Erasmus in Barcelona: Housing, Paperwork and Cost of Living
Barcelona is, alongside Madrid, Spain's most requested Erasmus destination. We cover which universities receive the most international students, what language classes are actually taught in, where to live and at what price, and how much to budget per month.
Universities with the most Erasmus students in Barcelona
Barcelona is home to one of Spain's largest international student communities, spread across several public and private universities with a strong Erasmus tradition:
- Universitat de Barcelona (UB) — the largest in Catalonia, offering nearly every field of study and taking in a very high number of exchange students each year.
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) — its own campus on the outskirts of the city (Bellaterra), a strong research tradition, and much of its offer geared towards internationalisation.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) — one of the public universities with the most courses and programmes taught in English, especially in communication, economics and social sciences.
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) — a reference in engineering and architecture, with numerous technical European agreements.
- Several private universities (ESADE, IQS, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, among others) run programmes specifically designed in English to attract international students.
You can compare the full profile of each university — cutoff grade, price and career paths for each degree — on Vocaria's search tool for Catalonia.
Catalan or Spanish: what language are classes taught in
This is the question most specific to Barcelona compared with other Spanish cities. At Catalan public universities, courses are taught in Catalan, Spanish and English side by side, and the mix varies a lot by degree, department, and even individual lecturer. As an Erasmus student, in most cases you can request the Spanish- or English-taught group where one exists, but this isn't guaranteed for every course or every degree.
Recommendation: before signing your Learning Agreement, confirm with the Catalan university's Erasmus coordinator what language each course you're interested in is taught in. It's the most reliable way to avoid surprises in your first week of class.
Where to live and at what price
Housing is usually the biggest part of the budget in Barcelona, one of the Spanish cities with the highest rents. The areas most sought after by international students are:
- Eixample: central, well connected, and with a lively neighbourhood feel — also among the priciest because of its location.
- Gràcia: a young, bohemian vibe, very popular with international students, with a good supply of shared flats.
- Sants and Poblenou: a bit further from the historic centre but well connected by metro, generally at somewhat more affordable prices.
- Bellaterra (next to the UAB campus): residences and flats designed specifically for students of that university, since its campus sits on the outskirts of the city.
Besides shared flats, colegios mayores and student residences are another common option, with prices that usually include meals and often organised social activities. Apply early, since places fill up fast, especially before the autumn term.
TIE, NIE and health insurance in Barcelona
The paperwork for your stay is the same across Spain — it doesn't change specifically for Barcelona — but it's worth having it clear before you arrive:
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: no visa required. If your stay is longer than three months, it's worth applying for a NIE at the relevant immigration office or police station.
- Non-EU students: if your stay is longer than 6 months, you need the Foreigner Identity Card (TIE). Appointments are booked online through the National Police's electronic office — as in Madrid, book well in advance, since available slots fill up fast.
- Health insurance: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers EU students in the public healthcare system; those who aren't from the EU, or who stay longer than 90 days, need full private health insurance with no co-payments or waiting periods.
Full details on deadlines, forms and fees are in the general guide to Erasmus in Spain.
Getting around the city
Barcelona has one of the most complete public transport networks in Spain, run by the metropolitan transport authority (metro, bus, tram and FGC), with discounted monthly passes for students under 25 that are noticeably cheaper than single tickets. For short trips, the city's bike-share scheme is another option widely used by students, though signing up usually requires padrón registration or a NIE, depending on the operator in place at the time.
Estimated monthly budget
Barcelona, along with Madrid, is among the most expensive cities in Spain for an international student, with housing as the main budget item. The exact cost varies a lot by neighbourhood, distance from campus, and the type of accommodation chosen, so plan your budget with some margin, especially if you're flat-hunting during peak demand months (July-September).
In the absence of an official Barcelona-specific statistic, the most reliable reference is a direct comparison with Madrid: the room-in-a-shared-flat price range and total monthly budget tend to move within a similar order of magnitude, with notable variation by neighbourhood. See our guide to Erasmus in Madrid for concrete reference figures.
Compare universities in Catalonia and across Spain — cutoff grades, price and career paths — on Vocaria →
Frequently asked questions
Are classes taught in Catalan or Spanish at Barcelona universities?
It depends on the university, the degree and the group: at Catalan public universities, courses are taught in Catalan, Spanish and English side by side, and Erasmus students can usually request a Spanish- or English-taught group where one exists. Check with the Erasmus coordinator before signing your Learning Agreement.
Which Barcelona universities receive the most Erasmus students?
Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) are the public universities with the most international agreements, alongside several private universities with English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Barcelona as an Erasmus student?
Barcelona, along with Madrid, is among the most expensive cities in Spain for a student, with housing as the main budget item. The exact cost varies a lot by neighbourhood and distance from campus.