As the second largest and most important city in Spain, Barcelona is a centre of excellence for education and culture. Today, it is possible to find 39 universities in Barcelona, which means that people from all over the world have a wide range of options to choose from to study in what is considered to be one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
But Barcelona is also a city that stands out for its quality of life, its good climate, its cultural diversity and its wide cultural offer.
Universities in Barcelona
As we have seen above, there are many universities to choose from in Barcelona, both public and private. One of the most renowned is the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), which has achieved excellent international qualifications and reputation in various programmes, such as nanoscience.
For its part, the University of Barcelona (UB) is regularly ranked number 1 for schools in Spain, appearing in the list of the best universities worldwide. It is very well positioned in its various fields, but particularly in medicine and biology.
The Polytechnic University of Catalonia is an institution with a strong orientation towards engineering and architecture. It is the largest engineering university in the region, but it also has other interesting courses in mathematics, computer science and agriculture, among others.
Another university of note is the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), which is considered the best for those interested in technology or business. This institution’s programmes in business development, finance and marketing, among others, are renowned today, attracting people from all over the world.
Living and costs in Barcelona
While Barcelona tends to be a little more expensive than other less crowded Spanish cities, prices still remain below, for example, US cities.
One example of this has to do with food. In Spain and particularly in Barcelona there is a widespread culture of eating out. In this sense, Barcelona’s living costs as of May 2022 could range from 2.2 euros for a cappuccino in a café and 3 euros for a domestic beer in a bar, as well as 12 euros for a meal in a budget restaurant for one and 54 euros for a 3-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant.
Furthermore, when it comes to going to the supermarket, a kilo of rice usually costs 1.24 euros while a dozen eggs costs around 2.32 euros, a kilo of apples 1.95 euros and a kilo of chicken fillets costs around 12.2 euros.
In terms of housing, a 1-bedroom flat can cost between 780 euros outside the city centre and 975 euros in the centre. A 3-bedroom flat can be found for between 1280 and 1700 euros respectively.
Spanish courses for foreign students in Barcelona
One of the best ways to learn Spanish is to stay in places where the language is spoken. In this sense, studying Spanish as a foreigner in Barcelona allows you to have an immersive experience in which you will be able to put into practice what you are learning on a daily basis.
Nowadays, Barcelona is a great international city with students coming from all over the world. This makes it a city full of multiculturalism and options to enjoy and share with others. Thus, you can find a wide variety of Spanish classes adapted to your level and to your particular needs and tastes at any given time.
When looking for a Spanish course in Barcelona, there are different certifications that can be obtained. However, one of the most important and recognised is the DELE, which stands for Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language). It is a certification that allows you to demonstrate your level of Spanish, including different aspects of the language such as reading and writing, speaking and comprehension in general. All universities apply the DELE, both in Barcelona and in other parts of Spain.
