Experience in Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain by Beste

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Generally, what is Autonomous University of Barcelona like?

It is a very big university with big campus. In this campus from the banc to the pharmacy, you can find everything. I do not know other faculties that much but till now I can say that almost nobody is good in English. Finding a English course is really hard. You can find some English courses but because of their "siesta time" there is no class between 13:00-17:00, so courses are always at the same time. Everywhere is closed in that hours. And If I turn back to the language point, even in Erasmus department, so many paople cannot speak English. If you want to learn Spanish or Catalan, Catalan courses are free but Spanish is 400 Euros. When I critisized it, they told me "Welcome to Catalunya. " The good thing is that you know your exam days from the first day, the bad thing is that there is no exam week. One exam can be in the first week of May, and other one in the end of the June. Sometimes there can be dangereous strikes, but don't worry, they announce when it is and those days you will not have classes. If you will live in Vila, it is so close to the Uni, you just have to walk 5 or 10 minutes.

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What are the facilities like?

I did not use any kind of facilities so I don't know really. But you see on campus, there is always some people making a project or something for fun... Like in every university they have also ESN and they organise so many things.

What are the tutors like?

Some of them were so good and also I hated some of them. For ex, There is an economy teacher, everybody calls her "crazy woman" and she is not nice at all, lots of people dropped out her course. Another teacher in political science faculty made a seminar which affects %20 percent of our grade and documents were Catalan and Spanish even the course is English. When everybody started to criticise that issue, he said "You are in Spain, you have to learn Spanish. It is normal. " And while we were searching English courses with my friends, we sent emails to some teachers for asking and almost all teachers rejected us. But some teachers are so nice, understanding for Erasmus students.

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Are the lessons easy in Autonomous University of Barcelona?

If you hear that "Lessons are so easy in Erasmus. I did not go to the lessons but I passed. Teachers are so understanding for erasmus students, your grade will increase. " Forget this in that university. You will make projects every week, you have to study hard for passing. Annnnnnd I could not make trips, just because of my courses. You need to prepare yourself to this.

Does the University organise activities? If so, what are they like?

I did not hear about university's activities but ESN organise some events for erasmus students.

Do you think there is a good quality of teaching?

No!

Are there any stories you can share?

I can just say that, I think this university sucks but the city is amazing, just little bit or lets say so expensive. Don't waste your time at university. And if you will be here next semester, I will sell some of my things like kitchen stuff, blanket... I will sell them with %50-75 discount and I am telling you this city is expensive and don't miss this opportunity. You can write me about it.

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