Gap Year Programs in Barcelona,Spain

Your gap year in Spain will take you to Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, where structure and freedom allow you to learn more about yourself before college. Spend four weeks immersed in each destination and experience a mix of Andalusian life, Catalan culture, and the energy of Spain’s capital. Your time in Spain will allow you to discover new perspectives while developing skills for future success. Begin your adventure in Barcelona, exploring rooftop viewpoints and soaking in the city’s vibrant fútbol culture. Then, discover Madrid, from lively historic plazas to the expansive Retiro Park, where Madrileños (Madrid residents) enjoy quality time with friends. Finally, travel to Seville, where you’ll connect with local living as you explore the city’s neighborhoods, Moorish palaces, and the Plaza de España. Language courses led by supportive CIEE instructors, along with a dedicated program leader, give you opportunities to strengthen your Spanish, pursue an optional independent study, or take part in a volunteer project in the arts, politics, or other subjects, adding meaning to your time abroad.

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Get the chance to work with injured animals from the Amazon rainforest or at a shelter for sea turtles in one of our internships abroad. At the Institute for Global Studies, we help students gain invaluable work experience in their field from an international context. Wildlife shelter work can bring out the best of human nature. Connecting with abandoned animals instills a sense of accomplishment that few tasks provide. Apart from bonding with animals, gain insight into local communities and their interactions with wildlife in their area. Meet with students, residents, and the general public to learn about their customs. Common duties include food preparation, checking in animals, interpretation to the public, medical assistance, and community outreach.

Volunteer at a youth hostel in the center of Barcelona while exploring all that the exciting city has to offer while meeting new and interesting people from all over the world! Barcelona is a vibrant city with many different historical, cultural, and architectural attractions. Volunteers will have ample free time to explore such attractions, relax on the warm beaches, or enjoy the bustling night life. Volunteers will be expected to work rotating shifts including serving at the bar at night, helping with breakfast in the morning, promoting and organizing social events, implementing a recycling program at the hostel, and leading tours around the hostel for guests.

Learn Spanish in Barcelona with EF Language Year Abroad—an immersive, multi-term journey designed to help you gain fluency and cultural insight for academic and personal success. EF Barcelona is a vibrant, modern language campus located in the heart of the lively Eixample district. Housed right on Balmes Street, the school features sleek, contemporary interiors and a spacious outdoor terrace—an urban oasis perfect for soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere True fluency through immersion - Spend 2, 3 or 4 academic terms (6–11 months), gaining language and cultural fluency, learning from local experiences, and peers from over 100 nations. Join our accredited program in Spain’s most dynamic city, where Gaudí’s architecture, Mediterranean beaches, and tapas nights set the stage for language mastery. With flexible intakes in September, January, April, and June, your experience is fully customizable—from two to four terms and small classes and native-speaking instructors this creates a dream Gap Year. Earn transferable college credit through our partner in education, The University of Montana.

Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries and cultures around the globe. It's more than just the adventure of a lifetime. It's a transformative experience that will give you a global perspective to take on the challenges of tomorrow. Fall 2026: European, African, South American, and Asian Adventure Embark: September 9, IJmuiden, The Netherlands Disembark: Dec 22, Bangkok, Thailand Itinerary: Portugal, Morocco, Brazil, St. Helena, South Africa, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hong Kong Spring 2027: Asia, Africa, and Europe Embark: Jan 5, Bangkok, Thailand Disembark: Apr 20, Bremerhaven, Germany Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Scotland

Experience the ultimate European adventure every summer, traveling safely and comfortably between cities via train so you have the maximum time exploring. Get ready to marvel at the history and culture of the Old World, from the art and violence of Renaissance Italian city-states via the high refinement of Viennese coffee houses to the color of Barcelona and the Romantic drama of the French Alps. Join a group of like-minded travelers for this fully escorted four-week adventure of a lifetime. This trip will take you sightseeing across Europe's finest cities.

Enrich your time between high school and college with a gap program, differentiate your résumé with an internship, or get class credit while you study abroad. Along the way, you’ll attend a prestigious university, enjoy career-accelerating experiences, and immerse yourself in Spain’s language, lifestyle, and culture. API offers a variety of programs in six different locations, spanning the country regionally, culturally, and linguistically. If you are coming to Spain for the first time, be warned: this is a country that fast becomes an addiction. You might not have enough of the celebration of some local fiesta or the vibrant nightlife.

Studying abroad in Spain with IES Abroad means immersive cultural excursions, hands-on classes, afternoon siestas, and evenings strolling through winding streets to find your favorite tapas. You will explore UNESCO world heritage sites, wander through acclaimed art museums, and marvel at unique architecture as you stroll through winding streets, all while experiencing the wonders of this diverse country when you study abroad in Spain. The extensive Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline has made Spain one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, but beyond the veneer of tourism, Spain has a long and complicated history of Roman, Catholic, Jewish, and Arab influences. This mix has produced stunning and varied architecture, a strong tradition of academic scholarship, some of the 20th century’s most influential artists, and a complex sense of modern national identity. From the modern European cities of Madrid and Barcelona, to the medieval university of Salamanca and the Moorish flavor of Granada, Spain has a place for everyone to explore and better understand Spanish culture, which is far from easy to define. If you're looking for adventure, Spain will not disappoint!

Sign up for this gap year program, which provides the opportunity to spend one or two semesters in Barcelona. The UAB welcomes students who have completed secondary education and wish to prepare for their next academic step. Whether you have already decided on a degree or are still looking for new opportunities, this program offers you some valuable experience at university lectures with students from around the globe. Learn the Spanish language and choose electives that allow you to undergo a lifetime adventure. Upon successful completion, you can earn a UAB certificate that can be validated for credits in the future. This program includes • 4 elective subjects and 1 language course on Campus UAB Barcelona • UAB certificate

Intern in Spain with Intern Abroad HQ and experience award-winning, accredited programs in Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Tenerife or Seville. Whether you're a student, recent graduate, gap year traveler, or career changer, you’ll gain real-world experience in fields like Business, Psychology, Animal Care, Ecological Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Early Childhood Education, and more. Choose your start date and stay from 2 to 24 weeks - fully flexible to fit your schedule. Soak up Spain’s subtropical Mediterranean climate while exploring its world-famous cuisine, beaches, parks, and iconic architecture. Intern Abroad HQ handles everything: a guaranteed internship placement, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, 24/7 in-country support, and a reference letter from your host organization. Intern alongside English-speaking professionals or practice your Spanish as you gain course credit and save thousands on tuition fees. With the most affordable internship programs abroad, Intern Abroad HQ empowers you to boost your resume and launch your global career with confidence.

Soccer Camps International’s selection of Spanish soccer camps (football camps) in Spain includes intensive summer programs for boys and girls from 10 to 16 years old at the FC Barcelona Soccer Camp “Barça Academy Summer Program Clinic" and Atletico de Madrid High-Performance Soccer Camp Spain. FC Barcelona Football Clinic “Barça Academy Summer Program” is a unique Barcelona Soccer Experience and an exciting opportunity for boys and girls ages 10 – 16 to practice international summer soccer training in Barcelona, Spain, with one of the world’s most successful football teams. You’ll play at Barça Academy's professional facilities, do the museum immersive tour experience, and more. A great Football Camp at Barcelona Soccer Summer Experience! Atletico de Madrid Soccer Camps participants will experience being a high-performance football player at the Atletico de Madrid Academy. Players will live in the official Atletico de Madrid Academy players' Residence and train at the Atletico de Madrid Sports Complex in Madrid, Spain, under the adapted football methodology of Atletico de Madrid Club Soccer Academy A fantastic soccer camp experience awaits boys and girls this summer!

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Have you always dreamed of living in Spain? Whether you are a soccer fanatic, a Flamenco aficionado or a foodie in search of the best paella – you will surely fall in love with the deeply rooted Spanish culture. Join World Explorers to teach English in Spain. You will live with a local host family where you will be considered part of the familia for one to three months. You will have the opportunity to exchange your language and culture with the locals. We want you to come back from your trip with a Spanish lisp! In exchange for a clean and comfortable room and full board, all you have to do is share your native language with your hosts for 15 hours per week. The goal for your family is to practice their conversational English. This is not about teaching them reading, writing and grammar. To them, this program is about engaging in conversation and feeling comfortable communicating in English with you. No prior teaching experience is necessary! CHI works with trusted overseas partners in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville to find the best host families possible. You will have a local coordinator throughout your stay in Spain and make new friends that will last a lifetime!

Join a program designed to foster teamwork and entrepreneurial skills through the combination of Spanish language instruction, an internship in Barcelona, and the creation of a sustainable business model. The next session dates: March 1st to May 24th, 2025 September 6th to November 29th, 2025 Your gap semester starts with 4 weeks in Madrid and then 8 weeks in Barcelona. This 3-month program comprises the following: Internship - We have partnered with Absolute Internships to offer placements across a range of fields. Be part of a cohort and never be the only student taking on an internship in Barcelona. Entrepreneurship - We have teamed up with business professors and entrepreneurs to deliver a business incubator experience. You will create a sustainable model built around SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Spanish Language - Learn Spanish, which you will apply in a real work environment while exploring Barcelona, Madrid, and other cities in Spain. Eligibility: - 18 years old or over - Must be in good health - High school graduate with at least a 2.8 GPA - Interest in entrepreneurship - Passionate about gaining work experience

We provide the ultimate gap year experience for independent-minded travellers, including an internationally recognised teaching qualification, job support, and up to 9 months of Spanish classes & fun cultural activities! This package is ideal for you if: - You want to take time out before going to university and explore Europe. - You are interested in languages. - You are interested in teaching. - You want to learn about other cultures. - You want an unforgettable, formative experience that will open the doors to future opportunities. Spend a month getting your Trinity CertTESOL teaching certificate, then stay on for up to 3, 6, or 9 months to study Spanish and take part in cultural activities such as museum visits, walking tours, and day trips around Catalunya. This programme includes accommodation for the duration of your stay, as well as airport pickup & orientation sessions on arrival.