WHY STUDY IN BARCELONA?
Located on the western shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and second largest city in Spain, with an urban area population of 4.5 million people. Its more than 2,000 years of history as a center of trade and culture have left their mark on the city’s architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage. Said to be the most cosmopolitan city in Spain, it’s not surprising that Barcelona has become one of Europe’s most popular venues for Study Abroad students, with its many café terraces, its 50 museums to choose from (including some that house Picasso and Miró), its narrow medieval streets in the Gothic Quarter, its plazas, theaters and concerts, its beaches, and, perhaps most colorful of all, its whimsical architectural creations of Antoni Gaudí, including his iconic Sagrada Familia. Want to relax after your day of classes and homework? How about sitting at a table with some paella and people-watching along the Ramblas, or finding a spot on a mosaic sea serpent bench created by Gaudí at Parc Güell?
important notice:
Covid-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for this program.
HIGHLIGHTS OF BARCELONA
- Open to students age 18 and older who have completed 12 units of college course work with a minimum 2.25 grade point average
- Optional flight transportation package; accommodations either in a fully furnished apartment with kitchen or in a homestay.
- Take lower division courses that are transferable for Bachelor’s degree credit.
- Program includes an orientation program and half-day guided tour of Barcelona, a travel pass for use on buses and the metro in the central zone, an Articket pass, a day excursion to Girona and Figueres including entrance to the Dalí Museum, and subsidized cultural activities such as trips to museums, historical and cultural sites, theater and dance, tapas evenings, and sporting events.
WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAM?
This program is offered to enable students to study abroad while making normal progress toward their degree objectives, and earning fully transferable units in courses taught by community college faculty and guest lecturers. This program is offered in cooperation with three other California community college districts and with the American Institution for Foreign Study (AIFS), which arranges transportation, living accommodations, and a wide range of student and instructional support services. Students need not be currently enrolled at one of the sponsoring colleges in order to participate. Units earned in Barcelona will appear on transcripts issued by the participating colleges.
CLICK HERE FOR THE BARCELONA BROCHURE (PDF)
CLICK HERE FOR THE BARCELONA FLYER (PDF)
CLICK HERE FOR THE AIFS BARCELONA HANDBOOK (PDF) (Coming soon!)
DATES AND MEETINGS
PROGRAM DATES
- Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025: Depart U.S.
- Sunday, Sept; 14, 2025: Arrive Barcelona
- Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 15-16, 2025: Orientation and workshops
- Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025: Classes begin
- Week of Oct. 27-Oct. 31, 2025: Mid-Semester Break
- Friday, Dec. 12, 2025: Depart Barcelona
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
- Priority Application Deadline: Friday, March 7, 2025
- General Application Deadline: Friday, June 6, 2025
- Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation Meeting: A Saturday in August (TBD) at Santa Rosa Junior College from approximately 9 am to 12:15 pm.
FALL 2024/SPRING 2025 INFORMATION SESSIONS (FOR FALL 2025 DEPARTURE)
Our instructor to Barcelona, Danielle King, will be facilitating informational meetings both in-person and via Zoom beginning in December 2024 and into the Spring 2025 semester.
INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS IN DECEMBER:
- Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024: In-person meeting from 2:00pm-3:00pm in Baker 1820 (Santa Rosa campus)
- Friday, Dec. 13, 2024: Zoom meeting from 9:00am-10:00am
Join Zoom Meeting
https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/4044534378
(Meeting ID: 404 453 4378)
We will be scheduling more informational meetings later on for the Spring 2025 semester and they will be posted here. If you'd also like to receive an email about when these meetings will take place, please email Patty Warne (pwarne@santarosa.edu), Study Abroad coordinator, and request to be placed on our Barcelona Fall 2025 contact list.
PROGRAM COSTS/FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS
- The AIFS program costs for Barcelona Spring 2025 will have a base price of $9,125. These costs will include all lodging, medical insurance, and AIFS services. They will not include airfare (there will be a group flight option for an extra fee), community college tuition fees, and day-to-day expenses such as food except as indicated. We will have more details on the cost breakdown later.
- Financial Aid Process Information
- Preliminary Scholarships Information
- AwardSpring Instructions
- AIFS Scholarship Application (Coming later!)
AIFS REFUND DATES
Refund requests must be done in writing to AIFS. They accept emails and that is generally the easiest way (customizedfacultyled@aifs.com). See the official AIFS refund policy on your Agreement & Release form on the AIFS application. Dates to remember regarding AIFS refunds once you are enrolled in the program:
· Friday, June 20, 2025: Last day to request refund of $450 deposit less $150 processing & non-refundable deposit fees. After June 20, AIFS will not refund any of the $450 deposit. Students may also be subject to any nonrefundable canceled reservation fees by AIFS after this date. Details on the AIFS Agreement & Release form on your AIFS application.
· Friday, July 18, 2025: Total program fee is due. NO REFUND OF PAYMENTS after this date.
AIFS PROGRAM CANCELLATION POLICY
Please click here for a summary of the AIFS program cancellation policy.