TCU-In Barcelona

Students participating in the TCU-In Barcelona program can choose from four academic tracks:

1. CEA-CAPA Center Courses
   • 1 Core Course
   • 3-4 Content Courses
2. CEA-CAPA Center Courses + Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
   • 1 CEA-CAPA Core Course
   • 1-2 CEA-CAPA Content Courses
   • UPF Courses
     • 2-3 UPF Interdisciplinary Courses
       or
     • 1-2 UPF Business Courses
3. CEA-CAPA Center Courses + Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UA)
   • 1 CEA-CAPA Core Course
   • 1-3 CEA-CAPA Content Courses
   • 1-2 UAB Business Courses
4. CEA-CAPA Center Courses + Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
   • 1 UB Language Course (typically worth 8 TCU credit hours)
   • 2-3 CEA-CAPA Content Courses

Students must be enrolled in 12 TCU credit hours at minimum.

Internships

TCU-In Barcelona students can participate in for-credit internships in Architecture, Business , Communication, Data Management, Design, Education, Engineering, Finance & Accounting, Information Technology (IT)  Marketing, Media Technology, Psychology, Sales, Sustainability, and Tourism. Students are required to take a 3-credit-hour Global Internship Course and work 20 hours a week for 12 weeks. Internship placement is not guaranteed. Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required.

Students receive TCU credit that applies towards the TCU GPA. As part of the application, students must have their courses pre-approved through the Credit Approval Process. For more information about how credits work, see our Study Abroad Basics page.

While you are abroad, you are enrolled in 12 hours of coursework as a placeholder. Your classes will not be posted to your TCU recorded until 8 – 10 weeks after the semester ends, when the transcript from CEA-CAPA is sent. Once the Registrar receives your transcript, they will record the courses using the department codes on your Course Approvals (i.e., MARK, HIST) and a generic course code. Your dean’s office will apply these to your major / minor / electives / core as approved. All coursework, regardless of program type, counts for grades and will be included in your TCU GPA.

You must abide by the academic policies and regulations of the host university, including but not limited to policies on:

• Attendance / Absence policies
• Add / Drop process
• Grade Appeals
• Final Exam schedule

TCU cannot override host university policies and regulations.

Students are required to live in accommodations provided through TCU. TCU-In Barcelona students live in fully-furnished apartments throughout the city center with other TCU students or CEA CAPA program students. Students may request one TCU roommate. Each apartment is unique, but all are comfortable and typical of Spanish accommodations, which tend to be smaller and older than apartments in the United States. Students should expect to commute to classes on the Barcelona public transportation system. Commutes can range from 30 to 45 minutes.

All housing amenities vary, but all have washing machines (none have dryers). Students must bring or purchase their own toiletries, towels, and bed linens. Bedrooms are generally furnished with a bed and a closet or armoire. Kitchen facilities include a small stove-stop, refrigerator, dishes, and basic cooking utensils. Apartments usually have a table or desk for studying.

Any damages to housing will be posted to the student’s TCU account after they return.

There are two different start dates, depending on the Academic Track selected:

Semester Costs for 2024-25

1. 1. Barcelona Program Fee: Spring 2025 – $13,200
      Pay $500 Non-Refundable Deposit to confirm your spot in the program after admission
      Program Fee is billed to your TCU Student Account before the semester begins ($500 deposit applied as a credit)
      This includes:
      — Housing
      — Excursions
      — Cultural Activities
      — TCU Sash
   2. TCU Tuition: $30,825
   3. Estimated Additional Expenses: For other outside expenses not included in the program fee. Individual budgets are highly variable. This may include:
      — Airfare: $1,000 – $2,000
      — Spanish Visa Fees: $220
      — Books: $200
      — Meals/Groceries: $2,500 – $4,000
      — Local Transportation: $150
      — Personal Expenses: $1,500
      — Travel Expenses: Highly variable

All TCU-In Barcelona students will receive a $1,000 Flight Credit for purchasing their international flight

Visit the Scholarships & Aid page to learn about study abroad scholarships, through TCU and other organizations. In particular, TCU-In Barcelona applicants should look at the:

• TCU International Studies Award (included in program application)

Financial penalties are assessed on a sliding scale, based on withdrawal date.

• To withdraw from a program, you must notify TCU Global (studyabroad@tcu.edu) in writing. Study abroad scholarships and aid will be rescinded and cannot be used towards penalty amounts.
• In the case that TCU must cancel the program, the program fee (including deposit) and tuition will be fully refunded. Study abroad scholarships and aid will be rescinded.
• Financial penalties will be billed to your student account.
• TCU Tuition refunds are subject to TCU policies :(See TCU Undergraduate Catalog: http://catalog.tcu.edu/undergraduate/, Bachelor’s Degree, Definitions and Regulations.)

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• At least two semesters at TCU by the start of the program
• Good academic and disciplinary standing
• A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months after the program ends) by the application deadline to allow enough time to obtain a Spanish visa

• Fall Programs
  • Priority Deadline: March 22
  • Regular Deadline: March 29, if space available
• Spring Programs
  • Priority Deadline: September 12
  • Regular Deadline: September 29, if space available

If applications exceed enrollment maximums, a lottery system will determine admission. (Consideration may be given to prior language study and majors with limited study abroad opportunities.)

Complete the Global TCU Study Abroad Forms (already started an application? Login here to finish it).

• • This step includes completing a course approval process for your courses abroad.

TCU encourages all students, including students with disabilities, to actively participate in the Study Abroad programs offered by the University. In partnership with TCU Global, TCU Student Access & Accommodation helps to ensure the best possible study abroad experience for students with registered disabilities by providing reasonable and necessary accommodations during their time abroad.

Study Abroad programs include field components that require the ability to perform tasks beyond what is required in a typical classroom. Among other things, many programs require extensive walking and/or the ability to stand for extended periods of time; the ability to independently use public transportation; and/or sleeping in shared quarters. Program activities may take place in extreme temperatures (including excessive heat or cold). Housing facilities may lack central heat and air-conditioning, elevators, and other conveniences. In all cases, students should expect to transport and manage their own luggage through airports and public transportation centers. Prior to applying to specific Study Abroad programs, students should review the physical requirements for each program to ascertain whether they will be able to participate in all activities of the program. Students needing accommodations should follow the process outlined by Student Access & Accommodation.

Students requiring an accommodation to meet these or other program essential eligibility requirements must request any accommodation through TCU Student Access and Accommodation well in advance (suggest a minimum of 3 months) of the program departure following university procedures. TCU Student Access and Accommodation, located in The Harrison, Suite 1200, strongly recommends that students notify both Student Access and Accommodation as well as TCU Global early on to initiate the process of securing reasonable accommodations. If TCU determines that you do not, with reasonable accommodations approved through TCU Student Access and Accommodation, meet the essential eligibility requirements of the program, then you may not participate in the program. Each student’s request for accommodation will be looked at on an individualized, case by case basis, taking into consideration student documentation and the essential eligibility requirements of the program.

Managing your health and safety is an important component in having a positive experience abroad. TCU provides you with a number of resources to assist you:

1. Prior to departure, you will need to attend the mandatory orientation which covers specific health, safety, logistical, and cultural information.
2. Upon arrival, you will have an orientation to reiterate health, safety, logistical, and cultural information.
3. TCU provides you membership to On Call International, a premier Global Assistance program. You can call On Call for any kind of travel, health, safety, or emergency issues, including:

• help replacing a lost passport
• help translating and interpreting
• help with lost luggage, along with reimbursement for items needed while luggage is lost
• assistance finding general and specialty health care
• assistance with emergency refills of prescription
• health insurance for your time abroad.

For more information, please see Health & Safety

Spanish Visas

Spain requires a visa for all TCU-In Barcelona semester-long or year-long students. The Spanish Consulate prefers that TCU act on behalf of students applying for visas. You will be given visa paperwork to submit to TCU along with a valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after your return from Barcelona.

Do not plan to travel outside the U.S. during the two months prior to your semester abroad because you must surrender your passport when you apply for a visa. Visa processing for Spain can take 8-10 weeks.

You will not need your round-trip flight itinerary before you apply for a visa, but you MUST have a round-trip ticket prior to departure for your program abroad.

Before Departure

You must attend the mandatory TCU-In Barcelona orientation. You should also review the TCU-In Barcelona Handbook and the Know Before You Go page.

Arrival and On-Site Information

Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transported to your housing. You will then participate in several days of on-site orientation before classes begin.

Because you are not enrolled in TCU classes, the TCU system will show 12 hours of coursework as a placeholder while you are abroad. Your classes will not transfer back to TCU until 8 – 10 weeks after the semester ends. At that time, the correct credit hours will be posted to your TCU record.