CIS Abroad Semester Programs in Barcelona, Spain

Name: CIS Abroad Semester Programs in Barcelona, Spain
Brand: CIS Abroad
SKU: 269314
Rating: 4.87 (31 reviews)

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4.87 Rating

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Location

Spain
- Barcelona

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring

Subject Areas

Advertising Architecture Art History Arts Business Communications Cultural Studies Design Economics Education Entrepreneurship Environmental Studies European Studies Film Finance Gender Studies Global Studies Hispanic Studies History Hospitality Humanities International Business International Relations Journalism Language Studies Liberal Arts Literature Marketing Political Science Public Relations Religious Studies Social Sciences Sports Science Tourism Visual Arts +25

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Apartment Host Family

Language

Spanish

Pricing

Starting Price

14190

Price Details

Price may be an estimate, accurate for just one program listed here, the lower end of a range, or from a previous term. Please see our website and specific program pages accurate costs.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Classes Some Meals Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

Please visit our website for all that's included.

Last Updated: Oct 14, 2024

Last Reviewed: Jan 29, 2025

Wish List

6 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

A top study abroad destination, Spain is beloved for its fascinating history, vibrant culture, and beautiful landscapes. Our diverse programs, with options for all majors, will show you the best of beautiful Barcelona. Marvel at world-renowned architecture, devour delicious cuisine, and cheer on the local fútbol team. In Barcelona, choose which university has the best courses for your academic career. Each program offers quality coursework, personable professors, excursions throughout Spain, proximity to a coastline of white-sand beaches, and life in an exciting, cosmopolitan city.

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Program Highlights

Cultural activities and day trips to explore the region
Spanish language courses available at all levels
Variety of courses in English and Spanish for a wide range of majors
Centrally located housing and campuses
Study and socialize alongside students from both near and far

Popular Programs

Semester in Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Semester in Barcelona - Universitat Autònoma

Our Semester in Barcelona – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is hosted by a young, entrepreneurial university. The campus where study abroad programs are based also happens to be a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site! The UAB is a top-ranked university, renowned for business, international relations, and economics, but with a variety of other courses instructed in English. Or, if you speak Spanish, you can choose from a variety of subject area courses instructed in Spanish.

study abroad in barcelona spain at universitat de barcelona with cis abroad

Semester in Barcelona - Universitat de Barcelona

Looking for the perfect blend of history and progress? Spend a semester at renowned Universitat de Barcelona, a 500-year-old institution and consistently ranked #1 in all of Spain. You'll enjoy an excellent mix of local Spanish, European, and other international students in your classes and around campus. Choose from a nice range of courses taught in English, most with a local focus; or, study Spanish language at any level.

Semester study abroad in Barcelona - Business & Creative studies

Semester in Barcelona - Business & Creative

Between its impressive architecture, inspiring art, vibrant culture, and wondrous landscapes, Barcelona can feel like a dream. Add to the mix an academic program that encourages creativity and innovation, and you can quite easily make your dreams come true! Choose from an abundance of courses taught in English across art, business, communications, design, and more. Enjoy attentive and interactive instruction in a relatively small campus setting.

Program Reviews

4.87 Rating

based on 31 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 87.1%
4 rating 12.9%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4
Support 4.65
Fun 4.75
Housing 4.65
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Foodies

Showing 1 - 8 of 31 reviews

I would highly recommend the CIS Barcelona Creative Industries Program. Not only is studying abroad a life-changing experience, but this unique program has only added to the amazing experience. My days were filled with learning and exploring the amazing city that is Barcelona. Classes were open and creative, and even the professors would take us on field trips to further learn. Not only was living in Spain amazing the staff on site were very supportive in the whole experience. There were also different excursions including a winery tour, a tour of Blanes, and a trip to the gorgeous Spanish city of Sevilla. So if you want a life-changing experience and one that is even more unique than others you should check out the CIS Barcelona Creative Industries Program.

I completed a summer intern program and I would HIGHLY reccomend it! CIS Abroad provides such a fun experience for all students. Students get to participate in many excursions (cooking class, boat day on catamaran, dance class, tour of roman ruins, tour of Park Guell, etc.). In addition, the program director is so sweet and always makes sure to provide the best for all the students.

In terms of my internship experience, I appreciate that CIS Abroad matched me with a place that was closest to my interests and experiences. I was a social media marketing intern for a Spanish Language academy. Not only did I gain hands-on experience, but I also learned so much about the Spanish working culture, and different communication styles.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

If I did this all over again, what thing I would change would be to eat more tapas!! The food in Spain is absolutely delicious (especially their tapas). So I would love to go back and try out more tapas restaurants and the unique dishes each one offers.

Pros

Strengthen your Spanish Language Skills
Lots of things to do (you'll never get bored)
Delicious and CHEAP food

Cons

Can feel lonely at times
Be careful of pickpockets

Day trip to Costa Brava (Botanical Gardens in Blanes)

I had so much fun with CIS. I think a big benefit of CIS over other programs is you have a smaller cohort, so you get to really know everyone which is great if you are studying abroad with people you don't know. Barcelona is such a cool city with its proximity to the beach and so much artwork and history, you can spend days just walking around the city and shopping! One thing that I would recommend is eating out for tapas because it is very affordable and social! You will learn so much about yourself and the world from this experience! I can not recommend it enough.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My biggest advice is to be a "yes" person! Take advantage of everything Barcelona has to offer even when your tired and Tiktok is a great place to find local events happening!

Pros

Group Living
Near the beach

My semester in Barcelona was everything I hoped for and more! Through my program, I met so many lifelong friends from all different backgrounds. I got to immerse myself into the Spanish culture by trying new traditional foods, taking a daily Spanish course, attending Universitat De Barcelona, and traveling to different regions of Spain. Through the program CIS, I got to experience so many amazing activities and excursions that were included in my semester tuition. This included a cooking class where we learned to make a famous traditional Spanish dish, Paella. A weekend trip to Grenada, in the South of Spain was also included along with many more amazing trips!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My advice to future travelers on this program is to say yes to things, even if it seems out of your comfort zone.

Pros

Improved my Spanish speaking abilities
Met many new friends from all around the world
Traveled to several different countries

Winery tour and wine tasting excursion through CIS!

This past summer I was able to travel abroad to Barcelona with CIS abroad. It was such a wonderful, eye opening experience that changed my life for the better. My onsite director, Nicole, was able to walk our group through the diverse Spanish culture. We participated in a cooking class where we learned how to make paella, Spanish tortilla, gazpacho, and other dishes. CIS also organized a catamaran trip up to Costa Brava for the day, a wine tour, dance classes, scenic hikes, and visits to Barcelona's famous attractions. Having an advisor like Nicole who encouraged us to go and experience the Spanish culture made me feel comfortable in a new place. I highly recommend studying abroad in Barcelona with CIS Abroad if you want to get a well rounded, culturally immersive experience!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

In Barcelona I was able to see the famous works of Gaudí. He was a Spanish artist who became popular in the Modernisma period. Inspired by nature and the Earth around him, he created various houses around the city. Gaudí used colorful tiles in his work that resembled all parts of nature like trees, wind, plants, and animals. This made for an unreal viewing experience!

Pros

Spanish culture and food
Close proximity to the beach
Great and interesting professors

Cons

Living apartments are slightly out of main city
Can get loud at nights
Limited food included

I recently returned from a semester abroad in Barcelona through CIS Abroad. This experience was truly one of a kind and I would highly suggest going through CIS Abroad if you are considering doing a semester overseas. From group dinners to cooking classes to excursions, there are so many memorable experiences that you will not only enjoy but that will also bond you with your fellow peers. Nicole, the site director for Barcelona, ensured that everyone had all of the tools needed to succeed and was always available to help beyond what was expected of her.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

My advice to any future travelers would be to get outside your comfort zone. Say yes to foods you have never tried before or visit a country that was not originally on your "must visit list" or invite your classmates to get lunch with you after class. The more you put yourself outside of your comfort zone, the more you will experience and grow as a person. At the end of your experience, you are not going to wish you did less, so say yes whenever you can.

Pros

Immersing myself into many different cultures
Learning a newfound sense of independence
Creating bonds that will last a lifetime

Cons

Tiring
Feeling stressed
Can be costly

10/10 would recommend this program. Looking back, I have realized I loved every moment while studying abroad through CIS Abroad Program. The CIS Abroad program made my stay in Barcelona so worth it. I felt super comfortable and safe living in a country I have never been to. The CIS on-site program director was/ is super helpful, she gave me tips on where to eat, places to shop, and sights to see. The program trips were really fun and allowed me to get to know a lot of other students with in the program.

Pros

Comfortable living
Travelled to new places
Made so many close friends

I absolutely LOVED my time in Spain. From the people, to the food, to the city itself, Barcelona was AMAZING! CIS Abroad staff was extremely helpful with all of the pre-departure paperwork and I had no worries at all about my semester abroad. Upon arrival, the on site staff were extremely helpful in facilitating anything that I needed. In addition, the program has many fantastic excursions that really generate a love for the culture of your chosen country. I cannot more highly recommend any other experience. To this day I still talk to the friends I made while abroad in addition to my host parents on an almost daily basis. The connections I made in my semester abroad will be connections that I carry with me for a long time to come. Again, 10/10 would recommend.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

If I were to do this program again I would go in the Fall, instead of going in the Spring like I did, just so that I could experience autumn in Barcelona. (Spring was amazingly beautiful though)

Sitting in Parque Guell, overlooking the city of Barcelona

My host parents, roommates and I went on a family road trip to Andorra!

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose CISabroad's Barcelona Semester because it was the most cost-effective, and I knew I would get more value for what I was paying for. I was originally interested in going to Spain since I had an ache to -really- learn Spanish and I have a few family members in the south, and once I began to look into costs I found that a semester in Barcelona was the cheapest option. As I learned more about BCN I realized it would also be the most fun option! The city is so alive and there is so much to do! So between the cost and the potential fun to be had in Barcelona, I decided it was the perfect place for me.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The program planned multiple dinner get-togethers and program excursions. They planned trips to Sevilla, Zaragoza, Morocco and many more! We even took day trips to places like the Dali Museum! The also brought us to some of the nicest restaurants in Barcelona and paid for us to try all of the typical Catalan cuisines.

I planned all of my own trips that I wanted to take outside of Spain (other than the Morocco exchange) and I planned all of my own typical day trips and night adventures. The program helped with every step of the process for getting to Spain and even recommended a travel agency to book the flights. CIS made it very easy to get there and get adjusted. They also set up my housing arrangement, which was so much easier.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I wish I had known what type of American students Barcelona attracts! A lot of what I found was that people were only in Barcelona to party with other Americans. They didn't want to go to Spanish clubs or meet Spanish people. I found that my semester goals were very different than the goals of others, and I wish someone had been able to warn me about what type of people want to study there.

I also was surprised by how many people knew each other in the program! I wanted to travel solo, and also wanted to jump into a semester in a new city not knowing anyone, so when I arrived at my program orientation I was sad to see how many people already knew each other! That being said, people still wanted to make friends and branch out, but not as much as I had hoped. If you are planning to go alone (which you absolutely should, it was the best decision I made, just make sure you're going to a place that attracts the type of people you want to meet.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Classes are very light in this program, so I only had 2 a day, so 4 total hours of class. My week looked like this: Every day (Monday through Thursday- no Friday classes!!) I had class 9-11, and then a break and then 11:30-1:30. So I was done with school by 1:30 and had the whole rest of the day to explore Barcelona! I usually took this time to grab a subway going in a direction I had never been and would wander around that part until I felt like going home!

Sometimes I would meet up with other people in my program and we'd explore together, but sometimes you find the best places by yourself! This is how I found the Gracia neighborhood, and that ended up being my favorite spot in the city.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was going abroad alone and feeling LONELY! Since I was traveling alone I was really worried I wouldn't meet anyone I liked and would spend the whole semester alone and talking to my friends at home too much and feeling sad for myself. I overcame this by actually being alone!! I realized that exploring a new city alone is the best way to learn because you can always do exactly what YOU want to do! You don't have to worry about anyone except yourself!! And when you're having amazing experiences and seeing cool unique Gaudi architecture and accidentally stumbling into a parade on the street, you'll realize there is no one better to share the experience with than yourself!

Going abroad should be about doing what you want and learning about yourself and what you're capable of!

What city would you recommend people to go to, and where should they stay?

If you get a chance, (which you absolutely will) GO TO PRAGUE!!!!! This is the best city maybe in the world, and if you need a hostel to stay at, stay at Hostel One Home!!! Prague is the best city in the world and that hostel showed me all the best bars, sights and fun places to be! Prague is such a unique city that feels so beautifully Eastern European. It was one of the most unique cities I visited and I met the best group of people there.

I traveled alone after my semester for 1.5 months and never met as many great people as I did in Prague. I found that the city has SO MUCH character and also the best gelato at this place called gelato! I cannot express how much I loved this city and how much fun it was! If you can go to any place in Europe, it should be in this city!

Carlee Fields

Rachel Solino

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Location

Location:

Barcelona

Currency:

Euro

Weather:

Jan-Mar

61 F / 41 F

Apr-Jun

77 F / 48 F

Jul-Sep

84 F / 57 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 43 F

Airports:

Barcelona–El Prat

( BCN )

Whether you prefer beaches, buildings, or history, Barcelona is the place to be. Spend your time admiring Gaudi's work at La Sagrada Familia, walking down the Mar Bella beach, or learning about the history in Catalonia.

About CIS Abroad

We spark growth. We envision a more connected and compassionate world transformed through individuals who have traveled, lived, and learned abroad. We provide U.S. university students with the best value in education abroad, considering affordability, academic relevance, cultural immersion, and support. We are boldly committed to providing the...