Global Cities
Universitat Pompeu Fabra – Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. It is home to modernist architectural masterpieces, like the Sagrada Familia of Gaudí and served as an inspiration to artists like Picasso and Dalí. The city was home of the 1992 Olympics, and is known for its own beaches, amazing architecture, cutting-edge cuisine, and a unique nightlife.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) is a public university created in 1990. It was designated as an “International Excellence Campus” by the Spanish Ministry of Education in 2010.
The Ciutadella campus is located in the Vila Olimpica neighbourhood, next to Ciutadella Park and Barcelona Zoo. It was set up in this area as a result of the urban regeneration that came to the city in the wake of the Olympic Games, and breathed new life into three historical buildings that had fallen into disuse. One of these buildings, the Dipòsit de les Aigües, had been built as a reservoir to store water for the nearby Parc the la Ciutadella with a lake and landscaped gardens. Today, transformed into the UPF’s General Library, it offers impressive reading rooms and a magnificent architecture.
Prerequisites and Courses
Prerequisites
- 2nd, 3rd or 4th year undergraduate students
- A minimum GPA of 3.0
- One semester of college-level Spanish (recommended). Students taking UPF courses taught in Spanish should check the syllabus for specific language requirements.
- Commitment to full-time enrollment throughout the entire summer (Session A and C)
- Commitment to participation in all scheduled on- and off-campus activities
UCLA Courses
You can find the list of selected UCLA courses at ieo.ucla.edu/globalcities.
UPF Courses
Students will enroll in two courses for a total minimum of 10 ECTS (see below for credit conversion). All listed courses have been pre-approved by UCLA for transfer credit. To petition courses for major/minor requirements, please check with your major/minor advisor. Some courses fulfill GE requirements and these have also been pre-approved, so there is no need for petition. They will be automatically posted to your record. When selecting courses, please check the Course Calendar (coming soon) to avoid time conflict.
For course description, syllabus and video, please check UPF Courses 2020. Courses for Summer 2021 will be available in January.
Art and Culture
Barcelona on Stage: Documentary Workshop (6 ECTS = 4.5 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: FILM TV (lower division)
Contemporary Barcelona and its Cultural History (6 ECTS = 4.5 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: SPAN (lower division)
- GE Requirement: Historical or Social Analysis
Interactive Media Art (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: DESMA (lower division)
Law and Memory: Legal History of the 20th Century (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: HIST (lower division)
Migration and Cinema: Representations and Politics (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: NONDEPT (lower division)
Pantallas Espanolas: Antologia de Relatos Audiovisuales Contemporaneos (6 ECTS = 4 units)
- Language of Instruction: Spanish
- UCLA Credit Transfer: FILM TV (lower division)
- GE Requirement: Literary/Cultural Analysis or Visual and Performing Arts
Pensar Barcelona en Imagenes: La Creacion de Ensayos Audiovisuales para Transmitir Ideas y Emociones (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: Spanish
- UCLA Credit Transfer: ART (lower division)
The Artistic Brain: Biology and Computation behind Painting and Music (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: NONDEPT (lower division)
Economy and Innovation
Brexit, EU and Global World: Current Challenges in European Politics and Society (6 ECTS = 4.5 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: POL SCI (lower division)
- GE Requirement: Social Analysis
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: MGMT (lower division)
Justice and Rights
After War: Intervention, Peace and Resilience (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: HIST (lower division)
Derechos Humanos en el Siglo XXI (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: Spanish
- UCLA Credit Transfer: NONDEPT (lower division)
Gender, Power and Violence (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: GENDER (upper division)
Justicia Global y Desarrollo Sostenible (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: Spanish
- UCLA Credit Transfer: ENVIRON (upper division)
Law and Economics – Why Should We Obey? (4 ECTS = 3 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: ECON (lower division)
Methods and Data
Modern Statistical Computing in R (6 ECTS = 4.5 units)
- Language of Instruction: English
- UCLA Credit Transfer: STATS (lower division
Spanish Language
Spanish Language Courses (6 ECTS = 4.5 units)
- Inicial (Beginner) – SPAN 1
- Preintermedio (Pre-intermediate) – SPAN 3
- Intermedio (Intermediate) – SPAN 4
- Avanzado (Advanced) – SPAN 5
- Superior – SPAN (upper division)
Budget and Financial Aid
Budget Estimate
| Program Fee (UPF + UCLA)* | $5,580 |
| Optional Session A Course (GLBL ST 140) | $1,116 |
| Housing in Barcelona (estimate) | $1,300 |
| Meals abroad (estimate) | $450 |
| Textbooks at UPF (estimate) | $240 |
| Airfare/transportation (estimate) | $1,350 |
| Personal Expenses abroad (estimate) | $650 |
| Room & Board at UCLA | Varies |
* Program fee includes registration, course fees and program activities for the entire program. Airfare, accommodations, meals, textbooks, and optional excursions are additional (not included in the program fee).
Fees are subject to change by action of the UC Regents.
Budgeting
We recommend that you budget accordingly to cover optional sightseeing, laundry, internet cafes, emergencies, etc. How much to budget depends on your travel, entertainment and souvenir choices. It is always best to overestimate your spending. Take the time to research the cost of living in your destination and the activities you want to participate in while abroad.
Purchasing Airfare
Please do not purchase airfare until you complete the registration process at UPF.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to selected students. The scholarship is designed for students who want to highlight their experiences abroad to others through content creation and on campus service hours. To apply, go to ucla.academicworks.com. Application deadline is March 1st.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to qualified UCLA students. For more information, see Global Cities Financial Aid.
Accommodations
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Students are responsible for securing their own housing in Barcelona. If you are interested in staying at a Residence Hall, please note that UPF has agreed on a special rate for summer students at a couple of RESA Housing residences. If you are interested in RESA Housing options, please contact Gala Tauler Royo at gala.tauler@resa.es. UPF is a centrally located urban university and does not have on-campus residence or dormitories.
For more detailed and practical information, please see Living in Barcelona.
UCLA
There is no required housing arrangement for UCLA students. You are free to choose your own accommodation. Housing and living expenses for Summer Session C are not included in the budget estimate as they may vary greatly depending on your arrangement.