1. Contact your Home Institution: Before submitting a petition for independent housing, students must first contact their home university to obtain approval. Failure to obtain approval from your home university will result in the petition not being considered any further.

2. Petition Submission: If you've received formal approval from your home institution, you may then submit a formal petition for an independent housing waiver to advising@barcelonasae.com. The petition must include: 

   1. 1. 1. 1. • A detailed explanation of the exceptional circumstances for which you are requesting independent housing. Exceptional circumstances may include:

                 1. 1. • Having a family member who resides in Barcelona and is established in the community, demonstrating significant ties to BCN through employment, education, or other means. In the event that a participant is choosing to live with a relative in Barcelona, the Barcelona SAE housing team will arrange a short meeting to meet the relative. Once this step has been completed, independent housing will be either denied or confirmed and both you and your home institution will be notified.

                       • Documented medical or accessibility needs that cannot be accommodated within program housing. Before assuming that independent housing is necessary due to medical or accessibility needs, we encourage students to reach out to our advising team for guidance, as we're available to assist you in exploring accommodation options within program housing that can meet your specific needs.

                       • Unique family circumstances that warrant independent living, such as married students traveling with their spouse.

               • Supporting documentation (like medical records, legal documentation, etc.)

               • Confirmation of approval from your home university supporting your request for independent housing

3. Review Process: Once you've submitted your formal petition, the Barcelona SAE Advising and Housing teams will review your request alongside your home university. The final decision will be based on the circumstances presented.

4. Notification of Decision: Students will be notified of the decision regarding their petition for independent housing within a reasonable timeframe. If denied, the student will need to abide by the program housing requirement. If approved, the student will receive an independent housing discount of 600 USD per month, which will be taken off their final program invoice.

1. Completion of Independent Housing Form: Students granted a waiver for independent housing must fill out Barcelona SAE's Independent Housing Form. This form will require providing their housing details in Barcelona, including an address and contact number.

2. Compliance with Program Requirements: Students must commit to fully participating in all program activities and comply with program requirements. These requirements include but are not limited to:

   • 1. 1. • Regular class or internship attendance and active participation.

           • Submission of the Weekend Plans Form for emergency contact information on weekends.

           • Attending mentor meetings as scheduled. These meetings are essential to ensure the well-being of students living independently.

3. Adherence to Program Policies and Regulations: Students granted independent housing waivers are bound by all program policies and regulations. This includes adhering to the program’s code of conduct, respecting fellow students and staff, and following any additional guidelines provided by Barcelona SAE.  Students are also solely responsible for any and all peripheral costs arising out of their independent housing, including but not limited to: furnishings, meals, utilities, cleaning, transportation, and moving expenses.

4. Responsibility for Personal Safety and Security: While living independently, students are responsible for their personal safety and security. This includes ensuring the security of their accommodation, and following any safety advice provided by the program or local authorities. Students are expected to promptly communicate any concerns, issues, or changes in their circumstances to program staff. 

5. Consequences of Non-Compliance: Failure to adhere to the commitments outlined may result in the revocation of the independent housing waiver and the student being required to relocate to program housing. Additionally, disciplinary action may be taken in accordance with Barcelona SAE’s program policies.

Please note that if you opt out of program housing, you have to organize it yourself, which can be very difficult in Barcelona. Things to keep in mind before you decide to apply for independent housing:

1. Your budget. The rent price for flats in Barcelona varies greatly based on various factors, like agency, neighborhood, and more. Furthermore, it can sometimes be difficult to get a monthly contract from a landlord, as the typical rental contract in Barcelona is 5 years.

2. Location of your accommodation. By choosing independent housing, you are limiting yourself to whatever is currently available on the market. Furthermore, you will often be required to put down a hefty deposit in order to book the apartment. This means that if you book your apartment before you arrive to Spain, you will need to pay your deposit before you get the chance to even see the flat.

3. Apartment quality. All of our program-sponsored apartments, homestays, and residence dorms comply with high quality standards. We use reviews from students each semester to ensure that they are happy with the accommodations we provide, and to improve on anything that provide a less-than-phenomenal experience. Keep in mind that if you choose independent housing, you need to look thoroughly at the reviews to make sure that it is a quality and trust-worthy vender and accommodation. 

4. Apartment security. All of the apartment agencies, residence dorms, and homestay families with whom we work with are trusted individuals that we know well and have had students with before. They are quick to respond to any issues and speak English! Keep in mind that along with choosing independent housing comes the responsibility to ensure that you are booking a safe accommodation for yourself.

5. Other people that you share the apartment with. With independent housing, your roommate(s) could literally be anyone, with any age and any personality. If you choose independent housing, you need to be aware that you will most likely be living with strangers and will not be able to control who else is living with you. In program provided housing, we only house students with other Barcelona SAE students or interns.

6. Your contract with your landlord. This will be entirely your responsibility to manage. Again, it can often be very difficult to get landlords to agree to short term (4 months or less) contracts, as the average contract length in Barcelona is 5 years!

7. We won't have access to your apartment in the case of emergencies. If anything goes wrong and you need assistance, we will not have access to your apartment, so you have to contact the agency you booked the apartment with. This is the main concern when choosing independent housing - making sure that you are safe and comfortable in your accommodation.