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Location
  • Spain
    • Barcelona
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Art History Design Graphic Design Marketing

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors Masters
Housing
Apartment
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
12300
Price Details
Program cost includes tuition, housing & SAI's 360° Services
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Travel Insurance Wifi
Aug 26, 2020
Apr 29, 2022
Wish List
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

SAI invites you to experience cutting-edge design at the Elisava Barcelona School for Design and Engineering! Elisava's design-centered programs prepare students for the professional world and promote close collaboration with companies, institutions and universities around the world.
SAI students at Elisava immerse themselves in a dynamic and cosmopolitan learning environment populated by scholars and instructors from around the world, while enjoying SAI’s famous student services, including excursions, activities, and a dedicated onsite support staff. SAI oversees and coordinates all aspects of student enrollment, including application processing, course selection and credit, visa advising, housing, student health insurance, and transcripts.

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Video and Photos

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Students overlooking Barcelona
Catamaran ride with students
Elisava campus display
Elisava students
Student in Elisava's workshop
students in front of Sagrada Familia

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Program Highlights

  • Study design in Barcelona, a hub for creativity and cultural richness.
  • Highly-skilled teaching staff composed of professionals in design fields.
  • Exceptional art and design facilities and exhibition space available.
  • Enjoy SAI's 360° Services

Program Reviews

9.71 Rating
based on 7 reviews
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  • 9-10 rating 85.71%
  • 7-8 rating 14.29%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
  • 1-2 rating 0%
  • Academics 8.4
  • Support 9.6
  • Fun 10
  • Housing 10
  • Safety 10
Showing 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Default avatar
Qiuhong
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

Apr 29, 2022

-Met a lot of new friends in the program
-The SAI staff was really helpful and nice, tons of nice trips hosted by them as well including well planned day trips!
-The Housing was amazing, better than what I had back home.
-SAI classes are decent comparing with home school classes (Parsons), the professors are generally helpful and nice as well.
-The city itself is amazing and enjoyable.
-Would 100% recommend.
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Pros
  • friends
  • seeing design works from local students
  • trips around the city and in europe
Cons
  • language class at school isn't super helpful
5 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
friends
Darian
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Program

May 12, 2019

I studied at ELISAVA in Spring of 2019 and it is definitely worth your time and money. Don't be fooled into thinking this school will be easier than your home university though. ELISAVA is a world renown design school and their teaching staff are a good example of why. You can really make some great connections a learn a lot (don't worry you can still travel on the weekends). My SAI program coordinators were there to answer any questions at all steps of the process and our excursions/trips were so fun. Barcelona is a city that has a lot going on and it can be a really fun place to be. You'll get tons of advice on what things to see and food to try and meet a lot of people from all over the world. There is so much to love about the program it cannot be put into a small review.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Most of southern Europe (Barcelona in particular) have these bazaars all over. They are the equivalent to dollar stores and they are a cheap resource for any house supplies or school supplies you might need. It saved me so much money.
20 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Marisa
27
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

SAI's Barcelona/Elisava Program

Aug 24, 2017

SAI is incredibly put together! Had an amazing experience with them from pre-departure days all the way through till the end. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to study abroad in a heart beat. Mireia, the program coordinator for Barcelona, is more than perfect for her position. She is impossible not to love, and without her, I definitely wouldn't have had the amazing time that I did. As for Elisava, I think it was a great school that helped me view design in a completely different way than I was used to. It's a prestigious school that will look amazing on resume!

What would you improve about this program?
Elisava could have done a much better job with their criteria in some classes, and the teachers they chose to teach them.
17 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Alyssa
26
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Exceeded my expectations

Apr 24, 2017

I had a wonderful time in Barcelona with SAI and Elisava. SAI was very helpful and accommodating during my time here. I could not have asked for better on site staff or the excursions provided. I loved the fact that the program was smaller, about 20 people, because it allowed everyone to get closer and the excursions were more personal. Elisava was a little disappointing in regards to helpfulness but I did enjoy the tours around the city with my classes

15 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Kajsa
26
Female
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Always there for you

Apr 24, 2017

SAI was an amazing help throughout my whole study abroad experience. From day one to nearly our last Mieria (program coordinator) was there to help me with what ever I needed. The school was really nice, a lot of projects with limited tests. We have several activities through the program and I recommed attending each one. We got to see so many amazing places and had unique experiences. Our housing was a beautiful apartment in a very central location. The housing agency was very helpful to work with as well.

What would you improve about this program?
One more weekend excursion
16 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Collin
28
Male
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

SAI BCN A+

Jun 19, 2016

My study abroad experience was one of my favorite semesters throughout college. There is not one thing I would've changed about my semester. SAI is an incredible program. They are so helpful and kind. Our Barcelona Program Coordinator, Mireia, was truly incredible. Mireia is so helpful and caring, she made the experience even better. I am so thankful that I ended up studying through SAI programs and had Mireia as my coordinator.

14 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Sally
29
Female
8/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Dual City- Furniture Design 2 Review in Barcelona

Jul 27, 2014

We went on visits of furniture companies and we built a full scale model out of cardboard. I was able to sit on my model piece, but I found it difficult that the teachers wouldn't let me do what I felt like as a designer. My design changed a lot in the process and it was a great design but I didn't feel like it was my own creation. The cardboard was a difficult medium especially since we didn't have a lot of resources for the rest of the materials we needed to build it. We never got scissors and it was almost the last day when we finally got hot glue. Our lunch was suppose to be from 1-2 pm everyday but it was sporadic and on the last day we didn't get a lunch break. I learned a lot about the design process and how to make a full scale model, however, I wish the professors were a little more helpful and more structured. The time allocated wasn't enough to build a full scale model and I had to come in early or stay late multiple times and it was expected of me to do so.

What would you improve about this program?
I would prefer it be taught by one teacher and then an assistant instead of two teachers that switch off. I had to tell each one what I was thinking and I felt like it wasted a lot of time since they had two very different opinions.
17 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sarah Langston

Program
SAI Study Abroad: Elisava School of Design (Barcelona, Spain)
Job Title
Senior Recruitment and University Relations Manager
Sarah has worked in the field of education abroad for the past 8 years. She loves her current position of collaborating with universities to provide life-changing overseas opportunities for students.

Sarah Langston from SAI Programs

What is your favorite travel memory?

My first time abroad was a high school study abroad program to Mexico. That short-term experience was so transformative that I studied abroad twice in college (to Mexico and Spain), taught English in Spain for two years after graduation, and then entered the field of education abroad.

Most of my favorite travel memories involve any time I can get off the beaten path and explore local sites: hole-in-the-wall restaurants, small towns, hidden neighborhoods. Getting to know locals and experiencing the daily life of the host country is always exciting to me.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I love hearing how our returned students continue to be involved in international education, because of their positive study abroad experience. We have a large SAI student alumni ambassador network, and many seek out ways to go abroad again or gain cross-cultural experience on their home campuses.

One of our returned students participated in three different SAI programs, worked as an SAI student intern, and now works for us full-time!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

All of them! In seriousness, I would love to participate in each SAI program for a different reason.

In Florence, there are tons of experiential courses offered that provide hands-on learning. In Sicily, there is a unique course on migration studies that I’d love to take. In Siena, all students stay with host families and participate in significant community involvement. I love food, so I’d also enjoy participating in our CETT Gastronomy program in Barcelona.

There are so many options - it’s hard to choose!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

SAI is a small organization with a focus on programs in Western Europe.

We intentionally keep our size small so that we can offer customized personal attention and really cultivate an in-depth understanding of our European locations.

We offer programs in a variety of disciplines, but have especially strong offerings in art/fashion/design, business, communication and hospitality - this academic emphasis also sets us apart and helps us provide unique opportunities for students.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Passion for the SAI mission is a critical factor in our success. With passion comes commitment, innovation, creativity, and motivation.

At SAI, we all love our work and feel strongly about offering quality programs and providing excellent student support. Everyone is very dedicated and knowledgeable about all our programs.

Each team member’s passion is evident in the work that we do, and we are always eager to share our enthusiasm with students and university partners.

Sarah Langston from SAI ProgramsSarah Langston from SAI Programs

About SAI Programs

Since 1995, SAI has provided students with exceptional cultural and educational experiences abroad, offering the opportunity to enroll in some of the finest schools available to English speaking students in Europe. SAI is dedicated to providing academic and cultural learning experiences abroad that enhance global awareness, professional development...
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