The Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals is an inter-university institute spanning faculties of political science and international law of the three largest public universities of Barcelona – the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Barcelona and the University Pompeu Fabra.

According to the QS 2024 ranking, these universities are ranked 1st, 2nd and 6th inside Spain, and 149, 164 and 310 globally. More specifically for Political Science, these universities are ranked 85th, 101-125th and 151-175th respectively in the global rankings. In the 2025 Times Higher Education Global Survey, the University of Barcelona was ranked 149th, the University Pompeu Fabra 176th and the Autonomous University of Barcelona 199th, and are the top three ranked universities in Spain. Within Spain, in the El Mundo ranking of Spanish programmes, two IBEI master’s programmes are in the top 5 in the Political Science and Administration category.

In Semester 2, students will move as a group to IBEI in Barcelona. They will be enrolled on the 60 ECTS Master of International Security. The study requirements for this programme are met through a combination of teaching during the second semester of the programme, and the recognition of courses taken in semesters 1 and 3, thus emphasising the integrated nature of the ILSPSD. Second semester begins in late January, and the ILSPSD cohort will immediately begin studying semi-intensively the core course in Theories of International Security for a fortnight (12 hours per week), and move on to complete the course alongside their compulsory research methods training and elective courses during the IBEI’s second semester. All students are required to take two electives designated as Specialised Electives in international security. Additionally, students must choose another two electives, which may be from the list of specialised electives, or from the 30-35 additional electives offered in the Spring/Summer semester covering a wide range of issues, including gender, development, economic policy, regional IR, or global governance. In order to guide students, pathway-tailored elective options are suggested, but the final decision is left to each student in consultation with the Programme Coordinator at IBEI to ensure their individual learning goals are best reached.

At IBEI, the ILSPSD cohort benefits from being integrated into courses alongside students on the five other IBEI masters’ programmes in IR, International Security, International Development and two on Public Policy, leveraging the expertise of the staff and greater opportunities for peer-based learning and inter-disciplinary awareness.

The second semester brings the entire cohort of students to the city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain. The city dates back to pre-Roman times, and during the eighth century under Arab control. Today, the city is one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan and economically significant cities in Europe.

Barcelona ranks as one of the most popular destinations for students on international exchange programmes in Europe. The cultural importance of architecture of the city is exceptional, with nine UNESCO World Heritage sites in and around the city, predominantly the work of Antoni Gaudi. The city is also home to permanent museums for some of Spain’s most influential 20th century artists, including Picasso and Miro in Barcelona and Dalí near the town of Figueres, to the north.

Barcelona was also a political stronghold of the second republic, resisting the fascist army led by General Franco in the Spanish Civil War, until its fall in January 1939. The castle in Montjuic overlooking the old city and port contains a permanent exhibition on the history of the city and its role in the civil war.

In terms of contemporary cultural significance, the city is an important bridge between Europe and North Africa, with the headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean located there, as well as a number of think tanks and research centres dedicated to trans-Mediterranean relations.

Students will have the opportunity to learn Spanish or Catalan, as well as a number of other foreign languages, and belong to one of Europe’s most important academic communities: eight universities and a network of research centres and scientific parks provide a thriving environment for study and research.

Finally, the city of Barcelona provides students the opportunity to observe and be part of the “Barcelona, city of rights” and “Barcelona, Refuge City” programmes, by providing a unique example of how international commitments relevant to security, peace and sustainable development, particularly in relation to human rights and migration, can be translated into policies and practices by local authorities.