Details

• Spain
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

The application process at WU is not complicated; just check all the deadlines and prepare your CV and a letter of motivation. To prepare for your semester abroad, I can recommend getting in touch with former exchange students. Ask them where they lived and which courses they took. Regarding accommodation, check the deadlines for applying for student housing or start looking for a flat three months before you start your semester abroad.

2. Accommodation

There is no student housing offered by Esade, but they provide a guide with recommended platforms and a description of the neighbourhoods. I found my shared flat on Spotahome. I would recommend looking for a flat that not only has many pictures on its profile but also a video of the flat. Expect to pay around €700 per month in rent, including utilities. Keep in mind that in November and December you will need heating. I lived in the neighbourhood of Gràcia, close to the metro line L4, which leads to the city centre. It took me about 50 minutes to get to the Esade Law School in Pedralbes. If you prefer a quicker route to the university, I can recommend living near the green line L3. I cannot recommend the neighbourhood of El Raval or the old city centre because of its small and dark streets at night.

3. Academic life at host university

The ESADE Law School is located in Pedralbes. All of the courses I took were electives, so I cannot really compare them with those at WU. I would say that around 90% of the students in these electives were internationals from all over the world. All courses have a mandatory attendance requirement of 80%. In most courses, class participation is important. Other components of your grade are presentations and a final exam, which could be an essay, a multiple-choice test, or open questions based on the course material. A list of courses offered in the winter semester and registration will take place at the end of June/July. Before you enrol in a course, you will have access to ESADE’s online tool, where you can find a description for each course. Courses I attended: - Spanish Course one week before the official start, good opportunity to meet new people - Legal Aspects of Real Estate Transactions (final exam with open questions) - Derecho de Sociedades, Fusiones y Adquisiciones (basics of M&A also held in english, two small case studies and a single choice test) - The Laws of World Trade (in-class participation, group presentation, final essay) - Comparative Law and Conflict of Laws (in-class participation, group presentation, final essay) - Global Alliances and Refugee Rights (in-class participation, final reflection)

5. Every day life in the host country

Barcelona has a good public transport system. I used the official T-mobilitat app and bought the T-jove ticket before I arrived, so I could use it directly on my first day in Barcelona. With this ticket, you can also use some trains to smaller cities and beaches around Barcelona (e.g. Sitges, Montserrat, Blanes). I felt safe in the city, but take care of your belongings because of pickpockets.

6. Testimonial

Most important tip: do the things you really want to experience right at the beginning, because time flies by so quickly. I had courses from Monday to Friday, but the weekend is free for you to explore Barcelona and Spain.