Studying and Interning in Barcelona Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academics at IES Abroad were more intense than a lot of my peers and I were anticipating, but the teachers and advisors were very approachable when I had issues or questions.

On-site administration of your program

The administration seemed organized and that they truly cared about our well-being. They kept us updated on the safety of Barcelona and its surrounding cities and countries, and also kept track of where students traveled on the weekends. When I had questions about trips or classes, they were knowledgeable and helpful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a homestay and couldn't ask for a better experience. My Spanish mom was the nicest, sweetest, most welcoming host I could have asked for and is part of what made my experience in Barcelona so incredible. She was patient when helping me speak Spanish better, cared about how I liked my classes, and ensured that I felt comfortable in her home. I would definitely recommend a homestay in Barcelona to get a true cultural experience.

The food in Barcelona is amazing. There's a huge variety of restaurants and markets to eat at (close to IES) and you can't really go wrong. I loved going to a market called La Boqueria between classes and exploring restaurants in the Gothic Quarter and Gracia neighborhood.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt extremely integrated with the local culture, but mostly because I was working an internship and living in a homestay. In Barcelona, it's easy to only hang out with other students from your home school or other abroad students instead of local students and families. I think in order to truly get integrated with Barcelona's local culture, you will need to do a homestay or internship during your time abroad.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never was sick abroad, but my roommate got sick and everything seemed fine. She went to a doctor that IES recommended and he gave her the antibiotics she needed. I never heard of any issues with healthcare.

As long as you are aware of your surroundings and make smart decisions, you will be safe in Barcelona. My friends and I felt safe in our time abroad.

Overall, I felt like IES was pretty organized and cared about its students. They always sent out emails about safety in Barcelona, whether it be protests or something more severe happening in Barcelona/Spain/Europe. I loved that they offered an internship option and helped students communicate with supervisors on-site before arriving in Barcelona.

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

Living in a homestay helps you live on a student's budget. During the week, my roommate and I only spent money on lunch and experiences, and we had no financial issues abroad. People that lived in apartments or dorms seemed to spend a lot more money, and mostly spent it on food.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Host Family
• Apartment

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• My homestay was amazing.
• My internship was eye-opening and interesting.
• I improved my Spanish in my IES Spanish class and loved my architecture and science classes.

• I would recommend organizing due dates of exams, papers, and projects, so that students are not writing 4 papers at the same time, having 4 exams on the same days, etc.

The Networker