FAQs

FAQs About the ALBA Program in Barcelona

• Is this a full-year study abroad program in Barcelona?
• What courses do you offer, and is anything required?
• Is there a minimum Spanish language requirement?
• Are you based at a local university(s) in Barcelona?
• How does credit for ALBA courses transfer to my home school?
• Do you offer financial aid for study abroad in Barcelona?
• What kind of housing is available?
• What kind of activities would be available while I'm in Barcelona?
• Is it possible to travel on the Program?
• Are student visas for spain necessary?
• I have heard that they don't speak Spanish in Barcelona?
• What other features of the ALBA Study Abroad Program are unique or of particular interest in comparison to other programs?
• How early should I apply and what is required?

Is this a full-year study abroad program in Barcelona?

ALBA follows a "quarter" calendar with three eleven-week terms (and a four-week summer session). However, courses are not sequential and you can therefore attend for a single term at any time, or for any two or all three terms of a regular academic year.

What courses do you offer, and is anything required?

ALBA's elective courses - normally carrying three semester (equals five quarter) credits - are primarily in the areas of Humanities and Social Sciences (see the following "Courses" section), and are usually taught in English. The exception is Spanish (or Catalan) language, which is a required course carrying four semester credits (six quarter credits). Most students take Spanish and two electives for a total of ten semester (equals sixteen quarter) credits per term, which amounts to thirty semester or forty-eight quarter credits for an academic year.

Is there a minimum Spanish language requirement?

No. Since almost all our elective courses are taught in English (using textbooks that are assigned for courses at English-speaking universities around the world), you can be an absolute beginner in Spanish and still participate in the study-abroad experience. Having said that, for those who are more fluent, it may be possible to offer certain additional electives in Spanish.

Are you based at a local university in Barcelona?

ALBA classes are normally held at International House, one of Spain's oldest and largest language institutes, three blocks from the Plaza Catalunya which is the center of the city. This provides us with excellent facilities, more space and better opportunities for our students to mix with Spanish students who are there to learn English. However, our faculty are usually professors from the local universities - ALBA maintains contacts with several institutions - and for 2005-06 we anticipate making additional facilities available to our students at one or more of these other schools.

How does credit for ALBA courses transfer to my home school?

The ALBA Study Abroad Programs in Barcelona is sponsored through Portland State University (PSU), now Oregon's largest university, and all ALBA faculty, facilities and courses are subject to approval by PSU (and PSU's own accrediting body). When you enroll with ALBA you are automatically enrolled at PSU and will receive a transcript from them when you complete the program. This virtually ensures that other schools will accept the credits - much as if you were enrolled for say, summer classes at PSU - although you should always make sure not only that this will happen, but also how those credits will be applied toward your degree requirements.

Do you offer financial aid for study abroad?

Yes. Federally-sponsored grants and loans that you may be receiving are normally transferable to the ALBA Program via a so-called "consortium agreement" which you would ask your home institution to send to ALBA as soon as you were admitted. In addition, ALBA often provides its own aid in the form of tuition reduction - roughly a third of students receive some aid in this form - depending on need and availability fo funds.

What kind of student housing in Barcelona is available?

The usual housing choice is the half-board homestay (breakfast and evening meal), but you can also choose to have breakfast-only ("B&B" option). In addition, we can usually arrange apartment accommodation - typically shared - but this option does not include meals. In summer we also have student residencias - in effect student hostels with meal options - available.

What kind of activities would be available while I'm in Barcelona?

Apart from the almost limitless things to do on your own initiative in Barcelona - obtaining a Guia del Ocio (weekly "leisure guide") is a must, as is walking around as much as possible - ALBA's Program Coordinators - a young American couple who have operated a travel agency/travel service, Spanish Trails Adventure / SunCat Travel, organize a couple of group field trips outside Barcelona each term in addition to the initial airport pick-ups and orientation session (including lunch). They are also available 24/7 to help deal with any problems or issues that might arise unexpectedly.

Is it possible to travel on the Program?

Yes, but absence from scheduled classes is not encouraged any more than it would be at your home institution. However, being Spain there are usually one or two long holiday weekends during which students can travel farther afield for a few days. More extensive travel is commonly undertaken after the end of a term, or sometimes before a term starts.

Are student visas for Spain necessary?

Assuming that you are a US citizen, not if you are attending the ALBA Program for a single term only, since our terms are less than ninety days in length. If you intend to stay continuously in Spain for more than ninety days, you will need a visa: a Student visa if you are continuing with ALBA, or a Tourist visa if you intend to simply travel afterwards. ALBA will provide the necessary documentation for the Student visa, but as with financial aid you should contact the nearest Spanish Consulate (www.spainemb.org/ingles/consulates) as soon as you are admitted.

I have heard that they don't speak Spanish in Barcelona?

Two-thirds of Barcelona's residents are native speakers of Catalan, while the rest are native Spanish (Castilian) speakers. However, the Catalans almost universally speak Spanish as well, so it has always been a non-issue for our students. On the contrary, although you will be studying Spanish and speaking it in your homestay, if that is your choice of housing, you will find that the public signs and other evidence of Catalanism is a fascinating lesson in biculturalism.

What other features of the ALBA Study Abroad Program are unique or of particular interest in comparison to other programs?

• First and foremost, we are a relatively small study abroad program with a cap of forty students per term. This means that class sizes can be as small as two and no larger than twelve students except for specific subjects typically involving a large element of visual arts presentation in which a lecture format is appropriate. Other classes are seminar-style in format which results in a much more effective learning experience. A smaller class also allows ALBA students to become acquainted with each other and so promotes future contacts among our alumni.
• While ALBA's stateside administrators are also Barcelona university teachers with long academic and study-abroad experience, the on-site coordinators are a young married American couple, with a child born in Spain, who have lived in and run their own travel agency/travel service in Barcelona (Spanish Trails Adventure / SunCat Travel Center) successfully for a number of years. They are consequently not only able to provide a range of interesting activities for students (and frequently their visiting friends and families) beyond Barcelona's city limits, but also to attend closely, "24/7" if need be, to students' concerns in many ways that can not be done with larger groups or outside regular "office" hours because of a more rigid on-site administrative structure.
• Although we provide financial aid as well, ALBA tuition and fees are in line with the costs of other study abroad programs on a per-credit-unit basis, and often below the per-unit cost of many selective private universities and a few public institutions.
• ALBA fees include supplementary travel and medical insurance ($50,000 coverage with $100 deductible), together with 24-hour access to an English-speaking doctor with years of experience treating American students; all required textbooks (on a loan basis), plus access to recommended readings and reference works, magazines, newspapers and guides in the ALBA library; and access to internet-linked computers and e-mail throughout the term at no extra cost.

How early should I apply and what is required?

Application deadlines are roughly six weeks prior to the start of a term, although if you are also applying for financial aid we ask that you apply at least ten weeks prior. This is a later deadline than usual for such programs, not only because of our smaller size, but also because we have jettisoned the traditional letters of reference (they often delay the process and are almost always glowing; we ask instead for the name and contact address of your official academic adviser in cases where we are unsure). You will also note that we do not impose a minimum GPA requirement because we have found that these vary between institutions, between departments in the same institution, and between teachers and courses within the same department. All of these things are taken into consideration but not under any artificial criteria. Likewise, you are free to expand upon your interest in studying with us, but we do not require a separate essay of minimum length. Basically, good academic standing - a virtual certainty that you will complete your first degree without significant incidence of "non-passing" grades - and a desire to study abroad are the key elements for you to have a successful experience, and hence for ALBA to admit you to the program.