Program terms: Fall, Full Academic Year, Spring
Restrictions: Vanderbilt applicants only
Type of Program: Study Center/University Hybrid
Costs: Budget Sheets
Academic Calendar: Similar to VU
Key Dates:

Term	Application Deadline	Program Dates
Fall 2025	03/03/2025	09/03/2025 - 12/20/2025
Full Academic Year 2025	03/03/2025	To be determined

*IMPORTANT UPDATE*
The CIEE Barcelona: Economics and Culture program has reached capacity for Spring 2025. Students will be put on a waitlist and there is no guarantee that spots will open. Students can still submit applications until August 28, 2024, to be admitted to the waitlist. 


Beginning with the Spring 2025 application cycle, admission to the CIEE Barcelona: Economics and Culture program will be subject to enrollment capacity. Once the maximum enrollment is reached, applications will close, even if it’s before the Vanderbilt (GEO) advertised application deadline. Depending on capacity, there may be a waitlist.

We encourage advance planning and research to ensure that the  CIEE Barcelona: Economics and Culture program is a good fit for your academic, personal, and career goals. Students applying to CIEE Barcelona: Economics and Culture should submit their application early, and are strongly encouraged to have a back-up study abroad application.

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. Students take a Spanish language course based on their skill level, 1-2 courses at the UPF Department of Economics & Business and/or at the UPF HESP program, and 2-3 CIEE elective courses. Language courses are taught by experienced professors who specialize in teaching Spanish as a second language. 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.

For more information, visit program homepage.

Fact Sheet

Housing: Apartment (shared), Dormitory, Homestay
Minimum GPA: 3
Language of Instruction: English, Spanish
Language prerequisite: No
Additional prerequisites: Yes, see program homepage
Costs: Budget Sheets
Student contacts: Peer alumni

Photo: Courtesy of Ben Woods