Studying in Barcelona: What and where to study?

Barcelona is a city of international renown and, as a result, the possibilities for studying in Barcelona are very wide-ranging. When it comes to choosing, the first thing you should consider is what your motivations are, what previous training you have and what professional opportunities most appeal to you.

If you are still not sure what to study, a good option is to take a vocational orientation test to find out what your skills are and what you are most interested in or attracted to.

As in the previous point, there are many options for where to study in Barcelona: academies, schools, universities, training centres… Depending on the type of studies you want to take, one option or another will be more appropriate.

If you are a foreigner, to study in Barcelona you must have a valid passport and, on certain occasions, you must also have a valid visa. Remember that, to get one, you must go to the Spanish consulate in your country of origin, so you should start this procedure before coming to Spain. Otherwise, you will not be able to stay in the country.

If you plan to stay for less than three months, depending on your country of origin, it is probably not necessary to apply for a visa as long as you can prove the reasons for your trip and you have accommodation in Barcelona. On the other hand, if your stay is longer than six months, when you arrive in Spain you must apply (within a maximum period of one month) for a foreign student card at the Foreigners’ Office or at the corresponding police station.

Whatever your case is, if you plan to come to study, it is advisable that you plan your stay in advance and check with the official bodies in your country to find out what documentation you need.

The truth is that it is not strictly necessary to know Catalan to study in Barcelona, as many of the training programmes offered in the city are in Spanish or even English. For example, at Elisava we have several master’s degrees such as the Master’s in Editorial Design or the Master’s in Visual Design that are taught in both Spanish and English.

You just have to bear in mind that, to study any course, the most common thing is that the centre where you are going to take the classes will ask you to prove that you have the necessary language level to follow the classes. Therefore, if the training programme specifies that the classes will all be in Catalan, it is likely that you will need to prove that you have mastered the language.

In short, remember that Barcelona is a modern, open and cosmopolitan city, so you can communicate with your environment in both English and Spanish without any difficulty. You should also bear in mind that if you do not speak either of these two languages and are not fluent in Catalan, it may be much more complicated to study and live in Barcelona. However, you can always sign up for a Catalan or Spanish course to learn the language at your own pace. If you sign up for an academy when you are already in Barcelona, you will find that you learn very easily and much more quickly because, without realising it, you will already be soaking up the language in your everyday environment.

In short, if you are thinking about the possibility of studying in Barcelona, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from wanting to do so. As you can see, there are many options, so you will easily find a training option that suits your needs. Remember that at Elisava we remain at your disposal for any questions or queries you may have. Good luck in your new adventure!