A series dedicated to the best student cities in Europe.
For this ranking, which we have taken responsibility for, we have mainly listened to students who have tried the adventure and, through their experiences, hope to give you a better understanding of the specificities and different advantages of each of the student cities.
#10 Barcelona: a wide range of academic choices and a festive atmosphere
Often considered the best university in Spain, the University of Barcelona, founded in 1450, offers a very wide range of programs and numerous disciplines are represented. This multidisciplinarity and the emulation it generates attracts streams of students from Europe and elsewhere to the Spanish city.
But this is not the only asset of this Spanish city, which also attracts thanks to its sense of celebration, its very pleasant climate, and a cost of living adapted to student budgets.
A very cosmopolitan campus and good quality teaching
The campus in the Catalan capital welcomes students from all over the world, and this cosmopolitan atmosphere is also very popular with students because it allows them to experience different ways of thinking and doing things, and this is often very educational.
The atmosphere at the University of Barcelona is relaxed but serious, where they experience teamwork, and this creates a very special and dynamic emulation for many students.
The Spanish government has largely contributed to this development of the student population through a whole series of measures designed to encourage the creation of new courses of study, but also through the controlled maintenance of a level of excellence. Even if the city has fallen a little in the rankings in recent years, it still offers real career opportunities to graduate students.
It is possible to go to Barcelona on Erasmus initially (we all remember the Spanish Hostel, the film by Cédric Klapish) and local scholarship systems are then available to graduate students who wish to stay and continue their studies in the Spanish city.
A festive and cultural city, a reasonable cost of living
But Barcelona is also a city with a very pleasant climate all year round and conducive to a very lively cultural and festive life, which also attracts a large number of students.
The cost of living is relatively modest and with a monthly budget of 700 to 1000 euros, and as long as you are not too demanding about accommodation, you can quite take advantage of the different options offered by the city: museums, sports facilities, cultural venues, cafes and restaurants.
The nightlife is very lively in Barcelona and the possibilities to unwind are numerous in this city which, at nightfall, goes into a trance until the early hours.
Finally, one last important detail: Barcelona is located by the sea, which also allows for very relaxing and refreshing little getaways that allow you to recharge your batteries before a stressful series of exams, for example. Barcelona has several fine sandy beaches including the famous Barcelonata, accessible by metro. Cafes and terraces allow you to enjoy the seaside while sipping a drink, and sports activities (windsurfing, kitesurfing, etc.) are also available for the more active. Barcelona offers all the advantages of seaside towns without the exorbitant costs seen in other cities.
