PART 2: Housing
HOUSING PREFERENCES
After you apply for the program, you will complete a Housing Preferences Form in your student portal where you will rank your housing in the order of your preference. We have carefully selected safe and adequate housing for each student, but each living arrangement is different. On this form, include any information you think will help us to find the best match for you. For example, if you would love to live with a host family with pets, since you'll miss your dog at home, make sure to include that! :)
Once you arrive onsite, there is a natural adjustment period to life abroad, so don't panic if it takes more time than you thought to get settled in. Housing changes will not be made aside from Health & Safety issues. Should you have problems or questions once you arrive, you can set up a meeting with the Housing Coordinator.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Housing in Barcelona is very competitive and participants will be placed based on availability. We make every effort to provide you with your preferred form of housing, but due to space limitations we cannot guarantee that you will get your first choice.
There are no overnight guests allowed in any program housing. You can see our resource page for hotels and hostels for any visiting friends to use.
Most housing will be in double rooms with students of the same gender (biological sex). If your home institution allows it, you can opt to pay a $300/month supplement for a single room (if available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please note that single rooms cannot be guaranteed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please note this in your housing form.
WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?
Housing for the program is spread throughout the city of Barcelona. Every neighborhood is easily accessible by public transportation and the city is very walkable. The normal commute in Barcelona is around 30-45 minutes using public transportation from your housing to your school or internship. Click here for more information on getting around Barcelona.
Each neighborhood has a different feel. Les Corts is where the soccer stadium is, Gràcia is hipster and bohemian, Eixample is an LGBTQ+ friendly district with incredible architecture, Sagrada Familia has wonderful shopping, and Sant Marti & Poblenou are tech powerhouses off the tourist path. Check out our section on Barrio Guides to learn more about each neighborhood!
HOUSING OPTIONS
HOMESTAY
Many students picture homestays as a house in the suburbs, but in fact, it's almost always an apartment in the city with a host family, and the same distance to your class/internship as a student residence or shared apartment would be. A host family could be a married couple, an older woman living on her own, a family with children, or another family structure. Most homestays are shared with other students on the program, but in your housing form you should specify if you prefer to be with other participants or on your own in a homestay.
You should choose a homestay if:
You want to live like a local. Students in homestays learn a lot about the local culture and lifestyle firsthand.
You want to improve your Spanish. You will eat breakfast and dinner with your family everyday, so you will have plenty of opportunities to practice your language skills. Students in homestays normally see a much larger language skill improvement at the end of the program. You don't need to speak any Spanish before being in a homestay, but you will certainly be using it by the time you leave!
You want to save money. Homestays provide a daily breakfast and dinner, and will do your laundry for you! This is included in the program, and has been a huge reason that many students choose the homestay option.
You want a home away from home! You will have your own set of keys, and you are free to come and go when you please, without a curfew. Many students say that the homestay feels "cozy" and love the added support network (like someone to make you soup when you're sick).
STUDENT RESIDENCE HALL
Most Barcelona locals live with their parents while they go to university, so dorms are rare, but there are a few set up to house international students or those that come from outside the city. A student residence normally means a double room, unless you indicate that you would like a single room (assuming there is one available), with shared kitchen, study, and common areas with other students.
You should choose this option if:
You'd like to be around more students. Typically the residence halls are home to not only American students but also students from Spain, Europe, and beyond!
You want a little bit more independence in exploring the city and the culture. We will have cultural activities and excursions for you to participate in, but much of the time you will be on your own to explore.
You like to do your own grocery shopping and cooking. You will share the kitchen and be responsible for your own food, cooking, and cleaning.
Improving your Spanish is not a main goal of yours. Of course there will still be chances to speak Spanish, but you'll need to make an additional effort to meet locals and practice.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are no overnight guests allowed in any program housing. You can see our resource page for hotels and hostels for any visiting friends to use.
SHARED APARTMENTS
This choice places you in a shared apartment in the city with 3-6 other program participants. You will be placed in a double room with another student, unless you indicate that you would like a single room and there is one available. Apartments are spread throughout the city in residential areas, so you can expect a 30 minute commute to class or your internship.
You should choose this option if:
You'd like to be around students. In the shared apartment you will be sharing the apartment with other participants of the program.
You want a little bit more independence in exploring the city and the culture. We will have cultural activities and excursions for you to participate in, but a lot of the time you will be on your own to explore.
You like to do your own grocery shopping and cooking. You will share the kitchen and be responsible for your own food, cooking, and cleaning.
Improving your Spanish is not a main goal of yours. Of course there will still be chances to speak Spanish, but you'll need to make an additional effort to meet locals and practice.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are no overnight guests allowed in any program housing. You can see our resource page for hotels and hostels for any visiting friends to use. In addition, shared apartments are only available when student residence halls are full, so apartment availability will depend on the term that you go abroad.
INDEPENDENT HOUSING
**NOTE THAT formal approval from both your home university and barcelona SAE is required**
Please note that all students enrolled in a Barcelona SAE program are required to reside in designated program housing unless granted a waiver under exceptional circumstances. To authorize an independent housing request, approval must be granted by both the student's home university and Barcelona SAE. Confirmation from one of the parties is not sufficient to authorize a waiver.
If you wish to opt out of program housing and you get formal approval from both your home university and Barcelona SAE, you will be responsible for sourcing, vetting, and paying for any housing option you choose. You must inform the program of your address and emergency contact information if you choose this option.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Housing Rules
While in Spain you will be an ambassador of your home country. This means that when living with or around locals, we expect all participants to follow local rules and regulations and to be respectful of those around them. Make yourself familiar with our housing rules and what is expected of you during your stay here.
Remember that different doesn't mean bad. The housing in Spain is very different than what you are accustomed to at home. Apartments in Spain will probably be smaller and older than what you're used to. The available storage and living spaces will be smaller too (please take this into account when packing).
Air conditioning and heating are uncommon in Spain, so most people use fans in the summer and a small space heater in the winter. It is highly recommended to bring some cozy clothes to wear around the house if you'll be in Barcelona during the colder months. Spaniards consider AC a luxury that is only used in extreme cases of heat. Most homes do not have a dryer, and dishwashers aren't necessarily common either.
You'll get used to it, but flexibility and an open mind are important!
UTILITIES
Spain takes eco-friendly living and energy conservation very seriously. Amenities such as heat, water, and electricity are far more expensive in Spain, so locals are typically more frugal with energy consumption. You'll be asked to turn off lights and appliances when not using them, to take quick showers, and to shut your windows when you have the heat or AC on.
In shared student apartments, a reasonable energy budget is set aside per month, but if you go over it you will be charged.
PACKING: Housing
All housing options are fully furnished and will provide:
Bed sheets
Pillows
Bath/Shower towels (not beach towels)
Cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc.
If you do find that you need something like a towel for the beach or more pillows, you can purchase those when you arrive.