Study & Live in Barcelona

Why Barcelona?
Barcelona is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city where creativity, culture, and innovation converge to form a global hub of possibility.

Known for its rich history, architectural beauty, and Mediterranean lifestyle, it offers a unique environment to learn, experiment, and grow—blending old-world charm with modern innovation to shape the future of architecture, design, and urbanism.

A Playground for Architectural Visionaries

Architectural Excellence  

Barcelona is a masterpiece in itself—a fusion of Gothic elegance, Modernist creativity, and avant-garde innovation. Walking through its streets means stepping into the legacy of Antoni Gaudí and exploring world-renowned landmarks like the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló.

Pioneering Urban Design

Barcelona is known as the cradle of urbanism, starting with the grid layout of the Eixample district, envisioned by Ildefons Cerdà in 1867. Barcelona continues to set global standards with transformative projects like superilles (superblocks). These reimagined neighborhoods prioritize green spaces, pedestrian areas, and sustainable living. The city’s dedication to forward-thinking projects continues to influence global urban planning.

A Global Platform
for Innovation

Barcelona stands at the forefront of smart city initiatives and design innovation. From IoT-driven urban solutions to creative studios pushing the boundaries of architecture and sustainability, the city is a hub for groundbreaking ideas.

Creative Energy Everywhere
Barcelona is home to a thriving design ecosystem, with more than 20 studios per square kilometer. This vibrant creative community spans fields like industrial design, architecture, and sustainable building solutions, making collaboration and inspiration part of daily life.

A City Committed to Sustainability

Barcelona leads the way in sustainability with ambitious goals and innovative solutions:

Aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, the city invests heavily in green energy and reimagined mobility.
Initiatives like the Green Roofs Plan transform urban rooftops into biodiverse and ecological spaces, adding a fresh layer of productivity to the cityscape.

A calendar Full of Inspiration

Barcelona’s dynamic events scene offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with global leaders in architecture, design, and urbanism:

Barcelona Design Week

Smart City Expo World Congress

Biennal of Arcitecture and Urbanism

Open House Barcelona

Swab Art Fair

Mobile World Congress

IAAC and the City

IAAC is located in the 22@Barcelona district, a global benchmark for innovation and technology. The 22@ district integrates cutting-edge companies, universities, research centers, and technology transfer hubs, creating a dynamic ecosystem of innovation. This environment fosters interaction and collaboration among various stakeholders, driving progress and creativity.

In addition to its unique location, IAAC offers its students the opportunity to participate in local projects and initiatives which are specially designed to spark creativity, critical thinking and community engagement. Some of these initiatives include the ReCITYing project where students from the Masters in Advanced Architecture (MAA) and Master in City & Technology (MaCT) and international researchers join forces with local farmers and landscape artists to co-create a land art installation and plant it in the Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat in Barcelona.

Students of the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) collaborated on the FURNISH project, designing a participatory architectural installation with the support of the educational community. The installation enhances the surroundings of a new school located within a former prison in Barcelona using ecological materials sourced from the Collserola Park.

Since 2013, IAAC students from the Masters in Robotics and Advanced Construction (MRAC) and the Masters in Advanced Architecture (MAA) have worked on interactive light installations at the BCN Llum Festival. Llum is a leading lighting arts festival in Europe bringing together interventions by creators from all areas of the visual arts, including contemporary art, design, architecture, technology and lighting design.

Living in Barcelona

Housing

IAAC does not offer student accommodations or dormitories in the city. Students participating in the Masters in Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) will reside at the Valldaura Campus located in Collserola Natural Park. Accommodation at Valldaura campus is not included in the tuition fee of the programme.

Finding accommodation in Barcelona can be stressful since the number of students keeps increasing year after year. Therfore, we encourage potential students to start researching options as early as possible.

Barcelona offers a wide range of housing options to suit different budgets and lifestyles. These options include shared apartments, rented rooms and student residences located throughout the city.

Resources:

Every academic year, a Facebook group is also created to help accepted students connect and make it easier to find flatmates.
You can review IAAC’s Student Guidebook where we offer students some recommendations about how and where to find accommodation.
BCU HOUSING is the accommodation service offered by the Barcelona university community to their students. This housing service offers complete accommodation services for international students and researchers. There are different options: apartments to share, rooms in shared apartments, and/or short stays.
Contact:
www.bcuhousing.cat
Torrent de l’Olla 219, 08012 Barcelona
+34 932 389 072
HABITATGE JOVE is a private apartment and room rental platform exclusively for students in Barcelona. Their portfolio includes residence halls, short-term apartment rentals, shared rooms, and homestays.
Contact:
www.habitatgejove.com
[email protected]
+34 933 239 068

Important! If you are renting an apartment or room via the internet or an app, do not pay or transfer money prior to visiting the apartment or signing a legitimate contract.

Getting Around

Barcelona boasts an extensive public transport network, including metro, buses, and trams, as well as a bike-friendly infrastructure.

TMB is the main public transport operator in The Barcelona metropolitan area. Its unified services include metro lines, day and night buses, trams and short distance trains.

If you are planning to move by bus or metro, we recommend you purchase the monthly T-Usual card. Students under 30 years of age can also benefit from special prices with the T-Jove card.

Bicing (bike-sharing): Affordable annual membership for cycling enthusiasts

Check out the Bicing website for bike path maps and membership costs

Cost of Living

For students, the cost of living in Barcelona can vary depending on lifestyle choices. Below is an estimated illustrative monthly breakdown:

Accommodation:

Room in shared apartment: 450–700€
Private studio or private room in student dorm: 700–900€

Food:

Groceries: 200–300€
Eating out: The most affordable options start at around 6-7€, there are lunch menu options between 10-15€ and other restaurants with higher price ranges.

Public Transportation:

Monthly transport pass (T-usual): 43€
3-month transport pass (under 30 years old): 83€
Bicing bike-sharing system: 4€ (50€ annual subscription)

Utilities:

Electricity, water, internet): 60–80€
Mobile phone: 20–40€

Leisure and Entertainment:

Gym membership: 30–50€
Monthly going out budget: 50–100€ (depending on preferences)

Studio materials (when needed): 200€