Details

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

1. Preparation

In my opinion, there aren't really many tips regarding the application process—just apply to the university or universities that interest you. When it comes to preparing for a semester abroad, I think it's important to start looking for accommodation early on and to really check carefully which platform you're booking through – there are always some platforms/landlords that aren't entirely reputable. And, of course, you need to plan your finances a little, as you'll be spending quite a bit abroad.

2. Accommodation

During my semester abroad in Barcelona, I lived in a shared apartment in the Gràcia district. I lived with four other people in my shared apartment, whom I didn't know before I moved in. Although I was skeptical about moving in with strangers before I moved in, I can say in retrospect that I really enjoyed it. Moving in with strangers makes it easier to meet new people, especially people from different countries. I am really glad that I decided to rent a room in a shared apartment. Gràcia is a beautiful and central residential area with many modern cafés and restaurants - I can really recommend it! I also felt very safe and comfortable there. From Gràcia, it takes about 50 minutes by public transport to get to the ESADE campus, mainly because ESADE is located outside the city center. However, both the city center and the beach are within easy reach from Gràcia, which I personally found more important than the distance to the university. Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck with my apartment search at first. Before I moved into the shared apartment in Gràcia, I had originally booked a room in an apartment in the Eixample district (near Sagrada Familia) through the platform "Spotahome". However, when I arrived at this first apartment, I found that it was very dirty, there was no second bathroom, etc. So I had to look for a new apartment and was lucky to be able to move into the shared room in Gràcia within just four days. I found the apartment in Gràcia with the help of a friend who had a shared room in the same building and gave me the landlord's contact information. Unfortunately, I still have problems with Spotahome and the landlord of the first apartment (RUMS Agency), and they have not yet refunded me all of my money. I was only able to get most of my money back with the help of a lawyer, as neither Spotahome nor my former landlord were/are willing to cooperate. Therefore, I would strongly advise against booking through Spotahome!

3. Academic life at host university

Law students only have classes at the ESADE campus in Pedralbes, not at the campus in Sant Cugat. The Pedralbes campus consists of only three buildings and is not particularly impressive, but it is acceptable. However, there are sufficient cafeterias and a beautiful roof terrace on Building 3. It is also relatively quick to reach the main street "Diagonal", where there are numerous restaurants and shops. Compared to everyday university life at WU, everyday university life at ESADE was much more relaxed. I still had classes every day, which took up a lot of time (especially because of the long commute to the university), but I didn't have to spend as much time preparing for exams at ESADE as I did at WU. The exam format varies from course to course, but overall it's very different from WU - you don't usually have to solve classic cases, but rather write essays or answer questions.

5. Every day life in the host country

For public transport, I bought a “t-jove” ticket for € 44, which is valid for three months and includes all zones, which is very important for traveling in the surrounding area. For my last month, I bought a “t-usual” ticket for € 22. Overall, I felt very safe in Barcelona. Of course, there are areas where you shouldn't be alone at night (e.g. Barri Gòtic), but I felt comfortable in these areas during the day. Nevertheless, you should always keep an eye on your bag and cell phone, even in restaurants and shops. In terms of activities, I would especially recommend the Erasmus events. There are two accounts on Instagram (@erasmusbarcelona & @erasmus_barcelona) that offer lots of events and trips for Erasmus students – I can definitely recommend them! Barcelona has a lot to offer in general. There is plenty to do and new things to discover. Trips to the surrounding areas (e.g. Sitges, Blanes) are also easy and really beautiful!

6. Testimonial

I would really recommend a semester abroad to everyone! It's super exciting to get to know life in another country and become part of it. You also get to meet lots of people from many different countries and learn a lot about other cultures. It's a really great experience and a lot of fun. I can also highly recommend Barcelona, as in my opinion it's a city that has everything you want.