FAQ - Catalan
1. I would like to learn Catalan at the UPF, which options do I have?
Idiomes UPF offers different types of courses throughout the academic year:
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Landing Program: this program welcomes new students culturally and linguistically, and it is offered both in September and in January. Only UPF Community members* are eligible to take this course (more information).
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Face-to-face quarterly courses: 45-hour Catalan language courses of level A1, A2 and B1 (CEFR). These courses are open to everyone above the age of 18. Since they are considered institutional courses, UPF Community members can receive a subsidy (more information).
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Blended learning courses: 40-hour Catalan language courses of level B2.1, B2.2 i C1.1 (CEFR) taught through the Parla.cat platform. There is a presentation session where the specifics of the Parla.cat platform are explained, 3 face-to-face follow-up sessions, and the final exam. Only UPF Community members* are eligible to take this course (more information).
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Preparation course to obtain the C1 level certificate (“suficiència”): this 30-hour, face-to-face, C1-level course aims to prepare the student to take the level C1 CIFALC exam with self-confidence. This course is open to everyone above the age of 18. Since they are considered institutional courses, UPF Community members can receive a subsidy (more information).
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Proficiency level C2 Catalan language course: The main aim of this blended-learning, C2-level Catalan language course is to acquire level C2 and prepare for the official CIFALC level C2 exam (CEFR). This course is open to everyone above the age of 18 (more information).
* UPF Community members: Only students and workers of UPF are considered UPF Community members. Members of this community are eligible to receive a subsidy in some Idiomes UPF’s courses.
IMPORTANT: If you are a student or a worker of the Group UPF (BSM, BGSE, ELISAVA, ESCI, ESIM, IBEI, PRBB i TCM) you must pay the full fee for the course with no subsidy.
2. How many ECTS credits is this course equivalent to, and how do I get these credits?
According to the UPF’s credit rates, a 75 teaching-learning hours’ course is equivalent to 3 ECTS credits. However, the amount of credits awarded depends on your home university’s credit rates.
- UPF students: To add this course to your transcript and be awarded 3 ECTS credits, you will need to submit your certificate, which you will receive by email on completion of the course, on the Secretaria Virtual platform (more information).
- International students: To add this course to your transcript and be awarded 3 ECTS credits, you will to send your certificate, which you will receive by email on completion of the course, to your home university. Please bear in mind the number of credits awarded may vary from UPF’s credit rates.
3. Can I learn Catalan at the UPF and obtain official certificates if I'm neither a worker nor a student?
Yes, you can take face-to-face quarterly courses (A1, A2 and B1 CEFR level), the preparation course to obtain C1 level certificate and the proficiency level C2 Catalan language course.
Once students pass the course’s evaluation, they will be awarded a UPF certificate. Furthermore, students that complete and successfully pass the Catalan course at the UPF can take the official CIFALC exam at Idiomes UPF.
4. Can I learn Catalan at the UPF and obtain the official C1 Catalan language certificate?
Yes. Everyone above the age of 18 is eligible to take the preparation course to obtain C1 level certificate at the Ciutadella Campus that takes places in May of every academic year.
By taking this course, you will be able to take the official CIFALC exam that takes place at UPF the first Saturday of June, and you will be able to obtain the official inter-university level C1 certificate, which is equivalent to the one issued by the Direcció General de Política Lingüística.
Furthermore, if you are a UPF Community member* you will also have the possibility to take the official C1 level exam on December, which is specifically designed for those PDI members that need to get the C1 level accredited in their workplace.
In order to take an official CIFALC exam at the UPF, students must have previously taken a Catalan language course at the same university.
* UPF Community members: Only students and workers of the UPF are considered UPF Comunity members. Members of this community are eligible to take any of Idomes UPF's courses, and with a partial subsidy for some of them.
IMPORTANT: If you are a student or a worker of UPF affileted centers (BSM, BGSE, ELISAVA, ESCI, ESIM, IBEI, PRBB i TCM) you must pay the full fee for the course with no subsidy.
5. Can I learn Catalan at the UPF and obtain the official C2 Catalan language certificate?
Yes. Everyone above the age of 18 is eligible to take the proficiency level C2 Catalan language course at the Ciutadella Campus.
There are three editions of the course, during the academic year. Each edition ends before the official level C2, Catalan Language CIFALC exam takes place (February, June and July of each academic year). With this course, students can obtain the official C2, Catalan language certificate, which is equivalent to the one issued by the Direcció General de Política Lingüística.
6. What are the fees for the Catalan courses? Are there any discounts?
No discount can be applied to the Catalan language course’s fee.
The UPF Community members*, however, can benefit of a subsidy offered by the UPF on some of the courses.
- Landing Programme. Subsidized fee for the UPF Community members*: from 40 € per course. Only UPF Community members are eligible to take this course.
- Quarterly courses (A1, A2, B1). Standard fee: 260 € / Subsidized fee for the UPF Community members*: 50 €
- Blended learning courses (B2.1, B2.2, C1.1). Subsidized fee for the UPF Community members*: 50 € per course. Only UPF Community members are eligible to take this course.
- Preparation course to obtain C1 level certificate (“suficiència”): Standard fee: 260 € / Subsidized fee for the UPF Community members*: 50 €
- Proficiency level C2 Catalan language course. Standard fee: 340 €
* UPF Community members: Only students and workers of the UPF are considered UPF Comunity members. Members of this community are eligible to take any of Idomes UPF's courses, and with a partial subsidy for some of them.
IMPORTANT: If you are a student or a worker of UPF affiliated centers (BSM, BGSE, ELISAVA, ESCI, ESIM, IBEI, PRBB i TCM) you must pay the full fee for the course with no subsidy.
7. How many students are there per course?
Types of courses | Number of students per group |
Landing Programme | Minimum 10 / Maximum 45 |
Quarterly courses (A1, A2, B1) Preparation course to obtain “suficiència” C1 level certificate |
Minimum 10 / Maximum 30 |
Blended learning courses (B2.1. B2.2, C1.1) | Maximum 12 |
Proficiency level C2 Catalan language course | Minimum 13 / Maximum 20 |