Barcelona, Spain

January in Barcelona

Study Program

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Dates

Jan 2 - 24, 2024

3 weeks

Costs

$3,950 See Full Breakdown

Credit

3 semester hours

4.5 quarter hours

Eligibility

2.5 Overall GPA

Application Deadline

November 1, 2023

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Spend January studying abroad in Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region! Designed for students from all academic backgrounds, this three-week winter program invites you to learn the intricate connection between cultures while exploring local traditions.

When class is in session, all courses are held at CIEE Barcelona and delivered in English. Outside the classroom, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the historical city, enjoy an afternoon walking through Park Güell, and tour La Sagrada Familia.

Discover for yourself why Barcelona is world-renowned for its stunning architecture, world-class cuisine, and vibrant cultural heritage!

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Unique Experiences

HOMESTAYS

Live with a local family who can introduce you to the city’s culture and help you adapt to life in Barcelona

HANG OUT WITH LOCAL STUDENTS

who will join in fun activities like sampling churros con chocolate, making pinchos, and enjoying a flamenco show

ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

of this 2000+ year old city

MUSEUMS

PARKS AND GARDENS

8,000

RESTAURANTS

Your Destination

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain with its own distinctive history, culture, and language. Exploring the city, you will observe Roman remains contrasting with the ultramodern buildings, reflecting the city’s commercial and industrial successes. CIEE’s January in Barcelona program allows you to discover this rich, new culture and gain a critical global perspective.

CIEE Barcelona is conveniently located in a historical pedestrian passageway in the heart of the city. In it, students will find staff offices, classrooms, and open-air terraces. It is close to the host universities and to the city’s main attractions.

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Barcelona.

The Culture

student excursion barcelona spain abroad sunny palm trees

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES

One of our popular day trips takes you to Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery retreat high atop one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Catalunya. Not only is its history of significant religious importance but the surrounding natural beauty is nothing short of breathtaking. There you can visit the monastery to see La Moreneta (the black Madonna), listen to the world-renowned Boys’ Choir (whose history dates back to the 14th century), and trek any of the numerous mountain trails where you’ll take in incredible countryside views and see the most unusual rock formations in all of Catalonia. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Discover the Gràcia neighborhood, famous for its bohemian and artistic style and streets filled with color and culture.
Visit the oldest preserved garden, reflecting both Neoclassical and Romantic styles – and try your luck in the park’s labyrinth maze!
Eat like a local and try popular traditional dishes like churros, patatas bravas, tortilla de patata, tapas, and pinchos.
See a flamenco show!
Hike the Carretera de les Aigües for amazing views over the city.

Program Blogs

How to Balance Education and Fun While Studying Abroad

By Rachael B.

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

By Rachael B.

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

What People are Saying

"I would definitely recommend this program. A great all around experience and you learn so much."

John M., University of Scranton
"Staff is incredibly helpful and attentive. That includes the administrators and professors."

Nicholas S., University of Scranton

Housing & Meals

HOUSING

All housing is within a 30-minute commute to CIEE.

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.

Housing is tight in Barcelona. If we can’t accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.

MEALS

Students living in a homestay will have breakfast and dinner provided at home, while lunch will be at their expense. Meals are not included for students living in the residencias or shared apartments, though they will share fully equipped kitchens where they can prepare their own meals.

tapas making class barcelona study abroad

Academics

During January in Barcelona, all students take one course. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering. Classes are held at the CIEE Barcelona Study Center.

CIEE Barcelona is located on a beautiful pedestrian passageway, very close to Barcelona’s main square, Plaza Cataluña. The street was built in the 1860s, and the whole passageway preserves the appearance of that era.

GPA

2.5

Language Requirements

There are no specific language requirements for this program.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.

Requirements

Students take one of the required courses that are offered.

Program Credit

Total credit: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits

Course Credit

CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours

Academic Culture

The program consists of three weeks of classes. Typically, there are no more than 25 students per class. CIEE courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture. Class attendance is strictly enforced for both classes and required co-curricular excursions. Although extracurricular activities and personal travel contribute to the student’s overall study abroad experience, early departure for, or late return from, vacation is not allowed. Any extended travel should take place prior to the start of the program or upon completion of the program.

Class Format

CIEE courses are with other CIEE students only.

Grading

Assessment is based on the individual’s overall performance in the course, including class participation, in-class activities, homework assignments, exams, papers, group or individual projects, and/or oral presentations. The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Information

Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing

Course

Language

Semester Credit

Course (GI) MKTG 3011 BASP: International Marketing

Language English

Semester Credit 3

Visual and Performing Arts

Course

Language

Semester Credit

Course AHIS 3001 BASP (ENG): Catalonia and Spain Through the Arts (English)

Language English

Semester Credit 3

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.

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 2024 3 weeks	November 1, 2023	Start Date January 2, 2024	End Date January 24, 2024	Fees & Housing $3,950

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 = $2,690^**

Housing = $880^***

Insurance = $80

Total Fees = $3,950

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 = $210^†

International Airfare = $850^††

Local Transportation = $21^†††

Books & Supplies = $30

Personal expenses = $140^††††

Total Costs = $1,251

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.

See Scholarships

^*non-refundable

^**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

^†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $260 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.

^††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

^†††Local transportation: t-usual (1 month) = 20€ ($21)

^††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + 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 Tabárez is Center Director at CIEE Barcelona. 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 (International House/ Universitat de Barcelona).

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