January in Barcelona
Spend January studying abroad in Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region! Designed for students from all academic backgrounds, this three-week winter program invites you to learn the intricate connection between cultures while exploring local traditions.
When class is in session, all courses are held at CIEE Barcelona and delivered in English. Outside the classroom, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the historical city, enjoy an afternoon walking through Park Güell, and tour La Sagrada Familia.
Discover for yourself why Barcelona is world-renowned for its stunning architecture, world-class cuisine, and vibrant cultural heritage!
Unique Experiences
HOMESTAYS
Live with a local family who can introduce you to the city’s culture and help you adapt to life in Barcelona
HANG OUT WITH LOCAL STUDENTS
who will join in fun activities like sampling churros con chocolate, making pinchos, and enjoying a flamenco show
ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY
of this 2000+ year old city
66
MUSEUMS
69
PARKS AND GARDENS
8,000
RESTAURANTS
Your Destination
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain with its own distinctive history, culture, and language. Exploring the city, you will observe Roman remains contrasting with the ultramodern buildings, reflecting the city’s commercial and industrial successes. CIEE’s January in Barcelona program allows you to discover this rich, new culture and gain a critical global perspective.
CIEE Barcelona is conveniently located in a historical pedestrian passageway in the heart of the city. In it, students will find staff offices, classrooms, and open-air terraces. It is close to the host universities and to the city’s main attractions.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Barcelona.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- One of our popular day trips takes you to Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery retreat high atop one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Catalunya. Not only is its history of significant religious importance but the surrounding natural beauty is nothing short of breathtaking. There you can visit the monastery to see La Moreneta (the black Madonna), listen to the world-renowned Boys’ Choir (whose history dates back to the 14th century), and trek any of the numerous mountain trails where you’ll take in incredible countryside views and see the most unusual rock formations in all of Catalonia. Are you ready? Let’s go!
- Discover the Gràcia neighborhood, famous for its bohemian and artistic style and streets filled with color and culture.
- Visit the oldest preserved garden, reflecting both Neoclassical and Romantic styles – and try your luck in the park’s labyrinth maze!
- Eat like a local and try popular traditional dishes like churros, patatas bravas, tortilla de patata, tapas, and pinchos.
- See a flamenco show!
- Hike the Carretera de les Aigües for amazing views over the city.
Program Blogs
How to Balance Education and Fun While Studying Abroad
Study abroad is without a doubt one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in anyone's life. When people decide to study abroad it is because they have a desire... keep reading
How to Survive your First Week in Barcelona
Bon Dia! That is Catalan for 'Good Morning". Didn't brush up on your Catalan? That's ok! Just be aware that Catalan is the official language of Barcelona, but most people... keep reading
Housing & Meals
HOUSING
All housing is within a 30-minute commute to CIEE.
Homestays: Live with a Spanish family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room.
Apartments: Students can live in apartments shared with other CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Each apartment will have shared common spaces, including a kitchen and bathroom.
Residence Halls: Students usually live with a mix of CIEE students and local and international students. If local health and safety regulations permit, students live in single, double, or triple rooms. Students usually share kitchens and common areas.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive.
MEALS
Homestays: Students have breakfast and dinner with their host families, and they are responsible for lunch. Students do not typically have access to use the kitchen at the host family home.
Academics
During January in Barcelona, all students take one course. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering. Classes are held at the CIEE Barcelona Study Center.
CIEE Barcelona is located on a beautiful pedestrian passageway, very close to Barcelona’s main square, Plaza Cataluña. The street was built in the 1860s, and the whole passageway preserves the appearance of that era.
Course Information
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Visual and Performing Arts
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program January 2025 3 weeks | Application Due Deadline Passed | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $4,150 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $2,570**
Housing = $1,200***
Insurance = $80
Total Fees = $4,150Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Meals not included in program fee = $210†
International Airfare = $1,250††
Local Transportation = $21†††
Books & Supplies = $30
Personal expenses = $140††††
Total Costs = $1,651Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***includes two meals per day for homestay students; no meals are included for students staying in the Residencia option. Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†The listed estimated cost is for students in homestays. Families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner) and students purchase lunch (there isn’t usually access to a kitchen). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $260 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Local transportation: t-usual (1 month) = 20€ ($21)
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Andrés Tabárez
Center Director
Andrés Tabárez is Center Director at CIEE Barcelona. Andrés holds a Ph.D. in Classical Studies from the University of Barcelona (UB).
José Luis Espinosa
Academic Director
José Luis holds a Ph.D. in Modern Languages and Gender Studies from the University of Salamanca (USAL).
Fernando Janeiro
Senior Program Manager
Nando holds a Master's Degree in Humanities from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) and is certified as a Spanish as a Second Language instructor (International House/ Universitat de Barcelona).
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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