During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Voluntariat Lingüístic has programmed and offered international students at Pompeu Fabra University both its cultural tours and activities programme, with a total of 36 visits throughout Catalonia, and its language tandems programme, with a total of 340 language tandems and trios throughout the academic year.

Programme of cultural tours and activities

Throughout the academic year, the VL offers cultural tours and activities, both in Barcelona and in the rest of Catalonia, with the aim of making the language, culture and national reality of Catalonia known to international students at UPF (whether they are Erasmus, master’s or PhD students). A total of 35 activities and visits have been offered throughout Catalonia, and one of a whole weekend in the Principality of Andorra. The year began on Monday 25th of September 2023 with a boat trip to discover Barcelona from the sea, and ended on Saturday 8th of June 2024 with a boat trip from Roses to Cadaqués and the discovery of this beautiful town in northern Costa Brava.

Of the 36 tours and activities offered, 13 took place in the first term, 11 in the second and 12 in the third. Of these, 20 took place in Barcelona, and the other 16 in the rest of Catalonia, including one in Andorra. A total of 19 activities took place on a Saturday, 16 on a weekday, and 1 over a whole weekend, from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

Tours and activities in the first term:

  • 75-minute boat trip to discover Barcelona’s skyline from the sea (Monday 25 September 2023)
  • Visit to the Costa Brava: L’Escala, ruins of Empúries and medieval village of Pals (Saturday 30 September 2023)
  • Route through Roman and medieval Barcelona (Barri Gòtic) (Friday 6 October 2023)
  • Visit to the monastery and the mountain of Montserrat, with a hiking to Sant Jeroni (1,236 m), the highest peak of the mountain range (Saturday 14 October 2023)
  • Guided tour of Torre Bellesguard, one of Antoni Gaudí’s earliest and least known buildings (Thursday 19 October 2023)
  • Visit to the town and monastery of Ripoll, "the cradle of Catalonia" + ‘pa amb tomàquet’  workshop and ‘castanyada’ celebration + excursion to the volcano of Santa Margarida, in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa (Saturday 28 October 2023)
  • Visit to the Biblioteca de Catalunya, the national library of Catalonia (Thursday 2 November 2023)
  • Guided tour of the city of Girona + visit to the city’s two cathedrals (Saturday 11 November 2023)
  • Visit to the Pedralbes monastery and discovery of the Sarrià neighbourhood (Wednesday 15 November 2023)
  • Visit to the former Hospital de Sant Pau, the largest Art Nouveau site in the world (Saturday 25 November 2023)
  • Visit to the Fabra Observatory + walk along the Carretera de les Aigües (Saturday 2 December 2023)
  • Route of Christmas traditions in Catalonia + Christmas celebration, Barcelona (Thursday 7 December 2023)
  • Excursion from Barcelona to Sant Cugat, crossing the Collserola mountain range (Saturday 16 December 2023)

Tours and activities in the second term:

  • Visit to the Roman aqueduct of Les Ferreres and to the Roman and medieval Tarragona (Saturday 13 January 2024)
  • Route through Barcelona’s Modernist Eixample (Friday 19 January 2024)
  • Visit to Figueres, the Sant Ferran fortress and the Dalí Museum (Saturday 27 January 2024)
  • Guided tour of Torre Bellesguard, one of Antoni Gaudí’s earliest and least known buildings (Friday 2 February 2024)
  • Theoretical-practical workshop to get to know and learn how to dance the sardana, the national dance of Catalonia (Thursday 8 February 2024)
  • Visit to the walled town of Montblanc and to a winery of the DO Conca de Barberà + ‘pa amb tomàquet’, ‘calçotada’ and ‘porró’ drinking workshops (Saturday 10 February 2024)
  • Guided tour of the Colònia Güell and the Gaudí crypt, in Santa Coloma de Cervelló (Friday 16 February 2024)
  • Visit to the walled town of Hostalric and walk through the natural environment + ‘pa amb tomàquet’ workshop and ‘porró’ drinking contest (Saturday 24 February 2024)
  • Touristic and ski weekend in the Principality of Andorra (1-3 March 2024)
  • Guided tour of the historic building of the University of Barcelona (Thursday 7 March 2024)
  • Hike to discover Els Tres Turons: Turó de la Rovira ("the bunkers") hill, Turó del Carmel hill and Turó de la Creueta del Coll hill + international end-of-term brunch (Saturday 9 March 2024)

Tours 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 (Saturday 6 April 2024)!
  • Guided visit to Televisió de Catalunya, the national television of Catalonia (Thursday 11 April 2024)
  • Visit to the town and lake of Banyoles, the medieval town of Besalú and Castellfollit de la Roca, the village built on a basalt cliff (Saturday 20 April 2024)
  • Visit to the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar + Sant Jordi celebration at the UPF Rectoral building, with the attendance of the Rector, Laia de Nadal (Monday 22 April 2024)
  • Guided tour on the "reinvention" of the Gothic Quarter + visit to the Palau Requesens and ascent to the bell tower of Sants Just i Pastor (Thursday 25 April 2024)
  • Walk and breakfast among the vineyards + wine tasting at a winery in the Penedès (Saturday 4 May 2024)
  • Walk to discover Montjuïc mountain (Friday 10 May 2024)
  • Walk to discover the Collserola mountain range: Tibidabo, Vallvidrera water reservoir and Vil-la Joana (Saturday 18 May 2024)
  • Hiking to La Mola (1,104 m), in the Sant Llorenç del Munt mountain range, by public transport from Barcelona (Monday 20 May 2024)
  • Visit to southern Costa Brava: Tossa de Mar + boat trip (Saturday 25 May 2024)
  • Visit to Vall de Núria, in the Pyrenees (Saturday 1 June 2024)
  • Visit to northern Costa Brava: discovery of Cadaqués by boat from Roses (Saturday 8 June 2024)

In total, 2,076 students have registered for these visits and activities (over the three terms), with an average of around sixty students for each of the 36 visits and activities programmed. However, it has not always been possible – especially in the case of visits and excursions scheduled outside Barcelona – to accommodate all the students who have applied for a spot. Deducting the approximately 15% of students who could not get a spot in one activity or another, who finally cancelled or did not show up for the activity, and counting only once the students who attended several of the trips and activities, the total number of international students (single attendees for the whole year) who took part in the cultural tours and activities programme was 820. In the 17 trips and tours outside Barcelona, we travelled a total of over 3,500 kilometres by coach and took more than 15,000 pictures, which we posted regularly on our social media profiles (Facebook and Instagram), also as a way of reporting and accounting on the programme’s activities.

Tips for the weekend of the 2023-2024 academic year

In addition, as a complement to the tours and face-to-face activities scheduled throughout the year, a total of 19 messages were also sent out with more than sixty tips for the weekend, approximately every fortnight, so that students could also carry out 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 of the first term

Tip for the weekend - 29-30 September and 1 October 2023:

  • 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: Visit Barcelona’s museums for free on the first Sunday of every month!

Tip for the weekend - 6-8 October 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Visit a beautiful modernist building on Passeig de Gràcia for free!
  • Tip number 2: Enjoy the best views over the Gothic Quarter and the centre of Barcelona (for only 2 euros)!
  • Tip number 3: Do your Saturday shopping and take the opportunity to discover two of Barcelona’s main markets!
  • Tip number 4: Discover some of Barcelona’s most important bookshops!

 Tip for the weekend - 20-22 October 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Take advantage of the 48H Open House to visit some of Barcelona’s emblematic buildings for free
  • Tip number 2: Discover the beautiful neighbourhood of Sarrià, in the upper part of Barcelona, and taste (or not) what is often said to be the best ‘patatas bravas’ in Barcelona!
  • Tip number 3: Cinemas showing films in their original version

Tip for the weekend - 3-5 November 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Discover the natural environment of the final stretch of the Llobregat river.
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Museu Marès for free
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy the advantages and discounts of the Gaudir Més programme.
  • Tip number 4: Visit the World Press Photo 2023 exhibition.

Tip for the weekend - 17-19 November 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Discover the Gràcia neighbourhood and its squares.
  • Tip number 2: Taste a good traditional ‘coca’ cake!
  • Tip number 3: Enjoy a pleasant bike ride from Port Vell to the Besòs river park or to Badalona!

Tip for the weekend - 1-3 December 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Visit the Laberint d’Horta park 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 - 15-17 December 2023:

  • Tip number 1: Don’t miss the Fira de Santa Llúcia, Barcelona’s Christmas fair, learn about Catalonia’s Christmas traditions and check out the Christmas activities in the Port Vell!
  • Tip number 2: Walk to the castle of Torre Baró, in the north-eastern side 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!

Tips for the weekend of the second term

Tip for the weekend - 19-21 January 2024:

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

Tip for the weekend - 2-4 February 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Visit the Botanical Garden of Barcelona for free
  • Tip number 2: Enjoy Llum BCN, the light festival in the Poblenou district
  • Tip number 3 (10-12 February): Enjoy the festivities of Santa Eulàlia
  • Tip number 4 (10-12 February): Enjoy Carnival in Barcelona, Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú

Tip for the weekend - 16-18 February 2024:

  • 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 Parc de l’Oreneta!
  • Tip number 3: Walk around Montjuïc mountain and discover its history and facilities!

Tip for the weekend - 1-3 March 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Cross the Collserola mountain range by metro and, without leaving Barcelona, enjoy the beautiful natural area you’ll find there!
  • Tip number 2: 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, which has reopened after years of closure
  • Tip number 3: Discover the neighbouring city of Terrassa during its annual jazz festival!

Tip for the weekend - 15-17 March 2024:

  • 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: Spend a pleasant morning at Mercantic, in Sant Cugat del Vallès!

Easter tip: 16 places to visit in Catalonia

  • Discover the Marimurtra gardens, in Blanes
  • Fall in love with Tossa de Mar
  • Walk along the coastal path from S’Agaró to Sa Conca beach
  • Don’t miss Calella de Palafrugell, the Sant Sebastià lighthouse and the Cap Roig gardens
  • Enjoy the magnificent views of L’Estartit and the Medes Islands from Begur castle
  • Stroll through the beautiful streets of the city of Girona and taste the traditional “xuixos”
  • Discover Puigcerdà, in the middle of the Cerdanya valley, and take the cable car up to the Niu de l’Àliga, at an altitude of 2,536 metres, in the ski resort of La Molina
  • Get to know the Montgrony mountain range
  • Climb up to the sanctuary of Cabrera, in Osona
  • Discover Altafulla and Tarragona
  • Visit Sitges
  • Discover Montserrat and walk up to Sant Jeroni, an excellent viewpoint at an altitude of 1,236 metres
  • Discover the beautiful beaches of L’Ametlla de Mar, in southern Catalonia
  • Discover Reus, the capital of vermouth
  • Stroll through the beautiful village of Cotlliure, in French Catalonia
  • Go on an excursion to Puigsacalm

Tips for the weekend of the third term

Tip for the weekend - 12 -14 April 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Get to know our social networks!
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Arús Public Library!
  • Tip number 3: Visit the Fundació Palau to see works by Picasso in the pretty village of Caldes d’Estrac!
  • Tip number 4: Enjoy the concerts of the 36th. Cicle de Música de la UB!

 Tip for the weekend - 19-23 April 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Enjoy Sant Jordi’s Day!
  • Tip number 2: Put music in your Sant Jordi with the Sant Jordi Musical
  • Tip number 3: Have a look at the National Giant Gathering of Catalonia!

Tip for the weekend - 3-5 May 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Visit the world’s best public library in 2023!
  • Tip number 2: Visit the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) for free!
  • Tip number 3: Discover Sant Cugat, Barcelona’s neighbouring town on the other side of Tibidabo!
  • Tip number 4: Visit the Montseny natural park, a biosphere reserve!

Tip for the weekend - 17-19 May 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Experience the UPF Festa Major!
  • 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 night of Saturday 18 May!
  • Tip number 4: Be sure to taste the ‘orxata’!

Tip for the weekend - 31 May - 2 June 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Don’t miss the tradition of “L’ou com balla”, the dancing egg!
  • Tip number 2: Don’t miss the magnificent views from the terrace of the Museum of History of Catalonia!
  • Tip number 3: Discover or rediscover the Carretera de les Aigües and Sarrià by bike on World Bike Day!
  • Tip number 4: Some curiosities about Barcelona and its streets

Advice for weekends - 14-16 and 21-24 June 2024:

  • Tip number 1: Discover some of the beautiful passages of Eixample and Ciutat Vella
  • Tip number 2: Enjoy a pleasant walk along the coastal path between Altafulla and Tarragona!
  • Tip number 3: Discover the old botanical garden of Barcelona, in Montjuïc
  • Tip number 4: If you ever want to come back to Barcelona (we hope you do), be sure to drink water from the Canaletes fountain before you leave!
  • Tip number 5: And on the 23rd of June, celebrate the summer solstice and the ‘revetlla de Sant Joan’!

Language tandem programme

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, 340 language pairs and trios have been matched: 130 in the first term, 130 in the second term and 80 in the third term, based on applications made by 271 Catalan students and 387 international students.

By groups, many more undergraduate students (69%) than postgraduate students (24%) took part in the language tandem programme, while the remaining 7% were lecturers, administrative and service staff and alumni. By gender, 66% of applicants were women, 33.6% were men, and 0.4% were other. In terms of age range, the vast majority of participants (83%) were between 18 and 25 years old, while the remaining 17% were over 25 years old.

In terms of languages, a total of twenty different languages were requested or offered. In the case of Catalan students, 5.54% offered just Catalan, 83.76% offered both Catalan and Spanish, and 10.70% offered just Spanish. English was both the language most requested by Catalan students (present in 44% of applications) and the language most offered by international students (present in 70% of applications). In addition, other languages such as French, German, Italian and Chinese also had a notable presence during the three terms. Finally, among international students, 15.24% requested just Catalan, 23.51% requested both Catalan and Spanish, and the remaining 61.24% requested just Spanish.