Fun city and school! May 19, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were interesting and engaging however many of the professors were disorganized. The courses were involved and rigorous, but I did not feel very supported by professors or the institution. Elisava did not provide necessary resources for many of the assignments which led to students needing to take on extra prices or outsource resources such as printing services and project supplies.

On-site administration of your program

API was very helpful and responsive. They periodically sent email updates and there were many different people available to reach out to if necessary.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I paid extra for a private accommodation, but did not find this worthwhile at all. The communal areas were incredibly dirty most of the time and quiet hours were not respected. The windows in the kitchen did not open so there were unpleasant smells at times. At the end of my stay the fridge was unplugged with my food items still in it. I requested an all female floor and was placed on a co-ed floor as well. I did feel safe with security and my floor mates. The private room and cleaning services were great, AC and heating was sufficient.

There was no food options included in my residency. I had to pay extra to eat at the restaurant downstairs from my building. The food was good at the restaurant and staff was friendly.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I enjoyed the local culture and the API events helped me learn alot about Catalan culture which I appreciated.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was easy to set up a visit with the local hospital and my abroad insurance covered all the costs. The staff were friendly and accommodating especially of the language barrier. I was offered a translator to come with my to my appointment. However it is difficult to get a timely appointment if necessary. I did not have any urgent health needs, but the healthcare service did need a few days advance to find an appointment for me.

pick pocketing is a problem in the city, but as long as you follow common sense and keep an eye on your belongings you will be ok. Traveling on the metro at night was generally very safe, the only area I ever felt unsafe in at night was El Raval. When participating in the nightlife it is important to have trusted friends with you and to keep track of your valuables at all times.

I loved the people I met and the courses I took. I wish the professors were more involved and I had chosen to live with a host family so I could feel more integrated in the culture. Being surrounded by Americans and isolated in my housing was not helpful for the transition. Elisava was a great place to practice design and meet people from all around the world.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I definitely spent more money than expected. the kitchen in my housing was unhygenic so i did not feel comfortable cooking and had to purchase food more than expected. The metro was affordable and I did not find myself having to pay for transportation aside from my student metro card.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• International Students

• The people at Elisava
• The projects
• The excursions (Dali coast and trying Calcots!)

• Integration into Barcelona
• More diversity in the dorm housing and cleanliness (enforcement of housing rules)
• More academic resources, maybe a budget per class to spend on materials

The Academic or Linguist