Diversity Abroad There are few places where most of the population comes from one national, religious, or ethnic group. At IES Abroad, our faculty, staff, and programs are committed to recognizing and acquainting students with the diversity that exists within Spain. IES Abroad students are continually provided with opportunities to explore the cultural richness of their host environment and learn about the economic, social, and political status of local populations. Here are a few resources that you might find useful: Diversity Commitment Navigating Diversity & Identity Abroad Social Identity...

Students are able to receive letter-sized mail to the IES Abroad Center. Packages larger than that will not be accepted. If you are shipping a debit or credit card, we recommend that you disguise it as regular mail (i.e., put it in a birthday card or use a cardboard FedEx or UPS envelope). Mail should be addressed to: In Spain, addresses are formatted as: IES Abroad Barcelona Center Line 1 - Recipient ATTN: Student Name Line 2 - Recipient continued if needed Ronda Sant Pere, 5, 1, 1 Line 3 - Street name followed by building number, floor number, and door number (if applicable) 08010 Barcelona...

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...

Located in the heart of beautiful Barcelona, the IES Abroad Center is located just off of the Plaza Catalunya, home to a number of shops and cafes, and within walking distance of many other Barcelona landmarks. Features include: High-speed and wireless internet access Multimedia classrooms Study lounges Large outdoor terrace Library IES Abroad Barcelona has a small library and provides access to online catalogs, journals, and e-books. There are also municipal libraries in the city where you can check out books. During the first week of classes, IES Abroad Barcelona will provide you with a list...

In general, there are three ways that students go about fulfilling this requirement: 1. Buy a Spanish SIM card on-site. Your phone must be unlocked. Providers to check out: Vodafone, Orange & Movistar 2. Use your current provider’s international plan. Check pricing and coverage with them. 3. Get an eSIM card While Wi-Fi is widely available in Europe, most European phone plans include significant data but charge per call and text. Therefore, we recommend having a data plan, either through your current provider or a local one. Consider downloading WhatsApp, as many Europeans use it to...

Housing Introduction Your housing in Barcelona will be reflective of the norms in Spain. Rooms are likely smaller than you are used to, and commuting is an absolute must as many housing options are located in residential areas rather than on a campus or designated solely for university student use. As you fill out your Housing Form, keep in mind the following factors that are considered when housing placements are made: IES Abroad only locates housing in safe areas of the city. Single rooms are rare and cannot be guaranteed. Cohabitation in IES Abroad located housing is prohibited. Housing...