Host familiesThe Barcelona Study Center has an agreement with "BeMadrid",https://bemadrid.com/be-housing/, a housing provider which does the vetting for host families and matches students with host families and other students, according to preference and availability. Please note that students will receive the information about their host families and placements on the day of their arrival to Barcelona, not before. The host families will come to the University of Barcelona, where the arrival orientation takes place, to pick up the students and go with them to their homes. The "Be Madrid" team will also be present during the orientation and will act as liaison between the host families and the Barcelona Study Center’s staff. This agreement may differ from the way other programs work, but it has proven effective for our students, who have continued to choose this program since 1972.
The families chosen as hosts for our students are carefully vetted, and their homes are in very good and safe neighborhoods; Sarrià, Les Corts, Eixample, Sant Antoni and Sagrada Familia. We do not host any students in areas such as Raval, and Las Ramblas where there are very high numbers of tourists and therefore have some trouble spots. Part of our program’s safety and security arrival orientation includes a group meeting with local police and US Consulate officials. They will discuss city areas to avoid, but also prudent behavior on the part of students, consistent with what would be expected in any big city in the U.S or any other part of the world as well.
Housing alternatives (after the intensive language program):
There is another company: https://www.citylifebarcelona.com/, which has served students well with their housing needs if they choose to look for an apartment after the intensive language program. The team representing this company will also be at the Study center during orientation and students can address questions to them.