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Barcelona – Full-Time Semester Internship
We want you to feel at home in Barcelona, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From your placement to housing to cultural activities, our job is to make sure you have the best internship experience possible.
If your work schedule allows, join IES Abroad-organized cultural events and field trips to experience the Spanish culture and learn more about your host country and its people. On the weekends, tour the city to taste the delicious cuisine, explore the fantastic art scene, or take in a concert at one of Barcelona’s live music venues.
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Before you go, we work with you to fine-tune your résumé, perfect your cover letter, and hone your communication and interview skills as we prepare you for working in a new cultural environment. You’ll be guaranteed a placement at a local business or organization that fits your professional interests.
Academic Seminar
While working in Barcelona, you’ll also enroll in a required 3-credit internship seminar with other IES interns, where you’ll gain context for your internship placement by examining cultural issues in and outside the workplace.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding workplace culture
- Improving communication
- Strengthening work attitude and aptitude
- Navigating issues, challenges, and opportunities so you can succeed on the job in Barcelona and when you return home
Personalized Placements
Your internship coordinator will work with you to find a placement in the field of your choice. We’ve placed past interns at companies and organizations in the following fields.
- Business
- Education/Language Instruction
- Health (non-clinical)*
- International Business
- International Relations*
- IT
- Journalism
- Law*
- Marketing
- Media & Communications
- Not-for-Profit Organizations*
- Psychology (non-clinical)*
- Tourism
Don’t see your field listed? Just talk to your IES Internships Advisor. We are always finding new opportunities.
*Some fields might require an advanced knowledge of Spanish.
Courses
All full-time interns will enroll in one of the following courses:
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED/IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Education | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED/IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Education | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IN 395A - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| IN 395B - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | Spanish | 3 |
| SO/IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Social Action | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO/IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Social Action | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Barcelona, our field trips during fall and spring semesters take you outside the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. As part of orientation, you’ll participate in a study journey, which is included in your program cost. Additional field trips are partially subsidized by IES Abroad.
The Basque Country & Navarre
4 days | Fall & Spring
Discover the unique gastronomy of the Basque Country, learn from artisans who elaborate local delicacies, and attempt to create (with your own hands) the meals that make up this rich culinary tradition.
Costa Brava
3 days | Fall & Spring
Visit Roman ruins, the medieval city of Girona, and the “dreamland” of Salvador Dalí between Barcelona and the French border.
Madrid
3 days | Fall & Spring
Discover the vibrant capital of Spain! See the works of El Greco, Goya, and Velázquez firsthand in the world-famous Prado Museum.
South of France
3 days | Spring
Visit Carcassonne to learn about its rich history, and enjoy a boat ride nearby. Next, head to Lastours to see castles and the Fontfroide Abbey. The last stop is Perpignan, where you will have the chance to compare the difference between the Spanish Catalan and French Catalan cultures.
Valencia
3 days | Spring
Enjoy a guided tour around the city and make paella, the most famous dish in Spain. Then visit the nearby town of Peñíscola to see the Papa Luna’s Castle, a medieval building constructed by Templar knights that was home to the Pope during the 13th century.
Montserrat
1 day | Fall & Spring
Spend the day hiking the mountain of Montserrat and visit the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability, and participation may be contingent upon your internship work schedule.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Barcelona is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad Barcelona staff, your fellow students, and the city of Barcelona. Orientation continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.
A required study journey is included as an integral part of orientation. In previous study journeys, students have visited Tarragona where they walked in the footsteps of the Ancient Romans. This two-day study journey will allow you to meet your fellow classmates and IES Abroad staff.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Barcelona, it will feel like home.
Homestays – Normally, two or three IES Abroad students live in a home with local residents and students share a double room. You are provided two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) while the program is in session. Laundry and WiFi are included.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Take advantage of the cultural events we organize in Barcelona, such as:
- Walking Tours
- Flamenco Workshops
- Soccer Games
- Cooking Workshops
DiscoverIES
DiscoverIES are a unique blend of course-related and cultural field trips. With this hybrid experience, you have the ability to understand the culture in the context of your coursework.
With 60+ DiscoverIES per semester, you have the exciting opportunity to familiarize yourself with Barcelona through cultural activities led by IES Abroad Barcelona professors. Visit the city’s many influential buildings, learn about its one-of-a-kind history, and become part of the Spanish and Catalan culture.
DiscoverIES are also a great way to meet and spend time with other students on your program, as well as IES Abroad Barcelona staff and professors. These optional activities are either free or highly subsidized.
Some past examples of DiscoverIES may include:
- Discovering the Quadrat d’Or, or Golden Square, in a guided tour in the Eixample District, an exceptional area that focuses on Barcelona’s Modernist style (Art Noveau) at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.
- Enjoying a Flamenco workshop, where you’ll learn a few basic dance steps, the history behind the dance and attire, and taste traditional Andalucían fare.
- Hiking Tibidabo, the tallest mountain in Serra de Collserola, tour the Modernist and Neo-Gothic Sagrat Cor Temple, and visiting the oldest amusement park in Spain.
- Visiting an organic farm and learning about sustainability with an IES Abroad professor.
- Visiting the aquarium at Delta de L’Ebre, the coastal lagoons on the southern shore (Encanyissada and Tancada), Trabucador Beach and Alfacs Bay, and the fishing harbor at Sant Carles de la Ràpita.
Get to Know Your New City
Have Fun in the Sun
Spend time strolling and swimming under the sun along Barcelona's four miles of sandy beaches.
Hike Montjuïc
A climb up this hill offers spectacular views of the city. From here, you can also explore several great museums and the beautiful buildings from the 1992 Olympic Games.
Check Out Some Live Music
From huge festivals to hole-in-the-wall venues, playing everything from electronica to punk, there’s more to Barcelona’s music scene than its iconic Rumba Catalana.
Appreciate the Art
Home to numerous works by Pablo Picasso, the surreal sculptures of Joan Miró, and the fantastic, dreamlike architecture of Gaudi, there’s plenty of art—indoors and out—to inspire you.
Eat, Drink, and Eat Some More!
Catalan cuisine consists of savory stews, fresh seafood, delicious jamón, spicy potatoes, olives, and so much more. Wash it down with a cold orxata (a refreshing drink made from the tiger nut plant).
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Scholarships & Aid
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
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 with printers
- Large outdoor terrace
Our Staff
Cèsar Alegre Alsina, Ph.D.
Center Director & AVP for Program Development
Dr. Cèsar Alegre Alsina has been the Director of our Barcelona programs since 2008. He is originally from Barcelona and speaks Spanish, Catalan, and English fluently. He brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education to IES Abroad, including a noteworthy teaching career in the United States, experience in student services, and a strong research portfolio. Before coming to IES Abroad, Dr. Alegre Alsina taught Spanish language, as well as Spanish and Hispanic Culture and Literature at Amherst College for 16 years. He is the author of a book on Hispanic Americans (Scholastic), and has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Hispanic Americans (BRG Oxford) and numerous articles and reviews in American and international journals. Dr. Alegre Alsina received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University, his Master’s degree in Hispanic Literature at Auburn University, and his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
IES Abroad Barcelona Staff
Alex Walker
Assistant Director & Dean of Academic Affairs
Jane Ewart
Head of Enrollment & Advising
Lorena Chinnici
Head of Customized Programs & Outside Courses
Natalia Gil
Academic Affairs Assistant
Maria Romero Serrano
Dean of Spanish & Assistant Dean of Faculty
Maria Mejias
Language Faculty Advisor
Laura Vazquez
Faculty Advisor of Education Technology
Ana Tarife Conde
Head of Internship, Community-Based Learning & Volunteering Programs
Maria Paez Moriana
Internship, Community-Based Learning & Volunteering Specialist
Sofia Franco Rodriguez
Internship, Community-Based Learning & Volunteering Assistant
Olga Sanchez Cuenca
Senior Director of Student Affairs
Noemi Polo Contel
Student Affairs Coordinator
Ferran Teres Olivella
Student Affairs Coordinator
Cora Galavis
Emergency & After Office Hours Student Affairs Specialist
Marija Vasiljevic
Emergency & After Office Hours Student Affairs Specialist
Salvador Ortiz
Head of Administration & Human Resources
Beatriz Taberner Rodriguez
Center Manager
Pilar Gracia Male
Administration Coordinator
Ilaria Gambarelli
Administration Assistant & Center Video Production
Concepcion Villar
Administration Assistant
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
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