Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Semester in Barcelona Past Review

By (University of South Carolina - Columbia) - abroad from 01/02/2019 to 03/26/2019 with

SAI Study Abroad: Barcelona - Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
a lot of independence, travelling skills, adjustments to culture. 100% worthwhile

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

the classes at UPF were much harder than other schools study abroad students went to and the teachers were not very helpful

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

loved how we were in the same building as another group of sai students

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

our program had a few activities and dinners that integrated us into the culture

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

theres a lot of pick pocketing but if you're aware and careful you will be fine

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

sai planned many activities and trips for us

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

many grocery stores in walking distance so i saved money by not eating out as much but traveling expensies even the metro and taxis were a lot

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? grocery shop, get a 3 month metro pass and learn how to travel on it right away, try not to buy drinks while out, get a travel phone plan and try to mostly use wifi, buy flights and airbnbs ahead of time

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • sevilla trip with sai
  • cooking class with sai
  • housing arrangements
* What could be improved?
  • having activities on the weekdays instead of weekends when students mostly travel
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? a little bit of spanish

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.