Support
UCEAP students are supported by a network of people throughout the world. Your study abroad experience will be guided by trained staff who are there to support you as you prepare to study abroad, while you are abroad, and throughout the program. While on a UCEAP program, all student participants have travel insurance coverage and 24/7 emergency assistance.
On-site support
The UCEAP Barcelona Study Center is in an 18th-century building at the University of Barcelona and in front of one of the most downtown popular squares: Plaza Universidad. You'll attend arrival sessions, orientations, and most of your regular courses at the center. The building has easy access to the library, cafeteria, free Wi-Fi, and student services. Enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the gardens around the building, called the green area in the heart of Barcelona.
Talk to study center staff about
- Academic advising and help registering for classes
- Housing information
- Public transportation
- Volunteering opportunities
- Linguistics exchange with Spaniards
- Travel recommendations for day and weekend trips
- Health and safety
Study center activities may include
- Three excursions every semester in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia
- Thanksgiving and farewell dinners
- Cultural activities, such as a Catalan Parliament visit
- Cultural traditions and festivities, such as castellers human towers and calçotada barbecue
Gemma de Blas (she/her)
Program Manager, Barcelona Study Center in Barcelona, Spain
Gemma helps students register for classes, arrange internships, renew their visas—all the logistical aspects for a successful study abroad experience. She recommends immersing in the culture and traditions of the casual Barcelona lifestyle.
She says, “I love chatting with students while taking a coffee in the outdoor patio de letras.”
Gemma hopes students will enjoy Barcelona’s amazing, well-rounded environment. Its beaches and mountains are within walking distance. The food and architecture are as unique as Catalan society.
Patricia López (she/her)
Program Assistant, Barcelona Study Center in Barcelona, Spain
Patricia helps students choose classes and adjust to the new culture and academic environment. She enjoys seeing them face the challenges of a study abroad experience and overcome them.
She says, “You will discover that Barcelona is not as you imagined—it's actually better.”
Patricia hopes students learn from the eclectic culture of Barcelona by strolling through the city, going to traditional cafeterias, and enjoying the uniqueness of all the city’s nooks and crannies.
Barcelona Study Center
Orientations
To help navigate the transition of leaving home and going abroad, you’ll attend various in-person and online events. At these events, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and meet the staff who will be supporting you while you study abroad. You’ll learn things like:
- What student services are available at your host location
- Where to find local health care
- How and when to register for classes
- What to do and who to contact in an emergency
- How to travel to and from where you live to classes
- How to handle money matters like opening a bank account
- How to use technology, including your phone, and get access to the Internet
On-site orientations may include a tour of the campus and other local sites to help you settle in. At orientations, you'll also meet other students (local, international, and/or from UC campuses) who will be part of your experience.
Students with dis/Abilities
Students with dis/abilities can and do study abroad. A successful experience is dependent upon careful planning, coordination, and communication.
Focus on programs that best fit your interests, academic goals, and career aspirations. You'll work with the staff at the disability services and study abroad offices on your UC campus. They can help you identify strategies to remain flexible and think creatively about accessibility and realities abroad as some international locations can be different than what you are typically accustomed to in the US. They can also help you get the necessary paperwork you'll need to apply.
After you apply, your UCEAP program specialist will coordinate with the institution abroad and connect you with those who can arrange for an accessible experience. If your needs cannot be accommodated at any point in the process, your advisors will help you choose another program. You will not be alone in this decision.