CIS Abroad Semester Programs in Barcelona, Spain
CIS Abroad Semester Programs in Barcelona, Spain
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
General grants/scholarships

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
Spanish

Pricing

$15,490
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.

Sep 03, 2026
7 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

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.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program’s supportive staff, organized excursions, and immersive cultural experiences in Barcelona. Classes are manageable, housing comfortable, and the city offers endless exploration.

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

Video and Photos

Popular Programs

Semester in Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

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

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

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

4.89 Rating
based on 36 reviews
  • 5 rating 88.89%
  • 4 rating 11.11%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4
  • Support 4.65
  • Fun 4.8
  • Housing 4.6
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 36 reviews
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST EXPERIENCE with CIS ABROAD in BARCELONA

Leaving to study abroad in Barcelona was my first time ever leaving the country and exploring a new culture. I could not be more grateful for choosing CIS Abroad for such an amazing experience. From the very beginning, the CIS Abroad staff helped me prepare for the experience of a lifetime with genuine care, guidance, and support. That support continued throughout my time abroad. CIS Abroad made me feel safe by providing comprehensive resources for students, including access to therapy, medical care, and additional support whenever we were sick or needed assistance. Barcelona quickly became my second home, and studying abroad was truly one of the best experiences of my life. I grew personally and professionally, and created memories that I will carry with me forever.

20 people found this review helpful.
MaryJane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Leaving the Country for the First time with CIS Abraod

As someone who had never left the country before, studying abroad in Barcelona through the CIS Program made me safe and prepared for exploring a brand new city and culture. There was plenty of opportunities to explore local neighborhoods, traditions, and historical sights that gave me a deeper appreciation for the country I was living in. It was obvious that our program coordinators had a passion for helping students adapt to their new environment, and gave us the proper guidance for embracing and following day to day customs and routines of locals. I left my Barcelona with a new appreciation and passion for travel and curiosity for the world around me.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future travels of this program is to appreciate your home city as much as possible! I knew a lot of friends who left the city to travel to other countries nearly every weekend, while this also seemed like an exciting fun adventure, I am glad I spent the majority of my weekends in Barcelona. At the end of my program I felt like a real local, eating at "non touristy" restaurants and experiencing normal day to day Catalan life. I can confidently say that I LIVED in Barcelona, and it will always feel like a second home to me.
Pros
  • Going to the free museums that were available on the weekends and to students.
  • Living by a metro station made it super easy to travel into the main city quickly.
  • Our neighborhood felt extremely safe, I never felt like I was at all in danger coming back from classes
What other participants should know
  • My program for LCI was shortest out of the other CIS Barcelona Programs, while it was nice to not need to get a visa approved, I wish I could've stayed in the city longer.
  • My program with LCI also only had maybe 80 students, I knew the other university programs had larger student sizes, so it would have been nicer to meet more people
  • I wish we had more program advisors! while the ones we had were super helpful, they had many students to help, having more advisors would have evened out the work more.
35 people found this review helpful.
Leena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester in Barcelona

Studying abroad in Barcelona was the best decision i made. The site directors were so helpful and thoughtful. I studied communications and business in LCI which was also such a huge part of my academic growth.

Going alone in the Fall really helped me get out of my bubble and as fun as it could be to go travel the world with your friends, I really recommend doing it alone with strangers too. The Spanish culture, weather, people, everything was perfect and if I could I'd do it all over again. I would definitely recommend CIS and CEA CAPA to go abroad.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I went to Mallorca on a weekend trip with girls I met there and we spent 8 hours on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it was truly the the best experience.
Pros
  • Site directors
  • Excursions
  • The friends I made
81 people found this review helpful.
Katerina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Barcelona Spring Semester UAB

Before I went abroad it sounded scary to go to such a new place for so long leaving what I know behind. When I decided to go it was a risk I decided could be worth it but as the days leading up to my departure came I had more and more regret about leaving. The second I landed in Spain I knew I was wrong and this would slowly become the best experience of my life. I quickly realized how important it is to see the world outside of what I call home and immerse myself in different cultures. Not only was it so rewarding moving somewhere temporarily where nobody knows you and you can be whoever you want to be, but the friends I have made from this are ones I cherish for life and still talk daily with. From traveling on weekends to learning how to navigate the huge city of Barcelona I soon felt like Spain was my home and the thought of leaving terrified me more than anything. This is and will always be the best decision I have ever made, the fun, friends and things you learn about the world and yourself are priceless.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could do this entire thing over again one thing I would change is doing more, exploring more, spending more money on things because it was such a once in a life opportunity and I regret taking certain things for granted over there. Now that its over I see that there's so much more I wish I did but I didn't want to spend the money on it, or was tired or was lazy but you won't ever get to do this again at this age with this program so do it all!!!
Pros
  • Outstanding food
  • Easy navigated public transportation
  • Amazing shopping
What other participants should know
  • Pickpocketing
  • Commute to UAB
  • Late dinners
104 people found this review helpful.
Sadie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Semester in Barcelona with CIS

I absolutely loved my semester in Barcelona with CIS Abroad! Throughout my pre-departure to my last day there they were all there for help and assistance. They provided day trips, and weekend trips which were some of my most enjoyable memories! I also gained some of my best friends through CIS! The advisors that were onsite in Barcelona were always so helpful whenever an issue arose or whenever we just needed someone to talk to. CIS also had other programs in Barcelona that students were able to choose from allowing for students to pick what is best for them.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future study abroad students is to live in the moment. You're going to be doing so much in such a small period of time and it will be hard to not get all caught up in it, but enjoying your time while there is so important.
Pros
  • Housing being included
  • A day trip and weekend trip included
  • Constant help and check-in's during the semester
What other participants should know
  • The language barrier
104 people found this review helpful.
Avamarie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Take a chance and Invest in Yourself

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.

162 people found this review helpful.
Ava
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

BEST EXPERIENCE

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
What other participants should know
  • Can feel lonely at times
  • Be careful of pickpockets
171 people found this review helpful.
Molly
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester in Barcelona

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
166 people found this review helpful.

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