Program Overview
In this program, facilitated by CIEE, students take courses in Barcelona: the largest city on the Mediterranean Sea and brimming with culture, sport, fashion, finance, media, and entertainment. The CIEE Economics and Culture Program is designed for economics majors who want to increase their Spanish language skills and take rigorous coursework at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), which is internationally recognized for its economics program. All other courses are taught by experienced university faculty and business professionals.
Students live either with a Spanish-speaking family, in a residence hall with other Spanish and international students, or in a shared apartment with CIEE students. In addition to their coursework, students can opt for an internship to gain practical experience with NGOs, schools, businesses, and more. Students can visit nearby Roman ruins, see Salvador Dali's work, summit Tibidabo Mountain, and take weekend trips to other Spanish cities. Access UPF's course catalogue and listings here.
Note About Arizona State University Courses
CIEE offers the option to enroll in online Arizona State University (ASU) courses in many program locations. Students who are approved by Vanderbilt Study Abroad to participate in a CIEE program are not permitted to enroll in online ASU courses. Vanderbilt does not award credit or funding for online courses taken abroad.
It is the student's responsibility to complete and submit visa applications within the appropriate processing timeframe. Visa applications submitted late may not be processed before the start of the program and may impact students’ ability to study abroad. Students that choose to submit their Spanish visa applications independently must account for BLS Visa processing times: Once the visa application is received and marked as complete by the BLS office, the period to receive a visa decision is up to 2 months from the day following the registration of the application in the visa system, but this period may be extended if an interview or additional documents.
Spanish Visa Process
A student visa is required to study in Spain for U.S. passport holders (students holding passport of other nationalities should consult the Spanish consulate regarding visa requirements). Visa application process will occur after you have been accepted to the program. Key items to note:
- The visa process can take 5-8 weeks after submission of application.
- Students must surrender/give up their passport during the visa process. Spring study abroad applicants are advised to not schedule international travel between October - December.
More information can be found here: Vanderbilt Study Abroad Spain Visa Application Guide
