The Wake Forest Barcelona Program is specifically designed for business, economics, entrepreneurship, and global trade and commerce students, but it also appeals to those students interested in history, political science, and international studies in general. Based at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona’s (UAB) Casa Convalescència campus, the program places students the heart of this city of 1.6 million inhabitants. From this central location, students are encouraged to become Barcelonians for a semester and experience everything that makes Barcelona a city of global significance.

For students applying to a fall semester program, there is a priority deadline of January 15.  For more information visit the Selection tab above.

Students participating on the WFU/Barcelona program are required to obtain a visa prior to the program’s start date.  To help students and families understand the Spanish visa process, the Center for Global Programs and Studies has created a useful website.

Students should also check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.  If students need to renew their passport, they should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.  Students can also contact their study abroad advisor with any questions about this.

One of the world’s most dynamic and vibrant cities, Barcelona offers endless possibilities for cultural, historical and social exploration.  From the Roman-era walls of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernista architectural wonders that line the elegant Passeig de Gracia, the city is one of the contrasts which blend effortlessly into a single, beautiful Mediterranean tapestry.  With a major port, high speed train station and international airport, Barcelona is the gateway to southern Europe and a hub from which business, economic and entrepreneurial activity thrives.

Students will also have access to the Wake Forest in Barcelona Center where they can meet up with other students on the program, study, have a coffee break or meet with the on-site staff.  The WFU Barcelona Center is located at:
Avinguda Diagonal, 343
08037 Barcelona
Spain

A Wake Forest University on-site administrator will oversee the program administration and Wake Forest’s academic center.  Courses are taught at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona’s (UAB) Casa Convalescència campus by UAB professors.  The courses are primarily taught in English, with no prior knowledge of Spanish required. 
 
Students on the program are required to enroll in one course taught in Spanish or Catalan.  Students interested in taking a Spanish class on the program should have completed SPA 212 at Wake Forest before going on the program.  These students will need to take an online placement test prior to arrival.  If a student doesn’t place into their desired Spanish course, then they will be switched into the Introduction to Catalan course.  There are no pre-requisites or placement tests for students planning to take Introduction to Catalan.  

The Autonomous University of Barcelona uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages to help place students in the appropriate level of Spanish.  

Courses provide a contemporary perspective on business, economics, entrepreneurship, environmental studies, global trade & commerce studies, international studies, political science, and Spanish language.

Below is a listing of the currently approved courses:

• WFU/Barcelona Approved Course List

It is the student’s responsibility to speak to their major and minor advisor(s) regarding their abroad coursework and how (or if) it will count towards their degree plan.

NOTE to Global Trade and Commerce Studies Minors:
In many cases, students can complete four courses towards the five required for the Global Trade and Commerce Studies minor.

NOTE to Political Science students: 
This program offers POL courses which will not count towards the in-residence (“at Wake Forest”) POL credit for Politics and International Affairs majors and minors.  For more details about taking POL courses on this program, students must consult the Department of Politics and International Affairs study abroad page or contact the department directly (wfupol@wfu.edu).

NOTE on Transcripts:
If you are applying for a fall program, you will need to upload your transcript showing your grades from the previous fall. If you are applying for a spring program, you will need to upload your transcript showing grades from the previous spring.

Accommodation will be provided by the program. You will have the option to live in an apartment, student residence halls or homestay.  All housing options will require a reasonable commute to class via public transportation.  Your choice of housing will have a significant impact on your study abroad experience, so think carefully before deciding which option is your preferred choice.
You may want to consider the following questions:

• What goals have I set for my semester abroad?
• How will my choice of housing help me to attain those goals?
• How will I maximize my opportunities to get to know people and students from Barcelona and Spain?

NOTE: All students participating in the WFU/Barcelona: Business & Global Studies program are required to live in program-provided housing. Apartments typically consist of shared bedrooms, bathrooms, a common area, and shared kitchen space. Multiple students are usually assigned to each bedroom and bathroom. Residence halls offer single bedrooms with en suite bathrooms in dorm-style buildings. Common areas and shared kitchen space exist throughout the building. Homestays give students the opportunity to live with a local host family. Only one or two students are hosted per family. Students will have a private bedroom, but they may share a bathroom.  Accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available.

For more information on the different housing options refer to this WFU/Barcelona: Housing Information document.

Throughout the semester, students will travel together with the Wake Forest on-site administrator on a variety of excursions, local and throughout Spain. In Barcelona, students will stroll down the beautiful avenue of La Rambla, detour into the city’s medieval Gothic Quarter, and visit la Iglesia de la Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s masterpiece.

In addition to local excursions, students will also have the opportunity to participate on an international trip provided by the program during the semester.  Fall semester students will travel to Portugal.  Spring semester students will travel to Morocco.

Students may also travel to Girona, Madrid, Montserrat, Salamanca, Tarragona, and more.  Organized outings may include musical performances, art museums, and sporting events,  Entertainment and cultural activities within walking distance of Wake Forest academic center include famous sites like the Sagrada Família, La Rambla, La Boqueria, Museu Picasso, Park Guell, Barcelona Zoo, and the Olympic village.

Most successful applicants have a GPA of 2.75, a strong application and faculty reference provided. If your GPA is lower than 2.75, you are still encouraged to apply and to discuss your application with a study abroad advisor. The admissions committee considers a number of factors into account as well your cumulative GPA.

Students hoping to study on the WFU/Barcelona program for a Fall semester should follow this time:
January 15th: Priority deadline for the WFU/Barcelona program.  
January 25th: Students that complete their application by the priority deadline will hear if they have been accepted to the program.  
February 6th: Accepted students will need to commit to the program.
March 1st: Final deadline for applications to the WFU/Barcelona program.
Students submitting their application for the second deadline will be admitted as space remains available.

Students hoping to study on the WFU/Barcelona program for a Spring semester should follow this time:
September 25th: Deadline for the WFU/Barcelona Spring program
October 1st: Students that complete their application by the deadline will hear if they have been accepted to the program.  
October 15th: Accepted students will need to commit to the program, unless otherwise stated by their study abroad advisor.

Current Wake Forest tuition and room fees, which covers tuition and academic fees, fully furnished housing, orientation, airport pick-up, health insurance, e-mail and Internet access, group activities and excursions, and farewell dinner.  Visa fees, meals, airfare, personal travel and expenses not included.  Students choosing the homestay option may have an additional charge to cover meals included with their housing.

Federal and institutional financial aid may be used. Additional funding is available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies with over half a million dollars in study abroad scholarships award annually.  Detailed information and applications can be found here.  Please note scholarship deadlines may be earlier than application deadlines.

Passport Information
Students need to check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.

Students going on a fall program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-June of the following year. Students going on a spring program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-November of the same year.

US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.

Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country’s passport office.

Visa Information
All students participating on the WFU/Barcelona program are required to obtain a visa prior to the program’s start date. Until you have received your visa, students are advised to refrain from making international travel plans in the months preceding their study abroad semester.

To help students and families understand the Spanish visa process, the Center for Global Programs and Studies has created a useful website.

Cody Ryberg
Assistant Director of Global Abroad Programs
Center for Global Programs and Studies
Reynolda Hall, Room 116
Phone: (336) 758 6194
E-mail: rybergcj@wfu.edu

Feel free to read through the current version of the program handbook for general program information.
WFU/Barcelona: Pre-departure Handbook

Barcelona Global Ambassadors for 2023-2024:
Meredith Jordan
E-mail: jordmb20@wfu.edu

Aisha Turner
Email: turna20@wfu.edu