January in Barcelona
Your January in Barcelona program lasts three weeks and is designed for students from all academic backgrounds. You will enroll in one CIEE course taught at CIEE Barcelona. Enhance your experience with extracurricular activities while immersing yourself in Spanish culture. Live and learn in Barcelona!
Unique Experiences
Uncover Barcelona's Rich Architectural History
through its diverse architectural styles and influences spanning more than 2,000 years
Live with a Local Host Family
to experience Barcelona's culture and adapt to life in this captivating metropolis
Connect with Barcelona's Student Community
while sampling local delicacies, creating traditional pinchos, and enjoying passionate flamenco performances
Your Destination
Barcelona is Spain’s cosmopolitan city, celebrated for its mild winter climate and rich cultural heritage. January is the perfect time to experience the city's charm with fewer crowds while exploring iconic landmarks like the Gothic Quarter and Montjuïc and enjoying traditional winter festivities like the Three Kings’ Parade. Whether you are majoring in business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, Barcelona is the perfect place to study abroad on winter break.
Program Highlights
- Academic Course: Take one CIEE course delivered in-person at the CIEE Center.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Barcelona will open doors for you to explore Spain’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Immerse yourself in the world of flamenco when you see the artistry and emotion of this traditional dance form
- Indulge in Barcelona's renowned traditional dishes, such as churros con chocolate, patatas bravas, tortilla de patata, and tapas
- Experience Montserrat by hiking scenic trails with breathtaking views and unique rock formations
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
How to Balance Education and Fun While Studying Abroad
Study abroad is without a doubt one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in anyone's life. When people decide to study abroad it is because they have a desire... keep reading
How to Survive your First Week in Barcelona
Bon Dia! That is Catalan for 'Good Morning". Didn't brush up on your Catalan? That's ok! Just be aware that Catalan is the official language of Barcelona, but most people... keep reading
A Breathtaking Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat
By: Katie McElynn This weekend I took a day trip from Barcelona to Monserrat, and it may be the most must-see place that I have been to in Spain so... keep reading
Housing & Meals
HOUSING
All housing is within a 30-minute commute of CIEE Barcelona.
Standard Housing: Includes a room in a homestay, apartment, or residence hall.
- Homestays: Live with a Spanish family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room.
- Apartments: Students can live in apartments shared with other CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Each apartment will have shared common spaces, including a kitchen and bathroom.
- Residence Halls: Students usually live with a mix of CIEE students and local and international students. If local health and safety regulations permit, students live in single, double, or triple rooms. Students usually share kitchens and common areas.
MEALS
Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families, and they are responsible for lunch. Students do not typically have access to use the kitchen at the host family home.
Academics
CIEE Barcelona: Study near Barcelona’s main square, Plaça Catalunya, on a beautiful pedestrian passageway, only minutes from cafés, restaurants, and important cultural attractions. CIEE Barcelona features classrooms, a student lounge, conference rooms, and charming 19th-century terraces where students can relax outdoors.
Course Information
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Visual and Performing Arts
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program January 2026 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $4,350 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $2,720 ** |
| Housing | $1,250 *** |
| Insurance | $80 |
| Total Fees | $4,350 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $214 † |
| International Airfare | $1,000 †† |
| Local Transportation | $24 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $30 |
| Personal expenses | $130 †††† |
| Total Costs | $1,398 |
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***includes two meals per day for homestay students; no meals are included for students staying in the Residencia option
†The listed estimated cost is for students in homestays. Families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) and students purchase lunch (there isn’t usually access to a kitchen). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $265 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip flight based on U.S. East Coast departure ranges from $700-1200 dependent on carrier.
†††Local transportation: €22/$24 T-usual (1-month unlimited public transportation rides).
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense (low-cost SIM card with a 30GB-50GB data plan) + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Andrés Tabárez
Center Director
Andrés holds a Ph.D. in Classical Studies from the University of Barcelona (UB).
José Luis Espinosa
Academic Director
José Luis holds a Ph.D. in Modern Languages and Gender Studies from the University of Salamanca (USAL).
Fernando Janeiro
Senior Program Manager
Nando holds a Master's Degree in Humanities from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) and is certified as a Spanish as a Second Language instructor.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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