Information for term Liberal Arts
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenThe enchanting and historic city of Barcelona is calling your name. Are you listening? Known as the cosmopolitan capital of Spain's Catalonia region, Barcelona is renowned for its stunning architecture, world-class cuisine, and vibrant cultural heritage, making it the ideal destination for students in our Liberal Arts program.
During this exciting program, students from multiple areas of study experience the city's countless cultural wonders – all while earning college credit. When class is in session at CIEE Barcelona and CIEE's partner school, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), you'll take your advanced Spanish language skills to the next level in Spanish classes relevant to your degree. Choose from a range of courses, including history, politics, literature, and culture. You'll quickly advance your language skills while building a broad understanding of Spain's history and culture.
Outside the classroom, you'll have plenty of time to explore everything Barcelona has to offer. From indulging in mouth-watering tapas at one of the city's 19 Michelin-starred restaurants to marveling at world-famous architect Antoni Gaudí's 20+ sites to participating in traditional Catalan dances (like the native Sardana dance), your time in Spain's most famous city will be nothing short of life-changing!
Follow our Travels:
Unique Experiences
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GAIN FLUENCY FAST
by chatting with Spanish peers in language exchanges, hanging out with your host family, or working on a group project with classmates.
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LIVE LIKE A NATIVE BARCELONAN
in a cosmopolitan university city that’s rooted in ancient tradition and committed to the future.
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GET WORK EXPERIENCE
and a behind-the-scenes look at publishing, marketing, business, school, or NGO with an internship.
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YEARS OF HISTORY
2,000 -
CONVENTIONS YEARLY
1,728 -
RESTAURANTS
8,000
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Culture, sport, fashion, finance, media, and entertainment – Barcelona is brimming with it all. The largest city on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is home to 1.6 million in the city proper and 4.5 million in the broader metro area. It is edged with a river on either side and backed by the Serra de Collserola mountains to the west.
Castilian Spanish and Catalan are the official languages. Both are regularly used in all aspects of life, and Catalan is not imposed. Taxi drivers, shopkeepers, professors, and host families all speak clear Castilian when Spanish speakers are present. Spanish is widely used at the university. Students don’t need to speak Catalan, but learning a few words can open doors to making new friends.
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
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.
INTERNSHIP
Internships provide students with practical, real-world work experience at NGOs, schools, publishing companies, marketing agencies, businesses, and more. Internships include required weekly classroom components that enrich the experience. Students applying for an internship are required to submit additional materials during the course selection process.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Daily Life
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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 kitchen and bathroom.
Residence Halls: Students usually live with a mix of CIEE students, 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.
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MEALS
Homestay students have breakfast and dinner with their host families, and they are responsible for lunch.
Meals are not included at residence halls or apartments.
Barcelona, Spain Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE Barcelona
Near Barcelona’s main square, Plaza Catalunya.
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B
UNIVERSITAT POMPEU FABRA
UPF has several Barcelona locations, near the Olympic Village, Problenou, and the port.
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C
Getting Around
Students use public transportation to get from their lodgings to the CIEE Site – no more than a 30-minute ride.
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
Our Liberal Arts program gives students the opportunity to increase language proficiency and learn about Spanish history, politics, literature, and culture. All courses are taught in Spanish. Students can take courses designed for U.S. students at CIEE, and courses with local and international students at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
CIEE Barcelona courses are taught in adjoining historic buildings near the city’s main square. CIEE language courses are taught by professors who specialize in teaching Spanish as a second language and CIEE content courses are taught by experienced local faculty.
The Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) was founded in 1990 and it is known for its international outlook and emphasis on technology. It offers degrees in fields ranging from business to social sciences. UPF courses – both regular courses and courses from the Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) –, are taught at the UPF campus, near the Olympic Village, Poblenou, and the port. UPF courses are taught by UPF faculty. Internship seminars are taught by a professor with cross-cultural and business expertise.
GPA
3.0
Language Prerequisites
Enter as a junior or senior with 4 or 5 semesters of college-level Spanish (or equivalent).
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.
Program Requirements
Students take five courses for 15 credits including:
- One required CIEE Spanish language course
- Two CIEE elective courses
- Two additional elective courses:
- Two host institution courses: UPF-Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) and/or UPF or
- One host institution course: UPF-Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) or UPF, and a CIEE internship
Program Credit
Total credit: 15-18 U.S. semester/22.5-27 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100 internship placement hours
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours, unless otherwise noted
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.
Academic Culture
Courses are academically challenging and involve daily reading, homework assignments, and attendance at lectures and field trips. Students are responsible for knowing the dates of exams and assignments. Dates are firm and attendance is required. Students are expected to work independently and add readings from the syllabi to cover material not touched on in lectures.
Class Format
UPF Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (UPF-BaPIS) courses include other local and international students and typically meet twice a week for 2 hours. The typical class size for UPF BaPIS courses is 15-30 students. UPF regular classes may include up to 90 students from Spain and other countries around the world. CIEE courses rarely exceed 20 students and include only CIEE students. Classrooms are comfortable and equipped with current technology.
Grading
In CIEE and UPF-BaPIS courses, students are evaluated based on class participation, in-class activities, homework assignments, exams, papers, and oral presentations. In UPF regular courses, students are typically graded on class participation, problem sets or projects, and a final exam. UPF-BaPIS and UPF regular courses professors grade on a 10-point scale and points are converted to U.S. letter grades.
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.
Language of Instruction
Spanish
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.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
- Once internship hours are started, students may not drop the internship and take another CIEE course.
- UPF courses are regular UPF classes taught with local students with a different academic system.
- UPF BaPIS courses are for both local and international students.
Spring 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
History, Philosophy, Religion
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Visual and Performing Arts
Host Institution Courses
Click to OpenUPF Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) courses in Spanish
Course offerings may vary from semester to semester. Courses are 3 U.S. credits.
Syllabi for the courses listed below can be found here.
Here is a sample of BaPIS courses in Spanish:
- Activismo y defensa de los animales en Cataluña, Europa y el mundo
- Emergencia climática, ecologismo y transición energética
- ¿Qué es noticia? verdad, desinformación y hegemonía
UPF Regular courses
The following list is a general selection of regular UPF courses available to international students and is subject to change:
- Introduction to Literary Studies / Introducción a los estudios literarios (UPF - Humanities)
- Contemporary Art/Arte Contemporáneo (UPF - Humanities)
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
Click to OpenScholarships & 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:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 15 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jan 3, 2023 | Apr 19, 2023 |
$19,950
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,983 ** Housing = $4,500 *** Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,768 † International Airfare = $1,200 †† Local Transportation = $135 ††† Books & Supplies = $100 Visa Fees = $160 Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500 Personal expenses = $1,280 †††† Total Estimated Costs = $5,143Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** homestay includes two meals daily; no meals are included for students in the Residencia option † Homestay includes two meals daily; no meals are included for students in the Residencia and Shared apartments options. Homestay students Fall & Spring should budget $885 for meals not included in fees †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† "Local transportation: t-jove (3 months) = 85€ ($90) / t-usual (1 month) = 40€ ($43) †††† "Personal expenses: minimum social life twice a week ($45 aprox) |
| Fall 2023 16 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | Sep 4, 2023* | Dec 22, 2023* |
$19,950
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,953 ** Housing = $4,500 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $19,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,168 † International Airfare = $850 †† Local Transportation = $65 ††† Books & Supplies = $100 Visa Fees = $160 Potential travel to consulate for visa = $500 Personal expenses = $167 †††† Other = $0 ††††† Total Estimated Costs = $3,010Financial AidCIEE 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. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** homestay includes two meals daily; no meals are included for students in the Residencia option † Homestay includes two meals daily; no meals are included for students in the Residencia and Shared apartments options. Homestay students should budget $600 for meals not included in fees. †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Local transportation: t-jove (3 months) = 40€ ($43) / t-usual (1 month) = 20€ ($21) †††† Personal expenses: $100 emergency fund and cell phone expense + estimated cost of toiletries for one month ††††† Covid test fees for entry to the US, if required |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
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.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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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).
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José Luis Espinosa
Academic Director
José Luis holds a Ph.D. in Modern Languages and Gender Studies from the University of Salamanca (USAL).
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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).
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
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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