Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
trusts
HousingAnywhere
with accommodation for their students since 2015

• Founded in 1971

• Around 30.000 students

• Around 3.000 international students

• 3.000 academic staff members and 1.800 administrative staff members

• Offers several undergraduate, graduate and doctoral study programs in English

• Partners with HousingAnywhere.com since April 2015

Campus Facilities

In the city of Barcelona itself, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has two campuses, one either side of the Avinguda Diagonal, a massive avenue which dissects the city from west to east. However, UPC also boasts satellite campuses in the neighbouring areas of:

• Baix Llobregat

• Igualada

• Manresa

• Terrassa

• Sant Cugat del Vallès

The North Campus is where most of the action takes place and is home to the Schools of Telecommunications, Informatics and Civil Engineering. However, the UPC North Campus is also designed to cater to the students’ downtime in-between classes, with the Rector Gabriel Ferraté Library, sports centre, cafeteria, shopping area and various student associations.

The South Campus (the other main location in the city centre) is home to more schools but fewer recreational activities - fortunately it’s only a short walk between campuses, so you can get the best of both! Taught at the South Campus:

• Architecture

• Building Construction

• Industrial Engineering

• Mathematics and Statistics

At the satellite campuses you’ll find departments for architecture, nautical studies, professional & executive development and various schools of engineering.

When you need a break from the hustle and bustle of campus life, check out our top places to eat and drink in Barcelona - trust us, you’ll appreciate the refreshment!

Courses

Across its various schools and campuses, UPC offers students a choice of over 350 different courses, including:

• 63 bachelor's degrees

• 70 master`s degrees

• 49 doctoral programmes

• 186 continuing education programmes

At a high level the courses are taught in the following departments:

• Architecture

• Urbanism and Building Construction

• Applied Sciences

• Health Sciences

• Aerospace Engineering

• Biosystems Engineering

• Civil Engineering

• Industrial Engineering

• Environment, Sustainability and Natural Resources

• Information and Communication Technologies.

The university has a reputation for technological innovation and research, and you can can bet that your course will utilize the latest technologies and teaching methods to a high standard. Each course can also be tailored (to a point) to the student’s particular interests and skills.

International Dimension

As one of Europe’s leading technical universities, UPC look internationally for both master’s and PhD students in order to recruit the very best in every field. With relationships in over 130 countries worldwide, there’s a pretty sizeable pool from which to choose.

If you’re a bachelor’s student, don’t worry: UPC have a huge international intake at all levels, extending an open invite to most nations around the world - if you have the talent. Their student mobility programmes are first-rate and well-known for delivering exceptional teaching during a semester or year abroad.

Safe to say, there’s a huge international presence at UPC and with a number of English-taught courses, you’ll find yourself right at home. To make things even easier, we’ve prepared tailored guides to help you move to Barcelona, understand the cost of living and health insurance requirements for the city. We also provide additional practical information for living in Spain, including obtaining residency and a mobile number!

Getting Here

The main campuses (North and South) are located to the west of the city, either side of the Avinguda Diagonal in the area of Les Corts. Football fans might know it better as the area where FC Barcelona ply their trade - it’s just up the road from the Camp Nou!

You can take the L3 metro from the centre (stop Palau Reial), or the L3 and L9 both stop at Zona Universitària, also in the area. In addition, the number 7, 33 and 67 buses all have stops in the vicinity of the university. If you’re the athletic type, it’s a 20-30 minute cycle, depending on how sweaty you like to be in class.

For the satellite campuses around Catalonia, you can use the extensive bus and train network to make the commute from the city centre. Check out our guide to Barcelona public transport for a more comprehensive overview of the city’s transport, including how to buy tickets and plan routes.

Student Neighbourhoods

Les Corts

Despite being a major financial business district, Les Corts is also home to the two major UPC campuses, making it a hugely popular destination for students! There’s plenty of shopping to be had in the area, but the 15-minute metro run into town is worth it for getting your fix entertainment! Well, except for the Camp Nou which is also in Les Corts, for you football fans.

Sant Cugat

For those studying at the Sant Cugat campus, the town is very popular with locals and expats, generally families. It’s a lovely area and not far from the city on the weekends, so definitely worth investigating. The rent will also be a lot cheaper (or nicer at the same price) than the centre!

Manresa & Terrassa

Two other campus locations, Manresa and Terrassa couldn’t be much more different! Manresa has all the vibes of old Catalonia, with ageing buildings and strong culture. It is also a place of Catholic pilgrimage and worship. Terrassa is a lively, urban and dynamic city to the east of central Catalonia. If you’re studying at this campus, stay here and only visit the city for day (or night) trips - there’s loads going on, and the rent isn’t quite as steep.

Common Housing Practices

Barcelona - like most of Spain - is cheaper than many of its European rivals when it comes to accommodation. Students should be able to share a place for €350-500 each, while a single room or studio will be more like €700+. The cost of living in Barcelona isn’t cheap, but you should be able to manage your budget at around €1000 per month if you’re smart - accommodation is this first big step!

Scam artists are prolific in Barcelona, so always go through secure channels and ensure that you physically see the apartment before transferring any money. HousingAnywhere is an example of a safe, reliable platform which is regularly updated with new properties.

It’s probably worth getting a prepaid SIM card once you land so you can talk to letting agents and landlords during your first few weeks, and if you can get any local advice on where to look for apartments, take it. Our Barcelona Accommodation Guide goes into much more detail and should help you secure an apartment safely and quickly.

Events

Barcelona is the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and is especially known for its art and architecture. It is a very lively city with many events and therefore also an attractive place for international students. It has many streets and areas that are especially interesting for students, such as La Rambla, Carrer Blai and Passeig de Garcia. In general, the city has something to offer for each taste. Either watching football games at Camp Nou, walking around the public market La Boqueria, relaxing at the beach or simply exploring the city`s streets, you will never be bored. The city is also known for organizing many music festivals, concerts, exhibitions, sport events... If you want to know more about events that are organized especially for students of the university, you can visit the website of ESN UPC.

You can read more about the things to do and places to visit in our Barcelona city guide.

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