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Study Abroad in Barcelona - Summer by the Sea

Contact ProviderProgram Costs
VerifiedProvider
4.4 / 5Student rating
16Reviews
32Programs
2006Year established

Program Overview

Spend your summer studying in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most exciting and culturally rich cities. The Expanish Summer Program allows students to earn academic credit while exploring Spanish and Catalan culture through engaging coursework and cultural activities. Courses connect academic topics with real experiences throughout the city, encouraging students to learn beyond the classroom. Barcelona’s unique blend of history, creativity, and Mediterranean lifestyle makes it an inspiring place to study. Outside of class, students explore Gaudí’s famous architecture, stroll through the Gothic Quarter, relax on Mediterranean beaches, and discover the city’s vibrant food and arts scene. Cultural excursions and group activities help students connect with the city and fellow international students. With supportive staff, housing options, and a welcoming learning environment, this summer program offers the perfect balance of academics, travel, and cultural immersion.

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Program Highlights

Enjoy weekly cultural activities: Our staff organizes 4 activities per week in each location to keep students busy and practicing Spanish outside of the classroom.
Live with locals: Choose the best option for you: homestay, shared apartment or student residence.
Receive guidance from local, on-site staff: We offer the local expertise and on-site support to complement a meaningful educational experience abroad.
Meet people from all over the world: While your classes will be study-abroad students exclusively, our study center attracts students from countries all over the world!
Small class sizes - we keep our classes to a minimum so that your learning stays personalized!

What's Included

Tuition & Fees
Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
All Program Activity Costs
Wifi Costs
Welcome Dinner
Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)
On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
In-Country Orientation
Language Lessons
Cultural Training / Program / Orientation
Certificate of Completion
Academic Credit
Pre-Departure Orientation
Academic Advising
Course Materials

Quick Details

Location
Barcelona, Spain
Availability
Year(s) Offered:2026, 2027, 2028
Terms Available:
  • Summer
Age Requirement18-25
Types & Subjects
Subjects & Courses:
  • Culture
  • Education
  • Foreign Language
  • History
  • Spanish
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • American
  • Canadian
Inquire about this program

Updated Jun 24, 2026

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Barcelona, Spain

Fields & Subjects

  • Education
  • History
  • Spanish
  • Culture
  • Foreign Language

Available Terms / Availability

  • Years Offered: 2026, 2027, 2028
  • Terms Available: Summer

Eligible Nationalities

  • American
  • Canadian
  • This Program is also open to Group

Education Levels & Language

  • Language: English
  • Education: University Freshman (1st Year)
  • Education: University Sophomore (2nd Year)
  • Education: University Junior (3rd Year)
  • Education: University Senior (4th Year)
  • Education: University 5th Year or More

Accommodation Options

  • Apartment/Flat
  • Dormitory
  • Group living
  • Home-stays
  • Independent living

Application Procedures

  • Online Application
  • Written Application
  • Other

Age Requirement

18-25

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about Expanish

4.4
16 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
7
4
9
3
0
2
0
1
0

Top categories

Program Administration
4.3
Academics
4.2
Cultural Immersion
3.5
Community
3.1
Health & Safety
2.9
Living Situation
1.9

Participated in this program? Share your experience now.

Review this Program

Showing 1-16 of 16 reviews

Abigail FaulknerUnited States · August 2026

It was wonderful

Really enjoyed my time here, wish I could have stayed longer. The only caveat is that the crowd tends to be either rather young (think 16-19) or older (40+) so if you are in the middle of that (I was 22) befriending people may be a bit more awkward, especially with the constantly changing crowd. However, that was not a big problem as I was able to make many great friends outside the program (and some within as well!). Staff were all incredibly informed, helpful, and outgoing and really made the time a blast. The events they offered were plentiful and diverse as well, which was very handy and good for meeting various people. Additionally, the spanish lessons were taught fully in spanish (although staff knows english and helped answer questions in english when people truly didn’t know how to communicate in spanish) which was very good and helped rapidly increase my spanish comprehension and skills.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Abigail! Thank you so much for such a thoughtful review! :) We're so glad you had a wonderful time and even wished you could stay longer — that's the best compliment! We really appreciate you sharing the note about the age gap in the group; it's great feedback for us, and we're glad you still found your people, both in and outside the program. It's also fantastic to hear our staff made things fun while being so helpful, and that the fully immersive Spanish lessons helped your skills grow so quickly — that immersion really pays off! Thanks for choosing Expanish and we hope to see you again soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Jessica DavidsonUnited States · June 2026

Emma and Expanish for the win!

I loved working with you all. Emma was so Kind and devoted - my students loved her too. My housing was perfect. Student housing was excellent notwithstanding no air conditioning but they survived. Tours were great- we all learned a lot.

Photos

Response from provider

Jessica, ¡muchísimas gracias por tus palabras! Nos alegra mucho saber que tu y el grupo tuvieron una experiencia tan linda con nosotros. Emma va a estar encantada de leer esto — ella se entrega por completo con cada grupo y se nota que esa dedicación llegó a tus estudiantes también. Nos encanta saber que los tours fueron un espacio de aprendizaje real para todos. ¡Esperamos volver a recibirlos pronto! Un fuerte abrazo.

Nandita GuptaUnited States · February 2026

Truly a wonderful experience for 30+

Even though I was only there for 3 weeks there was a camaraderie with the teacher and the classes. The best elements were each Wenedsday there was an outdoor component of the class. I also signed up for the Spanish in the CIty sessions, which were Tuesdays and Thursdays-- those were so interesteing and a great way to learn about the city. All the teachers are so friendly and they have activities literally every day of the week so students from different levels also get to mingle.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Nandita! Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad to hear that you felt a sense of camaraderie with your teacher and classmates, even during your three weeks with us. It’s great that you enjoyed the Wednesday outdoor classes and the Spanish in the City sessions—those activities are such a fun way to practice Spanish while discovering more about Buenos Aires. We’re also happy to hear your kind words about our teachers and the daily activities, as we love creating opportunities for students from different levels to connect and learn together. Hope we get to welcome you again in the future! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Angela Daniela CostanzoItaly · February 2026

A unique and very enganging Experince

My experience with Erasmus mobility in Barcelona was very lovely and formative: the staff was always very nuce and helpful. The Spanish course very interesting. Barcelona is a welcoming and wonderful town.People was really open and avaible!

Response from provider

¡Hola, Angela! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! :) We’re really happy to hear that your Erasmus mobility in Barcelona was such a lovely and formative time. It’s great to know our team was supportive and that you found the Spanish course interesting and engaging. And yes — Barcelona truly is a welcoming and wonderful city, with amazing people to match! Hope we get to welcome you again in the future, whether in Barcelona or at any of our other schools. ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Nora Tahmassian United States · January 2026

I enjoyed the class

I was only able to take a one week course and enjoyed it very much. I had the opportunity to practice with other students. I appreciated the class size of only 5 students. I appreciated that I was in a class with more mature (over 30) students.

Maria Stella CarellaItaly · December 2025

Esperienza sorprendente!

La mobilità Erasmus in Spagna, nella città di Barcellona, è stata un'esperienza molto interessante: il soggiorno in una residenza per studenti è stato confortevole, i mezzi ci hanno permesso di raggiungere agevolmente varie parti della città, il corso intensivo di lingua spagnola ha contribuito a farci conoscere le funzioni linguistiche, il lessico e la cultura del paese. Lo studio della lingua è stata un'opportunità di formazione straordinaria, poiché vi è stato un continuo confronto con persone provenienti da tanti paesi d'Europa: Francia, Paesi Bassi, Svezia, Slovenia. La scuola di lingua è ben organizzata ci ha accolto con grande ospitalità; tante sono state le attività proposte io orario pomeridiano: escursioni, mini corso di pittura, preparazione della sangria e tanto altro. La citta di Barcellona è unica, vibrante di energia e bellezza, riserva a tutti i suoi visitatori tante inaspettate sorprese e suggestive impressioni. Un viaggio che ha pienamente centrato l'obiettivo: arricchire le competenze linguistiche, interculturali. Un'esperienza formativa e professionale nel pieno spirito internazionale, che contribuisce a costruire un' Europa più inclusiva e connessa.

Photos

Response from provider

¡Hola, Maria Stella! ¡Muchas gracias por compartir una experiencia tan completa y positiva! :) Nos alegra enormemente saber que tanto el curso como las actividades y la residencia hayan estado a la altura de tus expectativas. Barcelona es, sin duda, una ciudad que deja huella, y leer tus palabras confirma el valor de este tipo de experiencias internacionales para construir una Europa más abierta, inclusiva y conectada. ¡Esperamos poder volver a daros la bienvenida en el futuro! ¡Un abrazo!

Erica PesaventoItaly · December 2025

¡Genial!

My experience attending Expanish language course abroad was extremely positive and enriching, both from an academic and a personal point of view. The language course was very well organized and highly interesting. The lessons were structured in a clear and effective way, combining theory with practical activities that allowed students to actively use the language in real-life situations. This approach made learning enjoyable and motivating. The teacher was one of the strongest points of the experience. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and always well prepared for each lesson. The accommodation was also a positive aspect of the experience. The room was essential but clean and comfortable, providing everything necessary for a pleasant stay. Moreover, the staff of the residence were always kind, helpful, and available to assist with any request or problem, which made me feel welcomed and safe. Overall, this experience exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to improve their language skills while enjoying an international environment.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Erica! Thank you very much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that your experience with Expanish was both academically enriching and personally rewarding. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the structure of the lessons and the balance between theory and real-life practice — that’s exactly the kind of learning environment we aim to create. We’re especially happy to hear your kind words about your teacher and the care and professionalism you experienced, as well as your positive stay at the residence. Knowing that you felt comfortable, welcomed, and supported throughout your time with us truly means a lot to our whole team. Thank you for recommending us, and we hope we get to welcome you again in the future for another great experience! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Alissa BuosoBrazil · December 2025

QUE CHIMBA!

Estuve en la escuela en noviembre y fue una experiencia increíble. Conocí a mucha gente que quiero llevar conmigo para toda la vida. Las profesoras son muy amables y el espacio está muy chulo. Solo me llevo cosas buenas de esta experiencia. Gracias a todos, en especial a la profe Montse y a la profe Melissa.

Photos

Response from provider

¡Muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia, Alissa! Nos encanta saber que tu estancia en la escuela en noviembre fue tan especial y que te llevas amistades que recordarás para toda la vida. Nos alegra mucho que hayas disfrutado del ambiente, del espacio y de la cercanía de nuestras profesoras. Le haremos llegar tus palabras a Montse y a Melissa, seguro que les hará muchísima ilusión. ¡Gracias a ti por formar parte de la experiencia y esperamos poder darte la bienvenida de nuevo en el futuro! ¡Un abrazo!

Leif ŐdmanSweden · December 2025

The scholl had good and engaged teachers and I enjoyd the classes together with people from many different geographic origins.

I experienced the my teachers to be engaged and well prepared for classes. To attend just for two weeks I think I revised my knowledge of the Spanish language satisfactorily and I am pleased by that.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Leif! Thank you for your feedback! We’re very happy to hear that you found your teachers engaged and well prepared, and that even in just two weeks you were able to revise and strengthen your Spanish in a satisfying way. It’s great to know you felt pleased with your progress, and we hope we get to welcome you again in the future to continue building on it! ¡Un abrazo!

Ulrich SpeeGermany · December 2025

Primavera en noviembre

Good teacher and Quality of the curse. Group a little bit too large (more then 10 people). Activities besides the curse ok, maybe some more activities would be fine, but this depends on the acceptance of the students, too. The apartment in Yugo Garbi was ok, a little bit loud, but its normal in this case (mostly Students and young people).

Response from provider

¡Hola, Ulrich! Thank you very much for sharing your feedback with us. We’re glad to hear that you appreciated the quality of the course and the work of our teachers. We also appreciate your comments regarding group size and activities — your observations are very helpful and something we continuously take into account as we work to improve the overall experience. Thank you as well for sharing your thoughts about the accommodation; we understand that a lively student environment can sometimes be a bit noisy, and we’re glad to hear it was overall a positive stay. Thanks again for your honest feedback. We hope we get the chance to welcome you again in the future! ¡Un abrazo!

Bettina OberhauserGermany · December 2025

Great atmosphere and people, fantastic C1 course!

I really enjoyed passing my 1 week intensive Spanish course at Expanish Buenos Aires! It was a wonderful experience for me: I learned a lot and/because I had so much fun in the C1 course; best possible group and teacher I could imagine. I also really liked the conversation course with the expeditions to museums. And: The school atmosphere is so welcoming, cosmopolitan and open minded; a perfect place to enlarge the horizon and get to know new people. Thank you so much!!!

Response from provider

¡Hola, Bettina! Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your C1 course at Expanish Buenos Aires and that it exceeded your expectations. It’s great to know you had so much fun learning with your group and teacher, and that the atmosphere at the school helped everyone connect. We’re especially happy you enjoyed the conversation course and the museum expeditions — exploring the city while practicing Spanish is always a highlight. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope we get to welcome you again in the future! ¡Un abrazo!

Scott Van VoorheesUnited States · November 2025

Mixed review

I have mixed feelings about my 10 week program. I had numerous teachers and most were very good and a couple exceptional. The mixed feeling are because I started at B1-1 and we completed 2 chapters a week through B1-1 and in the beginning of B1-2 which was great. Then the school combined students from B-2, my B1-2 class and the B1-1 class. The different ability levels was terrible and the teachers slowed to compensate for the lower level students. In my last 3 weeks in the school I only completed 3 chapters of the B1-2 book, not acceptable. Also the politically motivated topics for practice discussions in the B-1 level in a culturally mixed audience is wrong. We did not have sufficient vocabularies to adequately discuss topics without confusion.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Scott! Thank you very much for taking the time to share such detailed and honest feedback about your 10-week program. We truly appreciate hearing your perspective. We’re glad to know that you found most of your teachers very good, with some being exceptional, and that the initial progress through the B1 levels felt effective and motivating. We understand your concerns regarding the group fusion and the impact this may have had on the pace of the class. We are aware that combining groups can be challenging, and these decisions are always carefully analyzed in advance with our academic team to ensure the best possible learning experience. When levels are very similar, temporary adjustments are sometimes necessary. In this case, the teacher coordinated the classes by balancing new content with review of previously covered material so the group could move forward in a cohesive way. While this approach helped support the overall integration of the group, we’re sorry that it felt slower than expected for you. We also appreciate your comments regarding discussion topics. Your feedback is valuable and helps us continue refining our approach to ensure that class content is appropriate, clear, and effective for students at each level. Thank you again for your thoughtful input. It helps us improve, and we hope that despite these challenges, your overall experience with us included positive moments and meaningful progress. ¡Un abrazo!

Victoria ScordoGermany · October 2025

Exspanish is a wonderful school to learn Spanish

Exspanish is a wonderful school to learn Spanish in Barcelona. I had a great time and will continue my studies here for the next 3 months. Thanks to the Exspanish administration and teachers it is easy to learn everyday Spanish and get to know the city with the cultural excursions.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Victoria! Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear that you’re enjoying your experience in Barcelona and that you’ll be continuing your studies with us. It’s great to know our team and activities are helping you learn and explore the city. Hope the next months are just as rewarding! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Emilie CummingUnited Kingdom · October 2025

All the foundations are there, could be excellent with a few tweaks

Overall I really enjoyed my Exspanish experience. It came with pros and cons as expected: Pros - great location, good class size, punctual, good course materials and tech, lovely and engaging teacher, nice environment. Cons - teacher didn't speak English which meant instructions took longer than necessary for us to all interpret, the activities were not well communicated at all and the one that I did do was a little chaotic and involved more walking than I wanted.

Response from provider

Dear Emile: Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us. We are very happy to know the aspects you value positively, as well as the areas for improvement. This information is very important to us because it helps us improve and make your experience at Expanish wonderful. Our communication methodology is based on introducing communication in Spanish from the very first minute. We are aware of the challenge this represents, but we also believe it is one of the most effective ways to learn a language. Even so, we greatly appreciate your suggestion, and we will take it into account so that the professor can be aware that at some point a very controlled use of English can help unlock communication. Thank you very much, Emilie, for your feedback, and we hope to see you again at Expanish. ¡Un abrazo!

Marissa LanoffUnited States · October 2025

Amazing! Next time would stay for longer

Had an incredible time! The students, the teachers and the classrooms are awesome. No notes. The course instruction was fun and based in real life situations, not just grammar or tenses. Wish I could have stayed longer! I think to learn or practice a language effectively (depending on your level) you need to stay 2-3 weeks minimum.

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Response from provider

¡Hola, Marissa! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience! :) We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the classes, the teachers, and the atmosphere at Expanish. It’s great to know you appreciated our practical, real-life approach to learning Spanish. We completely agree — spending a few weeks really helps to make the most of the immersion! Un abrazo, and we hope to welcome you back soon for a longer stay!

Joan RyanIreland · October 2025

Excellent

Eva was an incredible teacher. I learned so much. The groups were ideally sized and played to all our strengths. There was no waste of time and every minute was packed full of content. I have already recommended Expanish to other students of the Spanish language.

Response from provider

¡Hola, Joan! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your classes with Eva and found the group size and lessons so effective. It’s great to know that every minute felt valuable and that you’ve already recommended Expanish to others — that truly means a lot to us! Un abrazo, and we hope to see you again soon for more Spanish learning! :)

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to all the most common questions about Expanish.

Is Barcelona a safe city?

Barcelona is generally a safe city. However, pick-pocketing is common. It’s a good idea for students and faculty to write down the important information of their credit card(s) and important phone numbers on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place. It’s also advisable to always keep a copy of your passport with you, but do not take the original out unless you need it.

How will I meet other people and make friends in Barcelona?

You will begin your stay with a student orientation, where you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants. Additionally, you will have the chance to interact with students in your classes, during workshops and weekly activities, in your homestay or shared apartment, and through the local Expanish staff. You will have plenty of opportunities to socialize with other students if you wish.  

Can I study abroad longer than 6 weeks?

Yes! You can always earn university credit with our Spanish classes and stay for any amount of time ranging from 1 week up to a year. For every 15 hours of Spanish lessons completed, you will earn 1 semester credit. Please make sure to always confirm with your university beforehand that the credits will be accepted. 

Recognitions & Awards

Awards and accreditations earned by this provider

TripAdvisor
Instituto Cervantes
IALC
Bildungsurlaub

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