Academics
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THE Academics TEAM
Academic conduct Expectations
Academic development is the most important aspect of your program abroad. As this is your priority, regardless of whether you are studying at SIS, UPF, UAB, or UB, there are certain expectations that you are expected to abide by while attending university here in Barcelona.
BE PUNCTUAL & PRESENT
You should always arrive to class on time. It is important that you are present at the start of the class and ready to work. In all of the universities you are only allowed a small number of absences before your grade starts to drop, so make sure you do not miss class unless you have to.
RESPECTFUL & ENGAGED
During class you should not be on your phone, as this is disrespectful to the professor. You are expected to engage in classroom discussions and pose thoughtful questions that reflect the content. In order to do so, it is crucial that you read all readings necessary for class. You should also not bring any food or beverages (apart from water) into the classroom. Drugs and Alcohol use are strictly prohibited - including attending class visibly hungover, warnings or expulsion from the program may result.
PROPER ATTIRE
You will quickly realize that in Barcelona people don't normally leave the house in loungewear or athletic clothing unless they are headed directly to the gym. Similarly, sports attire, sweatpants, and leggings are considered inappropriate for the classroom.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
GRADING & ASSESSMENT
Your midterm and final exams will be heavily weighted. There will likely be less assignments throughout the semester, which makes your midterm and final exams very important as the majority of your grade may depend on your performance on these tests.
RELATIONSHIP WITH FACULTY
It is common in Spain to call your professor by their first name. However, this is up to the professor. If a professor allows you to call them by their first name, they should still be respected as the professor and should still be given authority over the classroom.
UNDERSTANDING THE SPANISH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Local students have a very different university experience than what American college students typically experience in the U.S. Below are a few things that reflect the experience of local students here in Barcelona:
Local students normally live at home with their parents and commute to school. Local universities do not have dorms or anywhere for students to live on campus.
The university campus is almost entirely for academic purposes. There is normally no campus medical center, gym, security offices, etc.
There are some clubs and sports teams you can join at local universities, however, the options are typically quite limited in comparison to U.S. universities. This is because universities in Barcelona are focused on studies, so students are generally involved in sports or cultural activities in their neighborhoods, rather than through school.
It is normal for local students to fail a course (or two) during their undergraduate career, as classes and exams are graded at a high level. This can depend on the university and field - for example, it is very typical for engineer majors to fail a course at some point.
Since students don't live on campus, they pay tuition only for their classes. Although much cheaper than the average tuition rate in the U.S., locals still see what they pay as being a lot in comparison to European standards.
Most locals attend public university as there are lower tuition rates. However, there are also private universities in Barcelona. The tuition of these universities is significantly higher. Private universities tend to be more internationally-focused and those who attend typically come from a privileged socio-economic class.
If you need academic accommodations: disclose this information ASAP, preferably before arrival, in your medical self-assessment, or to your Barcelona SAE advisor ASAP, and provide the necessary documentation to get the support you need abroad.