We became aware of MicroEDU through a friend who had already completed a semester abroad with MicroEDU. The application process and the submission of the documents were extremely quick and easy. Of particular note is that getting a contact of MicroEDU was available to us to answer questions and help us. The MicroEDU team also offered us to take care of matters such as changing course, which we did not have to take advantage of.
Accommodation
I traveled with two fellow students from Fulda. We agreed in advance to go looking for an apartment in Barcelona so that we could visit it. I would advise everyone to do the same, as we noticed on site that the images on real estate websites like Idealista often do not correspond to reality. We arrived at the end of August and rented a central apartment through Airbnb for the first week. That week we looked extensively for apartments. The offer is extremely large, so it shouldn’t be a problem to find an apartment upon arrival. In retrospect, the apartment we found turned out to be a real stroke of luck. Three of us paid1200 euros per month, including fixed costs, for an apartment which was only one block away from the shopping street La Rambla and which was also modernly furnished. From the stories of other students at the UAB, however, we realized that we were extremely lucky with the apartment. Read more student reviews on Liuxers.
Studies
The lectures started in the first week of September with an introductory event in which the students were welcomed and the basic things about the city and the university were suggested to them. We chose the courses for the semester in advance. So we decided on:
International Marketing Strategies
Managerial Skills for International Business
Strategic Behavior in Business and Economics
The creative economy
On the whole, we were completely satisfied with the courses we chose. In International Marketing Strategies, however, similar to the course The Creative Economy, the workload is relatively high, as there are many presentations and projects to be worked on over the entire semester. However, I have to say that the lecturer in The Creative Economy stuck in my mind with his enthusiastic and funny manner. In Strategic Behavior in Business and Economics, it is all about probability calculations, this course is likely meant a heavy workload for anybody. Probably the lowest workload was in the Managerial Skills for International Business course. This course is characterized by role play and outdoor activities. The exams in general are much easier than at German colleges and universities, and you hardly have to study for these exams. However, there are projects, homework or presentations in every course that have to be worked on bit by bit over the entire period. Since each of these small tasks is assessed, it is almost impossible to fail a course.
Leisure
Of course, free time should not be neglected in a semester abroad. Barcelona offers an extremely wide range of activities that you can do in your free time. Otherwise, Barcelona offers a rather unique lifestyle, as the city only wakes up around noon. Also, unlike in Germany, the nightlife doesn’t start until after midnight. The clubs on the beach like Shoko or Opium are extremely touristy, so look for other local clubs. One should definitely see the Bunkers del Carmel as a sight. It’s best to take something to eat and drink with you and enjoy the magnificent view. For everyone who likes fishThe best paella in town can be found at the Olympic harbor in the restaurant La Fonda del Port Olímpic. Furthermore, it is definitely worth going to a FC Barcelona game while Messi is still on the pitch. (Live Messi is even more blatant). I can also recommend trips to the Costa Brava, these areas are not as crowded as Barcelona and offer beautiful beaches.
To get from A to B, it is best to use the metro and buy a T-Jove ticket for around 80 euros at the beginning of your stay. You can then drive indefinitely for ninety days. The ticket is definitely worth it, as a ten ticket costs around 11 euros. This means that you can use the metro for almost the entire duration of your stay.
