Question
My daughter is graduating high school next summer in California and wants to study in Spain, at the university of Barcelona. I was hoping someone here can guide me as to what she will need as far as paperwork, permits, visas etc places to rent a studio, apt or if there’s dorms? We traveled in 2019 and she absolutely fell in love with this beautiful city and even since then she’s been studying there.
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“My understanding is that she will need to obtain a student visa. She will need to have her official transcripts notarized and apostilled, as well as her diploma. Now with regards to getting admitted to the university itself, I’m not sure what the process looks like or when the application window starts etc.”
“There are often dorm-like facilities that are privately run that may or may not be near the university itself. Lots more students rent rooms in share houses. Studio apartments tend to be way more €€€ and unless affluent, not done so much. Student visas tend to be relatively straightforward , with the major component from the university being the visa letter. Check the university she is applying to. There are a few in Barcelona. Make sure they have programs in a language she can speak. Check their requirements. Some require things like having transcripts translated and apostilled. This can be a bit time consuming, so you’d want to have that done before the registration and admissions window opens.”
“I recommend using this website. It was incredibly helpful in choosing a college in Europe. My daughter is doing her entire bachelors in the Netherlands (3 year program) there is a parent and student community. It is different from studying abroad for a semester or a year and being affiliated with an American university https://beyondthestates.com/amp/”
“I am an American who studied abroad most of my academic life. I would suggest finding an American university that has an extension campus in Barcelona. Down side is that they are geared for a year or two study abroad at most. In madrid there is Saint Louis University and in Valencia there is Florida State University. The course credits are American and there is no need to asses their equivalency to get an American degree. Here is a great article that Speaks about both paths. Good luck! https://www.studying-in-spain.com/”
“Okay so I will be attending graduate school in Reus. It’s a long process to applying so it’s good that you’re starting now. The first things she needs to do are find the programs at schools in BCN that she’s interested and are in the language she can manage. There are plenty of English options. Be prepared to spend $$ on translating transcripts and getting apostilles. I would not recommend doing an extension of an American school as someone else mentioned because it will be incredibly expensive. I also suggest that she write an incredible motivation letter. I really feel that mine is what got me into multiple universities in Spain because my grades are decent but they’re not fabulous”
