As the most international city in Spain, Barcelona is an important place for international relations as well as international business and commerce. Due to the city’s mix of Spanish, English, French, and more, it has strong political ties with the rest of Europe and beyond. And with its mix of cultures, Barcelona offers the unusual opportunity to see how regional, national, and international views are intertwined.
In this program, you can take courses in a wide range of topics including politics, regionalism, international security, international business and relations, and many others. Imagine taking in all that Barcelona has to offer while taking exciting courses, like Campaigning in Europe: From Propaganda to Political Marketing or Globalized Economy & Migration. All of our courses feature course-related trips and faculty-led visits to government offices and institutions.
You also have the extraordinary opportunity to take Spanish- or English-taught courses at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), both offer strong faculties in Political Science and International Relations. All of our partner universities in Barcelona offer courses in a wide variety of disciplines.
Enhance what you learn in the classroom and add international work experience to your résumé by participating in an optional internship placement and accompanying seminar. Possible placements include working in NGOs or not-for-profit organizations, law associations, and more.
A wide variety of other disciplines are offered, as well. So you can supplement your study of Political Science and International Relations with a course from our Liberal Arts & Business Program to complement your studies while in Barcelona.
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
Early September, 2018
Late December, 2018
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Political Science & International Relations through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
While in Barcelona, you take 15–19 credits per semester. Our goal is to make sure your academic needs are met. You can craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following course types:
*In addition to your program’s specified coursework, you can take any of the area studies courses offered through our Liberal Arts & Business Program.
UPF PRE-LAW CERTIFICATE PROGRAMSpring Term OnlyAs an added benefit, IES Abroad Barcelona also offers you the opportunity to enroll in a certificate program through our partner university, Universitat Pompeu Fabra. This honors pre-law program is intended to provide pre-law, international relations, and political science majors with an introductory education in the field of international law, European law, and comparative law.
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. In addition to your program’s specified coursework, you can take any of the elective courses offered through our Liberal Arts & Business Program.
This is a list of planned course offerings and these courses are taught at the IES Abroad Center by local faculty. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
UAB was established in the late 1960s and since then has become one of the most dynamic universities in Spain. You can take UAB courses from a wide offering at the Sant Pau and Eixample Campus in English and Spanish. These courses are specifically designed for international students and have similar schedules to IES Abroad courses. The campuses are located in the central area of the city of Barcelona.
Please note that registration for UAB courses take place before the application deadline. Students interested in enrolling in UAB courses are encouraged to apply early.
Courses are available at the UAB in the following discipline areas:
The Universitat de Barcelona was founded in 1450 and has four campuses in different parts of the city. The university is particularly interested in fostering international relations, and for many years has been the leader among European universities in international student exchanges.
UB offers an Estudios Hispánicos program taught predominately in Spanish, designed for international students with intermediate and advanced Spanish levels. Courses are based on Spanish and Latin-American culture. English taught courses are available in the following discipline areas:
UPF is a public university which was founded by the Catalonian government in 1990. Approximately 10,000 Spanish and international students study with the UPF each year. At the UPF you can study regular courses in Spanish and English with local students and international students, or Estudios Hispánicos courses in English or Spanish, with international students.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra: Regular CoursesRegular courses in Spanish are available in the following faculties:
Universitat Pompeu Fabra: Estudios HispánicosCourses are available for international students in the following discipline areas:
Universitat Ramon Llull is a private school formed by 10 federated institutions of great prestige, including AACSB accredited business school IQS, Blanquerna School of Communication, Sant Ignasi Tourism School and La Salle Business School. At URL courses are designed for Spanish students and form part of their undergraduate studies.
Universitat Ramon Llull: Regular CoursesRegular courses taught in Spanish are available at the following faculties. A limited range of regular courses are also available in English:
Universitat Ramon Llull: IQS Business SchoolIQS Business School is an AACSB accredited institution and courses are offered only during the fall semester. Courses are designed for local and international students in English and are offer in the following discipline areas:
Universitat Ramon Llull: Tourism School Sant Ignasi-EsadeThese courses are offered for local university students and international students in English. Courses are offer in the following discipline areas:
Universitat Ramon Llull: LaSalle Business SchoolThese courses are offered for local university students and international students in English. Courses are offer in the following discipline areas:
Universitat Ramon Llull: Blanquerna School of Communication and International RelationsThe Blanquerna campus is located in the center of Barcelona, near the IES Abroad Barcelona Center. These courses are offered for local university students and international students in English and Spanish. Courses are available in the following discipline areas:
Interning while you study in Barcelona gives you a rewarding job experience with a wealth of long-lasting career benefits. You will:
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.
Personalized PlacementsOnce you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal internship placement that fulfills your academic and career goals. We’ve placed students with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently work with a business or organization in your field of interest, we will search for a placement that’s right for you.
Placement ExamplesPast students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always seeking out new opportunities for our students.
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.
Residence Halls – You live with Spanish and/or other IES Abroad students. Rooms in residence halls are double and triple occupancy. Meal plans vary among the different halls. Placements are limited, and an additional fee applies for this housing option.
Apartments – You live with three or four other IES Abroad students in double rooms. A Barcelona Cultural Companion or tutor cultural may also live in the apartment to help you with cultural integration. Apartments have fully-equipped kitchens, and meals are not provided. Placements are very limited, and an additional fee applies for this housing option.
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 our DiscoverIES that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Barcelona staff, your fellow students, and the city of Barcelona. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered during this time.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home. Also, during the first week of the semester, intensive Spanish language courses meet daily in small groups to help you to develop your language skills.
You will also meet our Barcelona cultural companions or tutores culturales, who will join you on DiscoverIES and help you get to know the Spanish culture.
A study journey is included as part of orientation. Past destinations have included Tarragona, Valencia, and Girona
DiscoverIES are a unique blend of course-related trips (for class) 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.
Past examples of DiscoverIES include:
When you volunteer in Barcelona, you have the chance to make a difference in the local community while meeting new people and gaining a new perspective on the world. If you are passionate about volunteering abroad, just let the on-site staff know at the beginning of your term.
Past volunteer opportunities in Barcelona include:
Although your adventure begins in Barcelona, our DiscoverIES take you to other great cities in and around Spain. DiscoverIES bring you closer to the Barcelonan and Spanish culture through a broad array of activities that merge together the academic insight provided by field trips and the guidance of our faculty. They provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Barcelona.
Trips are organized by language level and conducted in English or Spanish accordingly. One of these trips is subsidized by IES Abroad. Additional DiscoverIES are partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations.
Al-Andalus4 Days | Fall & SpringThe south of Spain is an area of warm people, flamenco, tapas and abundant history and art. Visit three of its most beautiful and iconic cities: Granada, Cordoba and Seville.
Costa Brava3 Days | Fall & SpringVisit Greek and Roman ruins, the medieval city of Girona, and the “dreamland” of Salvador Dalí between Barcelona and the French border.
Garrotxa1 Day | FallExplore volcanic terrain and hike through the forest of this northeastern county of Catalonia.
Mallorca3 Days | FallThe island of Mallorca offers visitors exquisite beaches, stunning art and architecture, and views that will inspire.
Montserrat1 Day | SpringSpend the day hiking the mountain of Montserrat.
Tarragona2 Days | Fall & SpringExperience Tarragona, one of the best preserved ancient Roman sites in Spain. On the way there, stop at the Ebro Delta, where millions of birds stop along their yearly voyage from Northern Europe to Africa.
The Basque Country & Navarre4 Days | Fall & SpringDiscover 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.
Note: IES Abroad DiscoverIES destinations,activities and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
About the Center
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 at Amherst.
IES Abroad StaffLorena ChinniciOutside Courses and Customized Programs Coordinator
Jane EwartHead of Registration and Advising
Elizabeth FerreiroStudent Activities and DiscoverIES Specialist
Pilar GraciaAdministration Coordinator and DiscoverIES Coordinator
Salvador OrtizHead of Administration and Human Resources
Noemí PoloStudent Affairs Coordinator - Health and Safety, Homestays
María RomeroAssistant Dean of Faculty and Faculty Advisor Coordinator
Olga SánchezHead of Student Affairs
Beatriz TabernerCenter Administrator and Orientation Coordinator
Ana TarifeInternship Coordinator and Service Learning Coordinator
Ferran TeresStudent Affairs Coordinator - Apartments
Alex WalkerDirector of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty
María MejíasLanguage Faculty Advisor and Advanced Spanish Studies Program Coordinator
Ignasi PérezArea Studies Faculty Advisor
Ataúlfo PortelaLanguage Faculty Advisor
Laura VázquezLanguage Faculty Advisor and Educational Technology
Fees coming soon.
What is it really like to live in Barcelona? Check out our virtual tour of all the places you’ll come to know and love when you study abroad there—GO!
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