Study in Sitges, Spain

About Sitges

Sitges is a Mediterranean coastal town in the Garraf area of the province of Barcelona, in Catalonia. It had 32,690 inhabitants in 2025, according to the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat), based on the annual population census of Spain's national statistics office (INE). The town is known for its beaches, its old centre and a busy calendar of events, including the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Carnival and the Festa Major.

Students come to Sitges for small, specialised schools rather than for a large university. The town suits students of film and the performing arts who want an international, English-speaking environment by the sea, with Barcelona about 30 to 40 minutes away.

Studying in Sitges

This directory lists three active schools in Sitges: one higher-education institution, one film school and one international school. The Institute of the Arts Barcelona (IAB), founded in Sitges in 2013, offers BA (Hons) and Foundation programmes in acting, dance and musical theatre. Its degrees are validated by Liverpool John Moores University in the UK, and the school reports students from more than 50 nationalities. Students train across two campuses, the IAB main building and Mas Alba, with a 200-seat theatre. Applicants must pass an audition, and those whose first language is not English need IELTS Academic 5.5 for a Foundation programme or 6.0 for a BA (Hons), or an equivalent test.

Afilm International Film Workshops started in 2009 as an independent film school. It offers one-year and three-month certificate programmes and short workshops in areas such as cinematography, producing and production design, in an English-language working environment. The school does not have a campus; groups have fewer than 10 students and in most cases five, according to Afilm. It is a collaborating member (miembro colaborador) of the AEC, the Spanish Society of Cinematographers. These are the schools' own certificates, not official Spanish degrees.

For families, BSB Sitges is the Sitges campus of The British School of Barcelona, which has six campuses in Barcelona, Castelldefels and Sitges, with one planned in Cabrera de Mar. The Sitges campus teaches Pre-Nursery, Early Years and Primary, for children from age 2.

Cost of living for students

Rent is the main expense. The IAB does not have its own student housing, but helps admitted students find a place; according to the school, most students share apartments in Sitges, and rent for a shared flat with 2 to 3 bedrooms is about €400 to €600 per month. According to the IAB, there are more options and lower prices outside the summer season, when many summer rentals become available.

For trips to Barcelona, the regional rail service (Rodalies) sells monthly passes that, according to Rodalies de Catalunya, are valid in all zones:

• a monthly pass (abono mensual) with unlimited travel costs €20
• a youth monthly pass (abono mensual joven) costs €10 for people born between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2011, with a registration code from the Ministry of Transport
• both passes can be bought until 31 December 2026 and used until 31 January 2027

Getting around and daily life

Most students live within walking distance of their school and the town centre, according to the IAB; its main campus is a 20-minute walk from the centre. Barcelona is about 30 minutes away according to Afilm, and the local train takes about 40 minutes according to the IAB.

The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and warm summers. At AEMET's Barcelona Airport station in El Prat de Llobregat, used here as the reference station for this stretch of coast (normals for 1981-2010), the average temperature is 9.2 °C in January and 23.9 °C in July, with about 588 mm of rain a year.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Sitges?

Yes. The Institute of the Arts Barcelona teaches its BA (Hons) and Foundation programmes in acting, dance and musical theatre to international students, with an English language requirement, and Afilm runs its film programmes in an English-language environment.

Are the degrees in Sitges officially recognised?

The IAB's BA (Hons) degrees are validated by Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. Afilm awards its own certificates. Neither is an official Spanish university degree.

How much does a room cost in Sitges?

According to the IAB, rent for a shared flat with 2 to 3 bedrooms is about €400 to €600 per month. The IAB does not have its own student housing.

How do I get from Sitges to Barcelona?

By local train, in about 40 minutes according to the IAB. Rodalies sells a €20 monthly pass, or €10 for young people born between 2000 and 2011, valid in all zones until January 2027.