My time at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spring 2011)
To make it easier, I would best describe my semester abroad in chronological order:
As a business administration graduate student, I started looking for a program that would fit perfectly into my course of study in terms of time and would also give me the opportunity to improve another language (besides English). I took a practical semester time off at the university and began an internship in July 2010, which I completed by the end of the year. After extensive research on the Internet and the choice of language to be Spanish (as I had already learned Spanish at school for 3 years), the Pre-Established Study Abroad Program offered me the best possible conditions. In terms of time, it also fit perfectly into my semester planning, as I could start right after the internship and was back at my home university in the second week of the new semester. Read more student reviews on Andyeducation.
August / September 2010 – application (preparation) and choice of subjects
Since I wanted to submit my application on time, I have already requested all the necessary documents after MicroEDUs had sent me all the relevant forms and documents. I was able to send all the documents for the “check” to Münster in advance and was also informed about the expected start of the application. Since I had read beforehand that the places in this program are in great demand, I submitted my documents right at the start of the application and had no further problems.
I chose my subjects according to my main interests, as I couldn’t expect any credits. In retrospect, I can especially recommend the “International Marketing” course and of course the Spanish language course. I had 4 subjects including the language course and felt very well occupied and still had time to enjoy Barcelona to the fullest.
December 2010 – looking for an apartment
Luckily, shortly before it started, I had already been promised an apartment through a good friend. Therefore, unfortunately, I cannot tell you how you can find a good place to stay in Barcelona quickly and easily. During the time I lived in Barcelona in the “El Born” district. This was a direct hit for me in every respect, as it is only a few minutes’ walk to the beach, the Ramblas and only a few stops by underground to the two university buildings of the program. Therefore, I would recommend this district without hesitation and can say that there is a lot to discover and experience in addition to many small bars, restaurants and cafes.
From my friends there, I can say that Eixample is also a recommendable residential area. Central, well located for the university and also with a wide range of options for going out.
The standard of the apartments was on average below that of the German, the rooms were smaller, but the whole city had a different flair. Many old buildings, small alleys and the people make Barcelona a cozy, modern and diverse metropolis.
January 2010 – Uni, life, enjoyment
About the university:
The Eixample campus is centrally located and modern. The opposite is the Sant Pau campus, which is also a real insider tip for tourists thanks to its architecture and history. I had fans in both places, which means a bit of “pendulum”, but it is quite bearable.
I particularly liked that the courses were small, the proportion of project work and group work in the semester was large and the exams were fair at the end. So you shouldn’t have any problems passing courses there. Instruction is required in almost every course, but is not 100% checked and also allows some absenteeism. AND: Friday is really a day off there! The lecturers are friendly, personal and committed to the matter. Above all, they also know that in the semester abroad you want to experience so much more besides university and are therefore not that strict.
To the city:
party, beach, culture, history and big city feeling – Barcelona unites all of this. The range of parties and nightlife options is almost endless and offers something new every day. For sunny days, a visit to the beach is a good idea, where you can quickly forget that you live in a big city. Museums and various festivals as well as a large number of excursion possibilities do not make a Sunday boring. It is a good idea to plan an excursion destination in or around Barcelona for each week in order to get to know the city and the country in peace and with good preparation.
About life: In
terms of quality of life, the Spanish food deserves a special mention! The many small restaurants and bars offer tapas as well as many other inexpensive surprises and delights! Just go to one of the small restaurants in the side streets and try it out! In addition to the food, the Spanish cava is also a must-have that I really miss in Germany. In the supermarket and in larger department store chains there is everything your heart desires. You should definitely buy fruit and vegetables at Boqueria! The prices are comparable to those here in Germany and of course differ in a few cases due to availability. All in all, apart from the rent, life there was not particularly more expensive than in Germany.
For living:
Prices for a room (6-10 m²) are, in my experience, between 300 and 500 €. In any case, it is important to note the proximity to the subway, the distance to the university and, in winter, the availability of heating! This is not a matter of course for many landlords. Otherwise it may well be that you get or move into an apartment without a rental agreement.
About the language:
First of all: NO, the Catalans also speak Spanish and are friendly when you are! In my time I never had any problems communicating and after a while you quickly learn to use “everyday sentences”. The daily language course is really helpful and has given me a solid language base. The language in the university is English and for a few subjects and advanced students also Spanish. However, 90% of the courses are American, which is why we speak English in class or in group work.
April 2011 – conclusion
I am very happy with my choice and still benefit from the impressions and experiences in these almost 4 months. The only point of criticism that you should bear in mind when making your choice is that no Spanish students are admitted to this program. This means that you are only among “internationals” and that you will mostly speak English. I benefited from both and during this time I was able to improve my English in addition to Spanish. However, it is more difficult to get to know locals or Spaniards if you don’t have them at university.
