra also offers everyone a full range of services and facilities; libraries, a language-learning center, cultural and sports activities, restaurants, gyms, bookshops, and other retail establishments are available to its students.

Accreditation

The Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona is one of Europe's best public academic institutions. It is recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science as a degree granting institution of higher learning. 

Programs Hosted

Barcelona study abroad programs

Host City Description

Barcelona, host to several of our Spain-based study abroad programs, is a lively and culturally-rich Mediterranean city in the southeastern Spanish province of Catalonia. This eclectic coastal metropolis is an excellent place for students to improve their Spanish language skills, immerse themselves in the dynamic Catalonian lifestyle, and explore Spain's majestic Costa Brava and its environs.

As Spain's second largest city and one of the Mediterranean's most important ports, Barcelona is full of opportunities for each and every one of its visitors. Here, students can learn about Catalonia's success in the services, tourism and construction sectors, indulge in Antoni Gaudi's surrealist architecture, catch an exhibit at one of the city's many distinguished art museums, watch the latest South American or European soccer prodigy tear it up at Camp Nou stadium, take leisurely strolls along its pristine beaches, and enjoy an afternoon coffee by the famous pedestrian passage of Las Ramblas. It's no wonder the city receives thousands of study abroad participants on a yearly basis.

Barcelona is also an excellent starting point for exploring the rest of Europe. Boasting Spain's second largest airport, visitors can fly out off Barcelona to virtually any location in Europe, usually for affordable rates in low-fare airlines. Likewise, the city is extensively interconnected by air, ground and maritime transportation services to most of Spain's major cities and tourist destinations.

Overall, Barcelona, with its welcoming Mediterranean feel, unique architectural style and striking array of cultural activities, is a prime destination for students in search of a wondrous experience abroad.