My Life as an International Student in Barcelona at EADA Business School

Barcelona isn’t just a hotspot for tourists looking for art and culture – it’s also a popular destination for students seeking top-quality education. Over 200,000 students flock to the city every year, and EDUopinions reviewers recently awarded the city the title of one of the best student cities in Europe (QS ranks it among the top 50 best student cities in the world). But what is the experience like as an international student in Barcelona?

One top-ranked institution in the city is EADA Business School: the first business school to be founded in Barcelona in 1957. As one of Europe’s top 30 business schools, EADA combines immersive, hands-on learning with global networking opportunities to prepare students to lead responsibly, driving positive impact through innovation, sustainability, and leadership in action.

EADA’s main campus is in the heart of Barcelona, so students are immersed in city life from the moment they arrive. However, the city is also known for its growing business ecosystem, and students at EADA can explore graduate roles in various industries.

To find out more about what it’s like to be an international student in Barcelona, we spoke to two current international students at EADA.

Meet the Students at EADA Business School

Arthur Folkmann Costa is a Brazilian/Hungarian student on the Master’s in Sustainable Business & Innovation. He was introduced to EADA through the Corporate Knights Better World MBA rankings; EADA ranks 23rd on the list, beating other schools like INSEAD and Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

Originally graduating with a degree in marketing, Arthur had eight years of experience working in innovation and startups, and was looking to improve his knowledge of sustainability.

“I was not searching for a traditional business course, but rather a Master’s programme that went beyond to address the climate challenge,” he says. “I saw a highlight on systems change design, which I believe is one of the crucial knowledges to address all the complexity of our current time.”

Liz Belen Margo Rossen is a Dutch student pursuing a Master’s in Tourism & Hospitality Management. She chose EADA in part because of the school’s focus on the case study method in classes and the fact that student participation was a core part of the learning experience.

“I was also impressed by the structure of the Master’s. The programme starts with theoretical, more general business subjects in the first trimester and then moves into more practical, industry-specific courses,” she explains.

But both Arthur and Liz were also attracted to living in Barcelona. “For sure, to be in Barcelona counted a lot in my decision,” adds Arthur. “The city is really energetic, mostly safe, and has a good innovative ecosystem.”

“Barcelona is truly at the heart of tourism and hospitality,” says Liz. “Living in such a vibrant city, one that people from all over the world dream of visiting – it’s incredibly inspiring. It offers the perfect blend of beach, mountains, and dynamic nightlife, making it a living example of diverse tourism in action.”

Exciting city life

As Liz points out, Barcelona is renowned for its vibrant culture and nightlife, attracting visitors seeking the finest Spanish cuisine, historic architecture, modern art, and eclectic bars.

“This, for sure, is one of the greatest cities I’ve ever been!” Arthur attests. “The city has everything for all different tastes and lifestyles: good parks, beautiful views, beaches, live music, good transportation, and I never felt any kind of danger.”

For Liz, another bonus of living in Barcelona is the ease of transportation. Indeed, studying at EADA makes it easy to explore the city. The school’s main city centre campus is in Eixample, a short walk from the Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla.

“One of my absolute favourite things about the city is how walkable it is. I love wandering around and discovering new corners, street art, local markets, or events happening spontaneously,” Liz says.

“The class schedule is also very well-structured. Most of our classes have fixed times, which allows us to plan other activities, like internships, part-time work, or hobbies, without conflict,” she adds.

Barcelona is also known for its happy residents. The city ranks 12th in the world for overall quality of life in the InterNations Expat City Ranking 2024, but leaps up to third in the leisure options category.

“I really value the lifestyle here,” adds Liz. “It strikes a nice balance between productivity and enjoyment. People take time to enjoy meals, socialise, and be outside. It’s a refreshing mindset compared to more fast-paced cities.”

Arthur agrees. “There is an energy of happiness around here that is incredible,” he notes.

Immersive learning opportunities

As Spain’s second-largest city, it’s no surprise that being an international student in Barcelona means gaining access to some of the biggest companies in Europe. EADA also facilitates networking and internship opportunities for its students, including study trips and real-world consulting missions.

“One of the highlights for me was a study trip to Mallorca, where we visited a variety of hotels, from large international chains to unique boutique hotels,” explains Liz.

Students at EADA also visit the school’s Collbató Residential Training Campus during their studies. Located in the mountains of Montserrat, during a stay at Collbató, students participate in outdoor activities and engage in role-playing exercises to strengthen their soft skills.

“We stay there for two days and are grouped with students from other programmes, which is a great opportunity to meet new people and gain fresh perspectives. These sessions are always engaging and help build both personal and professional connections across different fields,” explains Liz.

Arthur, meanwhile, took advantage of opportunities to apply his sustainability skills outside his classes at EADA.

“I had the privilege to be one of the champions in the Sustainability Club, which provided me not only a strong friendship but the access and support from EADA to make events that bring sustainable awareness, so we can scale impact among the other Master’s,” he explains.

“Besides that, I was invited by Federica Massa-Saluzo, Chief Sustainability Officer [at EADA], to be an external consultant and support her in EADA’s systemic strategy. So my advice would be, make these connections and chase your goals, cause in EADA I saw that everything was possible.”

International environment

Barcelona attracts not only international students but also people from all around the world who seek opportunities in this cultural capital. Today, one-third of Barcelona’s population consists of people born outside Spain, totalling over 500,000 individuals.

Similarly, at EADA, up to 98% of students on certain courses are international. On Liz’s Master’s in Tourism & Hospitality Management, the 16 students represent 13 different nationalities.

Plus, as class sizes are intentionally restricted to between 25 and 30 students, there are lots of opportunities to meet your cohort and collaborate with people from different backgrounds.

EADA’s diversity is one of the aspects that Arthur most enjoys about being an international student in Barcelona.

“One of the major things for me is the internal connections that you make daily, students from all over the world that share their culture, pushing us to collaborate and work together,” he says.

“I remember looking at the statistics from previous years and being so excited about the cultural diversity,” Liz reflects. “I genuinely believe that you learn the most from people who are different from you.”

Conclusion

Life as an international student in Barcelona is as diverse as the city itself. From beach days to exploring hiking trails, networking with top companies, and studying with people from all over the world, students at EADA have a vibrant student lifestyle.

Both Liz and Arthur agree that this combination of management excellence, practical experience, and general city life makes studying at EADA one of the best decisions they’ve made for their future careers.

“This is an experience that will drive you to your potential, while becoming a leader to support the global transition for a fair and bright future,” says Arthur.

“I’ve learned so much, not just from the classes, but also from the people around me,” adds Liz. “The international environment, supportive professors, and practical learning approach all create a truly unique experience. If you’re open to growing both professionally and personally, I couldn’t recommend it more.”