Considered to be among the best universities in Spain, the University of Barcelona has over 70 undergraduate programs, over 350 graduate programs, and over 90 doctorate programs. With its four campuses situated in different parts of this destination city, the University of Barcelona hosts 63,700 students, more than 7,000 of which are international, to which the University offers a language resources program.

Social life, culture, and diversion are, by far, some of the most prominent reasons international students choose the University of Barcelona. With an extensive bus and metro system, the Mediterranean city features—throughout its winding streets filled with markets, food vendors, and street performers—a seemingly endless number of clubs, restaurants, pubs, and etc. Also home to a predominant art and film scene, there are plenty of local cliques with which to network, infiltrate, and climb through.

That said, if you are not proficient in the local languages – Catalan and Spanish – you may find living and studying in Barcelona a bit difficult. The official language is Catalan, and while the University tries to “make up” for this with its free Catalan courses, most locals address foreigners in Spanish. Moreover, knowledge of English isn’t particularly widespread around  Spain, and this does include its youth. Many international students complain of the city’s too-expensive accommodation, and the University’s lack of any kind of assistance in finding it, which can be pretty daunting.

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