Barcelona SAE: Academic Center (SIS) + Internship Semester

My experience with the Barcelona SAE has been amazing. My summer program with Barcelona SAE included a Mediterranean Foods and Culture class and an internship. The class was small and the professor was very engaging and I enjoyed the fieldwork we had as part of the class. My internship helped me improve my skills and also learn new software. I learned a lot about my field of study and had an insight into how it might look. The teams in Barcelona SAE did an amazing job organizing the program for students to get the best experience.  I lived in a homestay with 2 other girls and our host family made our experience in Barcelona even better. They gave us advice, and recommendations, and let us know of any local events happening in Barcelona. We all bonded together and never run out of topics to talk about which makes dinner really enjoyable. I appreciated that the homestay was in a less touristy region, which allowed me to get a more authentic local experience. I recommend the Barcelona SAE program because they have so many activities, such as cooking classes, and they provide personalized support. The staff are an amazing resource and easy to reach out to.

I had so much fun with Barcelona SAE! They truly made it a priority for us to feel as comfortable as possible during our internships. They were always available for questions and concerns, and gave us emergency contact cards if we ever needed help. The staff were always kind and welcoming — I was always so excited to walk into the Barcelona SAE office and be greeted with smiles and laughs. Would definitely recommend :)

I found the program through UC Berkeley's Summer Global Internships program so my application process was very easy to submit. Once accepted I began working with the program coordinators both in the US and in Spain to begin internship selection. The mandatory class offered as a supplement to our internship was very fun and interesting and an easy A+ if you're willing to interact and ask questions in lectures, which is an easy task since our professor was super personable. My internship placement was spot on. I'm a media studies/Communications student interested in a career in social media marketing and I was placed in a dance studio to help run their social media. For my placement, the internship team reached out to me to schedule a 15-minute short interview that allowed me to speak about what I wanted from the internship. After my interview notes and resume were received by the prospective companies/organizations was I then contacted by another team and the company recruiters for the interview. The interview was simple and to the point, asking me questions about myself the level of Spanish I know (not mandatory to know), and what I was to expect from working there. I filled out a questionnaire after the interview was over which notified the placement team of my interest in the company. Something I noticed, however, is that if you are interested in a specific field or position, you must cater your resume to the position you want. Make sure to include skills and experience you have that are relevant to your dream internship. The apartment was very nice, I was luckily placed in a not-so-touristy area which I loved, it was near the Barcelona Sants station and Estacio metro stop so it was super close to transit. The rooms were clean when we arrived and came furnished with everything we needed; sheets, towels, tv, couches, pans, and pots. There luckily was AC in my unit which was a nice plus. Upon my arrival in Barcelona, I booked a taxi to the Barcelona SAE center for my quick orientation then later was sent off in a taxi to my apartment courtesy of the program. Upon arriving, there was a team member who led me up to the apartment and showed me to my room. The programming was very fun and interactive. I usually only hung out with people from my university as that's who was in my class. however, BSAE held many fun dance classes, cooking classes, walking tours, etc. that allowed me to meet new people from different universities. I also really appreciated our farewell tapas night, held on a rooftop with a view of the Sagrada Familia. The food was amazing and everyone (Berkeley students) was given a picture and a magnet to remember the experience. Move-out was smooth, everyone was made to clear out their space, clean up, and leave their keys in the apartment. The programming was fun, and worth the money spent. In all honestly the programming was VERY expensive compared to other study abroad programs, and as a low-income student who is usually covered 100% by financial aid, it was difficult to pay the 2k my financial aid was not able to cover. While it was expensive I do believe my tuition money was well spent, my program paid for our metro passes, fun dance classes, food during some of our classes, a nice apartment, and charter buses for field trips. I do love that Barcelona SAE does offer some scholarships. Depending on your program, you can apply for different scholarships that range from $200 to half your tuition so APPLY! Overall, I had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends. Barcelona SAE has really set the standard when it comes to study abroad programming and I definitely recommend them if you are interested in a fun experience in one of the greatest cities in the world.