During the academic year 2024-2025 Voluntariat Lingüístic has programmed and offered international students at Pompeu Fabra University both its programme of activities and cultural visits, with a total of 37 outings all over Catalonia, and its programme of language exchange, with a total of 354 language tandems and trios matched.


Programme of activities and cultural visits

Throughout the academic year, VL offers outings, both in Barcelona and in the rest of Catalonia, with the aim of introducing the language, culture and national reality of Catalonia to international students at UPF (whether they are Erasmus, Master’s or PhD students). In the 2024-2025 academic year a total of 37 activities have been offered. The course began on Saturday the 28th of September 2024 with a boat trip to discover Barcelona from the sea, and ended on Monday the 9th of June with an excursion to La Mola, in the Sant Llorenç del Munt massif.

Of the 37 visits and activities offered, 13 took place in the first term, 11 in the second term and 13 in the third term. Of these, 20 took place in Barcelona, and the remaining 17 in the rest of Catalonia, including one in Andorra. A total of 21 activities took place on Saturdays, 15 on weekdays, and one over a whole weekend, from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

Visits and activities in the first term:

  • 75-minute boat trip to discover Barcelona’s skyline from the sea (Saturday 28 September 2024)
  • Visit to the Costa Brava: L’Escala, ruins of Empúries and medieval village of Pals (Saturday 5 October 2024)
  • Route through Roman and Medieval Barcelona (Barri Gòtic) (Friday 11 October 2024)
  • Visit to the Fabra Observatory + walk along the Carretera de les Aigües (Saturday 19 October 2024)
  • Visit to the city and monastery of Ripoll, "the cradle of Catalonia" + ‘pa amb tomàquet’ and ‘castanyada’ workshop + excursion to the volcano of Santa Margarida, in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa (Saturday 26th October 2024)
  • Visit to the Pedralbes monastery and discovery of the Sarrià neighbourhood (Thursday 31 October 2024)
  • Visit to the monastery and the mountain of Montserrat, with an excursion to Sant Jeroni (1,236 m), the highest peak of the mountain range (Saturday 9 November 2024)
  • Visit to the Biblioteca de Catalunya, the national library of Catalonia, and the Institut d’Estudis Catalans (Tuesday 12 November 2024)
  • Guided tour of the city of Girona + visit to the city’s two cathedrals (Saturday 23 November 2024)
  • Visit to the former Hospital de Sant Pau, the largest Art Nouveau site in the world (Saturday 30 November 2024)
  • Route of Christmas traditions in Catalonia + Christmas celebration, Barcelona (Thursday 5 December 2024)
  • Barcelona in 1700. Guided tour of El Born Centre Cultural to discover what life was like in Barcelona before and after the occupation in 1714 (Friday 13 December 2024).
  • Excursion from Barcelona to Sant Cugat, crossing the Collserola mountain range (Saturday 21 December 2024)

Visits and activities in the second term:

  • Route through Barcelona’s Modernist Eixample (Friday 10 January 2025)
  • Visit to the Roman aqueduct of Les Ferreres and the Roman and Medieval Tarragona (Saturday 18 January 2025)
  • Guided tour of Torre Bellesguard, one of Antoni Gaudí’s earliest and least known buildings (Friday 24 January 2025)
  • Visit to Figueres, the Sant Ferran fortress and the Dalí Museum (Saturday 1 February 2025)
  • Visit to the walled town of Montblanc and a Conca de Barberà wine cellar + ‘pa amb tomàquet’, ‘calçotada’ and ‘porró’ drinking workshop (Saturday 15 February 2025)
  • Theoretical and practical workshop to get to know and learn how to dance sardana, the national dance of Catalonia (Wednesday 19 February 2025)
  • Tourism and ski weekend in the Principality of Andorra (Friday 21 - Sunday 23 February 2025)
  • Guided tour of the Colònia Güell and Gaudí’s crypt, in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, about 15 km from Barcelona (Friday 28 February 2025)
  • Guided tour of the historic building of the University of Barcelona, including a visit to the Torre del Rellotge, recently restored and opened to the public (Friday 7 March 2025).
  • Walk to discover Els Tres Turons, ‘the Three Hills’: Turó de la Rovira ("the bunkers"), Turó del Carmel and Turó de la Creueta del Coll + international end-of-term brunch (Saturday 8 March 2025)
  • Come and discover the Collserola mountain range: Tibidabo, Vallvidrera reservoir and Vil·la Joana + end-of-term picnic in a picnic area in the middle of the forest (Saturday 22nd March 2025)

Visits and activities in the third term:

  • Welcome, third term! Let’s welcome the third term and spring with a 75-minute boat trip to discover Barcelona from the sea!
  • Visit to the walled town of Hostalric and walk through the natural environment + "pa amb tomàquet" workshop and ‘porró’ drinking contest (Saturday 5 April 2025)
  • Guided visit to Televisió de Catalunya, the national television of Catalonia (Thursday 10 April 2025)
  • Guided visit to the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar and El Born district + Sant Jordi celebration at UPF’s Rectoral building (Tuesday 22 April 2025)
  • Guided tour of the Art Nouveau Site of the Hospital de Sant Pau (Wednesday 23 April 2025)
  • Visit to the city and monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès + picnic in the city’s Parc Central (Saturday 26 April 2025)
  • Walk to discover the mountain of Montjuïc (Wednesday 30 April 2025)
  • Walk and breakfast among the vineyards + wine tasting at a winery in Penedès (Saturday 10 May 2025)
  • Come and discover Cadaqués, in northern Costa Brava, by boat from Roses (Saturday, 17 May 2025).
  • Discovery of the Montseny massif, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, and excursion to the summit of Les Agudes, at an altitude of 1,706 metres (Saturday 24 May 2025).
  • Visit to southern Costa Brava: Tossa de Mar + boat trip (Saturday 31 May 2025)
  • Visit to Vall de Núria, in the Pyrenees (Saturday 7 June 2025)
  • Excursion to La Mola (1,104 m), in the Sant Llorenç del Munt massif, by public transport from Barcelona (Monday 9 June 2025)

In total, some 2,700 students have registered for these tours and activities (over the three terms), with an average of around seventy students for each of the 37 visits and activities scheduled. However, it has not always been possible – especially in the case of trips and excursions outside Barcelona – to give a spot to all the students who had signed up. Discounting the students who could not get a place in one activity or another, who finally cancelled or who did not show up for the activity, the total number of students attending our trips was around 2,250; and counting only once the students who attended several of the visits and activities (single attendees for the whole year), the total number of different international students who took part in our activities throughout the year is  720. On the other hand, in the 17 activities and visits which place outside Barcelona, we travelled a total of more than 3,500 kilometres by bus, and took more than 17,800 photographs, which we have published regularly on our social media profiles (Facebook and Instagram), also as a way of reporting on the programme’s activities.

Tips for the weekend of the 2024-2025 academic year

In addition, as a complement to the face-to-face visits and activities scheduled throughout the year, a total of 19 messages were also sent out with 73 tips for the weekend, approximately every fortnight, so that students could also do other activities on their own, to complete their knowledge of Barcelona and Catalonia and enjoy their experience here. Once sent, these tips have been added and linked to the website where the entire programme of activities is located, so that they remain there and can be consulted at any time.

Tips for the weekend in the first term

Tip for the weekend - 27-29 September 2024

  • Tip number 1: Get the Barcelona Library Card and enjoy numerous discounts and advantages!
  • Tip number 2: Become a member of Barcelona Zoo for only 5 euros and enter as many times as you want for a whole year!
  • Tip number 3: Get the T-jove, the metropolitan transport card that will allow you to travel in the six metropolitan crowns for three months for only 40 euros!
  • Tip number 4: Enjoy the advantages and discounts of the "Gaudir Més" programme!
  • Tip number 5: Don’t miss the Setmana del Llibre en Català (Book Week in Catalan)

Tip for the weekend - 4-6 October 2024

  • Tip number 1: Visit Barcelona’s museums for free on the first Sunday of every month!
  • Tip number 2: Visit a beautiful modernist building on Passeig de Gràcia for free!
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy the best views over the Barri Gòtic and the centre of Barcelona (for only 3 euros)!
  • Tip number 4: Do your Saturday shopping and take the opportunity to discover two of Barcelona’s main markets!

Tip for the weekend - 18-20 October 2024

  • Tip number 1: Discover the beautiful neighbourhood of Sarrià, in the upper part of Barcelona, and try (or not) what is often said to be the best ‘patatas bravas’ in Barcelona!
  • Tip number 2: Find out which cinemas show films in their original version!
  • Tip number 3: Discover some of Barcelona’s most important bookshops!
  • Tip number 4: Take advantage of the 48H Open House to visit some of Barcelona’s emblematic buildings for free.

Tip for the weekend - 1-3 November 2024

  • Tip number 1: Discover the beautiful natural area at the end of the Llobregat river!
  • Tip number 2: Start learning Catalan for free with Easy Catalan!
  • Tip number 3: Visit the Museu Marès for free!
  • Tip number 4: Go up to Tibidabo by public transport and enjoy the best views of Barcelona!

Tip for the weekend - 15-17 November 2024

  • Tip number 1: Discover the Gràcia neighbourhood and its squares!
  • Tip number 2: Try a good traditional ‘coca’!
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy a pleasant bike ride from Port Vell to the Besòs river park or to Badalona!
  • Tip number 4: Visit the World Press Photo 2024 exhibition!

Tip for the weekend - 29 November - 1 December 2024

  • Tip number 1: Visit the Parc del Laberint d’Horta for free!
  • Tip number 2: Stroll through the beautiful and rather unknown gardens of the Palau de les Heures!
  • Tip number 3: Visit the Picasso Museum without paying admission!
  • Tip number 4: Four bars or cafés in cultural institutions or establishments that we think you’ll like

Tip for the weekend - 13-15 December 2024

  • Tip number 1: Don’t miss the Fira de Santa Llúcia, Barcelona’s Christmas fair, learn about Christmas traditions in Catalonia and check out the Christmas activities in the Port Vell!
  • Tip number 2: Take a hike to Torre Baró castle and discover the natural surroundings of the eastern end of the Collserola mountain range!
  • Tip number 3: If you ever want to come back to Barcelona (which we hope you do!), be sure to drink water from the Canaletes fountain before you leave!
  • Tip number 4: Discover the "other cathedrals" of Catalonia: the so-called "wine cathedrals"!

Tips for the weekend in the second term

Tip for the weekend - 17-19 January 2025

  • Tip number 1: Discover Barcelona’s seafront: the Port Vell, the Maritime Museum, the Museum of the History of Catalonia and Barceloneta, the city’s most maritime neighbourhood!
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Sant Antoni Sunday market!
  • Tip number 3: Learn Catalan with Daily Catalan!
  • Tip number 4: Stroll and relax in the gardens of the Palau de Pedralbes!

Tip for the weekend - 31 January - 2 February 2025

  • Tip number 1: Visit the Botanical Garden of Barcelona for free!
  • Tip number 2: Cross the Collserola mountain range by metro and, without leaving Barcelona, enjoy the beautiful natural area you’ll find there!
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy the Santa Eulàlia festivities!
  • Tip number 4: Enjoy Llum BCN, the light festival in Poblenou!

Tip for the weekend - 14-16 February 2025

  • Tip number 1: Enjoy a pleasant stroll along the Carretera de les Aigües and Avinguda Tibidabo, in the upper part of Barcelona!
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Pedralbes monastery and the Parc de l’Oreneta!
  • Tip number 3: Walk around Montjuïc mountain and discover its history!
  • Tip number 4: Learn about Barça’s 125 years of history and visit the museum!

Tip for the weekend - 28 February - 2 March 2025

  • Tip number 1: Take advantage of the fact that it’s the first Sunday of the month to visit Barcelona’s oldest museum, in Parc de la Ciutadella, free of charge.
  • Tip number 2: Discover some interesting facts about Barcelona and its streets!
  • Tip number 3: Carnival is here! If you are one of those who love this party, enjoy it!
  • Tip number 4: Discover the neighbouring city of Terrassa, taking advantage of its annual jazz festival!

Tip for the weekend - 14-16 March 2025

  • Tip number 1: Discover the Francesca Bonnemaison Library
  • Tip number 2: Take a walk from Tibidabo to the south-western end of the Collserola mountain range!
  • Tip number 3: Discover some beautiful passages in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella and Eixample!
  • Tip number 4: Spend a pleasant morning at the Mercantic in Sant Cugat del Vallès!

16 places you might like to visit or things you might like to do while you’re in Catalonia

  • Jardins Marimurtra, Blanes (Costa Brava)
  • Tossa de Mar (Costa Brava)
  • Coastal path from S’Agaró to Sa Conca beach (Costa Brava)
  • Calella de Palafrugell, Sant Sebastià lighthouse and Cap Roig gardens (Costa Brava)
  • Enjoy the magnificent views of L’Estartit and the Medes Islands from the castle of Begur (Costa Brava).
  • Stroll through the beautiful streets of the city of Girona and taste its "xuixos".
  • Discover Puigcerdà, in the middle of the Cerdanya valley, close to La Molina ski resort.
  • Sanctuary of Montgrony
  • Sanctuary of Cabrera
  • Altafulla and Tarragona
  • Sitges
  • Montserrat
  • Reus
  • Beaches of L’Ametlla de Mar
  • Cotlliure, in French Catalonia
  • Puigsacalm

Tips for the weekend in the third term

Tip for the weekend - 11-13 April 2025

  • Tip number 1: Get to know our networks!
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Arús Public Library!
  • Tip number 3: Visit the Palau Foundation to see works by Picasso in the pretty village of Caldes d’Estrac!
  • Tip number 4: Enjoy the concerts of the 37th. Cicle de Música de la Universitat de Barcelona!

Tip for the Sant Jordi weekend - 20-23 April 2025

  • Tip number 1: Enjoy Sant Jordi’s Day
  • Tip number 2: Put some music in your Sant Jordi with the "Sant Jordi Musical" festival!

Tip for the weekend - 1-4 May 2025

  • Tip number 1: Visit the world’s best public library in 2023!
  • Tip number 2: Discover Sant Cugat, Barcelona’s neighbouring town on the other side of Tibidabo!
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy a pleasant bike ride or stroll along the Carretera de les Aigües, in the Collserola mountain range, and discover the charming neighbourhood of Sarrià, in the upper part of Barcelona!
  • Tip number 4: Don’t miss the New Roses Contest, in Barcelona’s Parc de Cervantes!

Tip for the weekend - 16-18 May 2025

  • Tip number 1: This Thursday, don’t miss UPF’s Festa Major, on Poblenou campus!
  • Tip number 2: Discover or rediscover Girona, coinciding with the "Girona Temps de Flors" festival!
  • Tip number 3: Take advantage of "La Nit dels Museus" to visit Barcelona’s museums for free on the evening and night of Saturday 17 May!
  • Tip number 4: Be sure to taste the horchata!

Tip for the weekend - 30 May-1 June 2025

  • Tip number 1: Take advantage of the fact that it’s the first Sunday of the month to visit the Museu d’Història de Catalunya, and don’t miss the magnificent views from the Museum’s terrace!
  • Tip number 2: Make the most of the warm weather to enjoy Barcelona’s Blue Flag beaches!
  • Tip number 3: If you couldn’t come with us last Saturday to Montseny, visit this impressive biosphere reserve on your own, by public transport from Barcelona!
  • Tip number 4: Enjoy Catalan cuisine!

Tip for the weekends - 13-15 and 20-24 June 2025

  • Tip number 1: Discover Barcelona’s old botanical garden in Montjuïc, where you’ll find the tallest and most monumental trees in the city!
  • Tip number 2: Enjoy a pleasant walk along the coastal path between Altafulla and Tarragona!
  • Tip number 3: If you ever want to come back to Barcelona, which we hope you will, be sure to drink water from the Canaletes fountain before you leave!
  • Tip number 4: From 19 to 22 June, don’t miss the "ou com balla" tradition!
  • Tip number 5: And on 23 June, celebrate the summer solstice and the festival of Sant Joan!

Language tandems

Finally, the Voluntariat Lingüístic programme has continued to manage the language tandem programme, with considerable success in terms of participation. Over the course of the academic year, 354 language tandems and trios have been matched: 186 in the first term, 91 in the second term and 77 in the third term, based on applications from 321 Catalan students and 392 international students.

By groups, many more undergraduate students (68.79%) than postgraduate students (21.69%) took part in the language tandem programme, while the remaining 9.52% were lecturers, administrative and service staff and alumni. By gender, 65.86% of applicants were women, 33.17% were men and 0.97% were ‘other’. In terms of age groups, the vast majority of participants (82.21%) were between 17 and 25 years old, while the remaining 17.79% were over 25 years old.

In terms of languages, a total of more than forty-five different languages were requested or offered. In the case of Catalan students, 8.45% offered only Catalan, 81.48% offered both Catalan and Spanish, and 10.07% offered only Spanish. English was both the language most requested by Catalan students (present in 58.31% of applications) and the language most offered by international students (present in 78.54% of applications). In addition, other languages such as French, German and Italian also had a notable presence during the three terms. Finally, among international students, 19.27% requested only Catalan, 18.36% requested both Catalan and Spanish, and the remaining 62.37% requested only Spanish.