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Welcome to ESADE
ESADEAvda. Pedralbes, 60-6208034 BarcelonaT (+34)932 802 995F (+34)934 952 [email protected]/mastermanagement
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Welcome to ESADE and to Barcelona
We hope your experience with us will meet (and hopefully surpass) your personal, academic and professional expectations.
This dossier includes information on the steps you should follow to complete the ESADE registration procedure, now that you have been admitted. You will also find helpful hints and advice on obtaining a Student Visa, should you need one, and tips on finding a flat or other accommodation in Barcelona.
We hope you find this information useful for preparing your future stay in Barcelona.
Enrolment Guidelines
Once the programme enrolment fee has been paid in full, the Registrar’s Office will send out all the information you will need for the next step in the process.
This information will include:
•UsernameandIDtoaccesstheIntranet•Courseoptionsandclasstimetable•Automaticenrolmentinallofthefirstsemester’sobligatorysubjectsatESADE
EnrolmentforothersubjectsintheprogrammewilltakeplaceduringthefirstfortnightinOctoberin a personal meeting with the programme’s Academic Director.
Registrar’s OfficeIfyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthisprocessyoucangetintouchwith:
Francesc [email protected]. (+34) 932 806 162
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Student VisaBEFORE ARRIVINGBecausevisarequirementsdifferforeachcountry,ESADErecommendsconsultingtheSpanishEm-bassyorConsulateinyourhomecountryconcerningtheprocessforobtainingaStudentVisa(VisadodeEstudiante).Youcancheckwww.mae.esforalistofSpanishEmbassiesandConsulates.This can be a lengthy and frustrating process so it is worth getting started as soon as possible.
EU citizens donotrequireavisa.AllyouneedisyournationalIDcard,wherethisexists.Warn-ing:BritishsubjectsneedtheirUKpassportstoenterSpainbecauseBritainisnotasignatoryto the Schengen Treaty. Note that Spanish authorities will deny entry to British citizens without apassportwhetherornottheyhappentohaveaResidenceCardissuedbyanEUMemberState(andthatincludesSpain).AccordingtoEUregulations,studentsfromEUcountrieswhoplanonbeinginSpainformorethan3monthsarerequiredtoapplyforanEUResidenceCard(Tarjeta de Régimen Comunitario)whentheyarriveinSpain.ThisIDisvalidfor5years.
Non-EU citizens shouldgotothenearestSpanishEmbassyorConsulateintheirhomecountrytoapply for a Student Visa (Visado de Estudiante).Youwillbeaskedforthefollowingdocuments:
•Passport•Passport-sizephotos•Proofoffinancialmeans•ProofofacceptancebyESADE•Medicalcertificate•Certificateofgoodconduct•Otherspecialinformationrequiredforcitizensofyourcountry
Thespecificrequirementschangefromcountrytocountry,e.g.thenumberofphotosrequired,theminimumamountrequiredforproofoffinancialmeans,theformofprovingfinancialmeans,etc.ForthisreasonyoushouldcontacttheSpanishEmbassyorConsulatebeforegoingthere,tofindoutexactlywhichdocumentsyouwillneedtotakewithyouwhenyougotoapplyfortheStudentVisa.
TheSpanishEmbassyorConsulateinyourhomecountrywilldecideonthedurationoftheStudentVisathattheywillgrantyou.Inmostcases,itisvalidfor3months.Ifyouplanonhavingfamilymembers(wife,husband,children)joinyouinSpainforanextendedperiodduringyourstudiesyoushouldapplyforaFamilyMembersofForeignStudentVisa(Tarjeta para Famil-iares de Estudiantes Extranjeros). This Visa should be applied for at the same time that you apply for your own Student Visa.
Important Points
•IfyouplantotraveltoandfromSpainduringtheperiodshownonyourStudentVisa,youshould apply for a multiple-entry visa instead of a single-entry visa.•Inthepast,somestudentshavearrivedinSpainonaTouristVisaandthenappliedfora
Student Visa once they arrived. The Spanish government has advised us that they will no longer issue Student Visas from Spain. This means that if you enter Spain on a Tourist VisaandthenapplyforaStudentVisayoumayberequiredtoreturntoyourhomecountry to apply for the Student Visa.
•Ifyouarelivingoutsideyour home country when you apply for the Student Visa to come to Spain,theSpanishEmbassyorConsulateinthecountrywhereyouarecurrentlyresidingmayrequireyoutoreturntoyourhomecountrytoapplyfortheStudentVisa.YoushouldnotassumethatyouwillbeabletoobtainaStudentVisafromaSpanishEmbassyorConsulateoutsideyourhomecountry.CheckwiththemtomakesurethatyouwillbeabletoobtaintheStudentVisa.•Pleasenotethatthisisthefirststepinobtainingyourlegalimmigrationstatusfor
your one-year stay in Barcelona. You will need to complete the process upon arrival in Barcelona. The student visa allows you entry into Spain as a student, and allows you to applyfortheStudentResidenceCard(Tarjeta de Estancia). This visa does not allow you to stay in Spain for the duration of the programme. Once you arrive, you should begintheprocessforyourStudentResidenceCardatonce.
AFTER ARRIVINGStudents from EU countries whowillbeinSpainformorethan3monthsarerequiredtoobtainanEUResidenceCard(Tarjeta de Régimen Comunitario) when they arrive in Spain.
Students from non-EU countries arerequiredbySpanishLawtoapplyforaStudentResidenceCard(Tarjeta de Estancia) if they intend being here longer than the time shown on their Student Visa.ApplicationsforthisStudentResidenceCardshouldbesubmittedonemonthpriortotheexpiry date of the original Student Visa. Once obtained, it is usually valid for one year and can be renewedonce.WithavalidStudentResidenceCard(Tarjeta de Estancia), students may exit and re-enterSpainasmanytimesasrequired.
Essential condition
•PossessaD-classStudentVisaforstaysofmorethan3months.Ifyoudonothavethisdocument,youwillnotbeabletomakeanyapplicationstothe Barcelona Civil Government Branch Office (Barcelona Subdelegación del Gobierno Civil).
Other requirements
•DemonstratethatyouhavesufficienteconomicresourcestofinanceyourstayinBarcelona.Todosoyouarerequiredtoincludeproofoffinancialmeans.Thisshouldbeanotariseddocumentfromabankguaranteeingthatperiodictransfersarereceivedorthatyouhaveabankaccountwiththeminimumbalancerequired.Lastyearthisamountwas approximately €4,200. The original documents that were used to obtain the Student VisacanbeusedhereiftheyareinSpanish.Ifthecandidatereceivesagrant,thegrantcertificate should be presented.•PresentanofficialletterstatingthatyouareastudentatESADEandhowlongyouwillbe
here. You should contact the Registrar’s Office in Building 1 for this letter, allowing five days for processing.•CompletetheApplicationforAuthorisationofStudyStay(Solicitud de Autorización de
Estancia por Estudios) forms, which you can download from www.mir.es –Informaciónsobre trámites - Extranjeros – Modelos de Solicitud – Tarjeta de Estancia. Remember toincludeESADE’sVATnumber(CIF):G-59716761.•Currentoriginalandphotocopyofyourpassport,validforover6months•Present4passport-sizephotos
All documents not in Spanish should be translated and notarised.Forfurtherinformation,consulttheMinisteriodelInteriorwebsiteatwww.mir.es (Extranjeros – Régimen General)
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Legal Advice StudentswhoneedadviceinrelationtolegalmatterscancontactSENSEServiciosIntegralesde Asistencia, a legal firm specialising in processing permits. Students will have to pay the cost of these services themselves, which are around €120 + VAT.
SENSE Servicios Integrales de Asistencia
Francisco Pires Pellicer
Casanova, 46 | Entresuelo, 2ª | 08011 Barcelona
T (+34) 933 233 114 | F (+34) 934 512 819
Email: [email protected]
Clínica AsepeyoAnglí, 38-40 | 08017 BarcelonaT (+34) 934 446 400
Clínica Sant HonoratTibidabo, 20 | 08022 BarcelonaT (+34) 932 127 000
CONFIDE*For insurance coverage in general you can also contactCONFIDE.ThisInsuranceBrokerwillhelp you to decide what to insure and which company will give you the best policy. They cover home, auto and health insurance as well as other types of coverage.Aribau, 185, entresuelo | 08021 BarcelonaT (+34) 933 065 353 | F (+34) 933 065 [email protected] person:PilarSoldevila
SANITASPg. de Gràcia 87, 8th Floor | 08008 BarcelonaT (+34) 902 102 400 | www.sanitas.es
SANITAS OpCIóBalmes, 243 | 08006 BarcelonaMobile: 646 480 395Tel. (+34) 934 153 [email protected] Contact person:MariCarmeGrau
InsuranceAllinternationalstudentsarerequiredtohavevalidmedicalinsurancecoveragefortheentiretime they are in Spain. As terms differ according to your country of origin, ESADE recommends that you approach your insurance company for full information before coming to Spain.
Students from EU countries
Ifyouarecoveredbyyourcountry’snationalinsurancescheme,youshouldrequestanE111forminyour home country. This will entitle you to receive free medical assistance from the Spanish public healthsystem.Ifyouarecoveredbyprivateinsurance,consultyourinsurancecompanytoseeifyourequireadditionalinsuranceformedicalcarewhileinSpain.Pleasemakesureyouhavefullinformation concerning the procedure to follow should you need medical attention while in Spain.
Students from Non-EU countries
IfyouhavearrangedprivateinsurancetocovermedialcareinSpain,pleaseconsultyourinsurancecompany about the specific details and exact procedure to follow should you need medical attention while in Spain.
All students
IfyouhavenotarrangedinsurancebeforecomingtoBarcelona,orprefertodealwithaSpanishinsurancecompany,hereisinformationonsomeInsuranceCompanies:
* These are private insurance companies, and as such are completely independent of ESADE.
Accident Insurance
All ESADE students are covered by a private insurance scheme against accidents that may occur onESADEpremises.Intheeventofanaccidentyoucangotothefollowingcentres:
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LivinginBarcelonaPRAcTIcAl GuIdE GENErAL INFOrMATION ABOUT BArCELONA
GeographyBarcelonaisacoastalcitywithoverfourkilometresofurbanbeachfrontandlargeareasofnearbyforests.Thecity’slocationmakesittheidealdeparturepointfromwhichtodiscovernewlandscapesandenjoynaturalenvironments.Withinaradiusofalittleover200kilometres,youwill find charming towns and resorts offering a wealth of cultural, historic and recreational attrac-tionssuchasskiresortsormagnificentbeaches.
ClimateBarcelona’sMediterraneanlocationmeansitenjoysawarmandwelcomingyear-roundclimate.Itsfivekilometresofbeachfrontofferallthelatestamenities,includinganOlympicmarina,andare used by local inhabitants to practise water sports allthroughout the year round. With sun-shineontheshoresoftheMediterraneanpracticallyguaranteed,dininginopen-airrestaurantsorstoppingoffforadrinkatoneofthecity’smanypavementcafésisalwaysanoption.
People & LanguageBarcelonaisthecapitalofCatalonia.ThepeopleofBarcelonaspeakCatalan,theirownlanguage,andSpanish.StreetnamesandmanyroadandtransportsignsareinCatalan.Manyrestaurantshavemenusinanumberoflanguages.Catalansarewelcomingandfriendly,andwillhelpyoufindyourwayaround.Manyofthecity’sinhabitantsalsospeakEnglishandFrench.
CustomsTheworkingdayusuallybeginsbetween8amand9amandpeoplebreakforlunchat2pm.Intheafternoon,businessesopenfrom4pmto6or7pm.ItisworthmentioningthattheCatalanshaveareputationforbeingahard-workingandthriftypeople,incomparisonwiththerestofSpain.Shops have long opening hours, from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4.30 to 8 or 8.30 pm. However, in the city centre, many shops stay open at lunchtime. The main shopping centres are open till 10 pm.
PricesTogiveyouaroughideaofprices,acoffeecostsaround€1.10,alunchmenubetween€8and€15andaMarlboropacketcosts€2.90.
WHERE TO lIVEOne of the great advantages of the city’s relatively compact size is that it is easy to get around. Thepublictransportsystemworkswellandtaxisarefairlycheap.However,ESADEisat‘thetopend’ of the city, so it’s important to bear in mind your transport options for getting to school. Here isabriefandsubjectivedescriptionofthemainareasofthecitytohelpyouchoosewheretolive.HINT: get hold of a city map to find the places below.
Barri Gòtic, El raval & La riberaThisistheoldtownareaaroundLaRamblaandViaLaietana.Thisisallthatmosttouristsseewhen they visit Barcelona and as a result it’s overpriced, bustling and full of rip-offs. The accom-
modationhereisold,verynoisyandoftenlacksmodernfacilities.Someareasarebecomingtrendy, and may be overpriced. Also, many of the areas attract immigrants and tend to have a higher crime rate than other parts of the city, and as a result can be unsafe at night. Verdict: Ifyou’reinterestedinlivingorvisitingthisarea,checkwithaBarcelonanativetoseewhichstreets are safe to live in.
BarcelonetaThisisthebitthatjutsoutintotheseadownbytheport.Itwasreclaimedfromtheseaattheendofthenineteenthcenturyandisprettyrundown.Popularforitsfishrestaurants,itisbusyduringthesummeraseveryoneheadsforthenearestbeach.Itisalonghaulacrosstowntotheschool.Verdict: Give it a miss.
EixampleThis is the large 19thCenturyareaofgrid-ironstreetsmakingupmostofthecitycentre.Mostofthe streets and avenues are one-way (woe betide you if you try driving the wrong way). However, youwillsoongetusedtoit.Thebusnetworkzigzagsitswayacrosstheareaso,transport-wise,this is a plus. Flats often tend to be large with several bedrooms. Some areas and streets are more expensive than others, so it is difficult to generalise. Verdict: Very popular with ESADE students, butcheckoutthefacilitiesandpublictransportinthestreetyouhaveinmind.
GràciaThisisoneoftheoldvillagesthatwereoriginallyoutsidethecitywalls.Ithasmanagedtopreserveitssmallsquares,narrowstreetsandlocalmarkets.Itisverypopularwithbothstudentsandlocalsandthereisalotofrenovationandbuildingworkgoingonatthemoment.Therearegoodtransportlinkstoschool.Verdict:Verypopularwiththosewholiketoliveinabustlinglocalcommunity.
SarriàAn old neighbourhood located closer to ESADE in the north of the city, Sarrià has become a haven forthemiddleclassesfleeingthenoiseandcrowdsofthecitycentre.Thequalityandsizeofaccommodationhereisfairlygoodbylocalstandards,butpricy.Transportlinksaregoodbothtoschoolandintothecitycentre.Verdict:Populararea,butabitexpensive.
Les CortsA small neighbourhood that was one of the original villages built around a cloth factory outside the citywalls,LesCortsisfairlyquietandresidentialwiththenotableexceptionoftheareawithinastone’sthrowoftheBarcelonaFCfootballstadium.ItisclosetoESADEandtheshopsonDiago-nal,aswellastransportlinkstotherestofthecity.Verdict:Quietandresidential,butwelllocatedfor getting around town..
Port OlímpicThisisthemodernredevelopmentofthedocklandareathatstartedwiththe1992OlympicGamesinBarcelona.Muchofitismodernandfunctionalbutitlacksatmosphereandlocalfacilities.RedevelopmentprojectsfocusedonthispartofthecityaspartoftheUniversalForumofCultures-Barcelona2004.Pricestendtobehigherthaninotherpartsofthecityandtransportlinksarepoor.Verdict:Modernurbandevelopmentsbutpoorlyservedbypublictransport.
PedralbesThis is the residential area around ESADE, but it is also the city’s most expensive and exclusive neighbourhood.Pricesherearesky-high,althoughstudentsoftengetroundthisbysharinglargeflats,andoneofthebenefitsofthisisthattheschooliswithineasywalkingdistance.Verdict:Niceifyoucangetit,butratherquietandresidential.
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FINdING A PlAcE TO lIVEForthoseofyouwhodonotknowyourwayaroundBarcelona,therearehundredsofguidebooksonthecity’sarchitecture,famouslandmarksandtrendyplacestovisit.However,thedifferencebetweenspendingtheweekendandactuallylivinghereforayearisthedifferencebetweentestdriving a Ferrari and owning one.
So,inthissection,wewanttoshareourexperienceandknowledgeonlivinginthisuniquecity.Finding a place to live where you feel comfortable, secure and happy is probably the most impor-tantdecisionthatyouwillmakehere,andwewilldowhatwecantohelpyou.Thereareseveraltemporary housing options available to you when you first get to Barcelona.
Student Halls of residence
ResidènciaUniversitàriaSarriàYoucanchecktheirdailyfeesontheirweb-site.Itisimportanttomakeyourreservationas soon as possible and identify yourself as astudentontheESADEMScProgrammesinManagement.
Residència Universitària SarriàEsports,1-3|08017BarcelonaT(+34932065540)|F(+34)932040852Email:[email protected]:CristinaToro
Hotels
ESADE has special agreements with the fol-lowing hotels in Barcelona, close to ESADE. Note:Totakeadvantageofthesereduceddaily rates, reservations have to be made through ESADE’s travel agency: Note: Prices,wherequoted,arefor2007.Un-less otherwise stated, prices are per person andincluderoomandbuffetbreakfast.
American Express Viajes, SAUInplantESADE|08034BarcelonaTel. (+34) 932 806 162email:[email protected]
Hotel Husa Arenas ****CapitàArenas,20|08034Barcelonawww.husa.esESADE’s rate: €116+VAT
Hotel Mikado ***Pg.Bonanova,58|08017BarcelonaTel: (+34) 932 114 166www.hoteles-catalonia.com/es/fichas/urbana.php?c_hotel=10&idioma_tmp=0ESADE’s rate: €106+VAT
Hotel Abba Garden ****Santa Rosa, 33BesideHospitalSantJoandeDéuTel:(+34)935035454email:[email protected]’srate:€106.50+VAT
Hotel Sansi pedralbes ****AvdaPearson1-3|08034BarcelonaTel: (+34) 932 063 880 www.sansihotels.comESADE’s rate: €140+VAT
Hotel AC Victoria Suites ***Avda.Pedralbes,16|08034BarcelonaTel: 34 932 069 900www.victoriabcn.comEsade’srate:€150+VAT
Long Term Accommodation
Themostimportantpieceofadviceisnot‘how’,but‘when’.Ifpossible,cometoBarcelonabeforeAugust,evenifit’sjusttospendaweeklookingforaflat.InAugust,almosteveryonegoesonholiday,everythingisclosed,andalltheforeignstudentsturnuplookingforaccommodation.So,ifyoucan,startyoursearchearly.Ifthisisn’tpossible,thenbepreparedforthefactthatthoseagen-cies that are open are capitalising on this and there is little incentive to offer you a personalised service.Pricesthereforetendtoriseatthistimeofyear.
•Lookatthetransportoptionsintheneighbourhoodaroundtheflat,becauseifyoudon’thave a car, it’s important to be near an underground station or on a bus line that offers easy access to ESADE.•Manyflatscomefurnished,sothereshouldbenoneedtoshipfurnitureorbuyanyonce
you get here.•Agoodheatingsystemisalsonicetohave,becausealthoughthisisSpainandthesun’salwaysshining,itcangetquitecoldandwetduringthewinter.•Remembertochecktheplumbingandwhetherkitchenappliancesareincludedintherental(peopleoftenbuytheirownandtakethemwhentheyleave).•Aninventoryoftheflat’scontentsisoftenincludedinthecontract.Makesurethe
inventory matches what is actually in the flat, or you may find yourself paying for something that you never had.•Becarefulaboutrentingaflatwithnogas,waterandelectricityconnections,ashookinguptheseutilitiesmaytakeweeksandcanbeexpensive.•OpenabankaccountinSpain.Makesureyouhavesufficientfundsavailabletocover
immediate costs.•Getamobilephone.•Estimateyourmaximumtotalbudget.•Don’tbeafraidtobeatdownyourprospectivelandlordonprice.•Identifytheareaswhereyou’dliketolive.Takealookaroundduringthedayandatnight.Lookforlocaladverts.•Contactahousingagency.•Lookthrough‘Anuntis’orotherlocalnewspapersonFridaysforrentaladverts.Checkout
suggested websites.•Preparereferencessuchaswrittenstatementsfrompreviousemployersorlandlords,payslips,bankbalancesoryourletterofacceptancefromESADE.•Looksmartandpresentablewhenyoumeetestateagentsorlandlordsandbepolite.ESADEiswellknownandrespectedinBarcelona,somentionitacoupleoftimes!
Usefulhousinglinks:www.loquo.com www.pisocompartido.com www.provivienda.org www.oh-barcelona.com www.livingbarcelona.com
Sant Gervasi & El PutxetThese are neighbouring residential areas in the north of town above Diagonal and between Sarrià and Gràcia. They are popular areas for students to live in: lots of flats with good facilities and transportlinks.Itispossibletowalktoschoolbutmostpreferthequickbusride.Verdict:Populararea with students and good public transport.
Eurostars Anglí ****Anglí60|08017BarcelonaTel: (+34) 932 069 944www.eurostarshotels.com/es/hoteles-en-espana-barcelona-eurostars-angli.htmlEsade’srate:€125+VAT
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rental Agencies
Pricesstartataround€250perpersonpermonthinsharedflats.Pricesvarydependingontheneighbourhood, building, flat, furnishings and size of the bedroom that you will be renting. Agencies chargeafeefortheirservices(approximately10%oftheannualrent)andusuallyrequireadeposit(approximately one month’s rent if unfurnished and two month’s rent if furnished). The deposit is a guarantee against possible damage to the flat and its contents, and helps cover the landlord against possiblenon-paymentoftheutilitybills.Thisdepositwillbereturnedwhenthekeysarehandedbackpriortomovingout.Flatsarerentedforfullmonthsonly.Rentispayableonthe1st of each month. Students who leave their rooms before the end of their contract may forfeit their deposit.
Itisstronglyrecommendedthatyouchecktheflatoutbeforesigningacontract.Havingsaidthat,someoftherentalagencies,ifrequested,willsendyougeneralinformationaboutthehousingservicestheyofferandareservationform.Ifyouwanttomakeuseofthisoptionyouwillhavetosignandreturntheform.Whentherentalagencyreceivesyourform,theywillletyouknowwhataccommodationisavailable.Inordertoconfirmyourreservation,youwillhavetotransfertheamount payable in advance. The agency will confirm your reservation upon receipt of payment, and send you more detailed information on your accommodation and how to get to their office onceyougettoBarcelona.Pleasenotethatifyouarenotsatisfiedwiththeflatorroomwhenyouarrive, the agency will only offer you alternative accommodation if this is available. Demand ex-ceeds supply, so it is not unusual for the agency to say that no other accommodation is available.
Whenthetimecomestosignthecontract,besuretoreadtheentiredocumentcarefully.Ifyouarerentingafurnishedflatthecontractshouldlistthecontentsoftheflatanditscondition.Ifyoudonotunderstandsomethinginthedocumentyouarebeingaskedtosign,donotsignituntilyoucanseekadvice.Asarule,someonefromtheagencywilltakeyoutotheflat,showyouhowtheappliancesintheflatwork(washingmachine,etc.)andgiveyouthekeys.Youshouldgivethe agency advance notice of your exact date and time of arrival in order to ensure that the ap-propriatearrangementsaremadeintime.Ifyouhaveproblemswiththeflatduringyourstayyoushould contact the agency immediately.
IfyouwanttoextendyourstaybeyondyourtermatESADE,youshouldnotifyyourrentalagencyat least one month in advance. Extensions depend largely on availability.
The following agencies specialise in arranging accommodation on a short-term basis from one month to one year. These agencies charge a fee for their services.
Rent a BedroomAv. Príncep d’Astúries, 52 | 08012 Barcelona Tel. (+34) 932 172 583 Fax (+34) 934 160 [email protected] www.rentabedroom.com Monday to Friday: 9.00 am - 2.00 pm and 4.00pm-7.00pmContact person:NagoreVallejo(Englishspoken)You will find all the information about how to bookyourroomontheirwebsite.RentABed-room can be reached by
MetroLine3(Greenline)PlaçaLessepsSta-tion,orbybus22,24,25,27,28,31,32&87.
Building UrbanaAv. Josep Tarradellas, 116, Principal, 2ª08029 BarcelonaTel. (+34) 934 390 998 or (+34) 934 305 566Fax (+34) 934 395 [email protected] | www.buildingurbana.com Monday to Thursday: 9.00 am - 1.30 pm and 3.30pm-7.00pmContact person:MaríaRosaMartínezLlosBuildingUrbanaislocatedonAv.Josep
Tarradellas,notfarfromPlaçaFrancescMacià,andyoucangetthereeitherbybusorunderground.Youcantakebuses7,15,27,41,59or66,andbyundergroundyoucantakeLine5(Blueline)andgetoffateitherHospitalClínicorEntença.
AltingAv. Diagonal, 477 | 08036 BarcelonaTel. (+34) 935 054 040Fax (+34) 934 308 502Customer service: 902 130 [email protected] [email protected] | www.alting.com
AltiroBertran, 144, Ground Floor (bajos)08023 BarcelonaTel. (+34) 932 530 427 Fax (+34) 932 530 [email protected] | www.altiro2000.com Monday to Friday:10.00 am - 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm - 8.00 pmContact person: KatiaPristinandAinhoaModolellAltiro can be reached on the Ferrocarrils Catalans(TibidaboStation),MetroLine3(Greenline),VallcarcaStation,andbybus17,22or75.
b at BDiputació, 185, 3º, 1ª | 08011 BarcelonaMobiles: 667 341 090 / 649 259 [email protected] Contact person: Eduard Figueras
Habitatge JoveTel. (+34) 934 848 392www.habitatgejove.com A government-run agency supporting students lookingforaccommodation.
Sh BarcelonaCarrer Casanova, 99, Ground Floor (bajos)08011 BarcelonaTel. (+34) 934 521 347 Fax (+34) 934 547 926Mobile: 653 760 [email protected] www.shbarcelona.com Contact person: Elena Villanueva
La Bolsa de AlquileresCol·legi d’Administradors de FinquesMallorca, 214 | 08008 BarcelonaTel. (+34) 934 510 202Fax (+34) 934 513 735http://www.coleadministradors.com/cast/ borsalloguers.asp A service offered by an official association of estate agents where you can sign up and get a printout of accommodation that meet your needs.
Housing Costs in Barcelona
PropertypricesinBarcelonahavebeenmovinginmysteriouswaysrecently.Therewasaboominproperty renovations and conversions as much of Europe scrambled to invest in Spanish property as awayofgettingridof‘hotcash’beforetheintroductionoftheEuro.Asaresult,buyingpropertyhasbecome extremely expensive or lucrative, depending on which side of the fence you are on.
As a result, rental properties have dried up given that people prefer to leave flats empty in order to sell them rather than rent them out. Rental contracts are binding on landlords for five years with annualrentalincreasesofficiallyindexed.Asaresult,therearemajordisincentivesforownerstotiethemselves to such an arrangement at a time when property prices are soaring. Bed-sit are uncom-mon.Thenormisforlargefamilyflatstooccupyawholefloor,hencetheSpanishword‘piso’mean-ingboth‘floor’and‘flat’.Theseareavailablebutsometimeswithsmallsecondrooms,whichareonlygoodforstorage,useasastudy,orasaguestbedroom.Penthouseflatsarealsopopularsincetheyusuallycomewithlargeterraces.Thereisoftenapremiumonflatslikethis.Itisimportanttobeaware that these flats can get very cold in winter and very hot in summer given Spain’s woefully in-
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Utilities: Getting yourself connected
Rentingaflatwithnoutilitiesisnotrecommended,asitcantakeseveralweekstogetthemhookedup. However, sometimes there is no alternative. Some landlords are willing to include a set amount in therenttocoverutilities;othersarewillingtomakeprivatearrangementsforpaymentseachmonth.Agoodsolutionistoaskforthenameonthebilltobetransferredovertoyouratherthanopeningatotallynewaccount.Itisbesttogetyourlandlordtoaccompanyyouifyouoptforthisservice.The standard of services provided by Spanish utility companies still tends to be poor by Northern European standards despites efforts to improve them. To pay for services, it is normal practice to giveyourbankdetailstotheservicecompanysotheycanwithdrawtheamountsdueeachmonthbydirectdebit.Theywillsendyouabillandyouhaveafixedamountoftimetoquerytheamountbeforetheywithdrawitfromyouraccount.Checkthepaymentmethodscarefullyforeachservice.
The following information on useful telephone numbers and addresses has been gleaned from students:
ElectricityFECSATel. (+34) 902 507 750 | www.fecsa.es Thereisnoneedtogotothelocaloffice,justmakeaphonecalltofindoutwhichlocalsup-plier covers your area.
GasGas NaturalAv. Portal de l’ÀngelTel. (+34) 900 710 720 | www.gasnatural.com Again, it is not necessary to go to the local of-fice. Simply call the above number for informa-tion.Iftheservicehasbeencancelledand/orthe installation is old, Gas Natural may want to checktheequipmentinordertomakesureitmeets present safety standards.
WaterAGBAr (Aigües de Barcelona)C. Diputació, 355 (corner of Passeig de Sant Joan)Tel. (+34) 900 710 710www.aiguesdebarcelona.com Callthenumberabovetofindouttheaddressof your nearest office. You will have to go to the office to sign a service contract. To get con-nected, you will need:
•ID,passportorotherofficialID•Fulladdress•Rentalcontract•Bankaccountdetails
Telephone, Internet, ADSL, etc.To get your own fixed line service in your flat, there are various options available in
whatisnowaderegulatedmarket.Telefónicawas formerly a State monopoly but is now a private company competing with several others.Itdoeshoweverhavetheadvantageofeffectively controlling much of the telecom-municationsinfrastructure,andthatcanmakea big difference. You will need a fixed line if youwanttohaveADSLathome.Itisdifficultto provide accurate information on this, as service providers are always trying to get the edge on their competitors. Some students have mentionedthatgettingtheirlinesinstalledtookthem much longer than they had anticipated.
ADSLTelefónicaisbyfarandawaythemostpopu-larADSLproviderinSpain,notleastbecauseithasthelargestnetworkandalongtrackrecord in the industry. There are other com-panies, including Ya.com, Terra, for those who wanttocheckoutthecompetition.Althoughthere are always deals out there offering free installationandafreerouter,thequalityoftheequipmentsuppliedcanvarywidely.SomecompaniesboastblazinglyfastADSLspeedsin their advertising but these claims should be takenwithaverylargepinchofsalt.Unlessyou are going to spend your time playing “Doom”onthenetwork(yourworkloadshouldrule that out), having a system that functions 24/365ismoreimportantthansurfingatWarpFactor7.Notethatsomeproviderstake3weeksand more to set it all up and there are plenty oftruehorrorstoriesontheSpanishInternetSurfer’sAssociation‘ssite(Asociaciónde
adequatebuildinginsulationstandards.Makesurethatanypenthouseflatsyouviewhaveadequateheatingandventilation.Youmightalsocheckthatthewatersupplyisonthemains.Olderpropertiessometimeshaverooftanks(oftenmadefromasbestos-basedmaterials)thatarebothtrouble-proneand potential health hazards. The gas supply is another point to watch out for. Some older proper-ties only have bottled butane gas cylinders, which are an enormous inconvenience. Butane gas heaters are smelly, a potential health hazard, and produce a great deal of condensation.
Sharing a flat is also very popular if you are moving to Barcelona on your own. Typically, all oc-cupants have to sign the lease with the landlord at the same time and each has to pay a deposit. Somelandlordsdonotequatethenumberofroomswiththenumberofpeoplethattheywillallowtosharetheflat.Checkthisoutcarefullybeforecommittingyourself.
So, typical prices at the moment are:
Size Cheap Average Expensive
1 Bedroom flat 600 800 1200
Shared per person 250 450 600
Unfurnishedflatsareincreasinglyavailableforrent,butthepricedifferenceisnotsignificant.
Additional Expenses
A deposit of two months’ rent is payable to the landlord on signing a contract for a furnished flat, or one month’s rent for an unfurnished flat. Overseas students have often complained that they havebeenaskedformorethantheseamounts.Itisadvisablenottopaymoreandtoseekadviceifyouareaskedformoremoney.Thisdepositiskepttocoverpossibledamagetothepropertyandis refundable at the end of the contract.
“Honorarios” are fees payable to agencies that help you to find a place to live. This is typically 10% of the annual rent and is payable by the tenant. Additional charges exist such as registering thecontract,governmentfeesandcontractfees.Someagenciesincludealloftheseintheirfee.Itiswisetoaskfordetailsastotheexactpaymentsrequiredwhenyoustartyourenquiries.Gener-ally, the landlord is responsible for paying the ground rent and building maintenance charges but this should still be specified in the contract. Any structural damage to the building or flat is the landlord’s responsibility.
rental Contracts
Pro-formacontractsareavailablefromgovernmentinstitutionsandthesearenormallyused.They should specify the following:
•Thetotalamounttobepaidinrenteachmonthandanyadditionalpaymentsincluded•Acompleteinventoryanddescriptionoftheflat’scontents•Annualrentalincreasetobepaidaccordingtotheofficialindex•Amountofmoneytobepaidinadvanceandwhatthiswillbeusedfor•Whichservicesarepaidforbythetenantandwhicharepaidbythelandlord•Facilitiesandamenitiesthatthetenantisentitledtouse,suchasparkingspaces,
swimming pool, storage rooms, etc.
Itisagoodideatogetathirdpartytocheckcontractsbeforesigning.
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Single - Sharing Flat Euros Month Euros Year
Lower range Upper range Lower range Upper range
Housing 250 500 3000 7200
Utilities 80 150 960 1800
Lunch ESADE 180 2160
Groceries 120 180 1440 2160
Public Transport 20 40 240 480
Misc. 60 100 720 1200
Total 710 1250 8520 15000
Additional Expenses
Sports 30 50 360 600
Entertainment * * * *
Total 740 1300 8880 15600 * Depends on individual
Money and Banks
Using the Euro
Ofcourse,onceyougettoBarcelona,youwillwanttoopenabankaccountanddrawyourmoneydirectly from it (see below). But until then, you still face the conundrum of how to get money.
TheeasiestandcheapestwayisthroughAutomaticTellerMachines(ATMsorCashMachines)whichcanbefoundthroughoutthecity.However,besuretocheckwithyourbankathomebe-foreleavingtomakesurethatyourcardiscompatiblewiththeSpanishsystem.Somemachinesdon’tacceptPINnumbersofmorethan4digits,forexample,andthekeypadsdon’thaveletterson them: so learn your numeric code before coming.
Asalways,travellers’chequesareasaferoptionthancash.Thesecanbereplacediflostorsto-len(unfortunately,pick-pocketingiscommoninthebusytouristareasofthecity),andtheycanbecashedatmostbanksandcurrencyexchangeoffices.Rememberthatyouwillneedtoshowyourpassportwhenyoucashtravellers’cheques.IfyoubringAmericanExpresstravellers’cheques,cashthemattheAmericanExpressofficetosaveoncommissions.(Pg.deGràcia,101,entranceonC.RossellóandanotherbranchatLaRambladelsCaputxins,74).
Useyourcredit/debitcardtogetthebestexchangerateswhenshoppingatbetterestablish-ments,includingwhenpayingforhotelsandmeals.MasterCardandVisaareacceptedalmosteverywhere, and American Express runs a close second on usability. Note that foreign currency exchange booths in the centre of Barcelona may charge high commissions as well as giving a poor exchange rate.
Opening a Bank Account
OpeningabankaccountinSpainissimple.Youwillneedtoshowyourpassporttoopentheaccountandtocarryouttransactionsbyteller.ItisagoodideatocheckwithyourownbankaboutthepossibilityofopeninganaccountwithacorrespondingbankinBarcelona.ManyforeignbankshavelocalbranchesinBarcelona,suchasBarclays,Citibank,BNP,DeutscheBank,etc.OnethingtonoteisthatbankinghoursinSpainareextremelyinconvenient.Openinghoursarefrom8.30amto2.00pmMondaytoFridayduringthesummer.Schedulesvaryduringthe rest of the year.
Estimated Living Expenses
The following table has been put together based on recommendations from current ESADE students regardingactualcost-of-livingandassociatedexpenses.Pleaserememberthatthesefiguresareap-proximate, and while some students will find that they can spend less, others will find that they can justaseasilyspendmuchmore:soremembertobudgetaccordingtoyourlifestyleexpectations.
Single - Own Flat Euros Month Euros Year
Lower range Upper range Lower range Upper range
Housing 600 1200 7200 14400
Utilities 150 200 1800 2400
Lunch ESADE 180 2160
Groceries 130 200 1560 2400
Public Transport 20 40 240 480
Misc. 60 100 720 1200
Total 1140 1920 13680 23040
Additional Expenses
Sports 30 50 360 600
Entertainment * * * *
Total 1170 1970 14040 23640 * Depends on individual
Internautas- http://www.internautas.org) revealingjusthowbaditcanget.TheAssocia-tion’s 2006 Annual Report (available on the web-site)putsTelefónicaaheadofthefieldintermsofactualspeedandservicereliability.Inanycase,bearinmindtheLatinmotto-caveatemptor(letthe buyer beware) before reaching a decision. Internetandemailarebecomingvitaltoolsforstudent collaboration and handing in assign-mentssothereislittleincentiveintakingrisks.
Depending on where you live, there is a cable Internetprovider,Ono,whichalsooffershigh-speedInternetpacks,cabletelevision,and telephone service at relatively good prices. While cableInternetavoidstheneedforafixedlinetelephone, the service is only available in very fewareas.Moreover,thejuryisstilloutonwhether cable has much of a future in Barcelona, giventhestiffcompetitionfromADSL.
Mobile TelephonesInthesamewayaswithfixedlineservices,thepace of change and the level of competition in mobilephonesmakeitdifficulttosayanythingapart from shop around once you get here. All the main European operators are present in Spain with both pay-as-you-go and contract
services. A common feature among student experiences though seems to be the reluctance to give foreigners contracts as opposed to an immediate pay-as-you-go service. Some students arequitehappywiththisserviceaslongastheycan call abroad. However, those who get them-selvesonADSL(broadband)maychoosetosavethemselvesafortuneoncallshomewithSkype(htto://www.skype.com) or similar voice-over-IPservices.Signingupfortheserviceisfree,asare calls if they are made computer-to-computer.
Providers
Telefónica: http://www.telefonica.es Ya: http;//www.ya.com Wanadoo: http://www.adsl-wanadoo.comTerra: http://www.terra.es Ono: http://www.ono.esJazztel: http//www.jazztel.com Orange: http://www.orange.es
Mobile / cell phones
Movistar: www.movistar.com Vodafone: www.vodafone.es Orange: www.orange.esYoigo: www.yoigo.com
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Itisveryimportanttochangeyouraccountfromnon-residenttoresidentstatusassoonasyoureceiveyourResidenceCard.Notonlywillyousaveonservicecharges,butyouwillalsosaveyourself considerable inconvenience when you receive a money transfer.
ESADEhasitsownbranchofCajaMadrid(aSpanishbank)oncampus,whichisahandyoptionfor students.
Direct Debit: Your New Way of BankingIfyouarenotusedtoalmostallofyourmonthlybillsbeingdirectdebitedfromyouraccount,startgettingusedtoit:becauseinordertosetupyourutilities,signupforInternetservices,joinagymorpayforanyotherrecurringexpense,youwillfindthatyouhavetogiveyourbankaccountnumber.
Direct debit, or domiciliaciones as it is called in Spanish, is easy to arrange. You need to fill out theformsatyourbank,instructingthemtopaycertaincreditors.Informyourcreditorsofyourbankdetails.Thebankwilladviseyouoftheamounttheyhavepaidonyourbehalfandtowhom.AlsobeawarethatservicechargesareverycommoninSpanishbanksforalmosteverytransac-tion.Thesechargesvaryfrombanktobank,soyoushouldinquireastothechargesatyourbank,andcheckyourstatementscarefully.
International Funds Transfers.Transferring funds to Spain from another country is simple to do. However,itisimportanttohavethebankcodeinformationincludingtheSWIFTcodeforbothbanksinordertomakethetransactioneasier.
Alwaysbesuretoaskaboutthefeesinvolvedonbothsidesofthetransaction(theoriginatingforeignbankandthereceivingSpanishbank),especiallywhenconvertingcurrencies.Students have sometimes been surprised by the fact that even though they paid the transaction fees intheirhomecountry,theyhadtopayadditionalfeesfortheSpanishbanktoreceivethetransfer.
Credit CardsAllmajorcreditcardsareacceptedinlargerstoresandrestaurantsinSpain.ToobtainacreditcardinSpain,youneedtohaveabankaccount(creditcardsareusuallyissuedfromthebranchwhere you have your account). You can, of course, use your existing foreign credit cards such as VISA,MasterCardandAmericanExpress.Phonenumberstocancelcreditcardsare:Visa (International) 900 991 216 (free phone *) or 902 114 400 **MasterCard 902 114 400**American Express 902 375 637 or 902 111 135**“la Caixa” +34 933 307 009 **/***Caixa Catalunya +34 934 845 858 or 902 425 542 **/***Diners Club 902 401 112* Multilingual / **Spanish / ***Catalan
Cash Machines and “la Caixa”“laCaixa”boaststhelargestnetworkofATMsinBarcelonaandCatalonia.Youwillfindabranchon almost every corner. Their cash machines are accessible 24 hours a day. ESADE students who openanaccountatESADE’sbranchofCajaMadridcanuseanycashmachine(cajero) displaying the“Servired”logofreeofchargeandtheseinclude“laCaixa”cashmachines.
Ifyouareavisitingexchangestudent,itmaybeeasiertokeepyouraccountinyourhomecountryandwithdrawmoneyfromtheATMs(cajeros)connectedtonetworkssuchasCIRRUSandSTAR.CheckwiththebankinyourhomecountryastowhetherthesamenetworkexistsinSpain.
Getting Around
Getting Around Barcelona
With extensive bus and underground lines running through the city, Barcelona is easy to get around using public transport, which also happens to be fairly cheap. A great website that will helpyouduringyourstayinBarcelonaistheTransportsMetropolitansdeBarcelonasiteatwww.tmb.es. You can find connections, timetables and more information on buses, underground, trains andFerrocarrilsdeCatalunya.
MetroThis is the main underground system, with six lines covering most of the city. The lines are identi-fied by colour and number, while the direction is given by the terminus stations.MondaytoThursday,SundayandHolidays:5.00am–12.00pmFriday:5.00am–2.00amSaturday and Holiday’s eve: Non-stop serviceThecloseststationtoESADEisMariaCristina,whichisonLine3(Greenline).It’saboutatwenty-minutewalkorafive-minutebusridetoESADEfromMariaCristina.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC or Ferrocarrils)The Ferrocarrils is a smaller and separate metro system with similar hours to the metro. Fortu-nately,youcanusethesamemetroandbusticketsontheFerrocarrilslines.ThecloseststationtoESADEisReinaElisenda,whichistheterminusstationontheL6line.It’saboutatwenty-minutewalkorafive-minutebusridetoESADEfromReinaElisenda.
BusesBarcelonahasanextensivebussystem,whichalsousesthesameticketsasthemetro.Mostbuslinesstartrunningbetween5.00amand6.00amandstopbetween10.00pmand11.00pm.The22,63,75and78stoppracticallyrightoutsideESADEandthe64stopsaboutfiveminutes’walkfromtheschool.Withinafifteen-minutewalkofESADEyouhavethebuslines6,7,33,34,54,60,67,68,74,113and167.
NitBus, Aerobus, Tomb BusAfterhours,youcantaketheNitBuslines,whichrunroughlybetween10.00pmand5.00am.There are a total of 16 NitBus lines covering the main areas of the city. The line that stops clos-est to ESADE is the N12, though hopefully this will not be an option that you will need to resort toallthatoften.TheAerobusgoestoandfromtheairportwithstopsatPlaçaEspanya,PlaçaCatalunyaandPlaçaUniversitat.Finally,theominoussoundingTombBusisactuallyaconvenientandcomfortablebusthatrunsalongthemainshoppingareas(Pg.deGràciaandAv.Diagonal).
TicketsYoucanbuyasingletripticketcosting€1.25onthebus.A10-rideticketcosts€6.90(T-10onezone)*andyoucanbuytheseatmetrostations,newspaperstandsandServicaixaATMs.Theyarevalidonthemetro,theFerrocarrilsandmostbuses.Therearealsomonthlytickets(either50tripsover30daysorforunlimitedtravel)ifyouthinkyouwillbeusingpublictransportfrequently.Formoreinformationaboutthetrainsandbuses,checkthewebsiteofTransports Metropolitans de Barcelona at www.tmb.es*2007fares
TaxiTaxis are surprisingly inexpensive in Barcelona and fairly efficient since they are allowed to use the buslanes.Theyareblackandyellow,soareeasilyrecognisable.Tippingisoptional–mostpeoplesimplyroundofftothenearesteuroorhalfeuro.Ifthegreenlightontheroofislit,thetaxiisavailable.
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Car Oneword:parking.Likemanyothercitiesofitssize,nottomentionthatitsimplywasn’tbuiltwithcarsinmind,trafficandespeciallyparkingcanbeanightmare.Ifyoucan’tlivewithoutacar,justkeepinmindthatyoumaywanttorentgaragespacesoyouhaveaplacetoparkyourcar.(Moreinfounder“DrivinginSpain”).
Motorcycle/Scooter (moto)Manystudentsfinditveryusefultoinvestinasecond-handmotorcycleorscooter.However,ifyou’renotanEUcitizen,youwillneedtohaveyourResidenceCardbeforeyoucanownone(thesameappliestocars).(Moreinfounder“DrivinginSpain”).
BicycleAnotherfairlypopularoption,therearebikelanesalongthemajoravenues.Theonlyproblemisthat ESADE is located on a hill: so getting to school, depending on how close to sea level you live, maybefairlystrenuouswork.BarcelonaTownHallhasa“GetAroundBarcelonabyBike”pageatwww.bcn.es/infotransit/iwelcome.htm
BicingBicingisabicyclehireservicepromotedbyBarcelonaCityCouncil.Usersoftheservicepayanannualsubscriptionof€24andareissuedwithamembershipcard.Thiscardenablesthemtopickupabikefromanyofthe100-plusBicingstationsthroughoutthecityandgivesthem30minutestomaketheirjourneyandreturnthebiketoanotherstation.Afterthefirst30minutestheywillbecharged€0.30perhalfhouruptoamaximumof2hours.BicingisavailableroundtheclockfromMondaytoSunday,withtheexceptionthatfromSundaytoThursdaybikescanonlybereturned-andnothired-betweenthehoursofmidnightand5.00am.AlthoughtherearecurrentlynoBicingstations near ESADE, it is planned to extend the service city-wide over the next 2 years. For more information go to www.bicing.com
On FootBarcelonaisaverywalkable(andjogable)city.ThewarningaboutESADEbeingonahillapplieshere too – an uphill climb during the hot humid summer may not be the ideal way to start your day.TheTownHallofBarcelonahasapageforwalkerstooatwww.bcn.es/apeu/eng/.
Driving In Spain
Carnet de Conducir: Your License to the Open roadYouarerequiredtoobtainaSpanishdrivinglicense(carnetdeconducir)ifyoubecomeaSpanishresident and own your own vehicle. The driving license from your home country may serve if you wanttorentacarorifyoukeeptheforeignplatesonyourcar.Formoreinformation,contact:Jefatura provincial de TráficoGranViadelesCortsCatalanes,180-184|T(+34)933311366|www.dgt.es
registering a carIfyouarebringingacarfromanotherEUcountry,youarerequiredtoregisterthecarinSpainifyouplantostayforsixmonthswithoutleavingthecountry.Ifyoudecidetoregisteryourcar,youshouldhaveaStudentIdentificationCard(TarjetadeEstudiante)oryourResidenceCardandanumberofdocuments,includingimportpapers,thecar’spaperworkandyourpassport.CompleteinformationcanbefoundontheDirecciónGeneraldeTráfico’swebsitewithpagesinEnglishatwww.dgt.es.
ImportingacarintoSpainisabitofacomplicatedprocess.Thecarhastoundergoacustomscheckand get clearance before it can be brought into the country. Then it will need to be registered at the
localtrafficdepartment.IfyouchoosetobuyacarinSpain,thisshouldalsoberegistered,eitherbyyourself or your car dealer. To do this, several documents are needed, including an application form, ITVtestcertificate,registrationfeereceipt(€58,payableatpostoffices),roadtaxreceiptandyourResidenceCard.Ifyouareimportingacar,contactCustoms (Aduanas) directly to find out how much duty you will have to pay. These amounts are calculated based on the value of the car.
NotethatBarcelonaroadlanestendtobefairlynarrow,makingwidevehicleslesspracticalforgettingaroundthecity.Ifyouhaveagas-guzzlingSUV,youmaybebetteroffleavingitathome.
Customs (Administración de Aduana)Pg.deJosepCarner,27T (+34) 934 433 008 | F (+34) 934 431 983RegisteringyourcarcanbedoneeasilybyusingtheservicesoftheRACC,theReialAutomòbilClubdeCatalunya www.racc.es.TheRACCcanhelpyoucompleteallthepaperworknecessarytoconvertyourdrivinglicenseintoaSpanishlicence,whichisrequiredbylawifyouarearesidentand drive a car registered in Spain. By law, your car should be registered in Spain if you are intendingtokeepithereformorethansixmonths(althoughthereisnorealwayofcheckingthis).As part of the registration process, you may have to pay taxes on the car (even if you are from anotherEUcountry).
Parking: Mission “Almost Impossible” ParkinginBarcelonacanbeaproblemandissomethingtobearinmindifyouarethinkingofbring-ingacarwithyouorbuyingonehere.Insomeneighbourhoodsyoumaybeabletoparkonthestreet,butthisispracticallyimpossible.Manypeoplerentamonthlyparkingplacefromanearbygarage,asnotmanyflatscomewithparkingfacilities.ThereareusuallyfreestreetparkingspotsavailablenearESADE if you arrive early enough, otherwise forget it.
Youwillnoticethatmanystreetsaroundthecityaredesignatedblueorgreenzones,orpaidparkingzones,whichareeasilyrecognisedbytheblueorgreenmarkingsontheroadandalongthepave-ments.Ticketsareboughtfromanearbymachineonthepavement.Youpayfortheamountoftimeyouneed,usuallyuptotwohours,andonehourifitisagreenzone.Ingeneralfrom2.00pmto4.00pmandovernightfrom8.00pmto9.00amtheseparkingspotsarefree.Takecarefulnoteofthetime,becausethesezonesarepatrolledregularlyandyouwillbefinedifyoudon’tdisplayyourticketinthecarwindow.Makesureyoudon’tparkyourcarillegally,astowtrucksarepossiblythemosteffi-cientandeffectivepublicserviceinSpain.Ifyourcaristowed,itcancostaround€120togetitback.SowatchoutforsignsusuallyinCatalan(“S’avisa grua”)tellingyounottoparkoryouwilllikelybetowed away. All in all, you are probably better off using public transport to get around the city – after all,it’scheaper,oftenquicker,andmuchmoreenvironmentallyfriendly.
robberies and Break-insItiswisetokeepvaluablesoutofsightwhileyourcarisparked.Makesurethatyouputbagsorluggageintheboot/trunkandkeepanyCDsetc.,undertheseatorintheglovecompartment.Alwayslockupyourhelmetortakeitwithyouifyouridea‘moto’.
AccidentsIfyouareunluckyenoughtobeinvolvedinanaccidentinSpain,hereiswhattodo:
IfyouareunluckyenoughtobeinvolvedinanaccidentinSpain,hereiswhattodo:•Stopimmediately,turnonyourhazardwarninglightsandputwarningtrianglesinplace.•Callanambulanceandthepoliceifthereareinjuries.•Thepolicedonotneedtobeinvolvediftherearenoinjuriesanddamageisminor.•ItisagainstthelawtoleavethesceneofaseriousaccidentinSpain.
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•Do notmovethevehiclesifyoudecidetoinvolvethepolice.Ifitisnecessarytomovethevehiclesbecausetheyareblockingtraffic,marktheirpositionsonthegroundortakephotos first.•Findwitnessesandgettheirnamesandcontactinformation.Getthedetailsoftheperson
driving the other car, especially their registration number and insurance details.•Notifytheownerorpoliceifyoucausedamagetoanothercarorotherproperty.•Don’tsignanythingwritteninSpanishorCatalanunlessyouareabsolutelysurethatyou
understand it completely.•Yourinsurancecompanymayprovideyouwithanaccidentreportform(declaracióndesiniestrodeautomóvil)thatshouldbecompletedinthecaseofanaccidentinvolvingtwoormorevehicles.Thepolicewillmakeouttheirownreport.•Youshouldnotifyyourinsurancecompanywithin24to48hoursofanaccident.(More
info under “Student Tips”)
rACCTheRACC(Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya) is a driver’s organisation that provides car owners with services such as towing, insurance, practical advice, etc. They can also help car owners through the maze of Spanish bureaucracy associated with registering cars and provide information on importing a vehicle. This service can save you a lot of time if you plan to bring your own car from abroad.RACCC.Santaló,8;Av.Diagonal,687T(+34)932003311or(+34)934955000|F(+34)934143163or(+34)934495599
Motor Bikes: Two Wheels to Freedom Becauseofparkingproblems,fuelpricesandinsurancecosts,manystudentsfinditconvenienttobuyascooterormoped(referredtoasa‘moto’)togetaround.Aswellasbeingoneofthemostef-ficient and cost effective methods of getting around, a moto may also be one of the most fun ways of seeing the city. Buying a second-hand moto is a good option; prices range from €600 to €900. MostpopularbrandsareHonda,Peugeot,VespaandYamaha.Aregulardrivinglicencefromyourowncountryisrequiredfora50ccinSpain.
rules for drivingContrarytowhatmanybelieve,thepoliceareverystrictregardingtherulesoftheroad.Minimumfinesare€427.Intheeventthatyoudonothavetheappropriatepapers,thepolicewillnotthinktwice about impounding your moto. Driving a moto is very easy and very safe. Nevertheless, there areaccidentseveryyear.Motoridersquicklylearnthatthebiggestdangercomesfromothermotoridersovertakinginthesamelane.Itisagainstthelawtorideamotowithoutahelmet.Full-facehelmets are recommended because they are the safest.
International Student Card: Your Doorway to DiscountsTheInternationalStudentIdentityCard(ISIC)isaninternationallyrecognisedcardidentifyingyouasastudent.ISICistheworld’smostwidelyacceptedstudentidentitycard.Issuedinover90countriestoover4millionstudentsannually,theISICcardwillgiveyouaccesstospecialdiscounts on airfares, accommodation, travel, basic travel insurance and much more.YoucangetoneofthesecardsinBarcelonaatUSITUnlimitedTravel(RondaUniversitat,16,tel:902252575)orinyourhomecountrybyshowingtheletterfromESADEwhichyouwillre-ceive for your visa application as proof of your student status. For more information, visit your localstudenttravelagency,ortrytheCouncilTravelwebsiteatwww.counciltravel.com.CardsarealsoissuedbytheSecretariaGeneraldeJoventut(Calàbria,147,GeneralitatdeCatalunya,T.934838383).Openinghours:9.00amto2.00pmand3.00pmto5.30pm.
Some interesting linksBarcelona city website www.bcn.es Complete Directory of Services for Barcelona www.bcn.es/directoris Barcelona Tourist Board www.barcelonaturisme.com Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona website (public transportation) www.tmb.es
Some useful contacts
Legal advice LegalfirmSpecialisingingivingservicetoforeigners who come to study in Spain both before they leave their home country as well as once they have settled into Barcelona. The cost of the services offered is €120 + VAT.
Francisco Pires PellicerCasanova,46,Entlo.2.ª|08011BarcelonaT (+34) 933 233 114Email:[email protected]
ESADE Registrar’s OfficeForanydoubtsorqueriesyoumayhaverelatedto the matriculation process, contact:
Mònica SisternasAv.Pedralbes,60-62|08034BarcelonaT (+34) 932 806 162Email:[email protected]
Barcelona Centre UniversitariPublicinstitutionthatoffersfreeadvicetoallforeign students who are registered at universi-ties in Barcelona.
Barcelona Centre UniversitariTorrent de l’Olla, 219 | 08012 BarcelonaT(+34)932389049|F(+34)932289259Opening hours: Mon/Fri,10.00–13.30and15.30pm–19.30pmEmail: www.bcu.cesca.es/angles/index.htm
International Student AdvisorTheInternationalStudentAdvisoristheperson to see for any non-academic help you mayneed.Hisjobistohelpyoutoquicklyandcomfortably settle into ESADE and Barcelona andtotakecareofyouwhileyouarehere.
Jura ZymantasAv. d’Esplugues, 92-96 | 08034 BarcelonaLocation:Building3,RoomB001(Floor-2)T(+34)934952088Email:[email protected]
Welcome to ESADE
ESADEAvda. Pedralbes, 60-6208034 BarcelonaT (+34)932 802 995F (+34)934 952 [email protected]/mastermanagement
