AIFS Partnership Programs: Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Transportation
Do I have to take the AIFS flight?
Can I change my return flight once I am in Barcelona?

Housing
Where will I live?
Can I have a single room?
Can I move into my accommodations before the program starts if I am arriving in Barcelona early?
Can I choose my own roommate?
How is my roommate chosen? 
When will I find out who my roommate is?
How many people are there per room?
Are the rooms/apartments coed?
What is provided in apartments?
How far is the housing from school?
What are the meal arrangements?
What are the apartment restrictions?
Can I choose to make my own living arrangements instead of living in AIFS accommodations?

Culture
What events will be on the cultural calendar?
Are these events good value for the money?
Will there be trips?

Money
How much money will I need?
How can I access my money in Barcelona?

Communication
Is Wifi readily available?
How can people contact me when I am in Barcelona?

General
Do I need a passport?
Do I need a visa?
What should I take with me?
What happens if I get ill abroad?
Will my electrical appliances work in Barcelona?
Can I buy textbooks and course-related materials in Barcelona?
What sports facilities are available?
Can I work when I am in Barcelona?

Transportation

Do I have to take the AIFS flight?
No. However, bear in mind that if you purchase the AIFS transportation package, the transatlantic flight will be provided with round-trip airport transfers. You will be met at the airport on arrival and taken to your residence. At the end of the program if you leave on the group flight on the group departure date, you will be picked up from your residence and taken to the airport. Please note if you choose the second return date you must make your own arrangements to get the airport to fly home.

Can I change my return flight once I am in Barcelona?
Maybe. For a fee and subject to airline approval and availability, you may try to change your return flight. You must contact the agent directly. Only date changes are allowed; there can be no changes to the routing, and there will be an airline-imposed fee which could be as high as $150 plus any difference in fare and taxes. If you have a connecting flight in the US, you must check whether you are able to change that, as some cannot be changed. Please note that once you receive your ticket, it is your property and therefore AIFS staff cannot make the changes for you.

Housing

Where will I live?
You will live in an apartment with other AIFS students. The apartments will be scattered throughout the historical center of the city and will be varied in size and style. An average of six AIFS students will share a three-bedroom apartment. You may choose to live in a homestay for an additional fee.

Can I have a single room?
We have limited availability on single rooms and they can only be guaranteed upon payment of a supplement. Contact the Connecticut office with individual requests which will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I move into my accommodations before the program starts if I am arriving in Barcelona early?
AIFS cannot supply you with accommodation until the official start date of the program. However, if you arrive early we can recommend local hotels.

Can I choose my own roommate?
Yes. Simply write the name of the person on your AIFS program application form, and make sure your friend does the same. If you decide to room with someone after your application has been submitted, contact the AIFS Connecticut office stating your roommate choice. Be sure your roommate does the same

How is my roommate chosen?
We allocate roommates based on the information provided on the AIFS program application forms completed by every student. First we look to see if a student has requested a particular roommate and if they have, we house them with that person. We then put students with similar routines together, similar likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc., taking care not to room smokers and non-smokers together. This is why students should always fill out the housing section of the application form honestly and with as much information as possible.

When will I find out who my roommate is?
Rooming assignments will be handed out upon arrival in Barcelona.

How many people are there per room?
In the apartments there will be an average of six people, two per bedroom. Single rooms are very rare in apartments but can occasionally be found. Again students should request these and be prepared to pay a supplement.

Are the rooms/apartments coed?
No, apartments are all same sex.

What is provided in apartments?
No towels are provided but you do receive bed linen and a spare change of linen. Kitchen facilities include stove, storage, refrigerators, pans and dishes. Some apartments may have washing machines but this cannot be guaranteed. There are no phones in the apartments.

How far is the housing from school?
The apartments are all located within a 30 minute commute from the AIFS Study Center, either by walking or via public transport.  A travel pass is provided to all students.

What are the meal arrangements?
There are kitchens in the apartments, but no meals are supplied. AIFS staff will point out all local supermarkets and markets during orientation. If you chose the homestay option, you receive breakfast every day and lunch and dinner Monday to Friday.

What are the apartment restrictions?
Quiet hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. If you break these rules, you will not have an AIFS staff member there to tell you. Instead, it may well be the police you end up talking to after your neighbors have called them. No overnight guests are to stay in the apartments at all. This is the law because of police registration of people at that address. No posters or photos are permitted on walls. This can seriously damage the paint.

Can I choose to make my own living arrangements instead of living in AIFS accommodations?
This is possible only if you have close friends or relatives living in Barcelona. There is a reduced fee for arranging your own housing, but the money saved will not be adequate to pay for housing you would find on your own in the short-term rental market. If choose this option, you must first provide details of your relatives to the program coordinator at your school. You must also notify AIFS on your program application that you do not require housing and provide a contact address in Barcelona to enable us to reach you in an emergency. Note that we can only do this if your school coordinator authorises it.

Culture

What events will be on the cultural calendar?
There will be a large variety of events arranged which make the most of what Barcelona has to offer. Recent events include guided walking tours, local sporting events, visits to museums, cooking classes and flamenco performances.

Are these events good value for the money?
Yes. They are deeply subsidized by AIFS. The original price is lower than you could find on your own as AIFS is able to get group discounts through our contacts in Barcelona.

Will there be trips?
Yes, two day trips are included in the program fee, the first to Tarragona and the second to Girona and Figueres. We also offer an optional 3 day/2 night excursion to San Sebastian and Bilbaofor $475 per student. You can choose this option when you apply for the program.

Money

How much money will I need?
This very much depends on individual tastes. However, AIFS recommends that students budget $700-$1000 per month for day-to-day needs. This would allow for some cultural activities and excursions but not extensive overseas travel or expensive purchases.

How can I access my money in Barcelona?
Before departure, make sure you get PIN numbers for credit cards (Visa and MasterCard, not American Express). If you do not already have a credit card, we suggest you get one before you leave.

For checking accounts, try and get the CIRRUS or STAR system on your card. You can ask your bank for a list of banks which will accept your cards. Do not take their word that it will be accepted everywhere—this is often not the case. Also double-check what their charges are for withdrawing cash abroad. . Check if your bank is a member of any banking alliances that may allow you reduced withdrawal fees.

You may want to consider bringing a pre-paid Visa or Mastercard with you. These “travel money” cards are not associated with a bank account and can be re-loaded, and quickly replaced if lost or stolen.  Accessing your money with a combination of all three options mentioned above is the best way.

If you run short of money or in the unfortunate event you have your wallet stolen, AIFS on-site staff can give you details of how to have money wired to you in an emergency situation from friends and family.

Communication

Is Wifi readily available?    
Wireless internet is available at the study center in Barcelona. Many cafes in the city offer free wifi with the purchase of a hot drink or snack.  The shared apartments and homestays will also have wifi.  Please be advised that it may not be as reliable or as strong as you are used to at home.

How can people contact me when I am in Barcelona?
Once you have sent in your application, you will receive details of your mailing address at the school. You can receive all your mail and packages at that address.  If you have a smart-phone you will be able to use web-based services such as Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp to keep in touch with people back home, but be sure to purchase an international plan or turn of data-roaming when you arrive in Spain to avoid a huge bill.  Some students choose to purchase a basic Spanish cellphone when they arrive (there are no charges to receive calls from the US).  The apartments do not have fixed line phones.

General

Do I need a passport?
You will need a valid passport to travel abroad. If you have a passport that will expire during your program or within four months after the end of your program, renew it now.  You will not be able to board your flight without a valid passport in hand.
If you are applying for your first passport, go to http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html. 
If you need to renew your passport, go to http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/renew.html.
To obtain a passport you will need:
    I. Passport Application Form DS-11
    II. Proof of Citizenship
    III. Present Identification and Photocopy
    IV. Application Fee
    V. Two Passport Photos
The automated appointment number for all passport agencies is (877) 487-2778. For general passport information, you may dial the Federal Information Center at (800) 688-9889, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov.    

Do I need a visa?
If you are staying less than 90 days, no. If you plan on staying longer, you should get a tourist visa before coming. If you are not a US citizen, please talk to the nearest embassy or consulate for requirements. Do not forget to obtain visas for other countries you may wish to visit. It is not possible to do this once you are in Spain.

What should I take with me?
Not too much! Every program students find that they bring clothing that they never wear and toiletries that they could have easily bought in Barcelona.

If you are on medication, you should bring enough to last you for the program as well as a copy of the prescription in case you need a refill.

The weather can be unpredictable so bring warm clothes. It is best to bring clothes that you can layer to be appropriate for all kinds of weather. You should also bring a weatherproof coat. You will do a lot more walking than you are used to, so bring comfortable shoes.

You will not need much "dressy" clothing, but bring an outfit for a special occasion. Full evening dress is not required, but it is nice for women to wear a dress and men casual slacks (not jeans). Spaniards are both smart and casual dressers, and many of you will purchase the same style clothes when you are there. Remember that you will buy some clothing and souvenirs while you are in Spain so try to leave some space in your suitcase.

What happens if I get ill abroad?
There is a walk-in clinic nearby to the school that we use regularly. AIFS staff will accompany you and offer translation if required. You will have to pay for everything up front in cash including the doctor's visit and medication, and then you may make a claim on your AIFS medical insurance. For this you must make sure you have filled in all the medical forms correctly and have all receipts. You will receive a refund back in the US for all costs exceeding $50. No pre-existing conditions are covered. Please read your insurance information for conditions that may be excluded.

Will my electrical appliances work in Barcelona?
Your electrical appliances (laptop, smart phone etc.) will work in Spain with the correct plug adapter for Europe as plug sockets in Spain are different from the ones in the U.S. You can buy plug adapters before you leave the U.S. at places such as Target.

We advise that you leave heavy items such as hairdryers at home and buy an inexpensive one to share between your roommates when you get to Spain. Your U.S. hairdryer may not have the correct voltage for use in Spain and they take up room in your luggage! You can buy a hairdryer in Spain for approximately $25.

Can I buy textbooks and course-related materials in Barcelona?
You should buy any required textbooks in the US ahead of time and bring them with you.  Your professors will be able to let you know where they have been ordered. If you are ordering books online you may have them sent to the study center ahead of you. You can buy paper and other materials in Barcelona, but it will be a different size/format to that available in the US. Barcelona has many English language bookstores if you like to read for pleasure.

What sports facilities are available?
Barcelona does not have as many sports facilities as you may be used to back at college in the US. There are, however, gyms all over town, swimming pools and outdoor soccer fields in parks.

Can I work when I am in Barcelona?
It is illegal to work in Spain unless you have a work permit. If you do want to stay and work after the program, you will need to apply for a work permit before you leave the US. It cannot be done once you are in Spain.