Study in Barcelona - Old Version (in English, Spanish)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Established in 1990, the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) is one of Barcelona’s newest institutions and has already earned an International Excellence Campus label from the Spanish Ministry of Education. In 2020, UPF was ranked the top university in Spain, and among the top 10 young universities globally.
Regular university courses from all UPF Faculties are open to international students, and students also have the opportunity to take regular university courses at the the UPF-ESCI International Business School. Students taking regular university courses may also enroll in classes from the Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies as their schedule allows, along with a Spanish as a second language course. The program is suitable for students with a strong command of Spanish and for those wishing to take courses only in English, as it includes courses taught in both English and Spanish.
Students are invited to a wide variety of opportunities to interact with local students, engage in volunteering activities, and develop a true intercultural experience during their time in Barcelona. ISEP's programs in Barcelona also offer benefits above and beyond a typical ISEP program, including a dedicated onsite Resident Director, Maria Mateu.
HOUSING
During their time in Barcelona ISEP students will live in a student residence located close to UPF. The residence is also within walking distance of the beach and a short trip on public transport to the city center. Rooms are double-occupancy and cooking facilities are provided. Rooms are double-occupancy and include an en-suite bathroom and a fully equipped kitchen.
Meals are not included. Students will have access to grocery stores, cooking facilities, and a multitude of dining options with affordable meal choices.
Course Description
As an ISEP student, you can build your own program by choosing your courses from a variety of fields. Use the notes at the links below to help you find which courses are available.
Students enroll in 24-30 ECTS per semester, which is generally equivalent to 12-15 U.S. credits. Due to the rigor of the UPF academic program it is recommended that students consider enrolling in 24 ECTS if their home university requirements allow for this option. Students attending for the fall semster should select courses taught in "Term 1." Students attending for the spring semester should select "Term 2."
NOTE: Space in UPF courses can be very competitive, particularly in the fields of Economics, Communications, Humanities and Engineering. During the enrollment process students will work with the Resident Director to develop a varied course list, but classes can not be guaranteed. Students who plan to take courses in Economics, Communications, Humanities or Engineering should plan to balance their enrollment with courses from the Interdisciplinary Program and/or a Spanish Language course.
UPF Regular University Courses:
(Degrees: Advertising and Public Relations, Audiovisual Communication, Communication & Journalism)
Faculty of Economics and Business
(Degrees: Business Management & Adm., Business Sciences, Economics, and Int. Business Economics)
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
(Degrees in Human Biology and Medicine)
(Degrees in Humanities and Global Studies)
(Degrees in Criminology and Public Prevention Policies, Labour Relations and Law)
Faculty of Political and Social Sciences
(Degree in Political and Administration Sciences)
Faculty of Translation and Interpretation
(Degrees in Applied Languages and Translation and Interpretation)
Polytechnic School(Degrees in Audiovisual Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science and Telematics Engineering)
Spanish as a second language is taught at five levels, from Beginner to Proficient (A1-C2). A Spanish for heritage-speakers course is also offered each term. These courses each grant 12 ECTS (6 U.S. credits)
ESCI International Business School Courses
Students can utilize the ESCI course codes from the ESCI course offerings overview as a point of reference when reviewing the detailed course descriptions and syllabi for the ESCI courses available at the links below.
International Business and Marketing
Interntational Business Programme
Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies
The Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) is Universitat Pompeu Fabra's cornerstone Education Abroad program. With its hands-on approach and courses combining the STEM disciplines, Communications, Humanities and Social Sciences, BaPIS offers a unique opportunity to further develop your intellectual creativity alongside fellow international students and local UPF undergraduates. All instructors on the program are high-profile UPF faculty members with a distinguished research trajectory and proven international academic experience.
BARCELONA SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM
Enhance your resume and further develop your intercultural competence while contributing to a leading service organization based in Barcelona! Maximize your study abroad experience, connect with the culture and collaborate with locals by participating in the Barcelona Service Learning Program.
Not-for-Credit Program Add-On
Format: 25 service hours at placement (around 2 hours per week) and 3-session cross-cultural seminar (6 contact hours)
Price: US$700
Fees include:
Personalized support in your project selection and throughout your program
International work experience with a leading service organization
Training and project supervision
Cross-cultural training sessions
Certificate upon successful completion of volunteer program
Reference letter from ISEP and participating organization
Access to ISEP’s alumni network of 1,500+ members, providing connections, job coaching, graduate school application advice, and even job placement
For-Credit Service Learning Program
Supplement your volunteer work and earn 3 U.S. credits with coursework in intercultural communications, cultural studies and sociology including theoretical studies and sociological research.
Students in this for-credit program will enroll in 3 academic courses at UPF (up to 9 U.S. credits) and the 3 U.S. credit service learning course. They will also complete 45 service hours during the semester.
The service learning course will focus on society, inequality and social exclusion from a global perspective and then more specifically how it applies to the realities in the city of Barcelona. You’ll explore issues such as immigration, homelessness, education, youth, social movements and activism, sustainable urban development, the environment, urban cultural expression and others.
Service Learning Course Syllabus
Number of credits: 3 U.S. credits; transcript issued by the University of Minnesota
Format: 45 service hours at placement (around 4 hours per week) and 28 course contact hours (14 sessions of 120 minutes)
Price: Same as normal semester tuition fees (3 UPF courses + Service Learning course)
Fees include:
Personalized support in your project selection and throughout your program
International work experience with a leading service organization
Training and project supervision
3 U.S. credit service learning course
Transcript for service learning course issued by the University of Minnesota
Reference letter from ISEP and participating organization
Access to ISEP’s alumni network of 1,500+ members, providing connections, job coaching, graduate school application advice, and even job placement
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Academic Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must be in the third or fourth year of their undergraduate degree to attend this program.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at their school of origin.
The program is suitable for students with a strong command of Spanish and for those wishing to take courses only in English, as it includes courses taught in both English and Spanish.
Students who plan to take courses in Spanish must have a minimum of a B2 in the language. Non-native English speakers must demonstrate a minimum of a B2 in English.
Graduate-level courses are not open to ISEP students.
Important Dates:
- Students must submit a copy of their passport in order to complete the course pre-enrollment process at UPF. If not submitted with their initial ISEP application, students must submit this documentation by July 1 for fall and full year programs and by November 1 for spring semester programs.
- Non-recoverable costs will be incurred for Fall and Full Year students withdrawing between May 15 and the program start date, and spring semester students withdrawing between October 15 and the program start date.
Visa Information:
As the spring semester program is under 90 days, students attending only Term 2 will not apply in advance for a long-term Spanish study visa.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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