Summer in Barcelona (in English, Spanish) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Live in Barcelona, a coastal Catalan capital known for Gaudí architecture, a global food scene, and lively nightlife.
• Take a wide variety of courses taught in English. from history to global studies and earn 3-6 U.S credits. Spanish-taught courses are also available in areas such as language, literature, and global studies for students with minimum of a B2 in Spanish.
• Connect with your host culture during your 4-week program through weekly cultural activities organized by UPF, and with the support of ISEP’s On-Site Program Director, Maria Mateu
LIFE ABROAD
Spend your summer studying at one of Europe’s top universities while living in Barcelona—one of the world’s most visited cities. From iconic architecture and incredible food to sandy Mediterranean beaches and vibrant nightlife, unforgettable experiences await around every corner.
Experience & Cultural Engagement
Acclimate to your new environment with the support of ISEP’s onsite Program Director, Maria Mateu, who facilitates cultural experiences, and provides guidance to help you thrive academically and personally while in Barcelona.
Learn about opportunities available to you at UPF’s orientation such as included weekly excursions, with past examples including a day trip to Montserrat, breathtaking mountain range, and a tour exploring the religious history of the city. If you want even more ways to connect, Erasmus Student Network (ESN) offers student-led exchanges and activities for an additional fee at a discounted rate, and UPF’s Language Tandem program makes it easy to practice Spanish or Catalan with a local language partner.
Live & Dine
Live close to UPF with other ISEP participants in one of two student residences, with easy access to the city center by public transportation and amenities like a rooftop pool, study rooms, fitness spaces, and game rooms. Share a furnished two-person apartment with an en-suite bathroom, small kitchen, and Wi-Fi, or live in a shared residence with a double room and bathroom plus communal kitchen, living, and dining space shared with up to 8 ISEP participants. Purchase groceries from nearby markets and grocery stores to cook or enjoy the flexibility of dining out or purchasing affordable meals on campus.
Explore Barcelona
Experience the energy of Barcelona with afternoons at sprawling markets like La Boqueria, and summer music festivals like Primavera Sound. Use easy train connections to plan weekend trips to other parts of Spain like Madrid, Sevilla, or Granada, or take short, affordable flights to other popular European cities such as Paris, London, and Rome.
Program Director
Maria Mateu is the Program Director of ISEP for Barcelona, Spain. She has more than 15 years of experience as intercultural trainer and diversity management consultant for a wide range of organizations in the social, private and public sectors. Originally from Catalonia, she has lived and worked in Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the U.S. She holds an MA in Intercultural Communication and Relations from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, an MA in International Development, and a BA in Journalism, both from Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain. She speaks Catalan, Spanish, English, French and basic Kiswahili.
What We Love About This Program
We love that you’ll never run out of new things to do, see, eat, or try, so your days in Barcelona can feel full without feeling repetitive. Many things are within walking distance, but the city is also accessible and easy to navigate using buses, taxis, Ubers, and the metro.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
Content courses are offered in English or Spanish in an international classroom environment, and are structured in modules (blocks) of different duration and intensity of one to four weeks. This allows students to mix and match different courses during the program.
ISEP students enroll in a combination of four, two and one-week courses during their month in Barcelona for a minimum of 6 ECTS and a maximum of 12 ECTS, generally equivalent to 3-6 U.S. credits. Students are required to be enrolled in coursework all four weeks of the program.
Summer 2026 Course Schedule and Syllabi
Sample Classes Available:
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AI & Data Science |
Business |
Media & Culture |
Global Politics |
Health & Wellbeing |
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Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, and Society |
International Dynamics and Intercultural Negotiation: The Global Environment |
El poder de las imágenes: representaciones visuales del poder y la esfera pública |
The EU and Spain in the Global World: Policies to Transform our Societies in the Context of 2030 Agenda |
From Bench to Bedside: Drug Development, Clinical Trials, and Publishing in Biomedical Sciences |
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From Data to AI: Social, Ethical and Legal Dimensions |
Finance for a Sustainable Economy |
First-Person Cinema: Narratives of the Self |
Exploring Catalonia: History, Politics, and Society |
Health Inequalities: Understanding our Worst Epidemic |
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Artificial Intelligence, Digital Markets and Consumers |
Culture and Business: Spain’s Top Brands |
Power and Passions: Barcelona through the Lens of History |
Gender, Power and Violence |
Humanism in Medicine |
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Modern Statistical Computing |
Getting to know the Economies of the European Union |
Barcelona on Stage: Documentary Workshop |
Justicia global y desarrollo sostenible |
Nanomedicine Principles |
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Critical Approaches to Artificial Intelligence and Network Society |
Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Business Opportunities in Europe |
Art and the Law: How Aesthetic Concepts Shape Legal Disputes about Arts |
Shifting Grounds in the Middle East and North Africa?: Understanding International Relations and Foreign Policy in the Region |
Contemporary Discourses and Narratives of Ageing |
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Academic Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at their school of origin.
- Applicants must have at least an intermediate level in the language(s) of instruction for their chosen courses.
- Applicants must have completed two years of undergraduate study by the start of the program.
- UPF is only able to issue digital student transcripts.
Enrollment Requirements:
Students are required to be enrolled in at least one course each of the four weeks of the program.
Please note: Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Students interested in a cancelled course will be given the option to select an alternative course.
Passport:
All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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