SAI Study Abroad at UAB (Barcelona, Spain)

I had wanted to study abroad since high school, and SAI made that happen. It was as fun as I imagined, and I would do it again in a heartbeat if my degree allowed. I love to travel, and immersing myself in the city culture was the best thing I have done. I loved the Viva Experiences that SAI had as well, allowing me to take many day trips, as well as take pottery and dance classes, among other things. I loved the on-site staff as well, getting to know them through various excursions. One ran the program's soccer team in the study abroad league, which I got out of my comfort zone and joined. If you told me I would go and play soccer abroad beforehand, I would have laughed, but looking back I am so glad I took the leap and did so. I may not have been great, but I made friends and had a lot of fun.

My time with SAI was amazing. The entire team was extremely caring and responsive to any issue that we had abroad. Everyone was knowledgable and had many resources as to how to be successful abroad. The only thing I will say is that the housing situations were hit or miss location and size wise. It would have been nice to have more information on housing options and assignments. Other than that, great program with different options for volunteering, host families, and events!

I am so glad I chose to study abroad with SAI! They made the whole study abroad experience so much easier! They help you every step of the way starting from the day you apply to the day you leave Barcelona! One of my favorite part about SAI was the VIVA experiences, which are excursions or activities that are included in your program fee that help you experience the local culture. The staff is also super helpful and friendly, they are there to provide any help you need 24/7 during your time abroad.

Studying abroad in Barcelona was the best thing I ever did for myself. Partnering with SAI helped me meet so many of my best friends to this day. SAI was extremely helpful in all aspects of preparing me and ensuring my safety and happiness abroad. My apartment was on the same block as sagrada familia and a 15 minute walk to UAB. Our program directors were extremely accommodating and knowledgeable. The activities helped to bring us together as a study abroad community as well as learn more about Barcelonas geography and culture. I could not recommend anyone but studying abroad in Barcelona and with SAI.

Studying abroad with SAI was the best experience of my life. I learned about SAI through a friend, and I will definitely be recommending it to everyone. The on site program coordinators Sandrine and Elena were very welcoming and helpful from my arrival in Barcelona until my departure. Every activity they had planned for us was very well planned and executed. They work hard to get to know all of their students and they deeply care for each student. The housing they provide was in a great location and was very nice. I am so glad I chose to study abroad with SAI!

I really liked studying abroad through SAI. They care about you and want you to have a great time while you are there. They offered lots of activities for us; wine tastings, beach trips, visiting Dali museums in other cities, hikes, and museum tours. The activities were a really nice way to spend time with people in the program regardless of if they also went to UAB, since SAI has 6 different schools in Barcelona. I was able to join a soccer team for SAI where we competed weekly downtown, near the beach, against other study abroad programs in a tournament. It was a really fun way to get to know people in my program, and also people in other programs because we would stay after and talk to them. I highly recommend SAI for the community they help you build there and the opportunity of studying abroad through a homier group.

Many people wouldn't choose to go abroad in a pandemic, but SAI makes it all worth it. I have no regrets about my choice and I wish I could do it all over again. This was my second time studying abroad with SAI and they never fail to make you feel comfortable, prepared, and excited. I was happy with my classes, living amenities, and location. It was truly an experience of a lifetime that wouldn't be possible without the amazing staff at SAI. I would highly recommend studying abroad and most importantly, studying abroad with SAI.

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I have no regrets about choosing this program and would be quick to recommend it to a friend. SAI offered great support and amenities. My apartment was fully stocked with everything I needed. Kitchen gear, linens, etc. and maintenance requests were always met promptly. Expect living differences based on culture and routines. Wifi can be spotty. The location of my apartment was well thought out and close to my university and metro. I attended the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in their study abroad building which was in the middle of the city. I wasn't fully aware that it was the study abroad sect of the school, so my classes were not with local students. Most of my classes were with young adults from the States. My professors were engaging and kind. I enjoyed all of my courses, from political science to art history. SAI's Barcelona office / team was amazing and I felt safe and comfortable with the staff. They were our friends and immediate support system. We took a weekend trip to Sevilla and activities were provided almost every week (like cooking classes, hikes, and museum visits). I also was able to volunteer at a local school and work with third graders in their art class. Volunteer opportunities are always available to go along with your courses. SAI encourages each student to be independent and explore on their own but is there for any need, at every step of the way. From the application process to our farewell, I trusted SAI with all of my questions and concerns. I made fantastic friends and memories and my study abroad experience was truly so great due to SAI.

This part of my life, was well deserved and the best part of my life! I happened to actually go abroad right before the Pandemic of Covid-19 happened in March of 2020. Obviously, I wish I could change that, but only that. SAI was so so helpful before, during, and after I had to leave. I had the hard times but more specifically the best times. I learned more about myself in the 2 and a half months I was there than at home. I went with no one from my school, and that is DEFINITELY the best move I could have made. I had to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people, I had amazing roommates, so it made it easier. If you are thinking about studying abroad, my number one advise it to just full send that thought! Do it, there will be some hard times but the benefit of loving it is more than ever could be imagined.

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Studying abroad with SAI programs was one of the most amazing choices I could have ever made. I was able to smoothly transition from living in the US to Europe easily with the support of everyone on the team. They acted like a second family to me, helping answer any questions I had while I was abroad. When I was sick, they held my hand and really made me feel comfortable being so far away from home. This program offered unreal opportunities to travel with groups as well, making it easy to find new friends from schools all over the country! Overall I had the most amazing experience with SAI and highly recommend them to anyone thinking of studying abroad.

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I had an incredible experience when I studied abroad in Barcelona. I was able to travel every weekend but also was able to learn about the culture of Barcelona with the help of my SAI program coordinators.

I wouId highly recommend SAI Programs to study abroad with. The program staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They helped me schedule several doctors appointments, and even went to the police station with me when my phone was stolen to help me retrieve it, which I greatly appreciated because my Spanish isn't very good. They excursions provided by the program are very well organized and SUPER fun. The staff are also very good at getting to know each student and really make sure each of us are safe, happy, and having a good time. I am positive that my study abroad experience would have been much harder and no where near as enjoyable without the SAI staff at my side. If you want to study abroad (which you should because its awesome!!) then DEFINITELY check SAI Programs, and consider Barcelona as your destination!

This program has been so instrumental in my study abroad experience. The directors for the program were so readily available to help us make this experience the best we could have. They genuinely care so much for each individual in the program, and I'm so glad out of all the programs I considered, I chose this one. I was lucky enough to find myself surrounded by the company of such great people for the past semester. They made it incredibly easy to explore this city and immerse ourself in the culture, gave suggestions on our other travels, and made sure we focused on our studies as well. They gave us support but also enough room to learn how to be independent and figure things out for ourselves. SO lucky to have this program and to have met the people I have through it! Feel like I've gained a second family.

While studying abroad in Barcelona, I had the time of my life! Before this, I had only been out of the country once. I wasn’t really sure what to expect but the whole experience turned out to be an awesome adventure. I was able to travel across Europe, explore cool new places in Barcelona, and best of all, gain a sense of independence. Studying abroad through SAI changed my life, and I can’t wait for the opportunity some day to be able to travel again!

My experience abroad taught me a lot about myself and other cultures. If I studied abroad again I would do it through SAI because they made me feel comfortable about everything through out the entire process and I got to know Sandrine and Leticia well and they really made my experience more enjoyable than it already was.

Before my program, I could never have imagined how beneficial my courses abroad would be. I took a cross-cultural management and a Spanish class and they were incredible. Both were very engaging, interactive, and I learned more than I ever thought I would. Sandrine and Leticia were my program directors in Barcelona and they are the reason my experience was as incredible as it was. They were so supportive and really interested in how our stay was going. We had numerous activities with just our group and they made sure that we all bonded and became a family before we left. I gained a new appreciation for the Spanish people and culture. I also learned a lot about Europe in general through my travels. It was more than worthwhile.

I think two very important factors while studying abroad is to have fun (the time of your life) all while remaining safe. SAI was always there for us. I felt very comfortable with the ladies in Barcelona that catered to us. They were there for us for every aspect, we could ask them anything and they always had our best interest in mind. I am so happy I chose SAI and couldn't imagine going through a different program. I loved how small we were compared to other programs and the friendships I made.

I had a really great semester studying abroad with SAI in Barcelona. I felt as though I could always contact all of SAI’s staff with any questions I had, and all of the excursions and events that were planned were well done. Barcelona in itself was an amazing city to study abroad in for the semester. There was always something new to see or do. Additionally, my classes at UAB were interesting and I enjoyed them. Overall, a great experience.

I absolutely loved studying abroad through SAI at UAB. I studied business and looked forward to class everyday. I took 2 very thorough and in-depth business classes as well as 3 cultural immersion classes featuring many field trips and guest speakers. SAI did an excellent job of keeping me informed on all events going on in Barcelona every week through a newsletter, answered any questions in a timely manner before I even got to Barcelona, and has provided an incredible amount of support constantly throughout the semester. I am proud to say that SAI was the best possible program. Many big programs are more expensive, do not offer as many excursions, and you build an actual relationship with the staff instead of being "just a number" with the big programs. I highly recommend studying at UAB with SAI!!!

My study abroad experience in Barcelona was great. I hiked Montjuic by myself in the middle of a storm, saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play on my birthday, and had a picnic and drank wine on the Bunkers that overlooked all of Barcelona. Barcelona is a safe, cheap party city. The academics at my school were also really good, and I enjoyed my classes and my professors were both really amazing. My Spanish also greatly improved. However, because I was surrounded mostly by Americans I had to really make an effort to improve my Spanish.