Outside institutions

IES Barcelona students have the option of taking classes at local Universities. Attending classes at local Universities optimises the intercultural experience and personal fulfillment by promoting integration into Barcelona student life and the meeting of local students. However, students need to be aware that the Spanish university system is different from the American one.

There are two types of courses offered at the various outside institutions: Regular and Estudios Hispanicos. These course are offered in English or Spanish.

• Regular Courses: Courses designed for Spanish students which form part of their undergraduate studies.
• Estudios Hispanicos: Courses about Spanish, Latin-American and European culture which are designed for international students.

Please check the outside courses calendar for semester dates. These vary from IES course dates.

• Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

The University Pompeu Fabra was founded by the Catalonian government in 1990. It is therefore a public institution. It is named after the scholar who established the modern Catalan language, and enrolls approximately 10,000 Spanish and International students.This young academic institution has two main objectives: to train professionals and citizens who are responsible and committed to civic values, and to contribute towards the development of research.

UPF is equipped with a fully computerized library with 200,000 volumes that is connected to all the catalogues of Catalonia's public university libraries. Computer rooms are freely available throughout the campus for enrolled students.

How to get to UPF Campus

UPF offers IES students regular as well as Estudios Hispanicos courses provided by different university departments taugh in Spanish and English. Please note that students must sign up for a minimum of TWO courses (Regular or Estudios Hispanicos) at the UPF.




• Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB)

This university was established at the end of the 60's and since then has become one of the most dynamic universities in Spain. Made up of more than 25 schools, faculties and associated centers, it is the only real campus-based university in Barcelona.

Half an hour from Barcelona by metropolitan train, the UAB campus has a community feel, and provides all the services necessary for student life.

How to get to UAB Campus




• Escuela Superior de Comercio Internacional (ESCI)

The Generalitat of Catalonia and the University of Pompeu Fabra, conscious of the importance of having a business presence abroad and of the need to provide human resources prepared technically and culturally, created the Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional (College of International Business) in 1993, with the objective of training professional experts with particular expertise in international business. ESCI offers courses in both Spanish and English at undergraduate and graduate level. ESCI courses are specialized in European Union integration and in Far East Trade.

How to get to ESCI Campus




• Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

The UB was founded in 1450. The present central building was inaugurated in 1871 and is located in the city centre. Today the university 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 a number of student exchanges organized as part of the Erasmus program. UB offers an Estudios Hispanicos program taught in Spanish, adapted to the students proficiency levels, based on Spanish and Latin-American culture.

UB "Estudios Hispanicos" program places international students in different sections of culture courses according to their proficiency in Spanish language (Beginner and Advanced). Therefore, before UB classes starts, international students must complete the UB Placement exam that take places the first day of class at the UB campus. This test will be for UB purposes only, and will not affect your IES track placement or the courses you have access to.

How to get to UB Campus




• Universitat Ramon Llull (URL)

The Universitat Ramon Llull (URL) is a private School formed by 10 federated institutions of great prestige. It was founded in 1990 by 4 traditional private educational centers, and since then it has continually expanded its activities and included new highly qualified member schools. Currently, the URL awards 41 different degrees in such fields as Engineering, Communications, Business, Design, Psychology and Bioethics.

The St. Ignasi Toursim School belongs to URL universtiy and offers students three regular courses specialized in Tourism and Events Management.

How to get to URL Campus

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