SAI students spend a semester in Barcelona taking courses in the Business, Design and Innovation program at the Universitat de Vic. Semester students enroll in four or five courses per semester, earning 12 or 15 US credits. Students are free to choose from an array of electives, allowing for maximum academic flexibility. Courses help students develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to achieve their professional goals, and offer the opportunity to learn directly from some of Barcelona’s leading professionals.
Application open until: October 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
- Courses taught in English
- Local professionals invited to facilitate discussions/classes
- Course highlight: “Marketing and Fashion”
Program Dates
January 3, 2025 – April 12, 2025
Eligibility Requirements
Age: 18+
Academic Year: Sophomore or above (at least 2 completed semesters at application).
* contact SAI if you don’t meet requirements
Cumulative GPA:* 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale)
English Language:* Non-native English language speakers must submit TOEFL: 65+ or equivalent.
Brands have settled in our physical and mental landscape to such an extent that it would be hard to understand this era without their presence. Some brands live among us like global giants, some are only known in the local neighborhood, some have lasted for centuries and some are born right now. But what do we really know about them? Why do snacks, cities and football teams need brands? What does it take to design one? Where do we start and how can it be done? This course approaches the topic of brand design by understanding the brand’s public image as the final result of a long process. That process involves different actors and functions, and depends on the context, the brand size and the desired positioning. There are many aspects to be taken into account and having a good idea is not enough. You also need to reinforce your individual and teamwork skills to gather information appropriately, act responsibly, plan strategically and think critically.
The aim is to understand the dynamics of product development and innovation. “Design thinking” is presented as a useful methodology for designing innovative products. The design thinking process is user-centred and prototype-driven. As a participant in design thinking, you will be part of a small multidisciplinary team and work through a hands-on innovation challenge from start to finish. You will walk away from the course with a strong understanding of the key tenets of design thinking and be able to execute them within your organisation.
Many courses on digital business are focused mainly or even exclusively on digital marketing and e-commerce. Those have been the areas where the most obvious changes have been taking place for the last decade, but they are not necessarily the areas where companies can expect the most radical transformations in the near future. To the traditional focus on Promotion and Place Ps in the conventional Marketing Mix we add consideration to another two Ps, Product and Price, in order to have the whole picture of the new Digital Business Marketing Mix. We also focus on other management areas equally affected by the new digital paradigm, as is the case of IT and organisational issues. In all cases, we look not just at transformations that have already taken place but also at those changes still to come with the potential of becoming key disruptions in the way businesses have been managed for decades.
The recent financial crisis and its impact in todays world underscore the importance of financial risk management. This course introduces financial risk management with a focus on practical implementation and application. Thus, the course provides the concepts and tools used to measure and mitigate risk for firms.
Coming soon
Marketing is needed to operate nationally, internationally, and worldwide. The principles may be the same, but there will be many differences when your company decides to start doing business at a global level. The people, the language, the culture, the way of life, and various other aspects could become obstacles for company strategy abroad. In order to use your marketing mix effectively in an international context, you need to adapt it completely to each local market. Global Marketing deals with how to work with consumers, channels, competitors and markets, bearing in mind the win-win principle. It is not just a matter of prices and products. It is much more than this and a good marketing manager has to know how things work. Summing up, Global Marketing is the process of doing business at a global level, promoting greater sales and customer satisfaction by gaining a better understanding of foreign consumers of goods and services produced by your company.
As an introduction to leadership and management skills, the aim of the course is to familiarise students with practical issues within the business world regarding effectiveness, organization, communication and ethics, by taking a look at the leadership role of both managers and collaborators in the organizations. During the course students will be required to work on their personal and interpersonal skills.Course objectives: To identify the roles of managers and leaders and their impact on businesses and society. To learn about topics such as management, leadership, effectiveness, organization, communication and business ethics. To develop management and leadership skills through a personal project. To develop teamwork skills and apply them in a group project. To develop analytical and creative skills in order to apply them in the projects.
One of the industries with fastest development in all around the world is the luxury one. Luxury does not suffer crisis and it is demonstrated that during crisis the sales of this kind of products (from houses, watches to jewels), increases qualitative and quantitative with no problems.
Barcelona is without a doubt one of the most active cities in Europe today and is an ideal setting for the fashion and design industry: international competitiveness, marketing trends, consumer behavior and cool hunting. The city meets all the necessary conditions to allow designers and creators of all sectors to compare ideas, trends, and projects, with the fashion industry as a meeting point for them all. Big fashion labels (such as Zara, Bershka, Mango, Desigual, Custo, Springfield) and young fashion designers are already pushing this advantage and the Barcelona label is positioned as a symbol for creativity. The designers of the future will need to understand and create for the contemporary fashion system and its industry using marketing tools appropriately.In order to develop a marketing and communication plan for the fashion industry, students will combine technical and theoretical knowledge of marketing with creative development and cultural knowledge.
The objectives of the course are:- To understand the basic psychological processes involved in human communication, as well as the different psychological theories and paradigms of interpersonal, group and mass communication.- To be able to analyze and understand the underlying processes in persuasive communication (propaganda, publicity and advertising) and its effects.- To analyze the influence of the culture of the mass media in society and in the development of personal and group identity.- To acquire applied knowledge related to oral, textual, visual and audiovisual languages in mass communication.- To be able to develop a complete communication plan.- To defend the communication plan by means of a presentation including oral, textual and audiovisual communication.
Retailers today must make complex decisions about selecting the appropriate target market and locations, determining what merchandise and service to offer, training and motivating retail employees, and deciding how to price products and present merchandise. The objective of this course is to enrich learners understanding of retailing. To survive and prosper in the retail jungle, retailers must build a path based on well-developed strategic plans and use state of art information and distribution systems to implement them. Thus, learners are exposed to well established retail strategic framework and relevant research encompassing various areas of retailing. An applied perspective is adopted whereby learners are encouraged to apply concepts and perspectives learned in the course.
This course is aimed at understanding the entrepreneurship processes and operations. Starting a company requires multidisciplinary skills on business management. In this course students will be exposed to both the fundamentals of business, and the practical aspects of identifying and evaluating business ideas and moving them forward. The contents will be delivered combining multiple methodologies like case based learning, project based learning, invited speakers and problem based learning.
Global Leadership Certificate
Students can supplement a regular semester of studies with the SAI Global Leadership Certificate (GLC), designed to enrich students’ experiences and to acknowledge their academic and service work by providing an additional credential beyond a university transcript. Students enrolled in the Global Leadership Certificate program broaden their awareness of global issues and deepen their knowledge of the host community’s role in an increasingly interconnected world through exploration of research, engagement in community service and interaction with experts and leaders. Students interested in applying for the GLC should select the program at application. Your Admissions Counselor will help guide you through the process of selecting GLC-approved courses at the time of registration. GLC applicants should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
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.
Courses & Schedule
SAI students are free to enroll in any combination of elective courses, but prerequisites must be demonstrated through students’ transcripts.
Spanish Language
A Spanish language course (3 US credits) may be available. The course must meet a minimum enrollment, so it cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your Admissions Counselor for details.
Course Registration
Students choose their courses after they have been accepted into the program. As soon as the UVic semester schedule is confirmed, students are asked to complete a Course Approval form, which is used to specify first-choice and alternate-choice courses. SAI’s Barcelona Admissions Counselor will help guide students through this process. All posted schedules of classes are tentative and subject to change unless otherwise noted.
| Pre-Departure Calendar | |
|---|---|
| October 1 2024 |
Application Closes Applications accepted after closing as space permits. |
| Within 1 week of acceptance |
SAI Deposits Due $500 Enrollment Confirmation Deposit (applied toward program fee) $300 Security Deposit (refundable) |
| October 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. 50% of the Program Fee will be due within 5 business days, based on the deposit payment date. |
| October 1 2024 |
Financial Aid Agreement & Financial Aid Program Deposit Deadline Students wishing to utilize SAI financial aid payment deferment must complete the Financial Aid Agreement form and submit the Financial Aid Program Deposit by this date. Students whose deposit payment date is on or after this date will have a deadline of 5 days after the deposit. |
| October 15 2024 |
Enrollment Closes Students must complete their enrollment, including paying deposits, by this date. |
| October 15 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. |
| November 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. |
| December 1 2024 |
Balance of Total Program Fee Due (For students utilizing SAI financial aid payment deferment, any balance not covered by aid is due) |
| On-Site Calendar | |
|---|---|
| January 3 2025 |
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. |
| January 4 2025 |
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. |
| January 7 2025 |
Academic Orientation UVic orientation provides details on academic policies, and allows students to meet one another and their professors. |
| January 7 2025 |
Classes Begin |
| April 11 2025 |
Final Exams End |
| April 12 2025 |
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: 12 credits Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$13,475 |
| Program Fee: 15 credits Includes tuition, standard housing and SAI 360° Services (see What’s Included). |
$13,975 |
| Optional / Additional Fees: | |
| Optional Private Room Housing Supplement Private bedroom in a shared apartment, with a shared bathroom. |
$1,900 |
| Optional Homestay Housing Supplement Family homestay in a private occupancy bedroom, breakfast and dinner included. |
$375 |
| Optional Visa Processing Fee 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 | $50 / course | $200 / 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 for you 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 Lunch
Students are welcomed to their new city over a traditional 3 course Spanish lunch to mingle and get to know each other.
Barcelona Bike Tour
This tour is a fun and exciting way to discover Barcelona’s old port, renowned beaches, and picturesque Ciutadella Park. Along the way, students see the sights that make Barcelona so famous and hear the stories behind them.
Modernism Tour
During this tour, students get to know the iconic and symbolic Modernist architecture of Gaudi by discovering the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Battló, among other famous buildings.
Cultural Workshop: Navigating Spanish Culture
Students learn about local habits, traditions, food and language tips to get to know their new home!
Medieval Heritage: Girona and Besalu Day Trip
This exciting day trip takes students to Girona and Besalú, both cities that have been featured in Game of Thrones. Girona has more than 2000 years of history, with its two fortified enclosures: the first built in the 1st century BCE, and the medieval extension of the city walls from the 14th and 15th centuries. Besalú is a small town with a Romanesque bridge and remarkable medieval buildings situated close to Girona. Once an important local capital during the Middle Ages, it is nowadays a hidden treasure.
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.
Montserrat & Organic Wine Cellar 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. In the afternoon, students have the chance to enjoy the countryside of one of the most well-known Catalan wine regions with a wine tasting and a typical “Esmorzar de pagès”.
Poblenou Visit
This ex-industrial district has transformed into a hub for creativity and technology in recent years. Students visit this fascinating neighborhood that has a personality outlined by charming smokestacks that are scattered throughout the area. Discover old factories that have been converted into galleries and studios and communication and technology companies that have based their headquarters in the 22@ district. There will also be a stop at the Encants flea market!
Gracia Tour
Gracia is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods of Barcelona. For a long time, it was an independent town just outside Barcelona, and today it still maintains its independence and free spirit. On the tour students discover the many secrets of Gracia, its history, its hidden corners, and many stories and curiosities about it.
Ceramic Workshop
In this course for beginners SAI students have the option of making one or two pieces of a functional nature (cup, plate, pot, etc.) based on simple techniques that have been adapted to a beginner’s level.
Camp Nou Stadium Museum
Almost nobody would guess that the Camp Nou is the most visited museum of Barcelona, but it is! Get a panoramic view of the iconic soccer stadium, while seeing the area dedicated to Leo Messi, the trophy cabinet, and more!
Dalí Day Trip
SAI students visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Salvador Dalí’s hometown of Figueres. The Dalí Theatre-Museum opened in 1974 and it houses the single largest and most diverse collection of works by Salvador Dalí. Following the museum, students visit the small and beautiful village of Cadaques, considered the jewel of the Costa Brava. Students enjoy a nice stroll from Dali’s home in Port Lligat, to Cadaques.
Parc de Collserola Hike
Behind Tibidabo’s iconic outline, there lies a wealth of woodland and fields including a protected park where a wide variety of Mediterranean flora and fauna brings us into contact with nature just 15 minutes away from the bustling city. This is Barcelona’s great green “lung”. Students enjoy a hike in this beautiful protected land.
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.
Spanish Cooking Lesson
Students take a cooking lesson designed to teach typical Spanish (mostly Catalan) dishes that are easy to make again independently. Dishes are prepared according to the season and include appetizer, main course and dessert.
Olympic Barcelona
The incredible transformation of Barcelona took place in the lead-up to the 1992 Olympic Games. Students visit the two most important sites for the Barcelona Games starting with Montjüic Hill, where the Olympic Stadium is located. Later, students visit the Olympic Museum, which puts Barcelona’s Olympic history into context.
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 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 departure 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.