Study in Terrassa, Spain

About Terrassa

Terrassa is a large city in the Vallès Occidental district of Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona. It had 232,676 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 FGC suburban railway links it directly with Barcelona.

For students, Terrassa is above all a campus city of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC): the university's Centre de la Imatge i la Tecnologia Multimèdia describes Terrassa, home of a UPC campus, as the second university city in Catalonia. It is also the home of a film school and a business school. Terrassa suits students who want a technical or creative degree in a city that is smaller and calmer than Barcelona, with the capital within reach by train.

Studying in Terrassa

Our directory lists five active schools in Terrassa: three university-level centres and two primary and secondary schools. The UPC campus in Terrassa has three centres:

• the Escuela Superior de Ingenierías Industrial, Aeroespacial y Audiovisual de Terrassa (ESEIAAT), with studies in industrial, aerospace and telecommunications engineering
• the Facultad de Óptica y Optometría de Terrassa (FOOT)
• the Centre de la Imatge i la Tecnologia Multimèdia (CITM), which teaches official bachelor's degrees in Design, Animation and Digital Art, in Digital Design and Multimedia Technologies, and in Video Game Design and Development

The CITM describes its method as "learning by doing" and has specialised labs for sound, UX, XR, games and CGI.

The Escuela Superior de Cine y Audiovisuales de Cataluña (ESCAC) was founded in Barcelona in 1993 and moved to Terrassa in 2003. It now uses three buildings on the Plaça de la Farinera and the Vapor Universitari building. ESCAC is a centre attached to the Universitat de Barcelona. It teaches a four-year official bachelor's degree in Cinematography, an official master's degree in film studies and, according to the school, more than 25 programmes in total.

Euncet Business School was founded in 1981 and has been a university centre attached to the UPC since 1996, so its bachelor's degrees lead to an official UPC qualification. Its degrees combine business, marketing, technology and sport, and it also runs executive programmes such as a Global Executive MBA. Euncet has a campus in Terrassa and two in Barcelona.

Catalan and Spanish are both official languages in Catalonia, and university courses may be taught in either, so check the language of each subject before you enrol. Families moving with children will find the Gresol International-American School, an authorised foreign private school that teaches in English and offers the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19.

Cost of living for students

Terrassa is part of the integrated public transport system of the Barcelona area. FGC stations and other operators sell the integrated travel cards. The most useful one for students is the T-jove, a personal card for people under 30: it costs €45.50 and gives unlimited travel for 90 consecutive days on all regular public transport in every fare ring of the ATM Barcelona system, according to TMB's current fares.

For accommodation, the ESEIAAT lists two student residences in Terrassa: the Residencia Universitaria Francesc Giralt i Serrà and the Residencia Universitaria Hipatia. We could not find official figures for typical room rents in the city, so compare residence prices and private flat shares directly before you arrive.

Getting around and daily life

Two rail operators serve Terrassa: the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), whose Barcelona-Vallès line includes the S1 to Terrassa, and Renfe. The city also has its own urban bus network and interurban buses. The nearest major airport is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, where Rodalies line R2 Nord stops at Terminal T2 and connects with the Barcelona rail network.

Gresol International-American School is on the road from Sabadell to Matadepera (km 6), outside the centre, while the university centres are in the city. The ESEIAAT also has student car parks for people enrolled at the UPC centres in Terrassa.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities have centres in Terrassa?

The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has three centres in Terrassa: the ESEIAAT for engineering, the Faculty of Optics and Optometry and the CITM for animation, multimedia and video games. ESCAC is attached to the Universitat de Barcelona, and Euncet Business School is attached to the UPC.

Can I study film in Terrassa?

Yes. ESCAC, based in Terrassa since 2003, teaches a four-year official bachelor's degree in Cinematography as well as master's and postgraduate programmes.

How do students travel between Terrassa and Barcelona?

By FGC train on the Barcelona-Vallès line (S1) or by Renfe. Students under 30 can use the T-jove, which costs €45.50 for 90 days of unlimited travel in all fare rings.

Are classes in Catalan or Spanish?

Both languages are official in Catalonia and both can be used in teaching. Check the language of instruction of each course on the school's website.