Quick Facts

Program Dates

Fall Semester: Early September through mid-December
Spring Semester: Mid-January through mid-May or mid-June

Application Deadlines

Fall: May 10
Spring: November 1

Language of Instruction

Spanish. Four semesters of college-level Spanish (or equivalent) is required. If your major is related to the fields of Business, Economics, International Relations, Sociology or Political Sciences you can enroll in UB courses taught in English, in addition to the required Spanish language and culture course and BCA Spanish-taught electives.

University of Barcelona (UB)

One of Europe’s most highly regarded universities, the University of Barcelona offers a wide range of courses from 100 departments.
Since 1972, more than 1,500 BCA students have studied at the University of Barcelona.
Located in the Raval campus of the University of Barcelona (downtown), BCA fully operates within the University, reinforcing students’ involvement in the Spanish academic system.
BCA is one of the few American programs whose students may enroll in regular classes at the university and study side-by-side with Spanish students.
BCA Signature Courses take place on the University of Barcelona campus and are taught in Spanish by associate and full professors of the University of Barcelona.
BCA students receive a University of Barcelona student ID that allows them to use all the university's libraries and facilities

Housing

Experience the culture first-hand by living with a local family. BCA places one student per family to enhance language and cultural learning. Families are carefully chosen and alumni often remark that living with their host families was one of the most meaningful aspects of their time abroad.
Through the BCA “Intercambio” program you can meet with a Spanish student to improve your Spanish language skills and to learn more about the culture.

Required Course

Intensive Course: Special Topics in Spanish Grammar and Culture (3 credits). All BCA students are required to take an intensive language and culture course three weeks before students start their University and BCA classes. The pre-semester course is an additional benefit that BCA offers you to enhance your preparation for studying in Spain. The course consists of grammar and conversation sessions as well as Spanish art and history classes.

Orientation

Get acquainted with your new cultural environment through a five-day orientation during your first week in Barcelona. You will tour the city, the University campus and facilities and meet for individual and group advising sessions.

Educational Excursions

A multi-day history and art excursion at the beginning of the semester is a distinctive feature of BCA Barcelona.
During the semester, as an integral part of classes, BCA organizes visits to relevant political or historical sites of the city. In the past, students have visited Barcelona City Hall, the History Museum of the City of Barcelona, and the Catalan Administration Palace, amongst others.
Other excursions have included: the medieval town of Besalu, Dalí’s museum and native town, Cistercian monasteries in Tarragona, Picasso’s museum in the land of his first cubist painting, the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and the city of Girona, and more.

Resident Director

Full-time, on-site director, Dr. Carmen Barbosa-Torralbo has directed the BCA Barcelona program for 20 years and is an accomplished scholar. She supports BCA students in numerous ways including escorting them to many wonderful sites and matching student interests with volunteer opportunities in city organizations and events.