Business in Barcelona - Semester
Joint Study Center Program with the Learning Abroad CenterProgram Dates:
| Study Center: | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Opens: | December 1, 2022 |
May 1, 2023 |
| Application Deadline: | April 15, 2023 | October 1, 2023* |
| Program Starts: | August 31, 2023 | mid-January, 2024 |
| Program Ends: | December 16, 2023 | late April, 2024 |
|
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF): |
Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Opens: | December 1, 2022 |
May 1, 2023 |
| Application Deadline: | April 15, 2023 | October 1, 2023* |
| Program Starts: | September 21, 2023 | early January, 2024 |
| Program Ends: | December 16, 2023 | early April, 2024 |
| Hybrid: | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Opens: | December 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 |
| Application Deadline: | April 15, 2023 | October 1, 2023* |
| Program Starts: | August 31, 2023 | early January, 2024 |
| Program Ends: | December 16, 2023 | late April, 2024 |
* apply early if you plan on using the student visa service.
Offered in partnership with the Learning Abroad Center, this program gives you the opportunity to enroll in business and non-business courses in addition to an optional credit-bearing internship experience while living in Barcelona.
Program Details
Live and study in the international city of Barcelona. Explore Catalan and Spanish working life through an English-speaking internship while also taking a mix of business and non-business courses. Begin the day with a papaya smoothie in Barcelona’s biggest food market, La Boqueria. Climb to the top of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Delight in Gaudí's art. Relax in a beautiful city park. Cheer on FC Barcelona among 100,000 screaming fútbol fans. Gaze into the glistening Mediterranean Sea. Get ready to live like a barcelonés.
The Business in Barcelona program offers courses that deepen your understanding of Spanish and Catalan culture. A key feature of the program is the internship experience, which allows you to integrate with Spanish people, experience the culture firsthand, and gain professional work experience.
Apartment
Between 5 and 8 students usually share apartments, which include single or double bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. Meals are not included, but each apartment has a full kitchen.
Homestay
If you choose the homestay option, you will have your own room. Breakfast and dinner are included during the week; you are responsible for lunch and meals on weekends.
- Fall 2023: Students must enroll in a minimum of 13 UMN equivalent credits total. Students participating in a 6-credit internship may enroll in 12 UMN equivalent credits.
- Spring 2024 and beyond: All students must enroll in a minimum of 12 UMN equivalent credits total.
- Students enroll in classes at the CAPA study center with other students from the United States.
- Students should not take courses abroad that they have already taken a direct equivalent to at the UMN-TC campus.
- All grades will come back A/F on the official UMN transcript
- The following business courses are available:
- BCLA 3347/3348: Global Internship course - 3 or 6 UMN credits
- BCLA 3373: International Finance - 3 UMN credits
- approved for FINA 4622, IB Foundations course, & Writing Intensive
- Students who have already taken FINA 4622 but are needing a writing intensive should consider the other writing intensive course options offered on the program.
- BCLA 3375: Marketing & Distribution Channels - 3 UMN credits
- approved for MKTG 4061
- BCLA 3377: Transportation & Logistics Management - 3 UMN credits
- approved for SCO 3048
- BCLA 3372: Global Marketing - 3 UMN credits
- approved for a MTKG elective & IB Foundations course
- BCLA 3370: Intercultural Management - 3 UMN credits
- approved for IB Foundations course
- BCLA 3389: Business of Social Media - 3 UMN credits
- approved for MKTG 4076, IDSC 4455, & IB Depths
- To see a full list of courses (including non-business courses, and courses approved for liberal education requirements) see the Learning Abroad Center "Study & Intern in Barcelona" website
- Students enroll in courses at a local Spanish university, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
- Some courses at UPF have been evaluated for UMN equivalencies.
- For Carlson equivalencies - check with your academic advisor
- For Liberal Education equivalencies - refer to the UCredit Abroad Database
- All grades will come back A/F on the official UMN transcript
- There are three programs at UPF.
- IBP (International Business Program)
- Business courses
- International students only
- Course info (6 ECTS = 3 UMN credits) - https://www.upf.edu/web/studyabroad/ibp
- ESCI Regular
- Business courses
- International and local student
- Course info (4 ECTS = 2 UMN credits) - https://www.upf.edu/web/studyabroad/ESCI_Regular
- BaPIS (Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Liberal Education courses
- International students only
- Course info - https://www.upf.edu/web/bapis/courses-and-syllabi
- IBP (International Business Program)
- Carlson students can take some classes at the CAPA Center and some at UPF.
- Students can take no more than two courses at UPF.
- Students pursuing this track may not participate in an internship in Barcelona.
There are three tracks available for Carlson School of Management undergraduate students, and the option to take courses at either a study center, a local Spanish university (Universitat Pompeu Fabra "UPF"), or a mix of the two. If students take classes at the study center, they will be in class with other study abroad students from the United States. If students take classes at UPF, they will be in class with a mix of students from the United States, other international students, and Spanish students. It's important that Carlson students understand that if they take classes at UPF, the academic environment will be very different from the Carlson School. They will be held to UPF grading systems, classroom behavior expectations, and there will be cultural differences in how they interact with their faculty member. Please reach out to CGI if you would like to discuss this further.
Credit-load:
TRACK 1: Business in Barcelona - Study Center
TRACK 2: Business in Barcelona - University Study at Universitat Pompeu Fabra
TRACK 3: Business in Barcelona - University Study and Study Center
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Second-semester sophomore, junior, or senior status
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Spanish language experience is NOT required
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3 UMN credit internship: students will work 20 hours per week at their internship site and enroll in the Global Internship Program course for 3 UMN credits (30 contact hours).
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6 UMN credit internship: students will work 20 hours per week at their internship site and enroll in the Global Internship Program course for 6 UMN credits (45 contact hours). Students will have additional projects, assignments and activities that make up the additional contact and work hours spent on the course, but the time spent at the internship site is the same per week as the 3 UMN credit internship
- Administration
- Advocacy
- Business
- Communications
- Community Engagement
- Charities
- Environment
- Fashion
- Fundraising
- Finance (General)
- HR
- IT
- Language and Translation
- Marketing
- Non-Profit
- Public Relations
- Recruitment
- Retail
- Real Estate
- Social Media
- Sales
Students participating in the study center program have the option to participate in a credit-bearing internship experience. An internship abroad is a great way to not only gain professional experience, but to experience workplace culture from an international perspective. It’s also a great opportunity to meet locals!
Internship placements are available in a variety of fields and in three languages: English, Catalan, and Spanish. Rather than applying for particular internship openings abroad, students on this program submit additional internship application materials to our partner, CAPA. CAPA then works with local organizations and companies to find a suitable placement. Students are notified of their internship placements prior to departure.
Applying for an Internship
Within the CAPA application, students will indicate that they would like to participate in an internship. Students will provide CAPA with the required application materials and give them their top three areas of interest for potential placements. Students are encouraged to speak to CAPA directly or work with their academic advisers to determine their three choices. CAPA uses this information to find a placement. Students are informed of their placement two weeks prior to departure. Utilize CAPA’s internship application guide.
Internship Eligibility Requirements
Academic Credit
Students can choose to participate in a 3 or 6 UMN credit internship experience.
Internship Placements
See sample internship placements for an idea of what you might expect for a placement. Past internships have been in the fields listed below, but this is not a complete list. If you do not see the field you are interested in, inquire with your program advisor about the possibility of doing an internship in that field.
- No Spanish language required
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Minimum 2.5 GPA
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Students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.5 see additional information below
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Sophomore, junior, or senior status
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Students must meet prerequisites for the courses they want to take. Students should plan closely with their academic advisers prior to participating in a semester or summer abroad program to best prepare for remaining major(s) and graduation requirements.
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All UMN students are required to notify us of their vaccination or exemption status as part of the confirmation process. As of May 2023, CAPA is strongly recommending all participants to be up to date on COVID-19 vaccination and recommended booster doses prior to going abroad, but there is no COVID-19 vaccination requirement in place. The Carlson Global Institute recommends that all students are fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) to participate in education abroad programs.
- Optional Internship: Strict requirement of at least second-semester sophomore status.
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Optional courses at UPF: Students are subject to UPF admission policies. Recommended 3.0 GPA or higher.
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Personal Statement addressing their GPA, any extenuating circumstance surrounding it, and why they feel that they are nonetheless equipped for academic success on the program (REQUIRED)
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UMN transcript that offers greater detail on the trajectory of the student’s grades and the subject areas that might have posed greater challenges to the student (REQUIRED)
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Recommendation from an academic or other advisor who support that’s students application and their ability to succeed on the program (RECOMMENDED)
Supplemental materials to be submitted to CAPA if below GPA requirement: 2.0 - 2.5 GPA
- US citizens staying in Spain for more than 90 days (semester programs), must obtain a Spanish student visa.
- Non-US citizens should check with the Spanish embassy to determine any special regulations pertaining entry into Spain at any time.
- If you use the visa service, a $150 fee will be assessed to your University of Minnesota account. This fee will not be listed separately on your student account. It will be added to the overall program fee.
- The deadline to use this service fluctuates each term depending on the consulate's availability. The deadline to use this service can sometimes fall before the program application, so be sure to apply to the program early if you plan to use the visa service.
- To use the service, students must attend drop off their visa application materials and passport at the Carlson Global Institute office.
- Only complete visa applications will be accepted. If you fail to include one or more of the necessary pieces to receive your visa when you drop off your visa application, you will have to return at a later time with your complete visa application.
- If you live outside of the state of Minnesota, completed visas can be returned to the student via Fed Ex once picked up from the Chicago Spanish Consulate by the UofM.
Remember to read all information that you receive regarding student visas carefully. Requirements could change at any time and vary from consulate to consulate.
University of Minnesota Visa Service
The Spanish consulate in Chicago has graciously granted the University of Minnesota the ability to both drop off Spanish student visa applications and pick up the completed student visas on behalf of students studying abroad in Barcelona.
This is an optional service, and is only available to students on the Business in Barcelona / Study & Intern in Barcelona program. Each student MUST inform the Carlson Global Institute of their plans for obtaining the student visa whether they chose to use this service or not.
Using the Batch Visa Service
Not Using the Visa Service
You will need to apply for the visa in-person at the consulate. The in-person consulate appointment is required no earlier than 90 days and no later than 4 weeks prior to program start date. Student’s are only eligible to apply to the consulate with jurisdiction over the state where they are from or the state in which their school is located. Click here to find your consulate. Each consulate will require slightly different supporting documents. Students should refer to the consulate’s website.
Detailed instructions will be emailed to confirmed students directly.
- Business in Barcelona - Study Center (track 1) - to take all courses at the study center with other students from the United States.
- Business in Barcelona - University Study (track 2) - to take all courses at the local university, Pompeu Fabra (UPF).
- Business in Barcelona - Study Center & Uni Study (track 3) - to take a mix of courses at the study center and at the local university, Pompeu Fabra (UPF).
- Why did you select this particular program and how does it suit your academic, career, and personal goals?
- What do you think you might find challenging about studying abroad and how do you think you will meet those challenges?
- Link to the CAPA application will be provided once you application is open
- If interested in an internship, supplemental materials will need to be submitted to your CAPA application:
- Professional and academic letters of recommendation
- Cover letter and resume
- Police background check
Students will be charged a $50 application fee. Applications will be reviewed and students will be informed of their status within two weeks of completing their application.
In the online application, you will choose between several tracks. See below for track information. Contact the Carlson Global Institute advisor if you have questions about these tracks:
Applications will only be reviewed once the following are complete:
1.) Application essay addressing the following questions. The total essay cannot exceed 500 words in total.
2.) Completed CAPA application.
Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad. University of Minnesota students are eligible for education abroad scholarships through the Carlson Global Institute as well as the Learning Abroad Center. Please visit "Financial Aid" and "Scholarships" for more information.
Business in Barcelona students have access to the Bridging Loan which is a no-interest/no-fees loan that funds the upfront deposit and flight costs.
CAPA, our onsite logistics partner in Barcelona, also offers scholarships. More information about CAPA scholarships can be found here.
Cost Estimate (Summary)
Fall 2023:
- Business in Barcelona - Study Center
- Business in Barcelona - University Study
- Business in Barcelona - University Study and Study Center (Hybrid)
Spring 2023:
- Business in Barcelona - Study Center
- Business in Barcelona - University Study
- Business in Barcelona - University Study and Study Center (Hybrid)
Cancellation Policy:
Participants on this program are held to the Learning Abroad Center cancellation policy, as outlined under "Learning Abroad Center and Affiliate Programs 30 days or more in length" here.