Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Take out a student overdraft facility before you go (jusy in case) and also sort out on-line banking too, before you go, as it saves alot of hassle. Do not carry all of your bank cards at the same time as muggings are common. Leave a travellers cheque under the bed, just in case. Photocopy everything, twice. One copy in your room, the other in england. Buy phone cards from the stalls on the ramblas to make local and international calls; very cheap. Some of the tourist spots, such as the "MareMagnum" are outrageously expensive for drinks in bars & clubs. (10 euros). Wine and other alcoholic drinks are dirt cheap from local supermarkets, only 90 cents for a decent tasting wine. Take advantage of it!

Even if you are going there on your own, the first few days can be very daunting. But once at university, you will be making lots & lots of friends. However, as a British student in a foreign country, it is very easy to form social groups with other British students. I would reccomend against this; obviously make some friends of the same nationality, so that there is always people there that you can talk to easily, if you are feeling down for whatever reason. But I would encourage mixing with other foreign students and obviously spanish students, to get the most out of the experience. There are a couple of travel/erazmus/student bars and cafes, find out where they are & hang out there to meet people. Finally, be extra careful of yourself and your belongings compared to England, there is a very high crime rate, and quite a few friends of mine got mugged; so be careful!

A spanish test was given, & students were alocated into appropriate classes. Those which did not pass had the option of paying for private classes. However, these classes started quite late in the term, so I was limited to the amount I could learn during my time there. I felt at ease in most situation, when shopping and eating/ drinking out.

I shared a house with approximatly twenty foreign students, who came from across the whole world. Most of them spoke english and were at different levels of spanish. It was a very fulfulling experience; living in such a multi-cultural house. Though it did not help our spanish, as we all found it much easier to speak in english instead! Living with spanish students would have been more beneficial, but I do not regret my decision to move into such a vibrant house. Also, it was only a mere twenty minutes by metro to the city-centre and approximatly forty-five minutes to university.

Clubs: La Palloma; massive diso built in the 1930's as a dance hall; thursday nights are the best. Best bar: "Vela de Negro" (The Black Sheep); just off the top of the Ramblas near the metro "Catalunya". Attracts a high number of young people from all over the world, & also very cheap sangria (although it isnt very strong!). Best bar: "Sherlock Holmes"; located at Placa Reile, a very private bar, traditional with high ceilings and a laid back atmosphere with cheap drinks. Very easy to pass by though, as a door bell has to be rung in front of huge doors. The bar which has about 3 rooms is located up a fleight of 2-storeys! Best restaurant: "Lapaloma"; located near the top of the ramblas at Catalunya metro, lovely & varied food, which is not too expensive either. Also a choice of sitting upstairs by the window & watching the world go by on the ramblas; beautiful. Best night spots for tapas & bars: "Fontana" metro, off the side streets somewhere are alot of small restaurants & bars. Art gallerys: lots of independent art gallerys located in the "Barri Gotic" district; as you are heading to the coast on the Ramblas, it on the left hand side; one feels like a child in a maze. Be careful of muggings though, as it is quite common in these little side streets. Best jazz club: "Harlem Jazz Club", located in the Barri Gotic, but not quite sure where. different music every night, which includes live bands. Lovely atmosphere. Museums; the sex museum on the ramblas; highly recomended.