A Captivating Setting. The attraction of Barcelona starts with the city itself. This is the kind of place where visitors, after only an hour in the city, are often heard declaring: “I think I could live here.” Barcelona has crystal-clear blue skies, miles of beach in the city center, tantalizing cuisine, and a laid-back lifestyle. Its deep sense of history permeates the streets and buildings, its social atmosphere is vivacious and friendly, and the city puts on non-stop activities and festivities. These are a few of the endless reasons for this feeling of comfort that draws people in and makes it so hard to leave.
Barcelona Means Business … Internships in Barcelona are available in a wide variety of fields, in English or in Spanish — with multinational corporations, booming start-ups, or NGOs that are changing lives. For students looking to boost their resumes and get a step ahead, they should look no further than Barcelona. The city attracts large multinational companies, but also fosters home-grown entrepreneurship through business incubators and help from the government. Barcelona attracts business and enterprise because of a strong local work ethic, a privileged location including a major port, and a relentless campaign to maintain its distinction as a top tourist destination. Students can find internships in management, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, accounting, and other fields of business study.
… And Public Relations, And Science, And Arts … Though business is the most popular field of placement for internships in Barcelona, there are definitely placements available for international interns in other fields. Companies in Barcelona offer internships in psychology, public relations, communications, engineering, law, theater, education, music, non-profits, health care, and graphic design, just to name a few.
A Kick-Start To Your Career. Internships are available for academic credit, or purely for the work experience. For an intern to receive academic credit, there is often an accompanying university course or seminar. Some students must complete a research paper about the internship to gain credit. This can be arranged either by the host program in Barcelona, or by the student’s university directly. Programs that offer academic credit tend to cost slightly more. Many students seek an internship just to gain experience and professional development, but not for academic credit. For people who are changing careers, or have graduated but do not have much work experience yet in their field, a non-credit internship in Barcelona can kick-start their new professional path.
But I Don’t Speak Spanish ... Doesn’t matter. Barcelona is host to many companies whose language of operation is English, along with Spanish and/or Catalan. Of course, a student who speaks both Spanish and English will have a wider variety of options. You may want to take a class in Spanish or in Catalan, the lovely musical language of the region that sounds like a blend of Spanish, Italian, and French. Barcelona is a truly bilingual city where anyone growing up here speaks both Spanish and Catalan.
Common Questions About Internships Abroad in Barcelona
What Are These Program Fees? Almost all internships are unpaid, but participating in an internship abroad program does cost fees. In addition to a job placement in Barcelona, internship program providers take care of the major details for the intern. This includes airport transportation, housing, language classes, emergency assistance, professional workshops, cultural and group activities, and more. Program fees pay for an all-inclusive intern abroad experience with safe and comfortable living conditions, appropriate work experience in the chosen field, academic direction, local guidance and support, and cultural and social enrichment.
What Type Of Visa Do I Need? The type of visa required varies, depending on the duration of the internship, the country the intern comes from, and the type of work placement. An internship could range from 4 weeks to a year, but the average is about 9 weeks. Your program provider will tell you all that you need to know about visas, depending on your specific circumstances.
What Will My Work Schedule Look Like? Internship programs and schedules vary widely, depending on the student’s academic course load and the needs of the host company. You could work anywhere from 8 to 40 hours at your host company per week, or you could work part time and take classes part time.
What Will I Do In My Free Time? Barcelona has so much to offer. You can wander through the medieval streets, soak up the Gaudí modernist parks and architecture, dance the night away, visit world-class museums, join sports teams, shop in cool independent stores, scale majestic Montjuïic, sample amazing cooking, or simply grab your camera and discover scenes that will make fantastic photos. Interns who are here between May and October always take advantage of Barcelona’s beaches, consistently ranked as some of the best in the world. Interning in Barcelona offers endless professional growth opportunities, the chance to build your resume and earn academic credit, and the luxury of living in one of Europe’s great cities. It could be the best decision you ever made.