ALBA Study Abroad Barcelona. A Unique, Small-Group Program

I had such a great time, the program leaders were super helpful with living situations adjusting to the different aspects here and all my professors were awesome. They all cared a lot about the courses and wanted me to succeed and do better! They excursions that they provide are also super fun and you should go on as many as possible.

I had difficulty adjusting to the culture and the different structure at first but overall it’s been pretty great! It’s interesting learning about their culture and history. The people around made this experience even better!

Above all, I signed up to study abroad to fully immerse myself in Spanish language and culture. I wanted to experience living in Spain like locals did and practice my Spanish every single day. ALBA gave me just that. I signed up to live with a local family and had an amazing time. The house was close to campus, and the family were so willing to practice Spanish with me, slowing down their conversations when I couldn't keep up, asking me about my day, and explaining Spanish traditions and holidays to me when they came up. A lot of people who had done ALBA told me I will leave with new friends, but I also left with a new family and home in Barcelona.

I really enjoyed my time studying abroad with ALBA Barcelona and I would do it again if I could! I definitely recommend for anyone who wants to push themselves out of their comfort zone, explore internationally, and immerse themselves in Spain's culture. Barcelona is a city that offers bustling events as well as quiet peaceful days. It is also very easy to travel to nearby European countries from Spain and I have explored 9 new countries this quarter, coming from someone who had never been to Europe before this. The teachers are amazing as well and I appreciate their time to teaching kids abroad. Overall, I 10/10 recommend this experience!

I had a great time in Barcelona this term, ALBA was a great study abroad program and I am very glad I chose it at my program. Through ALBA I felt like I was able to experience different adventures, meet a lot of people, and be a part of fun activities. I felt that everything was very well organized and the program really focuses on getting students to explore Barcelona. I do wish I would’ve taken an Art class here with ALBA since I only heard good things about it. I took all business classes and it was definitely from classes back in the U.S but it was a good challenge. With the flexibility of the classes I was able to do traveling on the weekend and explore the city which made this experience even better!

This was an amazing program that helped me learn so much about Spain, meeting new people, and have new experiences! They did a great job making sure students have everything they need and being prepared for going abroad. Their orientation was very informative and helpful. Classes are small so you get to connect with your peers and teachers. Barcelona is also very close to other places so you can easily travel just for the weekend to explore Europe. I will note to choose classes that you’ll enjoy since some classes like the business ones sometimes give a lot of work. Doing abroad was the best choice ever because you really get to explore and experience so much.

Studying abroad with ALBA has truly been the best experience of my life. The community and opportunities offered made for unforgettable memories. From the weekly excursions, biweekly cooking classes, and passionate professors — the program allowed me to gain a deep understanding of Catalan culture while also propelling my desire to live and work abroad post grad.

I felt that there could be more encouragement for engagement in ALBA’s offered activities. There’s not many opportunities for integration between students from different universities. I know it’s difficult to increase engagement, but I felt like I only ever interacted with people from my home university.

If anyone is on the fence about study abroad do it! I had a great experience with the ALBA program. The program is well managed and experienced in taking care of students. Academically, the teachers were experienced and I got the classes I wanted to take. Due to the program's history, I know the credits will transfer smoothly to the University of Washington. For any University of Washington students in the Foster School of Business, you will take core requirements and won't be behind when you return. As for housing, I chose the most popular shared apartment option and was pleasantly surprised by a spacious apartment fully stocked with cooking equipment. I had 4 roommates and we shared a 5 bedroom 2 bathroom place 15 minutes from Placa Catalunya where Alba is located. Everyone gets different places and I was fortunate to get one closer to the school and larger than some people but for the most part everyone is satisfied. I am located in a touristy area that's safe and easily accessible to busses and trains. Socially, I went random for my roommates and we get a long great! Alba makes you fill out a form for roommates preferences and I think everyone was matched pretty well! 2 main schools feed into Alba: Cal Poly and University of Washington (Business school) and a couple from different universities. You get opportunities to meet other students through the small class sizes (10-15 per class) and through excursion groups and cooking classes (more on this later!). Don't worry if you are coming knowing nobody, if you make an effort to get to know other students you will be fine! Culturally, I DO wish I got to meet more local students as I would in an exchange program, but as someone who doesn't speak Spanish I wasn't sure how much of a viable option that would be for me. Barcelona is rich with culture, from going on free walking tours around the city to going on the walking tours provided by the school, going to museums, or going to markets you will have lots of opportunities to explore Catalonia culture IF you go look for it. Other experiences ALBA offers: They offer 5 excursions through a travel Agency Spanish trails. These are included in the price! Go to them! You will get free food and go on tours with guides! You will go with a group of about 10 students from around the program. This is a good way to meet more students. Cooking class! These are super fun. Cook with students and make traditional dishes. There are about 4 cooking classes throughout the quarter. Barcelona is an amazing city. During my study abroad trip I got the change to visit some other European cities and Barcelona is a fun one to come back to due to the amazing weather and easy transportation system. If given the opportunity, STUDY ABROAD you will learn so much about yourself as well as grow your confidence and capabilities. And I have no regrets about choosing to study abroad in Barcelona through the ALBA program.

I had a wonderful time, the cooking class was amazing. I went to Morocco with was amazing. Trips every other week to different places within the country would definitely recommend. The classes are wonderful, wine tasting so many different things to do and keep you busy. This is a great program with wonderful teachers and students

I absolutely loved getting to be in the ALBA program! I high recommend it to anyone looking to study abroad! I made incredible friends from different schools, loved the small class environments, and learned so much about the city I got to live in! I even got to go on a guided trip to Morocco with other students and staff!

Small classes and group excursions make you close to everyone in the program! ALBA puts in so much effort to immerse their students in the culture on Barcelona and surrounding areas. The teachers and staff are the best!! 10/10 recommend.

All around good experience, great staff, and amazing extracurriculars. The cooking classes and weekend excursions really bring together all the students and allow you to experience more than just classes! Couldn’t recommend more!

This is the best program in Barcelona. They have everything from cooking classes to wine tasting to excursions. The staff and teachers make you feel at home and show you everything Barcelona has to offer.

Everything about Alba is amazing! They make the most of living in Spain; it goes by way too fast. I got to live by the Sagrada Familia, and school was very accessible through the metro. The staff was friendly and answered my questions immediately. There were so many organized activities and the guides were super fun.

I had a great time at ALBA, the best parts of the program were the free excursions to other towns, and the cooking classes. You also get 3 day weekends which gives you more flexibility to travel to different countries. I found myself going to Portugal, London, Paris, Ireland, and Greece. For living you are given the option for a home-stay, apartment, or dorm. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture and save money do a home-stay, you pay a lot less and get cooked food. If you are coming in with friends and want a relaxed living situation choose an apartment. I became very close with my roommates and got to enjoy my apartment with a balcony and kitchen. Also if you can PLEASE choose Craigs class for Art & Architecture or Art & Metropolis. He is a phenomenal professor, who is passionate about his teachings and is a former tour guide that can teach you much about the history of the city.

ALBA Study Abroad Barcelona is a great experience that I highly recommend for anyone wanting to study abroad. ALBA does a great job immersing students in the Spanish culture with activities such as cooking classes, excursions, tours, etc. Through these activities I was given many chances to make connections with my classmates and create so many new friendships. ALBA’s classes are small and project based which made learning very interactive and enjoyable. One of my favorite things about ALBA is that they provide many resources and useful tips such as how to get to the airport, exciting day trips, and so much more. Barcelona as a city is a great place to go abroad because of the variety of things to do in the city. ALBA also encourages students to leave the country due to Spain’s proximity to many European countries. In general, ALBA has provided me with an unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever. Thank you ALBA!

During my ALBA experience I was able to go countless places and immerse myself in European culture. The classroom and learning environment is very cozy and was very close to where I was staying. Within the classroom there was lots of participation opportunities and truly gave me new perspectives that I would not have been exposed to in the United States. Teachers and staff are willing to work with you in all facets of life and it overall is a program with a bunch of great people.

Alba is a fantastic program that allowed us to experience Barcelona in a fun and educational way. From cooking classes to excursions, the instructors and guides were always thoughtful and kind. I had a blast, and would highly recommend!

I LOVE ALBA!! I had such an amazing time studying abroad with ALBA. The staff is always super welcoming and kind. I would definitely recommend ALBA to my friends and family!! The program is super awesome and worth it!