Why Barcelona?

Barcelona Field Studies Centre offers fully inclusive Geography, Biology, Ecology, Environmental and Tourism field study programmes to U.K. and International schools and colleges throughout the year in an outstanding geographical environment.

The Barcelona area offers a range of settings for geography fieldwork unrivalled in Europe.

The city of Barcelona presents a fascinating case study of many of the major themes of urban growth and development, from its well preserved medieval quarters, to the late nineteenth century L’Eixample and the best-practice urban renewal schemes of El Raval, the Olympic Village and the current Diagonal Mar and Forum projects. The range of issues that can provide the basis for student investigations is large.

Barcelona is also surrounded by a number of spectacular and unspoiled Natural Parks. Field study sites include the limestone landscapes of the Garraf and Montserrat Natural Parks, the Ebro Delta wetlands, the alpine landscape of Montseny, the volcanic scenery of Garrotxa Volcanic Park, and the glacial topography of the Vall de Nuria.

Courses are tailored to the requirements of your school, a member of our staff accompanies your group during all fieldwork and teaching is provided as required until 10.00 p.m. in the evening. A number of leisure and cultural options are available.

George Spencer School and Technology College, River Tordera, Barcelona

Fieldwork is supported by a wide-range of equipment together with thorough and up-to-date materials.

The hotel we normally use is located in one of Spain's most picturesque and unspoilt beach resorts: Sitges. The journey time from Sitges to Barcelona by road or rail is approximately 30 minutes. The quality of accommodation and food is high. The teaching room at the hotel (seating up to 60) is equipped for the use of the group.

Transport and drivers are provided by Autocars del Penedes who have an excellent reputation for reliability, comfort and safety.

For students of all abilities, the fieldwork activities are exciting, demanding, motivating, and above all, safe.

Fieldwork is designed to achieve two broad aims: to allow students to use and practice a variety of field techniques and to use and increase their subject-specific knowledge via the development of focused case studies in a Spanish environment. Methodologies can be adapted to achieve both traditional 'sense of place' and enquiry-based learning objectives.

Planning and data collection in small groups and presentation of quantitative data and decision-making exercises are features of the courses and will give an ideal opportunity for U.K. students to help develop the Key Skills included in the U.K. Key Skills qualification.

For school staff, we try to make the organisation of your trip as straightforward as possible. Bookings may be made online, and tailored itineraries automated with instant prices, quotes and invoices. A deposit is not required until your transport booking has been made and full payment is required only upon your arrival in Barcelona. If your group numbers change, refunds are made up to a week before your arrival in Barcelona.

The aim is to make your stay as safe and as relaxing as possible. The friendliness of the hotel, its secure nature, beach location and usually guaranteed sunshine all help in this respect. Staff are able to concentrate on other aspects of student learning that are not often possible with traditional self-led fieldwork.