Basic student guide to survive in Barcelona

Arriving in a new city is a challenge for anyone. If you are a student and you come to study a university career, let us help you with information to facilitate the creation of a new life in Barcelona, ​​such as options for university accommodation, transportation, and paperwork. Learn the basics you need to survive in Barcelona and stay tuned while living and studying in your new city.

Residence or shared flat?

Depending on your budget or your ability to function alone, you can apply for a place in a university residence or find friends and rent a shared flat.

How to register?

Registering with the Register or Central Registry of Foreigners allows you to become a resident of Barcelona. Everyone, with or without a residence permit, has to register. To register, go to a Citizen Service Center or call 010.

How to open an account in the bank?

You need a passport or foreigner identification number (NIE) and a letter of acceptance from the university or research center, or any document that proves that you are studying or researching in a Catalan center.

What are the cards for traveling by public transport?

The most popular integrated transport cards for traveling by subway, bus, FGC, tram and Renfe:

• T-10: multi-person card that allows 10 trips in all operators of the Integrated Tariff System (STI).
• T-Month (monthly payment): It is personal and allows unlimited trips for 30 days in all STI operators (personal and non-transferable)
• T-Jove (young travel card): Children under 25 can use this card for unlimited trips for 90 consecutive days from the first.
• T-50/30: It is an individual transport card valid for 50 intermodal trips for 30 consecutive days from the first validation.

There is an alternative method, more physical but also cheaper: the bike. Bicing offers an annual subscription of € 50 to use as much as you want the bicycle to move around the city and pick it up or leave it at any point in its wide network of stations.

Where to learn Catalan? Although the Catalan language is not essential to move around the city, it is always a factor that can facilitate adaptation, Here are some places where they provide training:

• Consortium for Linguistic Normalization (CpNL)
• Intercat
• Parla.cat
• UPF Languages

Every big city has its risks and although there is no need to be paranoid, it is always good to be cautious. During your stay there are many things you can do to stay safe:

• You probably want practical information just in case you have problems. For example, enter the telephone number of your embassy or consulate in your country, or the numbers to cancel credit cards or to manage medical emergencies.
• If you use public transport, be sure to take care of your belongings.
• Some contact numbers if necessary (we hope it is not!)
  • Emergencies: 112
  • Firemen: 080
  • Medical emergencies: 061
  • Barcelona local police (Guardia Urbana): 092