The Spanish monetary unit is the euro (€). For more information on the euro and related topics, visit the website European Union. You can check current exchange rates by looking in the business section of a large newspaper or at Xe. Before departing for Spain, you should exchange between USD$50 and USD$100 into euros in order to cover incidental expenses during your first few days in Spain. Euros can be purchased at large US banks, American Express offices, and at most international airports in the United States and abroad. During your time abroad, you should plan to obtain local currency...

Expect to use public transportation everyday while you are studying in Barcelona. The city is well-connected by safe, reliable, and user-friendly public transit. Additionally, Barcelona boasts a very efficient and accessible metro, bus, and tram system and the city has a large number of taxis available at all hours. City blocks, based on a 19 th century design, make it an easy city to navigate. While using public transit may be new to some students during the first few weeks of your program, it is a reality for everyone living in Barcelona. By the end of your study abroad journey, you will...

A seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is the capital of Barcelona Province and of the autonomous region of Catalonia. Catalonia is 31,930 square kilometers with more than six million inhabitants. It has a long historical tradition, interesting cities and towns, a great architectural heritage, a wide range of services, and a strong personality of its own. For more information about Catalonia, visit the Generalitat de Catalunya website. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of approximately 1.6 million, and it is the principal industrial and commercial center of...

Internship Attendance Policy Attendance is mandatory for all IES Abroad classes, including course-related trips. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. There will be no penalty for the first absence in the Internship Seminar. A second absence will result in three percentage points being deducted from the final grade. A third absence will result in a maximum grade of C for the course. A fourth absence will result in a grade of F. Attendance at the internship placement, at the...

As soon as a preliminary program calendar is available (at least a few weeks before the program starts), it will appear above. However, this calendar is subject to change. Please do not make independent travel arrangements (including visits from family or friends) before you arrive on-site, receive any calendar updates from the IES Abroad Center staff during orientation, and finalize your course registration. Remember that you will not be excused from academic obligations, including final exams or required IES Abroad events nor from your internship placement, in order to travel independently...

What You Need to Do Confirm your Place in the Program. Submit the Confirmation Form. Check, Renew, or Apply for your Passport. If you do not have a valid passport, renew or apply for one immediately. If you carry or are eligible to carry a passport from an EU country, traveling with this passport can save you money. Please check the "Passport & Visas" section for more details. Read your Predeparture Information and Student Handbook. This Predeparture Guide is filled with nearly all the information you need to know to be prepared to go abroad. Navigate through this Predeparture Guide using the...