Worst university I've ever seen. This is to save you from going to UPF

This has been one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had at an uni. My heart goes out to the students who have to deal with these services every day. Long story short: I was accepted into a master’s programme at this university but decided to leave after being accepted into another programme that was a better fit for me. All I needed to do was contact the administrative services to cancel my enrolment. Simple, right? Apparently not.

1. Everything takes forever to resolve.

It has been a month since I requested to withdraw from the programme, and my case is still unresolved. Instead of simply processing my withdrawal, the administration keeps dragging things out while having no problem sending me automated emails requesting unnecessary things. The lack of efficiency is baffling. 

2. Services are hardly ever open. When they are, they don’t pick up the phone or answer your emails.

When you are finally able to talk with someone, they don't lift a finger to help you. Even when the problem is relatively simple, you are sent on an endless wild goose chase. Instead of trying to solve your request, they say that they don’t know how to help. Then they tell you to call x number or send an email to x person and ALL OF IT TURNS OUT TO BE A DEAD END. Student services have asked me to take note of like 3 different phone numbers from different departments and the numbers never pick up. They have asked me to send emails or put up requests on CAU and no one answers, and if they do it’s an answer like “oh, we don’t do that here, try to contact x person instead”. 

In every other uni I’ve attended, the student information service actually helps students. Apparently, that’s too much to ask here. 

4. The website is confusing, and nobody helps you navigate it.

Instead of explaining where to find the information you need, they act as if everything should be obvious. There are hundreds of pages on the website, app and online services. I don’t work at this university. It’s not my job to know how to navigate all of it alone, I'm a student and they are the university who is obliged to give guidance.

5. If you’re an international student expecting help in English, forget it.

Communication happens in Catalan or Spanish. The international office is also hardly ever open. I speak spanish, so it’s okay for me. But why would you accept international students if you’re not prepared to provide support in English?

6. The lack of organisation also affects the academic side.

We had a meeting with our programme chair that was supposed to explain how our classes would work. It lasted five minutes. We were told that classes would start at the end of September and that we had to choose our optional course by the next day.

There were two options, so we asked what each option would cover. The programme chair told us to email the lecturers and ask them ourselves. How are we supposed to choose between two courses when we don’t know what they’re about and have less than 24 hours to find out?

Overall, this university has been incredibly disappointing. Everything is unnecessarily complicated, nobody seems willing to help, and simple administrative issues take weeks to resolve. 

It’s basically IMPOSSIBLE to talk with them if you have an issue. It has made me feel lost and confused. I’m so glad I chose to leave it for another programme. If you are thinking about studying here, my advice is: choose another university.

**Note about rating: I don't know if it's easy to pass as I left the course.