The ALBA Barcelona application for Winter or Spring Quarter 2025 will be open April 15 – May 15, 2024. Learn more and apply here.
Make sure to check out all the Foster Undergraduate Study Abroad Options.
Program Details
The ALBA Barcelona: Foster Partner Program is a third-party study abroad provider that has partnered with the UW Foster School of Business to allow UW students to earn UW credit. Students apply through UW Foster’s Global Business Center, and if selected, students connect directly with the ALBA Study Abroad Center in Barcelona, Spain where the ALBA staff and faculty support students while abroad.
Who Can Participate?
The ALBA Barcelona Program will admit between 20-25 students each quarter. Foster major students will be given priority, but ALL UW undergraduate students are encouraged to apply. UW undergraduates will remain enrolled at UW while abroad and may use eligible financial aid and scholarships for this approved program. UW students will be joined by around 20-30 students from other US institutions who will enroll through Portland State University.
Courses
Faculty from neighboring universities will teach business courses approved by the Foster School including Foster’s core business courses and several business electives. Some basic information about courses:
- ALBA intends to offer at least three Foster School core courses each quarter for Foster School students.
- For the 2023-2024 academic year, ALBA guarantees to offer the following Foster Core Courses for business majors: IBUS 300, MGMT 320, MGMT 300, and MKTG 301. These will be offered every quarter.
- All students on the program can choose from electives and non-business courses including political science, international studies, economics, communications, history, etc. See courses offered by ALBA (note that the Foster School course titles/codes may be slightly different).
- All courses are taught in English except Spanish Language courses.
- Course offerings may vary by quarter, but they tend to offer 15+ courses each quarter that they consider their ‘core offerings.’
- We recommend that you talk with a GBC Study Abroad Adviser for more information.
- To see the UW Foster course equivalents for the ALBA Barcelona business courses, check out the Foster Study Abroad Course Equivalency List.
- In Summer term only: MGMT 200 (The Legal Environment of Business), taught by Ted Bergstrom
Costs & Dates
Students will be concurrently enrolled at the UW while studying in Spain. Students pay two fees via their UW tuition statement, the UW Study Abroad Fee ($495) and Foster Study Abroad Fee ($375). The tuition, study abroad insurance, and housing fees are paid directly to ALBA Barcelona.
Housing through ALBA is optional and prices vary depending on the type of housing (i.e. shared apartment, homestay or student residence, etc.). Airfare and cost of living are on top of the below fees.
Consult this Page for ALBA Costs and Dates.
ALBA Program Scholarships
The ALBA Barcelona Program offers two awards for tuition reduction each term for Foster School participants. The tuition reduction is $2,500 in Summer and $5,000 during Fall, Winter, and Spring. To be considered for one of these awards, please apply to the GBC Study Abroad Scholarships Application.
Foster Study Abroad Fee
Each Foster Study Abroad Program will include the following fees in the program price: Foster Study Abroad Fee ($375) and UW Study Abroad Fee ($495).
The Foster Study Abroad fee is an Administrative Fee that funds all Foster Study Abroad activities, including organizing the programs, recruiting participants, assisting faculty, organizing pre-departure and post-return classes and events, and for providing study abroad advising for students. This fee is charged to all students participating on a Foster Study Abroad Program regardless of major.
Withdrawal Process
Once you’ve submitted your contract, you are contractually agreeing to pay the UW Study Abroad Fee and Foster Study Abroad Fee. These fees are due by the tuition deadline of the quarter you are abroad.
You must also notify Caroline Zeiher, [email protected] of your intent to withdraw from the program.
Application Process for 2023-2024
To apply to the ALBA Barcelona: Foster Partner Program, you must complete:
- Submit the UW Study Abroad Application. This consists of signing four electronic signature documents, submitting a personal statement, and uploading an unofficial transcript.
- After the application deadline, students will be asked to attend a group interview.