Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and Barcelona SAE in Spain

• Visas will NOT be required for the Spring 21 term, as both the ESCI and BaPIS programs are less than 90 days.

After acceptance to study abroad on the Barcelona SAE and UPF program, your information will be passed along to Barcelona SAE for processing. You will not need to do an additional application. However, there will be items for you to complete with Barcelona SAE, including questionnaires regarding housing, a medical self-assessment, and course selections. The majority of these items will be done in their student portal, which you will receive an access email to. It is important to watch out for emails from Barcelona SAE!

Your primary contact with this communication will be Rachael Peden (Kacos), and will be working with you to complete registration items.

Program Dates:

• • Spring 2022 International Business Program: tba

  • Spring 2022 Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies: tba

  • Fall 2022 International Business Program: tba

  • Fall 2022 Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies: tba

Spain is made up of 17 autonomous communities (like states) and each has its own unique culture. Barcelona is the capital city of the community of Catalonia (written Catalunya in the Catalan language and Cataluña in Spanish). This means that Spain and Catalonia are different things. Spain is the country and Catalonia (or Catalunya) is the region (like a state) and Barcelona is the region's capital (like a state capital).

Within Barcelona there are several Barrios, or communities. The map to below shows these. UPF is located within the Borne neighborhood, or barrio.

The Independence movement. Many people in Catalonia want their region to separate from Spain and form an independent country. It is complicated issue backed with a lot of history and differing opinions. Although you will learn a lot more about it while in Barcelona, it is a good idea to read an article or two about it before you go. Search “Catalan Independence” and you’ll get a lot to choose from!

Read more from the Barcelona SAE Online Student Guide.

IMPORTANT: Please read the general visa instructions on the Spain Country Page first!

STEP 1: Determine if you need a visa. Programs less than 90 days do not require one, whereas programs over 90 days do require one. Please read Barcelona SAE's Passport & Visas page in the Barcelona Student Guide. Often times the HESP track does not require a visa, while the ESCI track does.

If you do not need a visa, there are a few options to consider regarding personal travel while studying abroad, as you can only be in the Schengen region for up to 90 days within any given 180 day period.

• 1. Option 1: If you want to do personal travel outside of your program dates, you may want to consider travel to Schengen region locations during your breaks, and outside of the Schengen region outside of your program dates. (You can use the Schengen Calculator to help in determining how many days you can travel within the region). Note that if you travel during your program dates, anytime outside of the Schengen region will 'stop the clock' of your 90 days allowed in the region on a tourist visa.

  2. Option 2: Only be in the Schengen region for the duration of your program. If you do not plan to do personal travel outside of your program dates, this is a safe way of staying under the 90 day allotment.

Important: If you do not obtain a visa, and are on the HESP track, you cannot switch to take classes in ESCI after arrival, as it will go over the 90 day allotment.

STEP 2: If you need a visa, sign up for a visa appointment within 90 days before your program start date, but at least 6 weeks out.

STEP 3: Compile the following, based on the Visa Instructions from the Chicago Consulate of Spain, also making a second photo copy of all documents to accompany:

• • • Two 2x2 passport style photos (one will be glued on the front of your visa application form)

    • A copy of your student ID, front and back

    • Your original passport that has more than two blank pages and is valid for more than 1 year, and a photocopy of your passport bio page.

    • Your visa/acceptance letter from Illinois. (This will satisfy requirement number 6- Evidence of funds)

    • Your Spanish translated international insurance letter of coverage (Within My Study Abroad Documents)

    • Your acceptance letter from BOTH Barcelona SAE and UPF

    • A completed Visa Application form (see step 3 for guidance)

    • One money order or cashier’s check for the visa fee ($160). They do not accept any other form of payment.

    • Your program is not over 180 days, so you will not need a background check or medical certificate.

STEP 4: Complete the Visa Application form. Below are some common questions that come up.

• • • For question 11: This is not applicable. Do not fill in.

    • For question 12: Check the box ordinary passport, unless you have diplomatic status or a special circumstance.

    • For question 19: Write ‘student’

    • For question 20: Check the box ‘studies’

    • For question 21: Write your program start date

    • For question 22: Check the box ‘more than two entries’

    • For question 23: Write the following address: Barcelona SAE Calle Trafalgar, 14, Principal, 1ª 08010 Barcelona

    • You do not need to complete questions #24-27

    • For question 28: Write in the following:

      • • Name: Universitat Pompeu Fabra

        • Address: Ciutadella Campus - Carrer de Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona

        • Telephone number: (+34) 935422000

        • Email: studyabroad@upf.edu

        • Intended starting/ending date of study: Write your program start date and end date (as listed on the Barcelona SAE acceptance letter)

STEP 5: Go to your visa appointment at the Chicago Consulate (see address below) with all the documents collected, and your duplicate copy of the entire packet. You will be turning in your original passport while waiting for the visa determination.

STEP 6: After receiving notification of issuance, pick up your visa at the Chicago Consulate. There is an option to have it mailed to you, which requires an additional form to be complete (linked in the consulate’s visa processing instructions sheet). If you receive a denial notice, please obtain a copy of that letter and immediately notify Erin Leonard (ell3@illinois.edu), so that we can work to resolve any issues.

CONSULATE GENERAL OF SPAIN PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 180 N. Michigan, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60601

Website of the Chicago Consulate

*IF YOU ARE NOT A US PASSPORT HOLDER, OR A DUAL CITIZEN, PLEASE REFER TO THE CONSULATE’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP.

Barcelona SAE will provide airport pick-up assistance on the program arrival date. You can find our staff at the La Tramoia Tapas & Restaurant in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 1 from 9am-1pm. This means that you need to be at the café by 1pm to make the pick up time. Remember that it can take a long time to collect luggage and get through customs, so make sure your flight arrives by noon. More detailed information about airport arrival can be found in the Barcelona SAE Online Student Guide.

Barcelona SAE will conduct a series of pre-departure orientations, including 1) a general orientation webinar, 2) identity-specific orientations, 3) a parents webinar, and 4) on-site orientation upon arrival. The identity-specific orientation and parent's webinar are entirely option, and are meant to provide some more customized information.

Two housing options are available to Illinois students on the Barcelona SAE program: Homestay and Shared Apartments. Independent housing is not allowed on this program. See below for the highlights for each. Some expectations to have:

• • You will only be with 1-2 other students from Illinois, but live with 2-5 other study abroad students in the shared apartment.

  • Expect a commute of 45-50 mins with public transport. Barcelona is a major metropolitan area, so commutes are longer.

  • The place you live will probably be older and smaller than you’re used to.

  • Both homestays and shared apartments will not be in houses. Most Spaniards living in the city live in apartments.

  • Air conditioning and heating are uncommon in Spain. Most people use fans in the summer and a small space heater in the winter.

  • Most Homes in Spain do not have a clothes dryer or dishwasher. You will be provided with a clothes drying rack.

UPF LOCATIONS

You will take classes at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). It is one of Barcelona's newest and innovative universities, and the academics are rigorous. There are many UPF campuses across Barcelona. The main UPF campus is the Ciutadella campus, located next to Ciutadella Park. This is a closed campus with multiple buildings, an auditorium, library, cafe, and terrace space. This is where courses in the BaPIS programs are held. ESCI program courses are located in a building on the other side of Ciutadella park in the Born neighbourhood. To get from one to the other is about a 15 minute walk.

ESCI Building:

• • Address: Passeig de Pujades, 1, 08003 Barcelona

  • Closest Metro Station: Arch de Triomf, L1 or Urquinaona, L1(Red) & L4 (Yellow)

Ciutadella Campus:

• • Address: Carrer de Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27, 08005 Barcelona

  • Closest Metro Station: Ciutadella, L4 (Yellow)

COURSE REGISTRATION

Barcelona SAE will be registering you in courses as you indicate preferences in your student portal. As a note, the University of Pompeu Fabra's course registration process is, in a word, frustrating. Your patience and persistence will be tested, but also rewarded. A few points to keep in mind:

• 1. Each school at UPF (BaPIS, ELISAVA, ESCI, etc) has their own schedule. The hours overlap and conflict with the other schools. At the same time, you are expected to mix schools (students at ESCI are encouraged to take 2 classes at ESCI and 2 at BaPIS), and the system will not tell if you have overlapping classes until after registration ends! Chances are that your first schedule will have time conflicts and classes that will overlap. Don't panic, Barcelona SAE will do everything they can to sort it out during the add drop period onsite in Barcelona.

  2. Getting into your first choice classes is rare. Barcelona SAE does there best to register you as quickly as possible and in the classes you chose, but it is very rare that you will get all your first pick for classes. Have patience, during add drop we will work with you to try to get your first choice classes whenever possible.

  3. Flexibility is required. This is a public institution and we can't control who gets into what class, so you should have a few back up courses approved by your home university to take. If you come with only four specific classes you need to take, it will be very difficulty to get into all of them!

  4. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for completing the course approval process in order to get the credit you need for the courses you are taking. Have a conversation early with your academic advisor about which courses might be good to take.

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts will be sent to Illinois automatically after the end of the program. However, the time for receipt and processing can take a few months. Be patient, and you can track to see when your transcript is received by the Office of the Registrar by when the digital copy is uploaded into your My Study Abroad documents.

Barcelona SAE facilitates multiple day trips and excursions, in addition to providing cultural activities around the city. Each week, you'll receive a Cultural Agenda, letting you know about some events happening around Barcelona. You will also be assigned a coach upon arrival that is a resource for local involvement in clubs, volunteering, and community resources.

You'll also become familiar with the Barcelona Bucket List that Barcelona SAE facilitates through Instagram. The list has 100 cheap or free things to do around the city. Read more about it on the Barcleona SAE Online Student Guide.

Be sure to download both GroupMe and TeamUp apps before departure, as this will be a significant mode of communication for activities and happenings.