University study program in Barcelona

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is among the best academic centers in Spain and the European Union, both for the quality of its teaching staff and for its excellent research. The university currently offers 77 undergraduate courses, 90 doctoral programs and 328 postgraduate and continuing education courses. The UAB has 43,000 students and over 4,200 members of staff.

Our Pre-Established Study Abroad Program at UAB takes place at the Sant Pau (Casa Convalescència).

The Casa de Convalescència is one of the buildings located within the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau grounds and constitutes one of the late works of Catalan Modernism. The complex was declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1978 and later named part of UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage for Humanity in 1997.

The Universitat Autònoma is recognized and accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education as a granting degree high learning institution.

 

Academic Program for fall, spring, may and summer sessions with courses, taught in English and Spanish, in Business, Economics & Politics, Art & Architecture, Communications, Mediterranean Studies and Language.

Overview

Minimum GPA: 2.75
Language of instruction: English and Spanish
Language requirements: None. Open to all levels.
Place of instruction: Sant Pau Campus, metro line L4-yelow
Participants: International students
Before arrival students take an online test to determine language proficiency
Students choose courses from any area for a total of 180 hours during the Term, 360 hours for the academic year (additional courses are available at an additional fee), 45 hours for May and 90 hours for summer. Students may combine May and summer sessions.

F = Fall | Sp = Spring | M = May | Su = Summer | ECTS = European Credit Transfer System

LANGUAGE

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Lengua Española - 90 hours
Levels A1, A2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1, B2.2, C1
SA1001S Sp/F 90 12 Spanish Language
Lengua Española - 45 hours
Levels Beginner (A1), Elementary (A2), Low Intermediate (B1.1), Intermediate (B1.2), Upper Intermediate (B2.1), Advanced (B2.2)
SA1002S Sp/Su/F 45 6 Spanish Language
Español para los negocios (Level B1.2 required) SA1005S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish Language & Business
Español Académico (Level B1.2 required) SA1005S Sp 45 6 Spanish Language
Introduction to Catalan Language SA1003C Sp/F 45 6 Catalan Language

BUSINESS

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Business in Action: Local Companies in a Global World SA2043E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
Career Management SA3055E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
Cross-Cultural Management SA2005E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
Doing Business in Emerging Markets SA2042E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
E-Commerce and Online Businesses SA2017E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Business
Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation  SA2016E Sp/M/Su/F 45 6 English Business
Estrategias de Marketing Internacional (Level B2.1 required)  SA3031S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish Business
Gestión Intercultural (Level B2.1 required)  SA3032S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish Business
International Business  SA2007E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Business
International Finance  SA2008E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Business
International Marketing Strategies  SA2009E Sp/M/Su/F 45 6 English Business
Managerial Skills for International Business  SA2041E Sp/M/Su/F 45 6 English Business
Managing Services  SA2011E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
Negocios Internacionales (Level B2.1 required)  SA3030S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish Business
People Management  SA3054E Sp/F 45 6 English Business
Strategic Management of the Firm  SA2010E Sp/F 45 6 English Business

ECONOMICS & POLITICS

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Behaviour and Incentives in Economics: The Case of Soccer SA2025E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
Econometrics SA2057E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
Geopolitics and International Relations SA3043E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics
Inequality, Poverty and Globalisation SA2035E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
International Economics SA2006E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
Introduction to Cryptoeconomy and Decentralized Finances SA3056E Sp 45 6 English Economics
Politics of the Developing World SA3036E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics
Politics, War and Economics in the Age of Globalization SA2019E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics & Economics
Strategic Behaviour in Business and Economics SA2004E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
The Creative Economy SA2024E Sp/F 45 6 English Economics
Understanding the European Economy SA2012E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics & Economics

ART & ARCHITECTURE

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Arte Español (Level B2.1 required) SA3045S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish Art
Digital Photography SA3042E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Art
Modernisme: Art Nouveau Architecture Sketched and Explained SA3038E Sp/F 45 6 English Art & Architecture
Spanish Art and Cultural Heritage SA3026E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Art
Spanish Contemporary Art SA3025E Sp/F 45 6 English Art
The Great Art Collections in Spain SA3039E Sp/M/F 45 6 English Art
The Seven Wonders of Spain SA3040E Sp/F 45 6 English Art
Urban Interventions, Graffiti & Public Sculpture SA3037E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Art & Architecture

COMMUNICATION

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Communication and Gender SA3048E Sp/F 45 6 English Communication
Intercultural Communication SA3049E Sp/M/F 45 6 English Communication

MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Mediterranean Politics SA2021E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics
A Greater Middle East SA2023E Sp/F 45 6& English Politics
An Urban Approach to Spain and Europe SA3022E Sp 45 6 English Architecture
Barcelona City Planning and Architecture SA3029E Sp/Su/F 45 6 English Architecture
Civilización y Cultura Españolas (Level B2.1 required) SA3024S Sp/F 45 6 Spanish History
Cultures Without State: the Case of Catalonia SA3028E Sp/F 45 6 English Politics
Ideas that Made Europe SA3052E Sp 45 6 English Politics
Mediterranean Culture and History SA2022E Sp/F 45 6 English History
Spanish Civilization and Culture SA3023E Sp/M/Su/F 45 6 English History
Spanish History and Politics: 1936 to the present SA3050E Sp/F 45 6 English History
The Image of Barcelona in Literature SA3044E Sp/F 45 6 English Literature

STEM & PSICOLOGY

SUBJECT CODE TERM HOURS ECTS LANGUAGE AREA
Behavioral Neuroscience SA2061E Sp 45 6 English STEM
Data Analysis SA3062E Sp 45 6 English STEM
Ethics in Artificial Intelligence SA3058E Sp 45 6 English STEM
Project Management for STEM students SA3060E Sp 45 6 English STEM
Emotions, Stress and Self-Regulation SA1059E Sp/F 45 6 English Psychology

 

Students may choose from the following housing options: Home Stay, Residence Halls (at an additional fee), Shared apartments, and Independent living. ALA always tries to provide first student housing choice, but we cannot guarantee it. It is why we recommend students to apply in advance so they have better chances to obtain their preferred option.

Home stay:

Staying with a host family is a way to enrich student’s experience and to reinforce the knowledge gained during the program. We select our families carefully and know them for years. All of them have extensive experience accommodating foreign students. Upon arrival students receive a key of the house so they may come and go as they please. Two daily meals are provided and one laundry load per week.

Residence:

This is an off-campus student’s residence. Spaniards and international students are residents of this option mostly in double rooms, depending on availability some singles may be offered as well. Kitchen and bathroom may be private or shared. There are also common areas. Usually, the residence offers laundry facilities and meals may be, or not, included. An additional fee is required.

Shared apartment:

These apartments are shared by international students. They mostly have double bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with cooking utensils, washing machine and refrigerator, and shared bathrooms. Students must respect building community rules and maintain the apartment in decent conditions. The price of accommodation includes the cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water) within reasonable expending. Meals are not included.

Independent living:

This is an option for students who do not want to be lodged by ALA. They will receive a rebate but ALA’s staff will not help them in their housing search.

ALA will provide excursions to all students participating in summer, semester and academic year programs. This will allow our students to get familiar with some of the most interesting cities and areas in Spain from cultural, artistic, and historic perspectives. These are some examples of previous excursions:

Madrid:

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city. It is the most important economic and financial center of the Iberian Peninsula. Full of great Museums (El Prado, Reina Sofía…) Madrid offers endless cultural opportunities and a vibrant social life. Walking through the streets of Madrid quarters (Habsburg, Bourbon) visitors will discover its long and interesting history at the same time that admire Madrid’s modern business districts.

Girona and Figueres:

Girona offers its enchanting medieval quarter, its narrow streets, and its Catalan personality. Figueres is the place of surrealism, home of the Dalí museum and where visitors will discover the art works of this international genius.

Penedés Wine Region:

This is one of the most important areas in Catalonia of wine making and the cradle of Spanish Cava (Champagne). Students will see firsthand all the process of wine and cava making visiting some of the most important cellars in the region.

The Pyrenees:

These magnificent mountains are not only the perfect place for practicing sky but also the ideal environment for people who enjoy nature and its multiple expressions: high mountains, wild rivers, lakes, and wild life.

Costa Brava:

This is one of the most visited summer spots in Spain. Northern Europeans just love it. Once you see the beauty of its beaches and its Mediterranean pine woods along the coastline you will agree that this is a very nice place to enjoy with your friends.

Sitges:

Just a few miles South of Barcelona this small, young, modern town offers visitors a lay-back beach town where they may spend a relaxing time. Sitges was a fishing town that has become a nice place where restaurants and leisure places are all over the city.

Valencia:

It is the capital of the Valencia region and the Spanish Costa Blanca. This Mediterranean city, which is the third largest city in Spain, offers the best paella since this is the place where this Spanish and international dish was created. The old medieval town and the modern Palacio de las Artes y las Ciencias provide visitors with a mixture of old and new architecture expressions. Do not forget to stroll along the Malvarrosa beach and enjoy the social life the city offers.

 

All our staff has international experience. All of them have studied abroad and personally know what is to be in a foreign country. Their dedication and professionalism make possible for ALA to provide an essential part of our additional offering: personal attention and constant support to our students. Consequently our students are always guided to be in the best possible condition on health and safety. At the same time our staff knows Barcelona perfectly and recommends our students the best cultural and social options that the city offers along the year.

 

Staff Biographies

Corina Tesler – Barcelona Program Assistant

Corina is originally from close to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and holds a Bachelor’ Degree in legal and medical Translation from the University of La Plata, a PhD in Intellectual Property from the University of Buenos Aires and is a Certified International Spanish Editor and Proofreader from the Litterae Foundation, Argentina. She moved to Barcelona four years ago with her family, studied and got certified C1 in Catalan. She loves living and being part of the rich Catalonian culture. Having been a student herself at second year of University for a semester at SB City College (California, USA) she understands from her own experience what it is like to live and study in a foreign country; she enjoys working with students and showing them around Barcelona.