Excellence and Internationalization

The UPF International Programs are a core instrument for the Internationalization of the university. Since 2003, UPF has specialized in the design and implementation of academic programs to fit the needs of international students that want to spend a semester or a full academic year at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and for the regular UPF students as well.

With a focus on academic excellence and interdisciplinarity, our programs build on the areas of expertise of the university faculty and provide a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of topics from multiple perspectives enhanced by the diversity of students coming from all over the world. 

All courses are instructed by regular UPF Faculty, and programs, academic initiatives, courses and syllabi are supervised, approved and monitored by an Academic Board formed by all UPF Deans, the Academic Director of the BaPIS and the Vice rector of International Relations.

The UPF International Programs have been recognized for meeting the Standards of Good Practice of the Forum on Education Abroad (recognition earned in 2016).

A wide range of quality learning opportunities

At the forefront of UPF International Programs are the Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) and the Barcelona International Summer School (BISS), both open to international students from all over the world and UPF regular students from any degree.

The Barcelona Program for Interdisciplinary Studies (BaPIS) constitutes the cornerstone of UPF’s strategy for internationalization and innovation. By convening students from different backgrounds, from UPF and other countries, the program offers a space of convergence between instructors and students to set up fruitful dialogue and communal learning. By breaking down the barriers between knowledge areas, it promotes an interdisciplinary approach and the effective cross-fertilization of ideas and initiatives. With its hands-on approach and combination of STEM disciplines, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences, BaPIS provides a unique environment for developing a crucial tool to rise to today’s challenges: CREATIVITY.

The Barcelona International Summer School (BISS) is a flagship program to advance the curriculum during the summer, with the added value of mobility. Structured in modules of different duration and intensity, which can be flexibly combined in periods ranging from one to four weeks, the BISS courses are an invitation to think and learn beyond and across disciplines, while approaching social and scientific challenges from content, methodological and practical perspectives. 

Students coming from an institution who has a study abroad partnership with UPF can also participate in the ESCI-UPF International Business Program, or take regular university courses with a concentration on Basic Biomedical Sciences or Information and Communication Technologies. Spanish language courses, academic internships and independent research projects are also available to complement the experience.