Other Programs

Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona

Stanford's membership in the Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona (CASB), will allow a limited number of Stanford students to spend a semester or a full year in Barcelona. The program is open to all qualified students who have completed two or more years of college-level Spanish language at the time of enrollment. CASB is administered by the Brown University Office of International Programs on behalf of Stanford and six other high caliber U.S. universities (Chicago, Columbia, Northwestern, Cornell, Harvard, and Princeton). Stanford students may apply for one or two of the ten semester slots supported by the Bing Overseas Studies Program and the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages. Students who are accepted for these positions remain enrolled at Stanford while studying at CASB, giving them uninterrupted eligibility for financial aid and allowing their courses and grades to be recorded directly on their transcripts. Stanford campus inquiries can be sent to [email protected].

This program has many distinctive features. Among these is the large number of courses that students can take in a wide range of disciplines, and in any of Barcelona's four main metropolitan universities. Aside from its cosmopolitanism and Mediterranean style, Barcelona boasts many attractive features: a 2000-year history; its distinct Catalan culture; its proximity to historic sites ranging from the first Greek settlement on the Iberian Peninsula to the remains of what was once the Peninsula's largest Roman city; medieval monuments of the three religious cultures (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim); Europe's highest concentration of art nouveau architecture; and an enticing urban culture that can be explored in historical depth or simply enjoyed in the present.

This program constitutes an excellent introduction to Iberian Studies available through a year-abroad program, with students being able to experience first-hand the coexistence of cultures (both national and religious) that have clashed in the past and must negotiate their relations in the present. The extensive academic offerings in four of Spain's top universities make it possible for students to make steady progress on their majors while perfecting their knowledge of Spanish and picking up the basics of Catalan with little extra effort.

Application Process

Although administered by Brown University, Stanford students apply for the program through BOSP. Stanford students should NOT apply directly to the Brown University Office of International Programs. The Stanford campus application deadline for the Fall Semester and Academic Year 2013-14 is January 27, 2013 at 11:59PM PST. Interested students should stop by the BOSP office for more information or visit the "How do I apply" page to start the application.

Program Summary