What to study in Barcelona and where?

In addition, the extensive public transport network, safety and Mediterranean lifestyle make Barcelona an ideal city for those seeking a comprehensive, high-quality academic experience. Ultimately, studying in Barcelona is much more than just obtaining a university degree: it is a personal and professional experience that will shape your future.

The requirements to enter Catalonia depend directly on the student’s nationality, the reasons for their trip and the length of their stay. Once you have gained admission to the university, we advise you to go to the Spanish Embassy in your country. This will provide you with all the necessary information and documentation regarding legal matters.

It is essential to have a valid passport or visa, documents justifying the reasons for the trip, medical insurance and, in most cases, the reservation of accommodation, such as the university residences in Barcelona. We recommend that you take a look at our university residence in Barcelona, in Ciutat Vella, where you will have the opportunity to meet and share experiences with students of different nationalities. If you are looking for a residence for your Erasmus in Barcelona and enjoy your international experience, Unihabit has a lot to offer you.

If you don’t know exactly what to study in Barcelona or where, start by finding out about the international programmes offered by the city’s universities.

Foreign students who wish to study in Barcelona and who are not from member countries of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA) will require a student visa. Depending on the length of your stay in the country, the documents you will need to provide may vary:

We also recommend consulting directly with the university where you will be studying, as many of them offer international student services that facilitate the management of visas, accommodation and documentation.

Completing all the necessary procedures will allow you to focus on what’s important: deciding what to study in Barcelona and where to do it, based on your academic and professional interests.

If you’re still not sure what to study in Barcelona and where to do it, below we’ll show you the city’s most prominent academic areas.

Barcelona is a university city with a huge variety of degrees. Some of the most prominent areas are:

• Technology and engineering: Barcelona is a leader in innovation and offers cutting-edge degrees in computer, industrial and telecommunications engineering.
• Health sciences: Medicine, Nursing and Biotechnology are degrees in high demand and with excellent job prospects.
• Economics, marketing and business: business schools such as ESADE and IESE are among the best in Europe.
• Arts, design and creativity: the city is known for its artistic spirit, with schools such as IED and Elisava.
• Social sciences and humanities: Law, Psychology and Communication have a strong academic presence.
• Environment and sustainability: More and more students are choosing degrees related to climate change and environmental management.

Find out more about the most popular university degrees in our article Which degree should I study in Barcelona?

Choosing where to study in Barcelona may seem complicated at first, as the city offers prestigious universities in almost all areas of knowledge.

Now that you know how and why to study in Barcelona, it is important to be very clear about what to study in order to choose the university that best suits you. The first thing you should take into account when choosing your studies are your motivations, tastes and, also, the career opportunities they will allow you to access. It is advisable to carry out a study of your aptitudes, taking into account your weaknesses and abilities, which will help you to visualise the possible obstacles and opportunities.

If you already have a clear idea of what you want to study, the next step is to choose the university or school of higher education. Some of the city’s leading universities are the University of Barcelona (UB), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). You will also find business schools such as IESE Business School and ESADE. These are just a few examples, in Barcelona you can find many more depending on what you want to study.

If you want to know which university offers your ideal degree, visit our article Universities in Barcelona to study.

With this information, you will be able to make a better decision about what to study in Barcelona and where to enrol.

The most of classes on postgraduate, master’s and doctoral courses are taught in Spanish and English, although Catalan tends to be more widely spoken on undergraduate courses. In general, teaching material is available in all three languages.

As a result of the increase in international mobility, English is becoming increasingly widespread and many lecturers and administrative staff use it in their daily work. In the case of Catalan, as we have already mentioned, depending on the degree you are going to study, there may be subjects where it is required. Don’t worry! In these cases, the lecturers will be able to help you by providing a summary in Spanish at the end of the class or even by holding private tutorials to clarify any doubts you may have.

In any case, mastering the local languages will enrich your experience if you decide to study in Barcelona.

Starting a new stage of your life to study in Barcelona can raise many questions, so these tips will help you adapt more easily.

• Learn to organise your time
• Take part in your university’s activities
• Get to know other students and manage your personal finances well.

These aspects will make your experience much more enriching.

You can read more recommendations in our article Coping with your first year at university.

Let yourself be swept away by Barcelona and create unforgettable memories during such an important stage of your life as your student years. Consider the pros and cons of studying in Barcelona and get ready for adventure!