SAI students studying abroad at CETT have the choice between completing a program in Business, Hospitality & Tourism or Food Culture and Culinary Arts in the Mediterranean. Both programs offer immersive coursework in the fields, giving students applied experiences in Barcelona’s dynamic tourism scene. Students in the Hospitality & Tourism program select 4 - 5 elective courses for a total of 12 - 15 credits, while students in the Gastronomy program enroll in three required courses and select two electives for a total of 15 credits.
Application open until: May 1, 2024
Application Requirements
Complete online application
Personal statement (300-500 words)
Official transcript
Passport scan (photo page)
Digital photo (passport style)
EU privacy consent form
Highlights
- Enjoy state of the art facilities, including a student-run restaurant.
- Get real-world experience working with professionals.
- Study alongside local students.
Program Dates
September 4, 2024 – December 21, 2024
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 18+
Academic Year: Sophomore (2nd year) or above.
Cumulative GPA:* 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
* contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements
Gastronomy Program
Hospitality
Spanish Language
Tourism
We will go from the definitions of basic concepts and elements of new organizational and operational structure of an establishment, to new emerging professional profiles, as well as the competences required by the companies in the sector.
Students will be able to study in depth, the operations management system of tourist accommodation companies, identify the basic functions of a manager and the different levels of management in this type of companies.
We must be aware that the service company is a system that integrates the surrounding society, where individuals with different needs must relate to one another and must identify themselves with the company's policies. At the same time, these companies must become human communities brought together to achieve certain goals for the common good. The company must also make a commitment and take on social responsibility with its policies.
Therefore, successful companies are those that are able to select the most competent leaders, those who understand the reality of service companies and are capable of managing their human teams.
In this course, we will present the basic principles needed to guarantee that the students are capable of effectively managing their staff, as a means of ensuring that expected levels of efficiency, quality and profitability are met.
The course will be carried out keeping in mind the skills that the student should develop by including techniques in the learning process such as role-play, mentoring, group and individual projects, debates and written presentations. The course offers an internationalized vision of its content and skills to facilitate the student's ability to work abroad.
It aims to provide the student with an overview of the functioning and organization of the production of confectionery creations. To do so, first there will be an introduction explaining the principal processed and unprocessed ingredients used, as well as the use of the basic and advanced techniques in dessert cuisine.
Space, allocations, organizational charts and safety standards will also be analyzed to ensure the proper organization of work.
The course also consists of practice sessions. They represent the first contact the student has with bakery products and techniques. In these sessions, students will have the possibility of performing the principal bases and preparations, which will serve as a starting point for the development of later dishes.
On the basis of local gastronomy culture, students will learn the relations with other regions of the world by analyzing the influences among different cultures, the communication channels and the factors that can affect changes in the demand of products.
This subject allows students to be introduced to the world of tourism, understand the economic and social dimensions of these businesses within the global economy and analyze possibilities and dimensions of the sector.
It provides a general overview of the new emerging innovative trends in the tourism sector in order to understand its adaptation to a constantly changing society and the need for trained professionals able to ensure the adaptation of the market and the environment to their companies making them successful.
It is essential for students to gain a global insight into the sector and understand how it works but, above all, analyze the tourism and hotel industry capacity of transforming the social, labor and economic environments to respond to these changes.
Businesses in the tourism sector, as well as in the others, are increasingly growing and diversifying their product lines, making competition in the current market more and more difficult. For this reason, students must study and get to know the different types of companies, analyzing and observing that their needs will vary depending on the type of business they are.
The ability to comprehend these differences from a general point of view together with the study and analysis of customer needs will help the students to understand more effectively the hotel and tourism sectors and their dimensions.
In this sense, the role of management planning and peoples involvement becomes essential as a strategic resource inside the company, which undoubtedly, has a direct impact on the economic contribution to the business.
integrating customer satisfaction, risk minimization and sustainability without renouncing to
be extraordinarily competitive.
Students will acquire expertise in these fields through the methodologies developed in this
subject, such as the ability to evaluate existing parameters to promote the necessary
transformations in a company and its close environment. It will also plunge into researching
alternative management models fostered by the appearance of new paradigms in relation
to the social environment, environmental respect, sustainability and commitment to all
stakeholders.
The main objectives of the first module are to place the spatial distribution of tourism flows both in origin and destination at international level as well as to identify the factors that influence the location of the tourism activity. As any other activity, tourism generates impacts which will be analyzed in this module.
The second module explains the role of the territorial resources in determining their tourist potential and it states the processes by which these resources are enhanced for tourism purposes. Together with the theory, descriptive cases will be presented.
The third module will allow students to learn about the dynamic processes in tourism spaces, their variety, implementation, the various interpretative theories explaining their evolution as well as the major types of tourism (coastal, urban, nature, mountain, rural).
This subject is part of the first year compulsory courses and it is essential to understand the links existing between tourism and the territories where the tourism activity takes place.
Without the deployment of this process or of similar ones that lead to the construction of this great building which is the tourism system, without the four Cs foundations (cooperation, coordination, collaboration and consciousness) around which this process revolves, it makes it impossible for any Tourism Policy, or for the management of private and / or public businesses, companies, establishments and tourism destinations to meet successfully the challenges posed by the global tourism; the twenty-first century tourism.
Tourism Policy presents, from a social, economic and legal point of view, an eminently practical insight of the relations existing at the core of the tourism system between the tourism activities and the intervention of public authorities; facing problems and proposing solutions.
The subject aims at enabling students to solve problems at local, regional, state and worldwide levels through the implementation of means and instruments devised to deal with global tourism realities.
Tourism Planning develops in an increasingly complex environment with multiple stakeholders engaged in its deployment and with the existence of social, economic and environmental factors that affect and transform it. Therefore, the future of the tourism activities in the frame of the tourism destination and all the stakeholders involved will greatly depend on the correct planning of the tourism project.
Thus, the subject becomes fundamental in providing the right learning that future tourism managers will need and that will enable them to make decisions about the tourism in the region by implementing the most appropriate analysis, correction and monitoring devices.
The improvement of visitors’ experiences is one of the Smart Tourism goals, as well as to manage the resources efficiently and competitively.
This subject will deepen in all the elements needed to transform a traditional tourism destination into a new Smart Destination. Among others sustainability, innovation, technology, governance, and management represent these elements.
International Service Certificate
The SAI International Service Certificate is awarded to SAI semester students who are motivated to engage with and give back to their host community. Supported by SAI on-site staff, students who earn the certificate gain valuable skills collaborating with local community groups, and obtain a unique perspective of their host city. Volunteers are able to explore a field of their interest, and build skills that can transfer into their future careers. For more information see SAI International Service Certificate.
Gastronomy Program
SAI students enrolled in the Food Culture and Culinary Arts in the Mediterranean at CETT choose from the following two program tracks:
Track 1 (for students with no background in culinary studies): Students enroll in three mandatory courses (below), and select an additional two elective courses for a total of 15 US credits.
- History of Cooking and Gastronomy
- Systems and Processes of Cooking Production
- Pastries and Desserts: formulas and techniques
Track 2 (for students with at least one year of study in a culinary program, or with comparable professional experience): Students enroll in three mandatory courses (below), and select an additional two elective courses for a total of 15 US credits.
- History of Cooking and Gastronomy
- Pastries and Desserts: formulas and techniques
- Traditional Cuisine: from Local to Global
Required Uniform & Knife Kit
All students in this program are required to have knives and a uniform. Students are welcome to bring these items from home or to purchase them from CETT.
Business, Hospitality & Tourism Program
SAI students select a concentration from Business, Hospitality, and Tourism, but are free to enroll in any combination of elective courses. All students are encouraged to enroll in the Spanish Language and Culture course in order to get the most from their semester. Most subjects are taught in English, while some are taught in Spanish, especially those related to Spanish culture and society. The language of instruction for each class is clearly indicated on the schedule for a given term. Students who wish to attend courses in Spanish must prove their language proficiency by showing that they have achieved an intermediate level; a score equivalent to level B1 as measured by a CEFR-equivalent language exam. Certificates issued by the home university are also accepted.
1.5 Credit Courses
Students have the opportunity to enroll in two 1.5 credit courses in place of one 3 credit course. 1.5 credit courses include 30 contact hours and are open to Gastronomy and Tourism & Hospitality students.
Course Registration
After being accepted into the program, students fill out a SAI Course Approval Form. This online form requires students to list their first and alternate-choice courses and to affirm the approval of the Study Abroad Advisor at their home school. SAI’s Barcelona Admissions Counselor will help guide students through this process.
| Pre-Departure Calendar | |
|---|---|
| May 1 2024 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits. |
| Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Enrollment Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
| May 1 2024 |
50% of Total Program Fee Due Students who are accepted and submit SAI deposits after this date will have an amended pay schedule. Either 50% or 100% of Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
| May 15 2024 |
Enrollment Closes Students must complete their enrollment, including paying deposits, by this date. |
| June 1 2024 |
SAI Scholarship Application Deadline Students wishing to apply for a SAI scholarship must have all application items submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Time on this date. |
| June 15 2024 |
SAI Financial Aid Verification Deadline Students wishing to defer payment until financial aid disbursement must submit the financial aid verification forms to SAI by this date. |
| July 1 2024 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due |
| On-Site Calendar | |
|---|---|
| September 4 2024 |
Arrival & Housing Check-in Students arrive at El Prat Barcelona (BCN) airport. SAI airport pickup is provided between 10:00am and 3:00pm, and students are transferred to SAI housing. |
| September 5 2024 |
SAI Orientation Mandatory SAI orientation is held at the SAI Barcelona office and introduces students to their city while covering safety, policies, housing, and culture. |
| September 6 2024 |
CETT Academic Orientation CETT orientation provides details on academic policies, and allows students to meet one another and their professors. |
| September 9 2024 |
Classes Begin |
| December 20 2024 |
Classes End |
| December 21 2024 |
Program End & Housing Check-out Students must move out of SAI housing by 10:00am to return home or pursue independent travel. |
| SAI Program Fees* | USD |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $120 |
| Security Deposit Refundable at the end of the term. |
$300 |
| Program Fee: Hospitality & Tourism – 12 credits Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$14,200 |
| Program Fee: Hospitality & Tourism – 15 credits Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$15,550 |
| Program Fee: Gastronomy Includes tuition (15 credits), standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$15,880 |
| Additional Fees: | |
| Gastronomy Required Course Materials Students can purchase the required knives and uniform from CETT. |
Euro 400 |
| Optional Private Room Housing Supplement Private room in a shared apartment, with a shared bathroom. |
$2,600 |
| Optional Homestay Housing Supplement Family homestay in a private occupancy bedroom, breakfast & dinner included. |
$575 |
| Optional Visa Processing Service Available for some jurisdictions. |
$275 |
| International Mailing Supplement When applicable, students are charged an international mailing supplement to ensure visa paperwork arrives in a timely manner. |
$90 |
*prices are subject to change
Note: certain SAI-affiliated US universities require specific payment arrangements. These may require that some fees are paid by the student directly to SAI, and other fees are paid to SAI by the affiliated university on behalf of the student. If you attend a SAI-affiliated university please contact your study abroad office or speak with your SAI Admissions Counselor for details.
| Budget | Low Est. | High Est. |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare to/from Barcelona |
$950 | $1,500 |
| Visa Cost depends on travel to Consulate. |
$160 | $360 |
| Books, Supplies & Course Fees |
$150 / course | $500 / course |
| Meals Includes groceries and eating out. |
$700 / month | $1,000 / month |
| Personal Expenses | $300 / month | $350 / month |
| Transportation within Barcelona Public transportation with some taxi rides. |
$100 / month | $150 / month |
| Weekend Travel Cost varies greatly by student. |
$300 / month | $1,000 / month |
This is a SAI 360° Services Program; it includes our full services!
- Program tuition and U.S. academic credit
- Accommodation in carefully selected student housing
- Airport pickup on arrival day
- Welcome reception and events
- Orientation to the host city and school
- On-site staff who foster a welcoming community and provide assistance when needed
- SAI Viva Experience: cultural engagement, excursions & wellness activities
- Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
- 24-hour on-site emergency support
- Farewell event
Pre-departure and Re-entry services
- Knowledgeable Admissions Counselor dedicated to you, providing friendly assistance
- Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
- Parent & family resources
- Online student groups to acquaint you with other SAI students
- Student visa advising
- Assistance with financial aid processing
- Need-based SAI scholarships
- Alumni Ambassador Program, with paid internship opportunities
- SAI alumni network
SAI offers all students the Viva Experience: frequent cultural activities, at no extra cost, for participants to get to know their community, city and country. Following is a sample of the activities included in this program. Please note that actual activities may differ.
Welcome Dinner
Students receive a dinner delivered to their new apartment to kick off their semester.
Cultural Workshop: Navigating the Spanish Culture
Through this workshop, students learn habits (European differences), traditions, food and language tips.
Walking Panoramic Tour and Chocolate Con Churros
Students start off their stay in Barcelona with this popular tour. The first part of the tour introduces students to Gaudi’s symbolic Modernist architecture by discovering the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Battló, among other famous buildings. Later, students explore the Gothic quarter, its cathedral, squares and narrow maze-like streets. No visit to Barcelona is complete without a stroll through the Gothic quarter! At the end of the tour, students enjoy local delicious churros with chocolate.
Survival Spanish Lesson
Get a head start on overcoming the language barrier! SAI offers a survival Spanish class that covers basic conversation and useful phrases. Students learn to ask for directions, shop with local fruit vendors, or order a café con leche at the local cafe. These lessons provide a practical and hands-on approach to learning Spanish.
Visit the Bunkers of Carmel
A visit to one of the most astonishing viewpoints in Barcelona. These anti-aircraft batteries from the Spanish Civil War have become a popular spot amongst locals and visitors.
Sitges Beach Day
Students visit the town of Sitges, which is a paradise of sun, sea and mild temperatures year-round, and a venue for international film and music festivals. Beautiful views and long beaches make Sitges a wonderful day trip.
Montserrat Day Trip
Students take a day trip to Montserrat, a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine mountain retreat. Its unusual rock formations and its natural beauty have made it a Catalonian icon. Students take the cable train up the mountain to visit the monastery and wander the mountain paths, with amazing views of the Catalonian countryside.
Catamaran Cruise
A cruise onboard a Catamaran is the best way to see the skyline and beaches of Barcelona, as well as enjoy the sun and relax.
Born Neighborhood & Gothic Street Art Tour
Students learn about the emergence of the Barcelona street art scene while exploring some of Barcelona’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
Re-orientation
The SAI Re-Orientation is a way for students to come together and reflect on their experience so far, and make plans for a successful second half of the term. Food included!
Gracia Neighborhood Tour
Gracia is one of the most characteristic and beautiful neighborhoods of Barcelona. For a long time, it was its own town just outside Barcelona, and even today it still maintains its independence and free spirit. Students discover the many secrets of Gracia, its history, its hidden corners, and some favorite tales about the neighborhood.
Say Cheese!
Spain is a country of great culinary diversity, especially when it comes to its profusion of native cheeses! During this activity, students are able to taste and learn about various types of Spanish cheeses.
Parc de Collserola Hike
Behind Tibidabo’s iconic outline, there is a wealth of woodland and fields: a protected park where a wide variety of Mediterranean flora and fauna can be found, just 15 minutes from the bustling city. During this easy two hour hike at Collserola, students discover the secrets of this beautiful natural space.
Volunteering with a Local Elementary School
Students volunteer at a local Barcelona elementary school by participating in English activities for children ages 5 – 12.
Farewell Dinner
Students celebrate the end of a successful time abroad and say their goodbyes over a delicious Spanish meal.
Standard Housing: Student apartment
SAI student apartments are convenient and well equipped, with shared occupancy bedrooms (option to upgrade to private bedroom, if available). Typical residences house 2 – 8 students and contain a combination of private and shared bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and living areas. Furnishings, a washing machine, basic kitchen supplies, bed linens and towels are provided. All apartments are equipped with wireless Internet. Housing configurations are designated as female, male, and in some locations, gender-inclusive. SAI on-site staff is available to respond to any maintenance needs that may arise.
Optional Housing: Family homestay (additional fee applies)
SAI homestay families are thoroughly screened and are accustomed to welcoming visiting students into their homes. Homestays provide a private occupancy bedroom in the family home with basic furnishings. Daily breakfast and dinner are included, as is weekly laundry. Mostly Spanish is spoken in the home, granting students an excellent opportunity to practice their language skills. Please note that some homestays may be outside of the city center.
Passports
Passports should be valid for 4 months after planned return from Spain.
Student Visas
In accordance with Spanish law students studying in Spain for 91 days or more are required to obtain a student visa. Those with Spanish/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for details on student visa requirements.
Students must appear in person at the Spanish Consulate to present their visa application. SAI is able to process visa applications (no trip to the Consulate required!) for students who live or attend school in some jurisdictions. Students who wish to use this optional service should contact SAI directly to confirm that they are eligible.
For those who prefer to present their visa application in person, SAI provides student visa consulting at no cost.