Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona (CASB)
Language Requirements
2.5 years (or 7 quarters) of college-level Spanish, which translates into one of the following:- Completed Spanish 201 (formerly 201-1), the 1st third-year Spanish language course, or any other language, literature, or culture course above 201.
- Received a score of 5 on the advanced placement exam in Spanish language.
- Completed Spanish 199 with an A and earned A's in all prior university-level Spanish courses.
Northwestern Requirements
Course Enrollment Requirements
Fall Semester Students:
- 5-6 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 1 CASB Center course, and 3-4 regular university courses at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and/or the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya. Must enroll in a total of 27-30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits which constitutes a full time courseload.
- 5 - 6 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 1 CASBCenter course, and 3 - 4 regular university courses at Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya and/or Universitat de Barcelona. Must enroll in 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits which constitutes a full time courseload.
Full Year Students:
- 9 - 10 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 2 Center courses, and 6 - 7 regular university courses at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya and/or Universitat de Barcelona. Must enroll in 27-30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits each term which constitutes a full time courseload.
Course restrictions:
- Each local university course must be worth a minimum of 4 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits.
- Students cannot take any courses taught in English at the local universities.
- Students cannot take any courses from the Hispanic and European Studies Program (HESP) at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Department of Spanish and Portuguese majors and minors:
Fall students only: Northwestern's Department of Spanish and Portuguese may grant major and minor credit for courses taught at the Universitat de Barcelona or Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona only if you complete all coursework (classes & syllabus) by the end of December. Depending on the course, final exams may be completed before students leave in December or may be submitted electronically in a timely manner when students are back at NU in January.
Academic Specialties
Specialties vary by institution:- Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Biology, Communication, Economics, Humanities, Political Science
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona - Applied Arts, Biology, Communication, Economics, Education, Humanities, International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
- Universitat de Barcelona - Anthropology, Archaelogy, Art History, Biology (genetics), Communication, Economics, Geography, History, Linguistics, Literature, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Sociology
- Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya - Applied Sciences, Economics, Engineering, Health Sciences, Math
Course Type
ProSeminar (required orientation course), CASB Center courses and local university courses.
To find local university course offerings online:
- Visit the main CASB website
- Go to:
- Información académica
- Estructura del programa
- Curosos regulares
You will then see which universities are open to you during certain terms, as well as a chart with links to university departments and course listings.
Additional Information
Student Cap:- This program is highly competitive and accepts no more than 20 students per academic year. The Study Abroad Office strongly recommends that students apply to 1 additional program as a back up option.
- Preference is given to Full Year applicants
- Non-credit internships
- Teaching opportunities at local schools
- Language exchanges with Spanish students
- Tutoring help from local students
Planned Excursions:
- Program themes change every year, and excursions related to the term's theme are offered.
Housing
Students are housed in the Melon District Marina, the largest international student residential facility in the city located in the PobleNou district. The Melon District dorm serves American, Spanish and international students. Students will be placed in single rooms and will share a cooking/lounge area with native Spanish or Catalan speakers.
Full year students may opt to find independent housing for their second semester.
Program Costs
Fall 2012: $22,987
This includes estimated tuition, room, board, books, transportation, personal expenses and SAAF. For detailed estimated budgets see below:
- Fall 2012 (pdf)
- Spring Semester 2012 (Winter-Spring Quarters) (pdf)
- If you choose to withdraw from this program after you submit a signed Intent to Enroll form, you must inform the Study Abroad Office in writing immediately. Please review the attached CASB Refund Policy which states if and when you are eligible for refunds of program fees.
Approximate Program Size
40-50 students from the following universities: Northwestern University, Brown University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, and Princeton University.
Undergraduate student populations at the local universities:
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra: 11,000
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona: 50,000
- Universitat de Barcelona: 70,000
- Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya: 29,000
Application Requirements
Northwestern students must complete two more steps to apply to this program:- Complete the Northwestern University Application for Permission to Study Abroad.
- Interview with Professor Elisa Marti-Lopez after submitting their application. Contact Robin Leephaibul (847-491-4677) to schedule an interview.
Student Visa:
Accepted students must apply for a student visa at the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago months before the program start date. Students must have a valid passport to apply for the visa.
