Also, students will have access to the UPF Intranet (Campus Global) where all official communications will be posted. The "Aula Global" section is the place for professors and students to interact, post course materials, open forums and debates as well as all teaching and learning activities. Students can also access their file and see their grades.
A significant part of university life consists of classes and studying, but extracurricular activities are also important. UPF rounds off the educational offer with services and proposals to make your University experience unforgettable. The range is wide and includes activities such as the Theatre Workshop, the Chorus and Chamber Orchestra, the Sant Jordi Contest or the Open Opera, as well as other cultural activities outside UPF.
With regard to sports, you can participate in university leagues and inter-university competitions, both in team sports and individual sports.
The University Community Assistance Service (SACU) co-ordinates and manages these cultural, social, sports and other extracurricular activities.
Students can receive elective credits or ECTS credits for some of these activities (if they pass the corresponding exam). Exchange students should consult with their universities of origin to ascertain whether these credits will be accepted on their records.
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UPF fosters student participation in university government, in collaboration with the UPF Student Council, as well as in associations and debates.
There is a wide range of student associations. For international students on exchange at UPF there is an association called ESN, dedicated to facilitating the integration of exchange students into the university community and organising cultural activities. These activities complement the programme of outings and guided tours organised by the Language Volunteering programme , designed to spread knowledge about the Catalan language and culture among international students.
Language voluntariate | Participation |
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Catalan is the own and official language of Pompeu Fabra University, together with Spanish, which is co-official, and with English, which has the status of a working language. Therefore, Catalan is the language that is preferably used in the institutional sphere, while in academic and research activities all three languages are present, to varying degrees, along with other languages that can be used in language or humanistic studies, mainly.
In the teaching and academic sphere, it is up to the teacher or to the corresponding academic unit to choose the language or languages of the teaching activities, but regardless of the language or languages of teaching, the student has the right to use either Catalan, Spanish or English (in the latter case, with prior agreement with the teacher), both orally and in writing –except in language subjects or in linguistically profiled subjects, that is, in those in which language is a requirement to pass the subject– in their academic relationship with the teacher.
Under the regulatory framework in force at UPF, the language or languages in which a subject must be taught is public (the student knows before deciding whether to enrol) and binding information, since it binds both the teacher (who cannot change it) and the student (who cannot ask for it to be changed). Therefore, it is very important that before registering for any subject you check the language or languages in which it will be taught, to ensure that you will be able to follow the classes. And remember that, in application of the principle of linguistic security, you cannot request a change of language in a subject, as this would generate linguistic insecurity in both the teacher and the rest of the students in the subject, who would see their linguistic rights affected.
On the other hand, so that you can enjoy to the fullest the teaching offer of Pompeu Fabra University, Idiomes UPF, the UPF language school, makes available to you both a wide range of Catalan courses, at a very reduced price, and a wide offer of courses in other languages. And if you prefer to study Catalan on your own, there are different resources online, such as Intercat or Parla.cat. In addition, you can also start learning Catalan with these introductory guides.
Apart from the language courses, UPF offers you the Voluntariat Lingüístic, a linguistic and cultural support programme that will allow you to get to know other local or international students at the University and to learn or improve your knowledge of Catalan or Spanish in an informal way, with a language partner, and that offers you at the same time a wide range of tours and cultural and leisure activities for you to discover Catalonia and its rich landscape, architecture, culture and gastronomy.
We encourage you therefore to fully enjoy your stay at UPF, in Barcelona and in Catalonia and to make the most of everything within your reach! And to this end, what better than to learn (at least a little bit of) Catalan if you still don't know any, and also to improve your knowledge of both Catalan and other languages! This way you will be able to enjoy not only the entire academic offer of UPF, but also broaden your skills, add value to your CV and, if you are from elsewhere, really live like a local during your stay in Barcelona and Catalonia!
Once you have completed your studies at UPF, you can take advantage of a series of resources:
We invite you to discover all the activities and services available by perusing our University Life portal, where you can also find out about the advantages of being a member of the university community, since your student card entitles you to certain discounts and promotions.