API Study Abroad Program at University Autonoma, Barcelona
The University Autonoma of Barcelona was founded in 1968 and is well known for its international profile. API students complete classes in English and in Spanish with mostly American students at two different campuses. The Sant Pau campus is located in a renovated UNESCO World Heritage building near the famous Sagrada Familia church in the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona. The Eixample campus is located within a 5 minute walk of the Sant Pau campus.
Reviews
100%Overall
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90%Overall
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There is not a thing about this program that I did not absolutely love. Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in the worlds, full of life, history, passion, and infinite things to explore. Everywhere you turn it there is another historic site, or something to do. Finding your way around is so easy, not only because of all the landmarks, but because it is set up to be easily navigable. No matter what, you are always within a short walk of a metro stop - a system that is extremely easy to use. You will hear a lot of talk about pick pockets in the city, but if you keep your wits about you, you will have no problem at all. Other than that, the crime levels are extremely low. At no point in my abroad experience did I ever feel unsafe. Even walking alone at night, I felt secure. I could talk about this magnificent city forever, but it's something that you truly need to experience, so I will explain a bit about the school and the program. La Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona is a great school. The academics are not extremely rigorous - they are challenging enough that you will certainly learn from all your classes, but will not spend hours working outside of class. As a matter of fact, I had very little work to do outside of my classes. My professors generally had us do mainly in-class assignments. The classes are long, but most professors give a break halfway through. As for API the program itself, I could not have asked for more. Not only were the directors some of the most fun people I have ever met, they are genuine, caring, and really enjoy what they do. The best example I can give is that while I was abroad, I needed some minor medical work done within the first month I was there. Marta (one of the directors) treated me as if I were her son, making all of my phone calls to schedule appointments, coming with me to them (or at least making sure that another director could come with me to help translate), and was constantly checking up on, making sure I felt okay. I also joined a gym while in Barcelona, and after I returned home, the gym continued to bill me. I contacted API to see if they could help, and they did not stop until the matter was settled, and even managed to get the gym to reimburse me for the charges I had incurred after leaving. API also includes several trips and cultural activities in the tuition, all of which are incredible, from traveling to Paris, to seeing Montserrat, to learning to cook authentic Barcelona cuisine - all just so incredibly fascinating. Anyways, as I said, I could rave about this program for hours and not even begin to scratch the surface of just how perfect it is. You'll just have to take my word for it and see for yourself- there IS NO OTHER WAY to travel abroad besides API Barcelona.
100%Overall
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I always knew that I wanted to study abroad in Spain, and after looking through all the programs I knew Barcelona would be the place for me. The second I arrived at the airport and met not only the API program directors but also the students in my program, I knew that this was the start of the most amazing semester of my life.
I lived in a beautiful apartment in the gothic area of Barcelona right across from the Cathedral of Barcelona. I had six other American girl roommates from my program, and they became my best friends. Every day I would wake up to sunlight streaming in through my balcony, and I could hear the bustling of the city below my window. I also could see the awe-inspiring cathedral from my room.
I walked to class or took the metro everyday. Walking was not only great exercise but there was nothing better then taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. In America, our architecture doesn't even compare to the beautiful buildings Barcelona has.
I also really enjoyed the classes that I had and it was extremely useful to take about eight hours of Spanish a week. I also took Spanish Civ and Culture and Barcelona Architecture. Those two classes were topics never offered at my College and it was interesting to learn about Spain from the perspective of Spanish professors.
The friends that I made while in Barcelona are still some of my closest friends and it's been almost a year since I left Spain. We had so much fun sightseeing from the sprawling beauty of Parc Guell to the magnificent Sagrada Familia. We also were huge fans of the night life that Barcelona has to offer and on the weekends we would be at the beach club hopping until 5 in the morning.
While abroad I also traveled a lot. I went to London, Prague, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Salzburg, and Florence. I love Eurpoe and I miss it every single day. When I look back on my experience abroad, nothing in my life compares. It made be a more independent person, I am now fluent in Spanish, and I have some of the best friends I could ever dream of.
100%Overall
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Studying in Barcelona was like a dream - one that I wish I could experience over and over again. The API Program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona is by far the best study abroad program in Barcelona. The staff are so helpful, fun and friendly. They want you to have the best experience possible and will bend over backwards to make sure of this.
The program included many activities and outings for students where we had a chance to bond with each other and learn about interesting aspects of the Spanish culture. Some of the highlights of my Barcelona experience with API are: a salsa dancing class organized for our group, an outing to a Spanish movie theater, a welcome and farewell dinner with traditional Spanish food, a day trip to eat calcots and tour a monestary, etc. The list is endless! On top of that, API included an international outing for our program: a weekend trip to Rome. This trip was jam-packed with tours from talented, knowledgable guides, and lots of free time to explore the city with your fellow API friends.
The classes at UAB Barcelona are taught by knowledgable professors that really care about your educational experience. The Spanish classes were challenging but proved to be extremely helpful in my conversational Spanish - which is important in Barcelona! I was very pleased with the classes I took at UAB.
I can not express enough how fabulous I think the API Program is, and I have been recommending it to any of my friends that are considering studying abroad. Thanks, API!
100%Overall
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As a freshman I knew that I wanted to study abroad, but I didn't know where. After spending some time thinking about where would be the most fun, where would have the best atmosphere and where would I enjoy myself the most, i settled on Barcelona, Spain.
To this day it still is a highlight of my college career. Now here's the thing, when you're getting ready for everything it can be a little bit of a hassle getting all of your paperwork to go through, but the thought of being in Spain, walking on the beach, meeting new people and trying new foods is enough to propel you through that whole process.
I lived with a host family (best choice if you want a real experience) and another student. It was great because they provided breakfast and dinner for us. This helped keep some of the other costs down that you might see in other abroad programs. Also, included with our trip was a few excursions (we went to Paris, and Madrid with the API program, as well as a few regional trips, including a cooking class) but the thing that made our trip great was the living in the city. There was always something going on, and we were just a metro (subway) ride away from whatever we wanted to do.
But truly the best thing about the trip is the relationships you make. API made it a point to hook people up with groups of students that are from Spain. It was great because they knew things and places around the city that a foreigner would not know. I learned a lot from them.
The place is filled with little bread shops and small grocery stores, so you never have to go far to get what you need.
On a regular basis we would take the metro to school in the morning, go to class (classes are about an hour and a half, grab some lunch, do some homework, and then enjoy whatever is going on in the evening. The academics aren't too hard, but I did feel like I learned a lot in my classes. It was great to have those experiences in my life. Especially my business classes. Once again, you can find reasonably priced food everywhere.
We also made a point while we were in Spain to travel around. My roommate and I along with other students, took a great trip to Rome, Italy (paying 18 euro for the flight) and had a great time.
I loved my whole trip to Barcelona, and I could literally write a book about our experiences. It's ridiculous that students would pass this once in a life time opportunity up. so yes, I highly recommend doing this, you will not regret it.
100%Overall
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I initially decided to study with API because I had a handful of friends who studied with them a year before me (Barcelona, Florence, Ireland, and London) and had nothing but great things to say. As I researched more and more, I learned of the "perks," if you will, about choosing a program that is with you every step of the way. It was super easy: I filled out the paperwork and got my letters of recommendation together, and they essentially took care of the rest. API helps in obtaining a student visa, and you are constantly receiving emails about what items may or may not be missing, so you never get behind in the application process. Once I hit ground in BCN, my Resident Directors were there to greet us at the airport...they put us up in a hotel for the first three days in the city, where they showed us everything from transportation, to great spots to go, to just plain getting closer with people in the program. They help move you into your host home, apartment, or dorm (whichever you choose) and literally work 24/7 in case you ever need anything. Lastly, they took us on monthly excursions to other countries, which was included in the price. For me--and especially for my parents--it was a relief to know you weren't just dumped in the city to fend for yourself. I had freedom to hang out and do WHATEVER I wanted, but if I needed anything, it was just a metro ride away to their Barcelona office.
The city has everything a person could ever want: the beach, the mountains, awesome food, beautiful architecture, an unreal nightlife and concert scene, and loads of things to do in the daytime. I just love being out of my comfort zone, and this was the perfect country to do so in.
The class I took at UAB were great. There was a mandatory 6 credit Spanish class, which you are tested for and placed in based on your level before you get there. I also took a 3 credit course which focused on the economic system in Europe, and a 3 credit course which dissected the architecture and art around the country. All were super hands-on, and rather than sitting in class all day every day, we would go on "field trips" and have discussions. It was great.
Now let's get to what everyone wants to really know: how was the nightlife?
Barcelona is considered one of the best in Europe. There is so much to do at night, and so many diverse bars that you'll never get bored. From a 5 story club with different music on each floor, to a bar that revolves around the Stock Exchange, to townie dives, there is EVERYTHING. And if you're ever feeling homesick, there are plenty of Irish Pubs around too ;)
100%Overall
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Made the decision to Study through this program provider due to a few reasons. API is one of the cheaper and well-known Study abroad providers in the U.S, and have been in business for a while. They gave me the opportunity to go on an International excursion to Rome, Italy. My apartment that I was placed in was located directly across from La Catedral de Barcelona- a beautiful apartment in a very safe area.
Through studying abroad I have made friends from literally all over the world- from Alaska to China. I now speak Spanish fluently thanks to my total immersion in the Spanish culture and also because of my language professors at my University who even after my program ended wrote me recommendations for Jobs I applied to.
Alumni Interviews
Interview with Sophia Yavorski, API student in Barcelona
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with API in Spain?
Sophia: I initially decided to study with API because I had a handful of friends who studied with them a year before me (Barcelona, Florence, Ireland, and London) and had nothing but great things to say. As I researched more and more, I learned of the "perks," if you will, about choosing a program that is with you every step of the way.
It was super easy: I filled out the paperwork and got my letters of recommendation together, and they essentially took care of the rest. API helps in obtaining a student visa, and you are constantly receiving emails about what items may or may not be missing, so you never get behind in the application process.
Once I hit ground in BCN, my Resident Directors were there to greet us at the airport...they put us up in a hotel for the first three days in the city, where they showed us everything from transportation, to great spots to go, to just plain getting closer with people in the program. They help move you into your host home, apartment, or dorm (whichever you choose) and literally work 24/7 in case you ever need anything. Lastly, they took us on monthly excursions to other countries, which was included in the price.
For me--and especially for my parents--it was a relief to know you weren't just dumped in the city to fend for yourself. I had freedom to hang out and do WHATEVER I wanted, but if I needed anything, it was just a metro ride away to their Barcelona office.
GO: What do you think made this experience unique and special?
Sophia: I love to be out of my comfort zone, so studying in Spain was perfect. I had taken Spanish for six years in high school, but Catalan is so different that it was interesting to communicate with it. I was impressed with how easily I assimilated to the Spanish culture! Barcelona is unique in that it has everything a person could want in one huge city: mountains, the beach, a great nightlife, awesome food, and tons of things to do during the day.
Barcelona is super up and coming, and I'm finding now that cities are mimicking the architecture hundreds of years later. While I was abroad, I became a regular at a cafe near my University, and each day would teach a waiter English in exchange for Catalan. It was such a neat experience!
GO: How did this experience impact your academic development?
Sophia: I strongly believe everyone should, at some point in their lives, be exposed to a new culture. Sure, the U.S. is a melting pot of different cultures, but actually going to another country and seeing first hand just how different life is abroad is so eye opening. To be honest, I'm trying to get BACK to Barcelona I loved it so much!! So, professionally, that is where I'm at right now. I studied abroad with API in the Spring of 2010 and to this day I cannot stop thinking about it.
Photos were taken by Sophie during her time in Spain.
Further Info
About API
Academic Programs International, API, is an educational organization dedicated to providing challenging and enriching study abroad programs for our students. The experience of living, interacting and learning in an international environment presents invaluable opportunities for each student's academic and personal development.
All of their academic and extracurricular offerings are selected with the goal of helping students to become more self-aware and culturally sensitive. API envisions each student evolving from a tourist, to a resident, to a global citizen; API is dedicated to supporting this lifelong process.
API strives to provide the best comprehensive study abroad experience possible with personal attention available to all students throughout his or her program. API works closely with home universities to offer support before, during and after students' education abroad experience.
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I was extremely hesitant about studying abroad because I had never been so far out of my comfort zone. I knew I wanted to go to Spain, preferably a big city so that English wasn't completely impossible to use if necessary. I had a few friends who had studied in Barcelona with API so I decided to give it a shot and apply. From the moment I arrived at the airport in Barcelona, the API staff were there to greet our entire program. They made everything so easy and fun right from the start.
API was always there to help whenever we had any questions or concerns, or just needed help in any way. They brought us on fun and educational day trips, weekend trips, and other various events, and always made us feel safe and excited. They gave us tours around the city, the metro, our neighborhoods, and the school right away. API made the transition from America to Spain so easy and made me feel very welcomed but not smothered, which was very important to me.
I lived in an apartment with three of my friends in la Gracia, a nice neighborhood consisting of many stores, families, and local restaurants and bars. My favorite activity in this neighborhood was to sit in the square on warm afternoons with my friends drinking mojitos, while little children ran around playing soccer.
The classes at UAB were great. The teachers are very aware that study abroad students are trying to do as little schoolwork as possible and never overwhelm you with studying. I walked to school almost every day, enjoying all of the sites as I went along. Each day on my walk to the Sant Pau campus, I would look over at the Sagrada Familia and think of how awesome it was to be able to see that and palm trees on my way to class.
Traveling around Europe was incredible and so easy. Of course, we looked for the cheapest flights so they were often at odd hours of the night, causing exhaustion, but it was worth it. Oh, and Ryan Air is one strange experience. I traveled around Spain to Sitges, Valencia, and a few other places on my own, and to Poblet, Sevilla, Cadiz, and Costa Brava with API. I also traveled out of the country to Rome with API, and to Paris and Greece on my own time. Each trip was amazing and has its own unique memories.
The nightlife in Barcelona is the most insane nightlife I've ever experienced anywhere. Our group of friends would head down to the clubs most nights at about 1am and dance the night away until they closed at 6am. I learned very early in the semester that I was going to be constantly tired for the entire trip. Thank God for siesta! There are a bunch of clubs down by the beach, which were always a blast, and there were clubs throughout the city, as well. We saw so many incredible DJs for no more than 15 Euro. Promotors are all over Barcelona to help study abroad students get into every club for free. Although it was exhausting, these Barcelona nights were by far the best nights I've ever experienced.
The four months I spent in Barcelona were easily the best of my life. I met so many incredible people and made lifelong friends through this program. If you have any hesitation about studying abroad with API, don't. Just do it. I promise you will not regret it.
Critical Feedback:
I would try to make it a little less stressful to switch classes at UAB if necessary.